Fantasia 2000 (1999)

82% of critics liked it
(82 reviews)
68% of users liked it
(59,595 ratings)

Initially released to IMAX theaters at the crescendo of millennial fever and 60 years after the original Fantasia, Fantasia 2000 was meant to revitalize Walt Disney's goal of a constantly evolving film, with new segments replacing old ones with each re-release. Only The Sorcerer's Apprentice… More Initially released to IMAX theaters at the crescendo of millennial fever and 60 years after the original Fantasia, Fantasia 2000 was meant to revitalize Walt Disney's goal of a constantly evolving film, with new segments replacing old ones with each re-release. Only The Sorcerer's Apprentice remains, with seven new shorts. Angular, abstracted butterfly-like shapes fly through the air in Beethoven's Symphony No. 5; computer-animated whales take flight in Respighi's Pines of Rome; Al Hirschfeld's caricatures of New York life come alive in George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue; Hans Christian Andersen's The Steadfast Tin Soldier is retold with computer animation against Dmitri Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 2, Allegro, Opus 102; frantic flamingos try to stop their yo-yoing comrade in Camille Saint-Saëns' Carnival of the Animals, Finale; Donald and Daisy Duck play Noah and his wife trying to manage the ark to Sir Edward Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance; and the cycle of life, death, and rebirth are celebrated in Stravinsky's Firebird Suite. ~ Emru Townsend, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: G, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: James Algar, Gaëtan Brizzi
Genres: Animation, Kids & Family, Musical & Performing Arts, Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: Jun 16, 2000 Wide
On DVD: Nov 14, 2000
Studio: Buena Vista Pictures

Critic Reviews

Lisa Alspector, Chicago Reader
The rest of these animated sequences depend on gimmickry, cuteness, or facile ideology.
Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine
It provides some fine artists the chance to stretch and frolic, even as it reminds today's audiences of animation's limitless borders.
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
As with the original Fantasia, the new film is a mixture of artistically respectable and mediocre moments, which for overall ambition and range, has no parallel in the world of contemporary animation.
Charles Taylor, Salon.com
It's not that the images aren't pretty, or that great care hasn't gone into them -- it's that the sensibility behind them is so icky, limited in its conception of beauty to picture postcards and the sort of paintings you see in chain hotels.
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Whatever its flaws -- from kitschy cupids to racist centaurs -- at least the first Fantasia had a human touch. The sequel seems cold and mechanical by comparison.
Bruce Fretts, Entertainment Weekly
Sixty years after Walt Disney's animators first set cartoons to classical music, they've conjured up seven new sequences for Fantasia 2000. Judging from the often Mickey Mouse results, they may have been too hasty.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Overall, though, I didn't find it particularly satisfying
John A. Nesbit, ToxicUniverse.com
could be just the thing to help educate a young person about classical music
Ryan Cracknell, Movie Views
Although magnificent and filled with imagination, Fantasia 2000 doesn't hold up as being particularly ground-breaking or innovative.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Delightful, but may scare more sensitive kids.
Peter Canavese, Groucho Reviews
A worthy successor to the original concept, allowing the next generation of animation talent to cut loose. [Blu-ray]
Eric Henderson, Slant Magazine
The bonus features, or lack thereof, are a bummer, but Fantasia and especially its eager-to-please stepchild Fantasia 2000 have never looked better.
Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy
A lightweight affair... Despite some momentary flashes of brilliance, this is no successor to the great Fantasia.
Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle
Fantasia/2000 will no doubt become a Disney perennial, but that does not by definition make it a classic.
, Film4
Like its predecessor, Fantasia 2000 offers a plotless string of beautifully animated vignettes set to music; unlike its predecessor, it's a good deal shorter and far less tedious for it.
Joe Lozito, Big Picture Big Sound
This new installment perhaps aims slightly lower than the original.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
This new Fantasia corrects some of the flaws of the old movie, but generates some new flaws of its own.
, Time Out
This must be the most belated sequel the movies have produced.
Chris Gore, Film Threat
The IMAX presentation of this millennial sequel is a welcome addition to the family, though it seems to lack the heart of the original.
Jeanne Aufmuth, Palo Alto Weekly
A roller-coaster ride of energy, utilizing incredible animated imagery, elegant classical music and state-of-the-art technology.

Read all 22 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Brad W

Beautiful film
Alexander D

Not as good as the original FANTASIA phenomenon.
Sergio G

I loved Fantasia but when I saw Fantasia 2000 on IMAX. Oh my gosh! What a great job. My favorites are The firebird suite, Rhapsody in Blue and Pines of Rome. Outstanding animation in all the three. Disney will never stop amazing you.
Tim S

Nothing will ever top the original Fantasia, but 2000 makes a very bold attempt and is not only a worthy continuation, but a great film in its own right. Tight, fast-paced and marvelously beautiful to behold, it should entertain audiences for years to come. My personal favorite… More
Nothing will ever top the original Fantasia, but 2000 makes a very bold attempt and is not only a worthy continuation, but a great film in its own right. Tight, fast-paced and marvelously beautiful to behold, it should entertain audiences for years to come. My personal favorite segment is 'Rhaphsody in Blue', even though it pretty much is everyone's favorite.
Michael E

just as good as the original
Jeremy S

Once again classical music brought magically alive in Disney's sequel to the great Fantasia. While not as good as the original, does not fail to impress
KJ P

It's a good movie! Actually it's very good, but I am rating it bad, because it does not interest me at all! It's just not my type of film!
Tsubaki S

Rips off from Mononoke Hime.
Lafe F

Fantasia 2000 was more enjoyable to watch than the original. They were smart to make it shorter and snappier. Each piece was enjoyable. Some of the segments attempted to parallel some from the original. "Beethoven's 5th Symphony" was a flutter of colorful abstract… More
Fantasia 2000 was more enjoyable to watch than the original. They were smart to make it shorter and snappier. Each piece was enjoyable. Some of the segments attempted to parallel some from the original. "Beethoven's 5th Symphony" was a flutter of colorful abstract shapes which fit the music perfectly. "The Pines of Rome" was the weakest segment - a tale about flying whales; it was the one I'd omit from the film if I had to choose. "Rhapsody in Blue" was a jazzy portrait of life in New York city. Each charming character had a wish, which came true by the end of this segment. I loved it! Probably my favorite of the lot. I could've done without a repeat of "The Sorceror's Apprentice" because its old graininess stuck out against the sharpness of the new material. "Carnival of the Animals" had a rubbery set of flamingoes dancing around with yo-yos; this segment was too short! I wanted it to go on for much longer. "Pomp and Circumstance" had classic Disney animation with Donald Duck and Daisy Duck on Noah's Ark. A new classic. "Piano Concerto No. 2, Allegro, Opus 102" told the story of "The Steadfast Tin Soldier" - a complete existing story adapted for screen, which had some beautiful animation. It seemed a bit long, but had to be fit to the music, eh? Finally, we have "The Firebird Symphony" a powerful tale of a forest nymph in love with a deer, but they are threatened by a forest fire. Well done! The celebrity introductions were innovative, even though "Penn and Teller ruined the magic". Fantasia 2000 was a great night out, and looked awesome on the IMAX screen.
Jennifer X

not as good as the original, but welld one.
Drew S

I can only remember the Stravinsky segment - with all the nice spring imagery and a little fairy thing floating around. It wasn't a bad movie, and I don't blame it for not sticking in my brain after six years, but not a classic.
Michael G

Not as good as the original, but it beat the hell out of Emperor's New Groove.
Nate Z

[font=Arial][color=darkred]The first updating of long gone Walt Disney's dream antholoigy hits the IMAX screens in a resounding fury of classical music and first rate animation. Like its predecessor though, it's uneven in its quality. Some segments are more impressive or… More
[font=Arial][color=darkred]The first updating of long gone Walt Disney's dream antholoigy hits the IMAX screens in a resounding fury of classical music and first rate animation. Like its predecessor though, it's uneven in its quality. Some segments are more impressive or creative than others. In the 2000 redux the best of the best would be characterized by 'Rhapsody in Blue', a Gershiwin blues number brought to stunning life by charactures of simplicity yet definition. The animation on each is commendable and different from the next segment to follow it. 'The Sorceror's Apprentice', the only segment from the original to be included, shows its wrinkles and grain more than ever when blown to IMAX's wide canvas. The standout, to me anyway, was clearly the final segment closing the just-over-an-hour animated orchestra called 'The Firebird'. The imagery and animation are so sleek and beautiful that I thought I was going to break down by how stupendous the artwork was. This is a tale that leaps from the screen and lets you share some of the beauty with it - further enhancing the festival of the Mouse. Without these stand alone segments this ballet of song and ink would be rather adequate and nothing more, but with the addition of these two marvelous segments it becomes something worthwhile... at least for 20 minutes.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Hey, it's the most exposure classical music will get on the youth of today in between N'SYNC and Britney.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Nate's Grade: B [/color][/font]
Bradley W

Beautiful film
George R

This movie is a true piece of genius, as well as it's art & music. I will be reviewing this movie differently from the others. I will be reviewing this one by skit, mainly because that's what this movie is, & there isn't any dialogue other than the narration… More
This movie is a true piece of genius, as well as it's art & music. I will be reviewing this movie differently from the others. I will be reviewing this one by skit, mainly because that's what this movie is, & there isn't any dialogue other than the narration introductions by the great set of actors in here. Symphony No. 5 - Just like the first Fantasia movie, this movie opens up with this song & video, music simply for it's own existence. This one gives us odd, triangular shapes of various bright colors that seem to be butterflies[?], the fun & love ends when the same shaped figures appear from the ground, only these are black & tend to resemble bats, them being the dark side. The coloring & images in this skit are truly beautiful, * well executed. Also, Symphony No. 5 is Beethoven's best musical composure, & he Disney company used a perfect set of images to fit the song. Pines of Rome - This skit gives us a small family of humpback hales. The two large parents & the small, adorable baby one. The problem with this skit is the use of cgi for the whales. The song in this skit is truly lovely, & so is the skit, but after a while it states getting boring. Rhapsody in Blue - It starts out with a simple clarinet solo & a line, then we get a few other orchestras as well as images adding touches. The story to this one is of 4 different people; The first character is a black man, who is a construction worker, the second one is a man who has no job, the third one is a little girl who is being taken by her nanny to different places to get her on schedule, & the last one is a rich man who is with his wife. Each character has a want in life; The black guy wants to become a talented drummer, the second man wants & needs a job, the litle girl simply wants to be with her parents (who are extremely busy), & the rich man simply wants to be free. The song used in this skit has both a jazz, blues, & orchestra sound to it, & boy do the Disney artists manage to put a great story into the song. One of my favorite skits in this movie. The Steadfast Tin Soldier - My least favorite of the skits, mainly because of the use of cgi for the characters. Why the company wanted to use cgi for the characters rather than 2D is a question I need an answer to. The story is about a a small toy soldier who was made without a left leg, who later falls in love with a porcelain[?] ballerina figure, but the love the two have for each other is being blocked by the jack in the box, who only wants the ballerina for himself. The song isn't my all time favorite, & it's also my least favorite song in the movie. The Carnival of the Animals - The title to this one is almost deceiving, rather than an entire set of animals, you get only flamingos. But ignoring that, it's one of the best, funniest, & prettiest skits this movie offers. The coloring is very beautiful, & the flamingos in here are hilarious. The song used in here is my second favorite of the whole movie & is very well conducted. This skit is rather short, so the only thing I can say, well, ask you to get a summary of what you can get in this one; "What would happen if you gave a yoyo to a flock of flamingos?" The Sorcerer's Apprentice - If you watched the first Fantasia movie, then you know which one this is & don't really need me to explain what it is about, & how amazing it is. But for those of you who haven't, the plot of the song used in this skit came before the plot. The song for this skit is one of the best out there, & the skit is also one of my all time favorites. It's about an apprentice (Mickey being the apprentice) who sees how great of a sorcerer his master, Yen Sid (say that backwards), is. After Yen Sid goes to rest, the apprentice decides to grab his master's magical hat, & try out his own powers with a broomstick. After some fun, he realizes that he played with a magic he couldn't control or stop. Chaos descends after that. Pomp & Circumstance - This skit is the tale of Noah's Arc, only with a slight twist, it has Donald (& Daisy) Duck. Now if you read the Bible, you should know how the story of Noah's Arc goes. The song in this skit is truly a piece of genius, & the skit itself is truly magnificent. Firebird Suite - Angela Lansbury gives the introduction to this final skit, & it is my favorite introduction of the rest (Lansbury is an amazing actress), & this skit is my most favorite of the skits in this movie & of both Fantasia movies. The song in this skit is at it's titled, a suite, so there are three different musical scores in this one, & my favorite part is the third one. The story is of a spring sprite, who, with her friend the elk, brings spring to the forest, until her curiosity awakens a beast of fire & destruction, the Firebird, deep within a volcano. The Firebird then, as all things that bring destruction, proceeds to destroying the entire forest, as well as the sprite. The sprite is later restored back to life by the elk, but she stands crying of what she had awakened. But the elk lifts her spirits, where she cries & her tears start bringing new, small plants back to life. With her spirit lifted up again, she goes onto bringing the entire forest to life again. The animation in this movie is one of the best I have seen the Disney company do, & the same goes for the entire character designs. All of the characters in here are not only well designed, but also beautifully colored & detailed. You can compare the character designs/details to Howl's Moving Castle. I could only image the work & nightmares the artists had to go through to draw out each & every detail. Final Summation, Fantasia 2000 has it's less than handful of flaws, but ignoing them, it's a beautiful piece of genius as well as a great sequel. If you loved the first Fantasia movie, then you're sure to adore this one as well. If you don't wanna watch the entire movie or don't have time to, then just watch the skits: Symphony No. 5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3sWTxgOX7Y Pines of Rome http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Db4j0BErjXU&feature=related Rhapsody in Blue http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcZlXZy4XIY&feature=related The Steadfast Tin Soldier http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3pYp2hXw7g&feature=related The Carnival of the Animals http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjmI0D-uoLo The Sorcerer's Apprentice http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-7Qar1lFjo Pomp & Circumstance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgruNJP0Rrc Firebird Suite http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oSTyWYGJ6E
Bradley J

A high energy musical fantasy, that lit up the screen. Amazing. Overall Rating:81
Curt C

Was pretty cool on IMax anyway.
Marion R

Is 2000 marking the year that all the imagination had left Disney? Whales in the sky, Donald Duck/Noah, flamingos with yo-yo's, random "actors" who come on the screen as if it were some Memorial Day marathon, and it is completely terrible.
Sarah P

I thought this complimented the first film nicely. Along the same lines, nothing really that new or inventive, but I enjoyed.
Sunil J

Just awesome. Almost as good as Fantasia.