Written and Directed by Just All The People

Starring Deems Taylor, Leopold Stokowski, and The Philadelphia Orchestra

Much like almost everyone on the planet, I have seen parts of Fantasia in my life. Mickey and the brooms, big demon fucker on the mountain, hippos dancing with alligators. It's ingrained in my brain. Having said that, when I sat down to watch this full length pre-MTV music video, I am pretty sure it was my first time. As an experiment, it's amazing. More major studios should be as daring as to say "here's some classical music, let's make images around it." Still, though, even with all the amazing art and Disney polish… I fell asleep a few times. Parts are just so peaceful and beautiful and accompany the music so well with no dialog that it entranced me. That's what I'm sticking to. I was not asleep in my chair, I was entranced. Still, check it out if you have not in a while, it's kinda a wonder it ever got made.

Notes (beware spoilers)

1. Brilliant orchestra opening

The opening is the orchestra setting up. Curtains raise, strings are tuned, woodwinds are winded. It's a great set up that's back lit to emphasize the nature of the clean experience of music always there. I loved it.

2. Color and shapes dancing

We start with formless dancing. Just colors and shapes that blend and whip around the screen to show the formless abstraction of music. I dug it.

3. Strange Editing

At some point I noticed that there were cuts here and there that did not seem to make sense. (quite possibly I was seeing the edited "no racism here" edit).

4. Stilted Introducer

Deems Taylor was once known as "some idiot" who announced the New York operas. Like a baseball announcer. I joke because after his first time out, people apparently called in saying "some idiot is talking over the music." He stopped, just talking between songs. In all fairness, Mr. Taylor seems a knowledgeable man on music history, just not the best person in front of the camera.

5. Growing Fairies Beautiful

Here's where I tell you I know nothing about music. I can't even spell half the composer's names and most of them I only know because of Monty Python's "Decomposing Composers" song. Still, I know the Nutcracker and the guy who wrote it. You go, that guy.

6. Racist Mushrooms

This just felt uncomfortable. I found myself saying "cute" then "oh, no" then "shit."

7. Fish like Cleo

Another call back to early Disney, a goldfish much like Cleo from Pinocchio gets a chance to dance.

8. Simulation of wind

I just thought this was pretty.

9. Forgot Mickey was Second

Man, way to blow your wad right in the middle, huh? I mean, sure we got the mountain coming, but it shows how much the brand had not quite solidified that they slapped Mickey and the brooms second place. Or maybe they thought kids would leave if he didn't show fast. I dunno, still felt too early.

10. Mickey's Animation Feels Weightless

With all the incredible animation happening, it's funny that Mickey of all things felt out of place to me. He felt almost like an afterthought here, like when they add something in the background to fill space. I never felt like he was there, actually doing the thing.

11. Dream Lighting is Great

Not gonna lie, not sure what this is referring to other than when Mickey sleeps and dreams of being powerful.

12. Axing is Brutal

When Mickey decides to end a relationship, that shit is ended. The axing of the OG broom happens off screen and in shadow, but it is brutal as hell. Especially with all the splinters flying everywhere. Then he doesn't pick them up, which is weird for that to be his main job (unless "wizard waterboy" is a thing).

13. Falling Chimes

No idea why at one point the actual chimes in the actual orchestra fall over. It felt forced, so not planned as part of the thing, but I don't know why. Possibly at this point I was nodding off.

14. Dinosaurs eh

It's gorgeous and alive and put me right to sleep.

15. Naked Baby Centaur Time Lost Me

Just dreaming the whole time.

Is that a pocket in your penis or are you just happy to see me?

16. Alligators and Hippos

Woke up for a minute to see the alligator brigade descend and then back to sleep. Humorous and delightful.

17. Shimmer on Bald Mountain

I made myself sit up a bit to watch the darkness envelope the town and the demon in the mountain to rise. The majesty of evil on this scale, the inherent evil in shadows and form of ghosts and the little cruelties those in charge can enact put me right back to sleep as the sun rose.

18. Just Pretty

And it was really a pretty sunrise.

All images property of Disney

18 Notes about Fantasia (1940) from a Tired Librarian