Dec. 17, 1999|United States|74 Min.|G
Genre: Animation;Family;Music
Description: In 1940, Walt Disney released Fantasia, his third animated feature film, which included eight segments set to classical music. Initially, Disney planned to keep the film in continuous release by updating it with new segments, ensuring audiences would always see something fresh. However, this idea was abandoned due to the film’s initial commercial underperformance and mixed reviews. Early work on new segments was halted by 1942 and not revisited during Disney’s lifetime.
In 1980, animators Wolfgang Reitherman and Mel Shaw began developing Musicana, a project blending jazz, classical music, myths, and modern art in the style of Fantasia. It aimed to showcase global stories with music from various countries, but the project was canceled to focus on Mickey’s Christmas Carol.
The concept of a Fantasia sequel resurfaced in 1984 after Michael Eisner became CEO of The Walt Disney Company. Roy E. Disney, Walt’s nephew and vice chairman, suggested the idea, which Eisner found compelling. However, production was delayed due to a lack of resources and interest from then-studio chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg. Proposals involving artists like André Previn and Leonard Bernstein did not materialize.
The project gained momentum in the early 1990s following the successful reissue of the original Fantasia, which grossed $25 million domestically and generated significant home video pre-orders. Recognizing the franchise’s potential, Eisner approved the sequel in 1991, with Roy E. Disney as executive producer. The production was funded by proceeds from the video sales.
Cast director: James Algar
Cast actor: Steve Martin, Itzhak Perlman, Quincy Jones, Bette Midler, James Earl Jones, Penn Jillette, Teller, James Levine, Angela Lansbury, Wayne Allwine
Original name: Fantasia 2000