“Fantasia,” an animated film produced by Walt Disney Productions and released by RKO Radio Pictures, is recognised as a landmark in the development of cinema. It broke new ground in many respects.

Disney settled on the film's concept in 1938 as work neared completion on “The Sorcerer's Apprentice,” originally an elaborate “Silly Symphony” cartoon designed as a comeback role for Mickey Mouse. As production costs surpassed what the short could earn, Disney decided to include it in a feature-length film. The soundtrack was recorded using multiple audio channels and reproduced with “Fantasound,” a pioneering system that made “Fantasia” the first commercial film shown in stereo and a precursor to surround sound.

“Fantasia” was first released as a theatrical roadshow that was held in 13 cities across the U.S. between 1940 and 1941. Since 1942, the film has been reissued multiple times and is the 24th highest-grossing film of all time in the US.

The film consists of eight animated segments set to pieces of classical music:

Johann Sebastian Bach: "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor"

Pyotr Tchaikowsky: "The Nutcracker Suite"

Paul Dukas: "The Sorcerer's Apprentice"

Igor Stravinsky: "Rite of Spring"

Ludwig van Beethoven: 6th Symphony (“Pastoral”)

Amilcare Ponchielli: "Dance of the Hours"

Modest Mussorgsky: "A Night on Bald Mountain"

Franz Schubert: "Ave Maria"

Other important works were originally included but had to be deleted, including “Troika” by Sergei Rachmaninoff.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org