Munir's Disney Retrospective -- Animated Classic #3: Fantasia (1940)

By Munir Abedrabbo.

Last Week's: Munir's Disney Retrospective -- Animated Classic #2: Pinocchio (1940)

The most daring thing Walt Disney did during his lifetime (even more so than Snow White in my opinion) was Fantasia, a unique blend of music and animation, with the goal of showing something new to the public, rather than just telling a narrative story. Presented as a concert and showcasing many celebrated classical musical pieces accompanied with exquisite animation, Fantasia is something you have to experience at least once in a lifetime. As with his previous efforts, Walt pushed the boundaries with this one and created the famous “Fantasound” (a precursor of the now standard surround sound system) to better enjoy the film. Unfortunately, as with Pinocchio, Fantasia wasn’t very successful in its initial run and was victim of many edits and cuts throughout the years, also sparking controversy with a racially insensitive character (Sunflower) that has been cut from all current releases. Right now, you can watch an almost complete version of the original, but, even with all the cuts and all the controversy, Fantasia’s power and legacy continues to glow to this day. Rating: 5/5.

Next Week: Animated Classic #4 Review: Dumbo

Munir Presents Walt Disney Animation Studios: A Retrospective -- Introduction

By Munir Abedrabbo.

Hello folks! With the beginning of the New Year and the fact that Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs just turned 75 this past December, I thought it would be nice to have a rundown over all 52 animated films that the Disney Studio has released so far. Each week, a film from the Disney canon will be presented alongside a short commentary and a rating system. All films are going to be presented in chronological order from Snow White to Wreck-It Ralph. I hope you enjoy this and that this retrospective will stir up discussions about these films and of these 75 years of great legacy!