The Wonders of Animation: Fantasia

    When you're watching a Disney movie, you're not really concerned about the music. You might be familiar with interpretations of music, such as dance. When Disney animators heard pieces of music such as Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, Pines of Rome, and even Rhapsody in Blue, what did they do? They made animated shorts for them!

     Once upon a time, (in 1940,) Disney released what they had called, "The Concert Feature." But Leopold Stokowski, the musical conductor who had worked with Walt Disney on the project, suggested the name "Fantasia," and thus it was named. The film contained multiple animated shorts that had been made to interpret a certain piece. Fantasia was intended to be a constant continuation. "Every time you went to see it, you'd experience some new pieces, along with some old familiar favorites." As you can see, that didn't really happen until 1999, when Fantasia 2000 was released. Like the previous Fantasia, this film features musical, animated segments.  You watch both Fantasia and Fantasia 2000, and it's unlike any other Disney creation. Sure, there's a notable difference between the two because of the time periods when they were made, but they both encourage the same idea: Letting the imagination run wild!

     Fantasia is not only entertaining but educational. Most children are not familiar with famous pieces of music such as Rhapsody in Blues and Pines of Rome. Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 are the reason that I myself am able to recognize such music. That's when I heard them for the first time. Through these movies children can get to know classical music from a young age. They also have fun because they now have characters and stories to put with the music such as Mickey Mouse and the Steadfast Tin Soldier. 

       Keep in mind that the animations did not come instantly upon listening to the music. Even Disney artists have to try multiple ideas. Before finding The Steadfast Tin Soldier's match with Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 2, different ideas were on the drawing board. Some of them included a bug ballet, a baby ballet, and a segment from Shwanda the Bagpiper. Even Salvador Dali's artwork was considered. So it has been with every Disney film. The stories come together when the film makers explore ideas. That is how any story, whether filmed or written, comes to be: By exploring the imagination.

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