Fantasias series of short animated sequences accompanied by classic orchestration have been much celebrated since its release, including the unforgettable Sorcerers Apprentice with Mickey Mouse performing magic and the rise and fall of the dinosaurs. But the final sequence called Night on Bald Mountain takes a seriously dark turn, following the satanic super demon Chernabog, who raises the spirits of the dead and scares the hell out of any child watching. How can it go from a cartoon mouse wearing a magicians hat to a yellow-eyed devil resurrecting the deceased? It has been noted that, though Fantasia is a landmark film, it is wildly inconsistent for this very reason. It checks off many items on a list of common fears; fear of the dark, of death, of demons and of the dead coming back to life, and the whole sequence is only one of seven in the two hour run time. The epic music only enhances the horror of what plays out on screen, right to the final moment in which Chernabog wraps his wings around his body and blends in to the peak of Bald Mountain once again. This shadowy, foreboding sequence ranks among the most disturbing scenes from any family film ever.
