Following in the footsteps of the 1940 Disney classic, FANTASIA 2000 features seven animated short films set to classical compositions, along with the original version of "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," starring Mickey Mouse. (This 2000 version also includes hosts such as Steve Martin, Quincy Jones, and Bette Midler introducing each segment.) The film opens with abstract butterfly-like creatures of light and darkness fluttering about to Beethoven's "Fifth Symphony" but quickly moves to the second sequence, featuring an adventurous baby whale and its elders floating along to "The Pines of Rome." Next is the "Rhapsody In Blue" segment, a tribute to 1930s New York City, based on the line drawings of illustrator Al Hirschfeld. The fourth piece is Hans Christian Andersen's tale of "The Steadfast Soldier" set to "Piano Concerto No. 2," followed by "The Carnival of Animals" which stars a yo-yo-wielding pink flamingo. The next two segments feature classic Disney characters; first, Mickey Mouse in the original version of "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," then Donald Duck in a retelling of the Noah's Ark story set to "Pomp and Circumstance." Finally, "The Firebird" closes out the film, with a sweeping woodland story of nature's death and rebirth. With its brilliant animation, well-paced stories, and immediately engaging music, FANTASIA 2000 easily matches the wondrous spectacle of the original.

This updated FANTASIA stands as a worthy successor to the original Walt Disney classic, with a broad range of animation styles that employ both traditional and computer-based techniques. With a running time of only 75 minutes (dictated by the original IMAX format), the film flies by. Each segment is magical and fun in its own right--most notably, the scene of majestically floating whales set to Respighi's "Pines of Rome" and Donald Duck doing his best in the Noah's Ark segment. Best of all, FANTASIA 2000 allows the Disney animators to stretch their muscles and experiment with fresh new material.

Theatrical release: December 31, 1999 (IMAX).
June 16, 2000 (35mm).

FANTASIA 2000 is the 38th full-length animated feature from Walt Disney Pictures.

DVD Features:

Region 1
Keep Case
Letterbox - 1.85
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
DTS Surround 5.1 - English
THX Mastered Audio
THX Optimode
Additional Release Material:
"Showcase Sampler" featuring excerpts from film
Featurette: "The Making of FANTASIA 2000"
Bonus Animated Shorts:
1. "Toot, Whistle, Plunk, and Boom" (1953)
2. "Melody" (1953)
Trailers: Original Theatrical Trailer
Audio Commentary:
1. Directors and Art Directors of Each Segment
2. Roy E. Disney - Executive Producer, Don Ernst - Producer, James Levine - Conductor
Interactive Features:
Scene Access
Interactive Menus
Additional Products:
Booklet

Donald Duck: Animated Character, MICKEY'S HOUSE OF VILLAINS (2002)
Mickey Mouse: Cartoon Character

James Algar: American Director
Hendel Butoy: Director/"Rescuers Under"
Pixote Hunt: Director
Gaetan Brizzi: Director
Paul Brizzi: Director
Eric Goldberg: Animation Director
Francis Glebas: Director

Donald W. Ernst: Animation Editor

Paul Dukas: Composer
Edward Elgar: British Composer\D. 1934
George Gershwin: American composer
Ottorino Respighi: Italian Composer\D. 1936
Camille Saint-Saens: French Composer
Dmitri Shostakovich: Russian Composer\D. 1975
Igor Stravinsky: Classical composer
Ludwig van Beethoven: 17th century German composer

Lois Freeman-Fox: Editor
Jessica Ambinder-Rojas: Editor
Julia Gray: Editor
Craig Paulsen: Editor
Gregory F. Plotts: EDITOR

"...FANTASIA [2000] manages to hit the sort of highs most other animated features can only dream about..." -- 4 out of 5 stars
"...FANTASIA 2000 is splendid entertainment, and the IMAX system is an impressive co-star..."
"...Still one of the trippiest journeys you can take without ingesting hallucinogens..." -- 3.5 out of 4 stars
"...Respighi's 'Pines of Rome' opens breathtakingly with the explosion of a supernova over a shimmering Arctic sea..."
"...[The RHAPSODY IN BLUE] segment commands attention...[as] a giddy paean to New York City dreamers..." -- 3 out of 5 stars - A Satisfying Rental