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Favorite Film #9, 1940: Fantasia. Directed by Samuel Armstrong, James Algar, Bill Roberts, Paul Satterfield, Ben Sharpsteen, David D. Hand, Hamilton Luske, Jim Handley, Ford Beebe, T. Hee, Norman Ferguson and Wilfred Jackson
It’s absolutely incredible that both Pinocchio and Fantasia were released only a few months apart from each other. Two of Disney’s greatest triumphs, as well as two of the greatest films of all time from the same company, released in the exact same year! And this is the 1940’s, decades before digital software and even Xerox was conceived! Those poor artists must have had blister sores, carpal tunnel, and spine damage that lasted the rest of their lives! I wouldn’t say it was worth it, but that level of dedication is absolutely on display throughout the entire 2 hour runtime (again, those poor artists)!
Fantasia is still to me, the greatest example of the unlimited capabilities of animation. This is Disney’s art film. And like most art films, it’s not designed to be nor will it be enjoyed by the widest possible audience, in the same way something like Frozen is. I certainly think segments like The Sorcerer’s Apprentice can be enjoyed by everyone, but as a whole it’s far different than anything Disney has ever or will ever make again. It’s extremely slow paced, not that focused on story (at some points going completely abstract), and out of every movie I’ve ever seen, feels the most like the film equivalent of going to an art museum. But for certain people, that sounds like getting injected with the most potent drugs imaginable! And I’m one of those people. I’m a huge lover of art in general and going to art museums. So the fact that there’s a film out there that feels like moving paintings brought to life with the most beautiful music imaginable, is just everything to me! While Fantasia is not my favorite Disney film, or even the Disney film with the best animation (Pinocchio), it is undoubtedly Walt Disney’s artistic triumph. Unfortunately, Fantasia isn’t a perfect film due entirely to the overly cutesy and Baroque-esque The Pastoral Symphony. It’s a Silly Symphony short awkwardly wedged in a film where even Mickey Mouse feels high class and sophisticated. Absolutely the worst part of both Fantasia’s combined. Also, Fantasia is the greatest title in the history of cinema, no movie has ever or will ever come close. It’s like Disney took the essence of magic and turned it into a word.
