Film and Media Atlas

How Stories Are Broadcast
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme
Landmark Work

Fantasia

Animated Feature Films

Fantasia is a 1940 American animated anthology film from Walt Disney Productions, pairing eight animated sequences with classical music pieces conducted by Leopold Stokowski and performed largely by the Philadelphia Orchestra, with the music critic Deems Taylor appearing on screen between segments to introduce each one. The project began as an elaborate Mickey Mouse short built around The Sorcerer's Apprentice, and grew into a feature when its costs outgrew what a short could recoup. Disney and RCA developed a new stereophonic sound system for the film, Fantasound, using multiple speakers placed around the theater to create a surround sound effect, making Fantasia the first commercial film shown in stereo and introducing recording techniques, including simultaneous multitrack recording and overdubbing, that became standard in the film industry. Its high production costs, the expense of installing Fantasound in theaters, and the loss of its European market to World War II left the film unprofitable on its original release, and it only became a financial success after a 1969 theatrical re-release found it a new audience.

Facts
Classification
Original Language
English 1
Award
Academy Honorary Award 2
Award
National Film Registry 3
Release Year
1940 1
Country
United States 1
FAQs

Did Fantasia win an Academy Award?

Yes. It was the subject of two Academy Honorary Awards in 1942.

It received two Academy Honorary Awards on February 26, 1942, rather than a competitive Oscar. One of them went to Walt Disney, William Garity, John N. A. Hawkins and the RCA Manufacturing Company.
Connections

Created By

Source Fantasia (1940 film) (Wikipedia)
David Hand, Figures
Source Fantasia (1940 film) (Wikipedia)
Source Fantasia (1940 film) (Wikipedia)
James Algar, Figures
Source Fantasia (1940 film) (Wikipedia)
Norm Ferguson, Figures
Source Fantasia (1940 film) (Wikipedia)
T. Hee, Figures
Source Fantasia (1940 film) (Wikipedia)
Source Fantasia (1940 film) (Wikipedia)

In Medium

Film, Media Forms
Source Fantasia (1940 film) (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases

Original Language

Also in Language Atlas: the original language of this subject.

Originated In

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.

Sources
1. Wikipedia
Wikimedia Foundation
  • en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantasia_(1940_film), lead paragraph, opening sentence (nationality)
    Fantasia is a 1940 American animated musical anthology film produced by Walt Disney Productions.
  • en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantasia_(1940_film), lead paragraph, opening sentence (release year)
    Fantasia is a 1940 American animated musical anthology film produced by Walt Disney Productions.
  • Fantasia, Description, original language
    Fantasia is a 1940 American animated anthology film from Walt Disney Productions, pairing eight animated sequences with classical music pieces conducted by Leopold Stokowski and performed largely by the Philadelphia Orchestra, with the music critic Deems Taylor appearing on screen between segments to introduce each one.
View the Source
2. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences: The 14th Academy Awards | 1942
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and SciencesCeremony 1942: Special Award
Quote, Ceremony 1942: Special Award
Special Award Winner Fantasia
View the Source
3. Library of Congress, National Film Preservation Board: Complete National Film Registry Listing
Library of Congress, National Film Preservation BoardNational Film Registry listing row: film released 1940, inducted 1990
Quote, National Film Registry listing row: film released 1940, inducted 1990
Fantasia 1940 1990
View the Source
Fantasia (1940 film) (Wikipedia)
  • In Medium: Film, Article lead sentence
    Fantasia is a 1940 American animated musical anthology film produced by Walt Disney Productions.
  • Created By: Ben Sharpsteen, Infobox: director
    Samuel Armstrong James Algar Bill Roberts Paul Satterfield Ben Sharpsteen David Hand (animator), David D. Hand Hamilton Luske Jim Handley Ford Beebe, Jr. T. Hee Norm Ferguson (animator), Norman Ferguson Wilfred Jackson
  • Created By: Hamilton Luske, Infobox: director
    Samuel Armstrong James Algar Bill Roberts Paul Satterfield Ben Sharpsteen David Hand (animator), David D. Hand Hamilton Luske Jim Handley Ford Beebe, Jr. T. Hee Norm Ferguson (animator), Norman Ferguson Wilfred Jackson
  • Created By: Norm Ferguson, Infobox: director
    Samuel Armstrong James Algar Bill Roberts Paul Satterfield Ben Sharpsteen David Hand (animator), David D. Hand Hamilton Luske Jim Handley Ford Beebe, Jr. T. Hee Norm Ferguson (animator), Norman Ferguson Wilfred Jackson
  • Created By: T. Hee, Infobox: director
    Samuel Armstrong James Algar Bill Roberts Paul Satterfield Ben Sharpsteen David Hand (animator), David D. Hand Hamilton Luske Jim Handley Ford Beebe, Jr. T. Hee Norm Ferguson (animator), Norman Ferguson Wilfred Jackson
  • Created By: David Hand, Infobox: director
    Samuel Armstrong James Algar Bill Roberts Paul Satterfield Ben Sharpsteen David Hand (animator), David D. Hand Hamilton Luske Jim Handley Ford Beebe, Jr. T. Hee Norm Ferguson (animator), Norman Ferguson Wilfred Jackson
  • Created By: James Algar, Infobox: director
    Samuel Armstrong James Algar Bill Roberts Paul Satterfield Ben Sharpsteen David Hand (animator), David D. Hand Hamilton Luske Jim Handley Ford Beebe, Jr. T. Hee Norm Ferguson (animator), Norman Ferguson Wilfred Jackson
  • Created By: Wilfred Jackson, Infobox: director
    Samuel Armstrong James Algar Bill Roberts Paul Satterfield Ben Sharpsteen David Hand (animator), David D. Hand Hamilton Luske Jim Handley Ford Beebe, Jr. T. Hee Norm Ferguson (animator), Norman Ferguson Wilfred Jackson
View the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.