Fantasia: Discussion Guide for Parents

Walt Disney Pictures, 1940

All information below is general suggestions and ideas. 

Always adapt to your family’s situation and beliefs and the needs of individual children. 

Content Warnings:

• Some music and accompanying animation is intense and may trouble sensitive viewers.
• Sorcerer’s Apprentice animates brooms and kills some; near drowning. 
• Dinosaurs hunt, attack, defend, kill.  
• Semi-nudity - topless centaurettes, naked cherubs/cupids (see buttocks, no genitals), breasts of spirit women
• Alcohol/drunkeness (implied)
• Depictions of Satan, disembodied spirits rising from graves

Before Beginning:

Fantasia is an anthology film. Watched at once, (in my opinion), it’s kind of long and boring,  for any age, really. Kids and teens may enjoy watching one movement at a time. 

Discussion Questions

1. In “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” things get out of hand while the sorcerer is away. What kind of things went wrong? How could the apprentice have made things go differently?

• The apprentice used the sorcerer’s magic hat - he took something that did not belong to him, which he did not have permission to use. 
• The apprentice used magic to make the brooms do his work, rather than doing it himself. He sat in idleness while the brooms did the work for him. 
• The apprentice fell asleep and was surprised by how things got out of hand. He was not paying attention.

2. In “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” things got out of control until the apprentice was spinning down a whirlpool - he was in big trouble and unable to save himself. Just in time, the sorcerer returned and saved him. How is this like our own struggle with sinned the Savior’s role? 

• Sin grows bigger and bigger, until it seems to engulf us. We can’t get ourselves out. The Savior can come and rescue us. We respond and give our thanks by following Him, just as an apprentice follows his master. 

3. “Rites of Spring” (and the conductor’s introduction) depicts the beginnings of life on earth. Read the Creation story in the scriptures. How are the series similar? how are they different? What can we learn from the scriptures and from scientific discoveries about God and our world? 

• Discuss nonliteral interpretations of scripture. Scripture’s primary goal is to teach us about God and humanity, not history or scientific inquiry. What can we learn from scripture about the nature of God, the earth, and humanity (even if the story didn’t happen in six literal days)?
• Pay attention to the order of things - what kind of life appears first, second, third - in scripture and the film? Consider researching surest scientific theories - how does their order compare? 

4. In “The Pastoral Symphony,” the black pegasus tries to fly many times, but falls. Each time, his Mother comes to carefully pick him up. How is this similar to the Savior, who comes to our rescue after we fall? The pegasus continues to get up and try again. This is an example of perseverance. How can you practice perseverance? 
5. While the creatures are celebrating a festival in “The Pastoral Symphony,” it begins to rain and Zeus sends down thunderbolts. Why do you think he does this? Once the rain clear, the creatures come back out and there is a rainbow in the sky. How is this part of the story similar to and different from Noah’s ark and the rainbow which follows? 
6. In “Night on Bald Mountain,” what happened to the creatures when the church bells started ringing? How is this symbolic of what happens in our lives when the Savior enters?

• Example: When Satan reigned, there was chaos and darkness. After the church bells rang, Satan and the spirits surrendered their power and the light took over. When we live in sin, things are dark and chaotic. When we follow the Savior we can have light and hope.

7. “Ave Maria” is a song about Mary, Jesus' mother. What do we learn in the scriptures about Mary? How is she an example of faith?

Scripture Connections

• Laziness/Idleness and Work. Gen 3:19; 2 Chron 15:7; Proc 14:23; Matt 25:14-27; Acts 20:33-34; 2 Nephi 5:17; Mosiah 2:14, 23:5; D&C 42:42; Moses 4:25
• Sin & Redemption. Rom 3:23, 5:12, 6:6, 6:12-23; Eph 2:5; Heb 12:1; 1 John 5:17; 1 Nephi 10:6; Helaman 6:30; D&C 88:86
• Creation. Gen 1:1-2:22; Exodus 31:17; Moses 1:33, 2:26-3:22; Abraham 4:1-5:17
• Perseverance. John 8:3; Col 1:23; Heb 12:1; D&C 6:13
• Noah’s Ark. Gen 5:29-9:17, Moses 7:42-8:30

Ideas for Further Study

• Fantasia uses music from a full orchestra. Research the sections that make up and orchestra. Choose one instrument to learn more about.
• Think of parts of the movie that stood out to you.  Research the composer of the music and write about their life and music career (or, for the segments from a ballet, research choreographers). Attend a performance of classical music or dance. 
• Ekphrastic art is art inspired by other art (traditionally, poetry inspired by visual art). Fantasia is an example of ekphrastic art - it’s visual art inspired by existing music. Try your own ekphrastic exercise. Start with a piece of visual art or instrumental music. Experience the art and create something (visual, poetry, a story, music) based on what you saw, heard, felt, thought while experiencing the original art. 
• “The Nutcracker” portion of the film included many beautiful plants and flowers. Research some of them. Draw your own plant/flower artwork. Visit a public garden or arboretum. What plants grow naturally where you live?
• An apprentice is a person who studies under a master to learn their work (like making shoes or clothes, farming). Research what apprenticeship was like in the past. Or, research a job you might like to do in the future. See if one child or the whole family can shadow an occupation for a day. 
• “Rite of Spring” depicts the beginnings of life on earth. Research theories about early life on earth. Visit a science or natural history museum. 
• The “Rite of Spring” scene shows many animals and creatures that are extinct. Choose one that interests you and learn more about it. Or, choose an animal that lives on the earth now but is endangered (may become extinct soon). Visit a science or natural history museum.
• Learn more about Mount Olympus. Who are the gods and other creatures that live there? Choose one that interests you and research it. 
• “Dance of the Hours” includes animals dancing ballet. Research something about ballet that interest you (history, how pointe shoes are made, a dancer living today). Try your hand at ballet by watching a youtube video or attending a class.