Ranking Disney's Fantasia Shorts: Worst to Best

[@Ryan-Petre]

Be sure to like this video and leave a comment! It does a lot to help support the video :)

[@bobi200samatar6]

I appreciate the respect for the Carnival of Animals segment. I've always loved those flamingos.

[@Bonnie_fan2023]

Flamingos are my favorite animals😊

[@spriken]

30:19 One of the things I love about The Firebird Suite in here is it's based on the real-life events of Mount St. Helens! You can see the inspiration best near the end when shes wrapping the mountain in life and you see the whole side of the mountain had been blown off. My favorite part is after she's done, she blasts up through the forest and falls back with a look of bliss on her face.

[@stephenclifford342]

I call the ending segment with the sprite jetting through the forest bringing it back to life "Goddess kicks ass!"

[@TheMormonSorceress]

I remember the animators while they were there at that infamous volcano saw an elk passing through the ruined forest, which was the inspiration for the elf friend in the firebird segment, I think it was ment to represent life in general or us in the middle of all this as we go on despite what's happening all around us.

[@chelmrtz]

Rite of Spring used to scare the crap out of me as a kid. Imagine being 4 years old and seeing that segment for the first time. Now I adore this segment and Rite of Spring in general. The segment is raw, brutal, aggressive. I respect the hell out of Disney for putting this into the original Fantasia and trusting that a kid audience would be able to hang with it.

[@yoackim21]

Fantasia. I have a lot of memories of those films... Living in a family of musician, it was one of the first and maybe the most Disney movie I watch on a old tape, and I still have this memories of buying Fantasy 2000 on DVD during a shopping trip. It was what made me love Stravinsky and Gershin. But it's been a while (and I really mean it, probably more than 10 or 15 years) since then... Seeing it again made me want to see it once more, for the old time sake. I'm ashamed to say that I totally forgot some piece (The Firebird Suite or Pomp and Circumstance), or just having some fragments of memories (The Pastoral Symphony, Toccata and Fugue, The Pine of Rome) but the three that I still remember today (with the exception of The Sorcerer's Apprentice because you always end up seeing it elsewhere) are Rhapsody in Blue for it's unique design and fun rhythm, The Rite of Spring, as I was a big Dinosaurs fan when I was young, it was a really interesting piece for me, and of course Night on Bald Mountain. Chernobog was terrifying for the Kid I was, this absolute being of evil who can manipulate the world by is simple existence was something I never seen before, and even to this day, he's still is in one league. Oh, and The Nutcracker Suite was always also a favourite of mine, being a big fan of Alice in Wonderland, it always give me the same vibe. So thank you for this video, it was a good throwback to my childhood, and I think I mostly agree with your ranking, you made some good point for each. In any case, glad to see you're back.

[@Ryan-Petre]

Glad you enjoyed it man. I take a risk whenever I cover media that's out of sync with my usual stuff, but the fact that there's someone like you in my audience who shares some of the passion makes it worth it.

[@victormartinezcancino9290]

Night on bald mountain / Ave María made me cry the first time I saw it. Being Catholic, I feel filled with peace just watching that final shot that goes from what appears to be some kind of cathedral, to the forest and finally to the dawn of a new day. For me, it's the best piece of animation ever made.

[@classicalricky]

Quick note abt the rite of spring, the actual ballet, both the score & the choreography, is abt a maiden dancing herself to death, so I think the fantasia segment was actually a bit tame

[@stephenclifford342]

I worked at an Imax theater that showed Fantasia 2000. To address a lot of the criticism of it being dominated by too many extra short segments, there is a technical reason for that. The soundtrack for in theater showings was recorded and played back on CD- in fact it was in quadraphonic stereo and each of the four tracks each had its own CD. But CDs at the time (1999, when the film was produced) had a maximums run time of 74 minutes. So all of the shorts, celebrity segments and credit music had to fit into a 74 minute run time. It was wonderful to see this film again and again. But so was listening to the audiences . When the Firebird came to life, it always got a huge reaction; the perfect jump scare!

[@stephenclifford342]

And of course, having been there when it came out, I had a cringe moment when the review starts out with "classic movies from my CHILDHOOD..."! (whippersnapper, grumble...........)

[@KilldeerCheer]

Well done and well-thought out list. The original Fantasia is my favorite film and even with this video I'm gaining some new appreciation and thoughts on it. Cheers!

[@AnimationNation2004]

For Pomp in Circumstance though I do agree that it is the weakest short. Strangely enough, I have the opposite view. Because my first viewing of Fantasia 2000 was very young even before my viewing of the original, the Donald story is how I picture the music most of the time. Even during my own high school graduation this year, I kept thinking of Donald on the ark even though ceremonies don’t play the whole piece. Also Rite of Spring is the longest short with the Pastoral Symphony being the second longest but I never realized Pastoral Symphony is as long as it is. I always remembered it being in the 15 minute range.

[@Dracorex13]

The Rite of Spring is 45 seconds longer than The Pastoral Symphony. Beethoven's 6th just FEELS longer.

[@speedracer2008]

The elephants in Dance of the Hours have great gags with their trunks

[@michaelpellegrini1896]

4:55 that “drunken Dionysus” was Bacchus the god of wine.

[@Ryan-Petre]

Dionysus was also called Bacchus. Same god.

[@michaelpellegrini1896]

Good to know.

[@MonsterKidCory]

Fantasia is my favourite film of all time. Just an astonishing work of art... Which is why, in my list, everything in Fantasia 2000 is beneath anything in Fantasia. The former feels more like a corporate product than a work of art, despite whatever moments of technical proficiency it might have. For my own list: 9) Intermission/Meet the Soundtrack 8) Dance of the Hours 7) Toccata and Fugue in D Minor 6) Claire de Lune (yep, I'm counting it) 5) Sorcerer's Apprentice 4) Rite of Spring 3) Pastoral Symphony 2) Nutcracker Suite 1) Night on Bald Mountain/Ave Maria

[@angreagach]

As for yo-yos being "too modern," they are actually quite ancient, being in existence since at least 440 B.C.! (See the Wikipedia article on the subject.)

[@CloudConnection]

Awesome list dude, I really need to watch these movies again! Been a long, LONG time

[@Ryan-Petre]

Thanks dude! Definitely worth the revisit.

[@JonasHeuter-b7b]

I just stumbled upon this video and I absolutely loved it. I have never seen Fantasia but I’ve always loved classical music and the imagery in these movies is incredible. One day I have to watch them. That’s a subscription worth

[@Enirahtak8]

Concerning the Pomp and Circumstance segment - I imagine this segment has been better received in countries like the U.K. Over here, this piece is traditionally associated with British nationalism and patriotism, with people often being very emotional when it's played at events such as the Last Night of the Proms (luckily there are lots of EU flags as well as UK flags waved during such events, it's not completely anti-EU!). That's more what the piece was originally written for. I do find it funny that it's so closely tied with graduation ceremonies in the U.S, almost like it's been at least somewhat 'dumbed down' for American contexts.

[@kenyaholloway-reliford8213]

Yeah, I get so tired of people saying that the song doesn't fit because "it's the graduation song".

[@ct6852]

That was one of my favorites.

[@fanboy324]

Great video. Never liked Disney's catalogue but the music in Fantasia stuck with me.

[@pcm1011]

Great video man! Fantasia was a favorite of mine as a kid, but I couldn't quite get into 2000 except for a couple of shorts. I need to rewatch them both tho

[@thatblenderguy7566]

Allegro Non Troppo (1976) "Hey, You Forgot To Add Me In This Ranking Video."

[@stephenclifford342]

😝

[@PSIUser658]

Fantastic ranking! The Fantasia films will always have a special place in my heart and memories for helping expand my imagination and spirit! You earned a subscriber.

[@Pomoscorzo]

Actually, "La Gioconda" is an opera, not a ballet. The "Dance of the Earth" is played and danced as a showstopper, and has nothing to do with the actual storyline.

[@epicgamer1504]

Yay your back 😃 Awesome video!

[@chelmrtz]

Also I love the Steadfast Tin Soldier short. The music pairs so well with the aesthetic of the animation in how it can be whimsical and dramatic in different places. This short made me fall in love with Shostakovich’s music.

[@darkstarmoonshadow]

I loved watching Fantasia as a child; I always admired the art styles and the music, and I appreciated it, to this day I still do being a lover of the arts.

[@speedracer2008]

Dance of the Hours is my favorite segment of Fantasia (1940), especially the finale with the animals chasing each other around.

[@stephenclifford342]

The gators weren't there to hunt; they there to get some booty! (watch again, you'll never be able to get that outta your mind now!)

[@killstefani]

Disney actually did a digital re-recording of the Fantasia soundtrack with conductor Irwin Kostal, but it was only used in the 1982 releae of Fantasia. I don't think you can do a whole lot more restoration for the original 1940 soundtrack. Its just too old of a recording.

[@carinapiccini2284]

Like Disney, this channel captured my imagination ! well done

[@Ryan-Petre]

Thank you, kind stranger

[@MrGporva]

For me pines of rome is the best one, absoultely fantasious Idea with the "biggest" music at the end. The moment where they jump over clouds as they were doing it over the sea is the best second of all disney for me

[@ARCtheCartoonMaster]

18:02 It also helps that it uses more 2D-looking shading, similar to more recent films like _Spider-Verse_ and _Nimona._

[@realkingofantarctica]

I like the little mushrooms. They're cute.

[@tyson7417]

One other interesting thing about The Sorcerer's Apprentice is that it was created first as a Silly Symphony short but was more expensive than planned so they decided to batch it with other animated shorts creating the initial idea for Fantasia. Comparing this to other mickey silly symphonies shorts like The Little Whirlwind which came out in 1941 (The Sorcerer's Apprentice came out in 1940) it's crazy how much mood and atmosphere was baked into that short BEFORE the idea of making it a high art/experimental feature film. It is a legend as a stand alone and as as part of the ensemble for both Fantasia films. Over marketed but under appreciated in my book.

[@TallManVanitas]

I like Donald’s Ark 🥺👉🏻👈🏻

[@beccacroce7380]

Fantasia 2000 was a very early watch for me. So most things I've heard or seen in Fantasia enter my mind more than what enters other peoples' minds. Pomp and Circumstance, Symphony 5, Pines of Rome etc.

[@lhadzyan7300]

Another issue on the opening segment of Fantasia 2000 is that though mostly abstract-art motifs as the Toccata and Fugue in D minor from Bach on the 1940´s Fantasia, the 5th Bethoven Symphony doesn´t keeps so much abstract in concept as there kinda have a STORY on the main two butterflies (one yellow larger than the other light-pink one) and their whereabouts in that world chased on by bats and then protected by the other butterflies handling the light as lasers against darkness. It was kept mostly abstract in visuals and quite simple but still GOT A STORY and in fact most or all Fantasia 2000 segments got STORIES on themselves, while the original Fantasia just have half of it.

[@Peakek]

aw yeah another midnight upload time to sit down and get comfy

[@foxonerd]

I absolutely love Fantasia it’s my favorite Disney movie. This video was amazing great job. My favorite segment is The Nutcracker Suite

[@lhadzyan7300]

The Tin-Steadfast Little Soldier segment is amazing, the characters are very well compelling, the story is short but well done and overall there kinda is something amazing about the change on the ending avoiding tragedy and giving the rightfull justice twist on the plot as it´s the Jack-in-the-Box which gets destroyed and both the ballerina and the soldier got into a true happy couple at the end. It´s amazing because the characters got chemistry earlier on, the ballerina isn´t a bland mc-guffin-like character but she has her own strong personality even with the limitations as a porcelain figure could get (she kinda is very in tune with current 90s princesses of Disney) and well the soldier is such a great brave character specially considering how he acheives success eventhough he seems to be very handicapped by missing a leg but... he ends handling it and make it work neverthless.. So it´s personal superation story after all!! Andersen story was ok but Disney actually uploaded it a lot even with the happy end!

[@sauceylad]

HE HATH RETURNED

[@Toshiro93]

The best of best of both mobies for me, including the music, the art style and the merging of these two aspect, are: Fantasia 1940 > Night on bald Mountain Fantasia 2000 > The firebird

[@stephenclifford342]

Also both my favorites. But I have come to disagree that "Mountain" is a Black Mass; I think it's a Saturday night rave, and Chernobog the ultimate DJ. And then, as happens after Saturday night, comes Sunday morning and stumbling into Church.

[@mikesantillanmx5530]

I think you should have included "Clair de Lune". It was deleted, but now it is available on DVD and Blu Ray. Where would you have placed it?

[@camdencoblentz3245]

My ranking: #16. The Rite Of Spring #15. Meet The Soundtrack #14. Dance Of The Hours #13. The Carnival Of The Animals #12. The Nutcracker Suite #11. The Pastoral Symphony #10. The Pines Of Rome #9. Clair De Lune #8. Pomp And Circumstance #7. Symphony No. 5 #6. Rhapsody In Blue #5. The Firebird Suite #4. Night On Bald Mountain/Ave Maria #3. Piano Concerto No. 2 And The Steadfast Tin Soldier #2. Toccota And Fugue In D Minor #1. The Sorcerer's Apprentice If anyone wants to know my further thoughts on any of these, feel free to politely and civilly ask.

[@mlgodzilla4206]

Man I loved the entirety of the Rite of Spring segment, I didn’t mind the slower parts as it allows you to absorb the Mesozoic scene. But the dinosaurs not doing much was more of an issue of the time as the animals were regarded as oversized morons too slow for their own good

[@aidenkinerk3141]

Great video. I'd be interested in your thoughts on Allegro Non Troppo (1976), an Italian animated film that parodies Fantasia if you've seen it.

[@Ryan-Petre]

Thanks! I haven't seen a ton of Euro animation tbh, but I'll add it to my watch list. It looks pretty unique and interesting, in spite of being a parody

[@justynmiller6156]

Dance of the hours and pastoral symphony are my two favorites from the original

[@MobyTheMerpup1852]

36:54 The remastered music’s black god like

[@samuelprusa817]

I asked someone if he knew what the first feature-length animated movie was, he guessed Fantasia. He then asked if he was way off, I said you're on the right track, and said the first was actually Snow White.

[@gvidalq]

I cried a lot with this video. Thank you

[@JEFFIE-jp6kj]

FANTASIA 2000 was just awwwwwful

[@unclvinny]

Starting out strong by putting that stupid Ark segment at the bottom! Your list is terrific throughout, and your comments add a lot to think about. If they ever do another movie, I wonder if they could find a way to add Smetana's The Moldau; the opening is so magical, and the river theme could translate well to animation I think, even if the rest of the piece doesn't live up to the promise first minute.

[@lhadzyan7300]

The winged babies of Pastoral Symphony segment weren´t cherubs though look a lot like, but actually CUPIDS, i.e. the younger versions of Eros/Love spirit coming more from Roman mythology than Greek one, but as both are the classical Western mythology both were got mixed on it.

[@lhadzyan7300]

Dance of the Hours segment actually had individual leading character dancers on their own sections as the leading couple Hyacinth Hippo and Ben Ali Gator, but then Madame Barynoshvka or something Russian-like is the name for the leading ostrich with different color of clothings which starts the whole ballet. Apparently there is a special elephant called Elephanchine on their segment but she is kinda not much noticeable from the others except because she kinda gets into wierd funny and cringy stuff compared to the others. That´s kinda very in tune with the original ballet because actually there are no much leading dancers on it, except by the leading couple of dancers, thus Disney added more individual characters on it.

[@angreagach]

The name of the leading ostrich was Mademoiselle Upanova. (Get it?) Also, for the segment with the elephants, the piece is actually expanded.

[@lhadzyan7300]

@@angreagach what actually got expanded too was the scene with Hyacinth Hippo and her attendants because it´s basically the same score of the second part of Madame Upanova dancing alone first and then with all the other ostriches since when she lands on ground after having that epic soaring jump on the hights after the others (In the original ballet and opera this happens with the chorus singing "Prodigio, incanto" / Prodigy, charming" in awe after the ballet number on scene.) and then all what happens with her on the fruits untill she and the other ostriches loose the grapes into the fountain where later on rises Hyacinth as a parody of Botticelli´s Birth of Venus and eats the fruit thrown over her before! All that music is doubled for all the hyppos scene but in a funny tune with other instruments to make noticeable the wierd overwheighted and yet swifty movement on her and her attendants. The Elephants use the score of the Hour of the Afternoon or Evening (La Sera time in Italian) - the ballet has 5 movements: the Hours of Morning (the start of all) matched by Madame Upanova and ostriches, then goes the climatic Hour of the Day or Noon (repeated as Madame Upanova continues the scene and then goes into funny tune by Hyacinth Hippo and attendants time), then the Hour of the Afternoon to Evening (La Sera or Dusky Time), then the Hour of Night (scene with crocodyles and Ben Ali Gator) and the frantic Coda Finale ensemble of all together.

[@angreagach]

@@lhadzyan7300 My memory may have played a trick on me. Not sure whether the elephant or the hippo section was the extension. It was the second of those, whichever it was.

[@lhadzyan7300]

@@angreagach it was Hyacinth Hippo section which doubled Madame Upanova second part of its performance in other tuning. It might have been confusion because on the original ballet during the Hours of Evening section, there happens a repeat naturally occuring using themes from the previous Hour of the Day/Noon, as if it means Dusk time doesn´t struck straightforward but goes somewhat insiduous first on the Afternoon which later turns into Evening of late Day time after an intermission on how the brighter time of the Day wanes down yet got some glimpses back for a brief time before full Dusk time strokes naturally on. (This happens when all the Elephants surround Hyacinth to trough at her the bubbles but she eats them after being yawning, when they leave to keep dancing and playing with the bubbles on their own.) So it´s naturallly doubled from the ballet score half-way on the Elephants time, but it had been fully doubled but into another instrumental setting for all Hyacinth and her attendants time right after when it had ended with Madame Upánova section and before the Elephants came on with the Afternoon-Evening time!.

[@requiem6465]

Beethoven's 5th is my 2nd favourite behind the firebird suite

[@classicalricky]

I love classical music, so this was interesting

[@MrWill9002]

They’re all very beautiful and I can’t really rank them

[@TheMormonSorceress]

That demon scared me as a kid, till I killed him in Kingdom Hearts.

[@n.d.engleson6499]

4:27 No actually, The Rite of Spring is the longest; it's barely longer than The Pastoral Symphony by 25 seconds.

[@Ryan-Petre]

True, you are correct.

[@n.d.engleson6499]

@@Ryan-PetreAgain, 25 seconds isn’t much longer anyway, so it’s still pretty hard to tell which one is longer than the other unless you dig deeper.

[@GhostPlanetFilms]

*DID YOU KNOW?* The drummer seen here 20:17 is James MacDonald, a Disney Studio employee who would go on the voice Mickey Mouse from _Fantasia_ onward until Wayne Allwine took over in the 70s.

[@jeanTonicplusultra]

lovely video❤

[@ThePinkDragon]

love pines of rome

[@helvete_ingres4717]

I don't think you understand the pastoral symphony segment at all. It seems all you could get from it is 'cutesy' when..it's full of sex, actually. it's not even half-subtle about it! it's the most unapologetically sensual passage in all of Disney. It's an expression of a pagan sensualist worldview to contrast with the coming Christian good/evil view of the universe in the bald mountain/ave maria. Also describing Beethoven as 'pleasant' suggests our musical understanding is lacking

[@Ryan-Petre]

Nothing can be "sensual" or sexy when you put a cutesy Disney veneer over top of it. Klimt is sensual, this is soft and infantile. As for the "Pagan v Christian" point, that just sounds like an intellectualization, and as such wouldn't affect my enjoyment of the segment. And yeah, I'm not a classical music buff, my understanding is primarily intuitive. Merry Christmas.

[@jws1948ja]

and I want more. . .

[@Asmallcorneroftheinternet]

Your editing, opinions, and dead pan voice are much more appreciated compared to the other people who have reviewed and ranked these shorts. Though, going forward, try having a bit more personality in your voice. The Dead Panness is good, though you're almost a little too emotionless. Otherwise, it's a good video.

[@Ryan-Petre]

Just how I talk in everyday life, mate. In the past when I've put on a "KZbinr" voice it's sounded fake and lame. I ain't trying to be Mr. Beast lol, natural's better. Appreciate the compliments tho.

[@Asmallcorneroftheinternet]

@@Ryan-Petre That's understandable, though I'd try to find a middle ground.

[@aaronlimmer146]

You ranked Rite of Spring at 10!?!?!?!??!? WHAT is wrong with you? That one puts most of the others to shame. Disappointing.

[@stephenclifford342]

Be fair, You basically have 14 videos worthy of a 1 ranking. Of course it's impossible for them all to be #1.

[@connorbrown4924]

And that's what it's about. Even though I consider Rite Of Spring as #1.

[@ThePinkDragon]

like pastorial

[@DrummingKid78]

I staunchly disagree with most of this list

[@mebtor]

Personally I found Fantasia 2000 to be a huge disappointment. Nowhere near as daring or good as the original. The only segments worthy of their name are Rhapsody in Blue and The Firebird. The 1940 film, on the other hand, is a true masterpiece.

[@jws1948ja]

Ever heard of the word patronizing. . .

[@hardtfelt]

I'm wondering why you used that horrible piano arrangement of Ave Maria instead of the soundtrack version - were you not actually using the Fantasia soundtrack for the other pieces? Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed the presentation.

[@Ryan-Petre]

I used independent/amateur recordings of all the pieces (credited in the title cards) so Disney wouldn't take the video down lol. Some weren't the best.

[@staringcorgi6475]

The pastoral symphony is the reason why for me the 2000 version is better the beethoven song they choose for the 2000 version is better despite it being played more

[@S1NINJA]

yessir

[@CFDavid847]

Poor Beethoven…. 😢