Fantasia

I can't lie, I actually skipped Fantasia. I know, I know--that ruins the integrity of the whole experience, but I'm over it. I did go back and watch it sometime between Fun and Fancy Free and Cinderella, but I didn't finish it. I couldn't--it was so boring!
I actually had seen Fantasia before. When I was a very small child, I remember it was the only kids movie that my grandmother had, so I think I watched parts of it. Obviously I didn't watch the whole thing as a child when I couldn't even get through it as an adult! Anyway, I didn't have any real clear memories of the movie itself.
This is the thing that I don't particularly like about a couple of these early ones--there is no story! It's just like Disney was so impressed with himself and the animation technology that he just wanted to show everyone what he could do, not tell a story. The first part is the very worst--the part with the conductor, the lights, and the shadows of the instrumentalists. Don't get me wrong, it is a very cool video effect and would require precise staging and cinematography, but that does not make up for the fact that it is boring as heck! The next sequence started out fun with the fairies and the flowers, but it also quickly became old.
I think that there is supposed to be a story created with the animation within each of the compositions. This is easy to distinguish in the magicians apprentice, but not in any of the other ones that I saw (keeping in mind that I didn't make it through the whole movie).
The one thing that I do think I got out of watching this movie is an urge to start listening to classical music. I bought the London Philharmonic Orchestra's 100 Most Essential Pieces of Classical Music, and I have enjoyed every minute of it!
So, that's about all I have to say about that. I think that this movie would be a good one to show really young kids who wouldn't understand a story line anyway. It might hold their attention with all the bright colors and animated choreography, and it will promote higher cognitive function through the classical music!

Pinocchio

When I say Pinocchio, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Is it a growing nose? Because that is what I always thought of. That, I would dare say, is Pinocchio's biggest claim to fame. Imagine my surprise when it only happens one time in the entire movie! I mean, the whole thing is really just a casually mentioned thought in a passing conversation.
Pinocchio is Disney's second animated feature, and one of the few Disney animated classics that I had never seen before beginning this movie club. It was really nothing like I expected. Looking back, I really did not know what I expected, but it wasn't what I got.
A couple of things really surprised me. First, the aforementioned lack of nose growing. Second, is the fact that they used the other word for donkey (the one that starts with an A). I also was thoroughly disappointed in Pinocchio for drinking and smoking! I suppose the point of Pleasure Island is to show kids that those things are bad but, even so, you don't expect to see those kind of things in a Disney movie. I am glad that I watched this movie before I went to Disney world though, because it gave me context for Disney's night club "Pleasure Island". (So what Disney taught us as kids was wrong is now a major Disney attraction for us as adults?)
This leads me to an interesting question though--do you think it is better to show kids to things like drinking to illustrate that it is wrong, or to not expose them to it at all?
Third surprise--I didn't realize that Jiminy Cricket was not a very skilled conscience. As Pinocchio goes through various experiences and their consequences, Jiminy learns how to better guide him. I think that it is an intentional parallel to reality, as young children often don't have a great sense of what is right or wrong. In fact, technically speaking, our brains do not stop developing well into our 20's. I think that is why teenagers are pretty much the meanest species on the face of the planet.
Similar to Snow White there are some very deliberate morals or lessons throughout the movie; a characteristic that is somewhat lost in future Disney movies but that I quite enjoy. All in all, I think that this is one that I would maybe own and show my kids. I don't know, I still have a while to decide on that one.

On another note, did you know that Pinocchio gets hanged in the original story? It's true! You can download the whole story here. Don't worry--the story is public domain so it's totes legal. Chapter 15 is where you will find the hanging.