Parents' Guide to

Fantasia

By Paul Trandahl, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Breathtaking animation feat -- with some creepy visuals.

Movie G 1940 120 minutes
Fantasia Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 6+

Based on 5 parent reviews

sarahenit
sarahenit Parent of 5-year-old
September 1, 2014
age 6+

Some scary parts

Although my son (who is almost 6) was fine watching Fantasia 2000, he was disturbed by the dinosaur scene in the original version, specifically when the stegosaurus was killed by the carnivorous dinosaur. He was so upset that he actually asked me to post this review on common sense media.
nyjetsfan9
nyjetsfan9 Adult
July 28, 2012
age 6+

Fantasia- Your Mileage May Vary

There are a lot of things to admire in this movie. Kids will really love the Mickey Mouse segment, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, but outside of that, there is not much immediately geared towards younger kids. I do remember I was able to get through the Bald Mountain sequence OK when I was younger, but be careful about that one. Just remember to watch this one with your kids, otherwise there is a lot of stuff that will confuse or frighten your kids. It is still one of Disney's finest, no doubt about it
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What's the Story?

When Donald Duck began to eclipse Mickey Mouse in popularity in the late 1930s, Disney conceived of a lavish comeback vehicle for his first cartoon star: FANTASIA. "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," set to the music of Paul Dukas, was the end result, and no expense was spared to make this a crowning jewel in the mouse's career. When Disney realized that the company couldn't possibly recoup its investment releasing the piece as a short subject, he conceived an entire animated feature set to pieces of classical music, of which "Sorcerer's Apprentice" would now be a part. Walt Disney's groundbreaking feature combining classical music with extravagant animation retains its status as a landmark in animation history. Both "The Rite of Spring," with its realistic recreation of the age of the dinosaurs, and "Night on Bald Mountain," with its vividly spectacular depiction of evil personified, took animation into realms that were unimaginable just 10 years earlier.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (5):
Kids say (40):

Disney's most experimental movie may bore kids used to more straightforward storytelling, and preschoolers may need to skip the scary parts. However, these are minor quibbles when confronted with the breathtaking artistry that dominates the movie.At the time the movie was made, the Disney factory was at the absolute peak of its powers. Fantasia exhibits a stunning attention to detail that would never again be duplicated (a result of the movie's initial box office failure). "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" remains a tour de force of music, character animation, and photographic effects.

Nevertheless, there are some dry spots. "Dance of the Hours," with its dancing hippos and alligators, is funny, but drags on longer than necessary. The "Pastoral" is the blandest sequence; its scenes of teenage centaurs courting one another are more reminiscent of prom night than ancient mythical worlds. Seen decades later, much of the film's imagery continues to astonish, even when compared with modern, computer-enhanced extravaganzas.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about fantasy vs. reality in Fantasia and in general. How can you tell when something is made up? Can you be sure something is real if you haven't ever seen it? Can something be scary even if you know it's not real?

  • How does the Magician's Apprentice (Mickey Mouse) demonstrate curiosity, courage, and perseverance in Fantasia? Do any other characters show those qualities? Why are those important character strengths?

Movie Details

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