Fantasia (1940)

Fantasia (1940) remains a landmark in abstract animation, with its "Night on Bald Mountain/Ave Maria" finale—a 10-minute sequence that vividly depicts darkness giving way to light, mirroring the Easter narrative. The Rite of Spring segment, costing $2.3 million to produce, evokes themes of death and rebirth through dinosaur extinction. Outperforming #9 *Peter Rabbit* in artistic depth, it uses classical music alone to drive emotion, unlike narrative-driven films. Its 98% Rotten Tomatoes score proves it endures as a culturally significant masterpiece, transcending typical holiday fare.