The now-classic animated film Fantasia opened on November 13, 1940, to lukewarm reviews. However, the Disney (see entry under 1920s—Film and Theater in volume 2) film went on to be considered among the best animated films of all time and remains unique for its attempt to bring together highbrow culture and popular culture. Its depiction of animated characters "acting" to classical music had never been attempted before. The music was performed by the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, conducted by the legendary Leopold Stokowski (1882–1977).

Motion-picture executive Walt Disney (1901–1966) had a vision of a film that would finally bring respect to the art of animation. How better to bring respectability to animation than to match animation with that most respectable of art forms at the time, classical music? He and Stokowski began to work together on the first of the sections, "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," starring Disney's most famous creation, Mickey Mouse. That sequence...