Fantasia 2000 (eng)
'Fantasia 2000' brings to fruition Walt Disney's dream of creating a "concert film" with a perpetually changing repertoire. Sixty years after the release of Disney's classic 1940 experiment in sight and sound, a new generation of Disney animators and filmmakers offer an exciting showcase for today's audiences as they visually interpret classical compositions by Beethoven, Shostakovich, Respighi, Gershwin, Dukas, Saint-Saens, Elgar, and Stravinsky. This animated extravaganza features seven new selections and one returning favorite from the original classic. World renowned conductor James Levine takes up the baton and leads the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Like its pioneering predecessor, "Fantasia 2000" embraces all the latest technological tools and innovations to tell its stories and create breathtaking imagery.

In 1940, Walter Disney released a revolutionary concept that melded together classical music with heartfelt animation in what would be an 'animation in progress' over the years. The idea had newer pieces replacing older ones in phases with each release of 'Fantasia'. The public, however, was not ready and response to Fantasia was only lukewarm.

One of the main complaints was that the pieces joined end on end into a long, arduous stream of nonsensical animation more often than not, putting an uninterested viewer to sleep. Of course, it was the first time such a concept had been experienced by the public. Radical and new ideas take time to set in, no matter how good they are.

In 1991, Disney Studios released their new inception of 'Fantasia' in the video market. It was a roaring success, indicating an audience maturing to Disney's original ideas for Fantasia. Thus Disney started plans to put 'Fantasia' back on the 'Big' Screen. And they meant it! BIG! On January 1st 2000, 'Fantasia' 2000 was released on Imax Screens around USA and selected venues around the world.

It has been a good while now, since the last release of Disney's 'Fantasia'. Nine years to be exact. But is 'Fantasia 2000', supposedly the 'mark' of the millennium, well worth the wait?

'Fantasia 2000' starts with Beethoven's "Symphony No.5" with a flurry of butterfly wings and, as with butterflies, a cascade of colour swaying and swirling harmoniously under Pixote Hunt's superb direction. For viewers yearning for state of the art computer aided animation, the next piece, "Pines of Rome," also fondly called, "A Whale Tale," brings you a story of whale-like (Pardon the pun!) proportions. The plot is fantastical, but so are the visuals, with a whole colony of whales taking to the skies, headed for the clouds.

Of course, Disney did not leave out their timeless classic, "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," directed by James Algar. Of course, the picture and track had to be digitally enhanced and cleaned up for today's audience.

"Firebird Suite - 1919 Version," composed by Igor Stravinsky and directed by Gäetan and Paul Brizzi was saved till last, for the big finale. As a symbol of hope, rebirth and growth after death, the Firebird Suite promises to leave the viewer an impression of the beauty and timelessness of Disney's idea of the 'concert film', 'Fantasia 2000'.

Unlike the original 'Fantasia' of 1940, the musical pieces did not just blend in from one to the other but were introduced to the audience by a well selected group of entertainers and music maestros, such as Steve Martin (actor/comedian), Bette Midler (actress), Itzhak Perlman (violinist) and James Levine (conductor) himself, just to name a few. Often, a blend of very welcome humour entices a party who has lost interest from a previous piece, into anticipating the upcoming piece. For instance, Mickey will walk up to James Levine and scamper about looking for Donald, who is late for the next piece, or Steve Martin pretending he can play the violin.

But I don't want to take you away from the focus, which is essentially the "Classical Pieces," which have been interpreted by the Disney team into something as beautiful on screen as it is in timbre. The animation complements the tune so well especially in its portrayal of emotions, from the softest sounds to thunderous explosions, from the slowest crawls, to a flurry of whizzing wings.

It's been some time since Disney allowed classical music to guide its animator's pens that this concept feels fresh again. This classic Disney animation without doubt makes its presence here with well choreographed and exciting camera moves. It's definitely set to become another one of Disney's instant classics. In three words... it is, "marvelous," "beguiling," "awe-inspiring."