Fantasia 2000 (2000, VHS)

Sixty years ago, Walt Disney created a beautiful marriage of classical music and animation with "Fantasia." Animated sequences were paired with the works of great composers to create flights of fancy and humor. Sometimes, they told stories, and sometimes they were just creative vignettes. Disney animation has always been synonymous with superlative beauty, so it was only natural for Disney animators to combine the beauty of their art with the beautiful art of classical music.

"Fantasia 2000" is a welcome return to that territory. Memories of the 1940 effort are evoked throughout the film. In fact, the "Sorcerer's Apprentice" sequence featuring Mickey Mouse reappears here. Six other classical pieces are given the Disney treatment, beginning with Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. The sequence is nice, but it's just introductory material. Next comes Respighi's "Pines Of Rome," featuring whales in their school dance. Both are interesting vignettes.

"Fantasia 2000" hits its stride when stories are added to the mix. The third sequence sets a story to George Gershwin's "Rhapsody In Blue." It's the tale of four New Yorkers who grudgingly face their mundane existences by day so they can do what they really want to do at night. Their lives interconnect without them even being aware of it. It's a symphony that celebrates everyday life elegantly, and is the best new sequence of the film.

The next sequence is the interpretation of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," set to the music of "Piano Concerto No. 2" by Dmitri Shostakovich. It's the tale of a one-legged tin soldier battling an evil jack-in-the-box for the affection of a ballerina doll. In the end, the soldier prevails. It's a simple tale of love conquering all.

The last short before "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" is a telling of "Carnival Of The Animals" by Saint-Saens. In it, a flamingo creates trouble for his flock when he starts playing with a yo-yo. It's a cute sequence, but it reminded me of the better "Dance Of The Hours" sequence from "Fantasia."

Then comes a reminder of the greatness of "Fantasia." Mickey Mouse stars in Disney's version of the Paul Dukas piece. In it, Mickey grows tired of the menial labor his sorcerer makes him do, so he puts the magic he has learned to work for him. Unfortunately, he hasn't been taught the proper control of it, and that becomes increasingly obvious until the sorcerer intervenes. This is a masterpiece of animated comedy, and one just as fresh as it was when first released.

The "Pomp And Circumstance" segment that follows is a companion piece to "The Sorcerer's Apprentice." Set to the music of Sir Edward Elgar, it stars Donald Duck as Noah's assistant on the ark. It's Donald's responsibility to make sure a pair of every animal comes aboard. The only problem Donald has is that he cannot keep track of his beloved Daisy. The other animals keep getting in the way. Eventually, once the ark has landed on Mt. Ararat, Donald discovers Daisy's locket. When Daisy comes back to the ark to retrieve it, the love ducks are happily reunited, and Donald receives his ultimate reward for a job well done.

The final sequence is a tale about the cycle of life set to Igor Stravinsky's "Firebird Suite - 1919 Version." In it, a moose and a spirit of nature witness the seasons of the year in all their beauty and fury, much like the volcano sequence in "Fantasia." It's a story of the way nature has to be told in a beauty befitting Disney.

Celebrities introduce each sequence of "Fantasia 2000." The celebrity list consists of Steve Martin, Quincy Jones, Itzhak Perlman, Bette Midler, James Earl Jones, Penn and Teller, and Angela Lansbury. James Levine, who masterfully conducts the Chicago Symphony Orchestra here, introduces "Pomp And Circumstance." They introduce the features with both wit and reverence.

The folks at Disney must have known that creating a sequel to "Fantasia" would be a daunting task. While "Fantasia 2000" will always be in the shadow of its predecessor, it captures the spirit of the earlier film. It is a more than adequate sequel to one of Disney's very best films. "Fantasia 2000" is another fine example of symphonic art.