The pre-short narrations. While some view them as interesting little bits of trivia and insight into the creation process (Especially with how much was rejected!). Others feel that they fit better as DVD extras, and that some of the celebrity narrations went on a bit too long, were distracting, and would distract from the flow.
The Denser and Wackier nature of the film in general. Some state the pieces from 2000, while well-made, lack the elegance of the original, which had cartoony segments, but also a better balance of more atmospheric works or even abstract visual pieces, while 2000 focuses less on music and more animation and story, with some segments such as "Carnival Of Animals" feeling closer to parody pieces.
Does the rehash of The Sorcerer's Apprentice need to be there, or would it have been better used to put in Clair de Lune, which was cut from the original and only available via certain (and less legal) ways?
The first segment, "Beethoven's Fifth", also has a lot of contention. It's intended to be an abstract piece similar to "Tocatta and Fugue". Some think it doesn't quite fit the definition since there is a coherent plotline to Beethoven's fifth. Others feel that it itself does count as a type of abstraction.
"The Firebird" - Should it have followed up with something similar to "Ave Maria" did to "Night on Bald Mountain", or does the short serve the purpose as is.
Contested Sequel: Given the film is the sequel to Fantasia, which is widely regarded by critics and audiences as being Walt Disney's best work, this reception is inevitable. Depending on who you ask, it is either a masterpiece and a worthy follow-up, a film that doesn't live up to Fantasia, but is still good in its own right, or a watered-down and disjointed travesty that fails to capture what made Fantasia work in the first place outside of a couple of segments.
It's hard to qualify Nasty Nanny as a villain, as the only 'evil' thing she does is to take Rachel to her many classes despite that she doesn't perform well in any of them. In other words, she just does her job. However, her act of grabbing Rachel against her will, not letting her to say goodbye to her parents before they go to work, can count.
The Firebird, in a way. For how destructive it is initially, its intervention was necessary for the Nature Sprite to not only revitalize the forest, but make it even more lush and green than before due to the ashes and lava rock in the soil. Basically, the actual fire ecology that's often part of a forest's natural life cycle.
Fandom-Enraging Misconception: Confusing the Spring Sprite for a younger, 2D version of Te Fiti from Moana is a surefire way to get some annoyed corrections coming your way. Not helping matters is that Te Fiti is also strongly associated with a destructive behemoth made of lava.
The Firebird is an embodiment of pure destruction. 13 years later, Pokémon X and Y has Yveltal as the mascot in Y version. Said monster is a red bird-like creature that represents death and destruction. Amusingly, Yveltal's counterpart is also an elk-like being that embodies life and rebirth.
Speaking of the Firebird, 2019 would see the release of another film where a giant flaming bird bursts out of a volcano and opposes a glowing nature spirit.
The jester jack-in-the-box bears more than a passing resemblance to Lord Farquaad.
When trying to convince kids that stage magic isn't real, Penn Jillette runs through a series of synonyms for Bullshit.
that's often part of a forest's natural life cycle.