Fantasia was revolutionary in many ways, including its groundbreaking stereophonic sound system, which dramatically enhanced theater audio. Known as the Fantasound system, it required special installation in cinemas, making the film unlikely to turn a profit. Walt Disney even considered adding scents and 3D projection to the presentation, though those plans were ultimately abandoned.

At 124 minutes, Fantasia remained the longest Disney animated feature for decades, even by the standards of modern Disney films, its runtime is substantial.

The production budget totaled $2.28 million, an enormous sum for the time. Disney initially incurred a loss on the movie and had to recover costs later.

“The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” is the only segment in Fantasia featuring Mickey Mouse. Despite his brief appearance, it revitalized Mickey’s character design, which largely endures today.

Dopey from Snow White was almost cast as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice, but Mickey Mouse was chosen instead to revive the character’s waning popularity.

The sorcerer’s name, Yen Sid, is “Disney” spelled backward, an inside joke among the studio staff.

Under the Hays Code, garlands were added to the centaurettes in the “Pastoral Symphony” sequence. A racially stereotyped Black centaurette named Sunflower, who served the others, was removed from later releases after 1969 due to its offensive undertones.

“The Rite of Spring” sequence portrays Earth’s evolution, from single-celled organisms to the extinction of the dinosaurs, a bold choice at a time when Christian creationism was still widely accepted.

The Philadelphia Orchestra performed the score, but they don’t actually appear on screen; the orchestra shown in the film consists of actors and Disney employees.

The choreography for the “Chinese Mushroom Dance” was inspired by the slapstick antics of the Three Stooges.

Disney originally envisioned Fantasia as a constantly evolving project, with new segments replacing older ones in future releases.