6. The Apprentice's Mops
In recent years, Fantasia has lost its grip on the populace as a "classic" Disney film. It's not the typical narrative seen in more popular cartoons like Pinocchio and Lady and the Tramp. There's no Prince Charming like in Snow White and The Little Mermaid. And while there's music, it's not easy to sing along to like A Whole New World or Can You Feel the Love Tonight. It's an abstract symphony of Greek gods, dancing mushrooms and, well... symphonies. Midway through the film we're introduced to Mickey, the Sorcerer's Apprentice. Based on the composition of Dukas, who in turn based his work on the writings of Goethe, Mickey's apprentice finds himself attempting to step into his master's shoes. Trying to find the easy way out of housework, he conjures up a spell to make his mop do his chores for him. As the possessed mop does its work like an automaton, it doesn't realize that the whole room has begun to flood. In an act of desperation, we watch as Mickey's silhouette hacks the poor appliance into splinters. Another problem violently solved. But, like an earthworm dissected in a junior high biology class, the splintered bits of mop regenerate, dumping more and more water into the room as the orchestral violins swell in the background. Apparently toying with the dark arts is a bad idea. In a way, the apprentice's mops are the thematic predecessor of the modern zombie. They're easily replenished in numbers, tenacious, and offer no opportunity to defeat them using rational thought and reason. Also, they can be killed with fire.