MovieChat Forums > Fantasia (1941) Discussion > What's your favourite segment in 'Fantas...

What's your favourite segment in 'Fantasia'?

posted 14 years ago by A_Random_Guy_22
47 replies | jump to latest

I never really 'got' Fantasia as a kid. I might've watched it all the way through once, but, after that, I would only ever watch The Sorcerer's Apprentice short, then I'd eject the tape. I found the rest of the film boring, to be quite honest.

It was only when I re-watched it years later that I realized what I'd been missing out on all this time.

So, as a kid, I would've said with no hesitation, The Sorcerer's Apprentice. Now, however, my favourite would probably have to be Night On Bald Mountain, although I love all the segments and rank each of them very highly.

Absolutely beautiful film. Can't wait for the re-release later this year.

"It's supposed to go in there."
"Now what?"
"I think we're supposed to roll around and grunt."

[–] TheLittleSongbird 14 years ago

A Night on Bare Mountain. Scared me when I was a kid, but it is so brilliantly done and atmospheric.

"Life after death is as improbable as sex after marriage"- Madeline Kahn(CLUE, 1985)

[–] blue-peregrine 14 years ago

Dance of the Hours. The animals dancing to the music puts a smile on my face everytime when I watch this segment. ^^

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[–] Samurai_Joe_Marshall 14 years ago

It will always be The Nutcracker segment. I always thought that was so beautiful as a kid.

"Know what I mean, know what I mean, nudge nudge, nudge nudge, say no more?"

[–] RedSimba 14 years ago

"Dance of the Hours" for me too. I always tend to go for the funniest, light-hearted ones, but that segment was really good.

----------------
"What you want me to come out looking like you, cactus butt?"

[–] RavenFilmsAndReviews 14 years ago

Night On Bald Mountain

It never really scared me as a child...I was fascinated by the colors and music and how Chernabog had complete power over everything until dawn

Don't call me sugar!!

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] trisp 14 years ago

Toss-up between Sorcerer's Apprentice and Night on Bald Mountain.

Sorcerer's Apprentice--Best. Mickey. Mouse.Short.EVER!!!!

Night on Bald Mountain-- gotta love the guy on the mountain. (Oh and to the Nostalgia Critic, he really IS Chernabog not the devil. I don't care how you interpret Deems Taylor's narration.)

"HOPSCOTCH!"

[–] MetFanMac 14 years ago

The part with the dinosaurs. I love dinosaurs. :-)

Supermodels...spoiled stupid little stick figures mit poofy lips who sink only about zemselves.

[–] Goldmund1710 14 years ago

I don't have a favorite one (they're all almost terrific). However, I do have a least favorite. The Rite of Spring. Funny, being uch s nstrual history enthusiast, this one really failed to impress me though. The animation was also quite poor compared to the other segaments. Well, the volcano parts were actually pretty cool but that's all. The rest didn't work for me.

[–] friendoffilm 9 years ago

Night On Bald Mountain

It never really scared me as a child...I was fascinated by the colors and music and how Chernabog had complete power over everything until dawn

Great point, RavenFilmsAndReviews! I couldn't agree with you more!

[–] CosmosX9 14 years ago

I just posted something similar to this! XD
My favorites are "Rite of Spring", and "Pastoral Symphony."

"My Samehada, it doesn't slice...It SHAVES!!!" -Kisame (Naruto)

[–] Patigg 14 years ago

The Sorcerer's Apprentice, The Nutcracker Suite and Pastoral Symphony all share special places in my heart.

I hadn't watched this since I was a kid, and like the OP, never truly appreciated it (aside from TSA). I bought the Fantasia/Fantasia 2000 DVD yesterday, finally watched Fantasia for the 1st time as an adult and the above 3 are my top favourites.

Although Dance of the Hours and Night on Bald Mountain/Ave Maria are superb as well.

You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine... 'cause baby you're a firework.

[–] PopSixSquish 14 years ago

Oh, this is very difficult. I'll try to rank them.

1. Nutcracker Suite
2. Pastoral Symphony
3. Toccata and Fugue in D Minor
4. The Sorcerer's Apprentice
5. The Rite of Spring
6. Dance of the Hours
7. Night on Bald Mountain/Ave Maria

I love them all so much and for such different reasons, it's almost impossible to choose!! :/ I never feel all that confident in my choices/rankings. xD Same's true for Fantasia/2000.

[–] friendoffilm 9 years ago

I also liked the Rite of Spring, and, when the Tyrannosaurus Rex came after the other dinosaurs when it started to rain, I was rooting for the Stegosaurus, who, despite having put up a good fight for survival when the Tyrannosaurus Rex attacked him, went down for the final count. I felt sorry about that.

I didn't like Ave Maria nearly as much as Night on Bald Mountain or Rite of Spring.

[–] PopSixSquish 9 years ago

Yeah, me too...poor stego. -_-

Looking at my ranking from years back, I might retool my faves and least faves a little. I think Ave Maria & the latter part of Dance of the Hours (hippos & crocs) still bottom out my list; they're great, but were never as strong as the rest. Although I do associate the floating lights and imagery of Ave Maria with Christmastime even more thanks to the use of that segment in a Disney Sing-Along, so there's that. It is beautiful. But the mushrooms, flowers, fish, fairies, and often eerie abstract images of Toccata & Fugue and the Nutcracker Suite still keep them right near the top.

#1 is probably the Pastoral Symphony...I like the story and find the colors and characters mesmerizing. Especially the beautiful centaurettes, and the pegasi.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice is just so classic (and I still find it terrifying! :D) Same for Night on Bald Mountain, which I appreciate more as an adult. Maybe being near the end worked against it when I was little. The Rite of Spring is brilliant...although it can drag a bit. I remember that that was often the point where I'd stop the movie when I was younger, and then return to finish it later. But even when it was starting to lose my kiddie interest, something would happen to bring me back into it.

[–] morganfcgirl-890-523397 14 years ago

Ever since I was little my favorite has been Night On Bald mountain, runner up would be the Nutcracker Suite.

[–] tango-t 14 years ago

Nutcracker suite is my favorite - those dancing toadstools are the best thing to ever appear on film. I love all of it though.

[–] Tashtago 14 years ago

Deems Taylor. Just kidding. It's really hit and miss for me loved some of it was bored by other sections. And certainly there is a wide range of opinions on this subject...

Hits
Rite of Spring
Sorcerer's Apprentice
Night on Bald Mountain

Miss
Pastoral Symphony
Dance of the Hours

So So
Nutcracker Suite

[–] shadrachs 14 years ago

Night on Bald Mountain/Ave Maria, easily. Toccata and Fugue is probably the second best.

My least favorite is Rite of Spring, though that one is still beautiful. The movie, overall, is just pretty close to perfect

[–] SpaceMushroom 14 years ago

Night on Bald Mountain and Ave Maria compliment each other quite well... And a somewhat perfect ending I might add.

[–] frederik olsen 14 years ago

Night on Bald Mountain/Ave Maria and The Nutcracker Suite are probably my favourite segments overall. But it's easier to say which ones are my least favourites: the Pastoral Symphony (which quickly turns very dull) and Dance of the Hours (which I just find plain dull).

[–] movibuf1962 14 years ago

The final mesh of "Night on Bald Mountain" and "Ave Maria-" a visually stupendous translation of Halloween night into All Saint's Day. The caravan of nuns that travels through the forest of cathedral-shaped redwoods while the morning dawns in "Ave Maria" is especially gorgeous- not to mention the 50-voice, multiple harmony, choir.