Maps of Movies

Fantasia (1940)

Where Fantasia says it takes place, and where it was really shot.

Almost nowhere in this film exists, but the music was recorded in Culver City and Philadelphia and the host stood in Burbank

Scenes and places

Opening: the orchestra tunes up (1940)

Musicians gather against a blue background and tune up in half-light, half-shadow, and Deems Taylor walks on to introduce the program.

Set in A concert stage — The concert stage where the orchestra tunes up and the host introduces the program; it has no real address in the story.

The concert stage that frames the whole film.

Filmed at Walt Disney Studios, Stage 1, Burbank — The live-action scenes of the orchestra and host were the first filmed in this sound stage. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Toccata and Fugue: music turns into clouds (1940)

The orchestra fades into abstract patterns. Animated lines, shapes and cloud formations follow the sound and rhythm of the music.

Set in music turns into clouds — A space of pure pattern with no earthly setting.

A space of pure pattern with no earthly setting.

Nutcracker Suite: a forest through the seasons (1940)

Dances of fairies, fish, flowers, mushrooms and leaves carry the scene from summer through autumn to winter.

Set in a forest through the seasons — A dreamlike woodland that only exists in the animation.

A dreamlike woodland that only exists in the animation.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice: Yen Sid's castle (1940)

Mickey Mouse, apprentice to the sorcerer Yen Sid, tries some of his master's magic tricks. He does not know how to control them.

Set in Yen Sid's castle — The sorcerer's workshop, an invented place.

The sorcerer's workshop, an invented place.

The Rite of Spring: Earth before people (1940)

The scene follows the planet from its formation to the first living creatures, then the reign and extinction of the dinosaurs.

Set in Earth before people — A prehistoric Earth drawn from science, not a mapped place.

A prehistoric Earth drawn from science, not a mapped place.

The Pastoral Symphony: a day on Mount Olympus (1940)

A gathering to honor Bacchus, god of wine, is interrupted by Zeus, who makes a storm and has Vulcan forge lightning bolts to throw at the guests.

Set in a day on Mount Olympus — A mythical Greco-Roman world.

A mythical Greco-Roman world.

Dance of the Hours: the palace ballet (1940)

A comic ballet in four parts, Morning, Afternoon, Evening and Night, with ostriches, hippos, elephants and alligators dancing in turn.

Set in the palace ballet — A palace hall with a garden beyond, drawn for the film.

A palace hall with a garden beyond, drawn for the film.

Night on Bald Mountain: Walpurgis Night (1940)

On Walpurgis Night the giant devil Chernabog awakes and summons evil spirits and restless souls from their graves to Bald Mountain.

Set in Walpurgis Night — A mountain peak and graveyard that exist only in the animation.

A mountain peak and graveyard that exist only in the animation.

Filmed at Culver Studios, Culver City — The Sorcerer's Apprentice recording Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Academy of Music, Philadelphia — Main music recording Google Maps · Apple Maps

Characters

• Deems Taylor — The master of ceremonies who introduces each piece in live action.
• Mickey Mouse — The sorcerer's apprentice who tries magic he cannot control.
• Chernabog — The giant devil of Bald Mountain who summons spirits on Walpurgis Night.