The Fantasia Anthology (3-Disc Collector's Edition)
Along withFantasiaandFantasia 2000, the  anthology set contains a third disc that examines a segment of both  movies in detail. Each segment has an introduction that has experts  (including Leonard Maltin), producer Roy E. Disney, or the animators  setting up the piece's history. Notes on the music and dozens of design  photos are included on all the segments, although others offer more  intriguing features. Abandoned animation is shown on many segments, as  are a few behind-the-scenes shorts; the most intriguing are experts  from Walt Disney's hosted documentaries on how his company made movies.  As for the photos, they are awkwardly catalogued and only the most  patient of viewers would want to look at all of them. In some segments,  though, these images are entertainingly produced as a "story reel,"  presenting these images--rough animation, sketches, pastel  paintings--with the musical accompaniment. For those looking for a more  well-rounded view of the films, the two one-hour documentaries on each film's disc lay the groundwork, but none of the anthology looks at how  the first film was seen through the years or gives time to anyone who  wasn't gung-ho about every element of the films. There is hardly a  mention of embarrassing stereotypes that were matted (and still are)  out of the "Pastoral" segment, or the intriguing aspect of the film as  a '60s icon for the ultimate head-trip. Disney does let their guard  down to show sequences that were being readied in 1940 for future  editions (including a recently restored short scored to "Clair de  Lune"). Most tantalizing is a look at how the special effects were done  in the original film. The guide is a scrapbook that one of the  technicians kept and was discovered only in 1990. Fans can only hope a  reproduction will be made available someday.--Doug Thomas