Day 24: The Fox and the Hound

The Fox and the Hound (1981)

Starring: Mickey Rooney, Keith Mitchell, Kurt Russell, Corey Feldman, Jack Albertson, Pearl Bailey, Sandy Duncan, Dick Bakalyan, Paul Winchell, Jeanette Nolan, Pat Buttram, John Fielder, John McIntire

Songs: "Best of Friends," "Lack of Education," "A Huntin' Man," "Appreciate the Lady," "Goodbye May Seem Forever"

The Fox and the Hound is Disney's twenty-fourth animated feature.  It's based on the novel by Daniel P. Mannix, and it tells the story of unlikely friends Tod and Copper, an orphaned fox and a hunting dog in training.  Tod is raised by Widow Tweed, and Copper belongs to her neighbor Amos Tweed, a hunter.  The two become friends as youngsters, but as when they grow up they are forced to feel like they must be enemies.  

This movie began production in 1977 and is kind of on the cusp of two eras of Disney animation -- and two generations of creative talent at the Disney studio.  The animators that had been Walt Disney's go to in the previous decades -- a group he affectionately referred to as the "Nine Old Men" -- were mostly nearing retirement, and the next group of animators (the likes of Don Bluth, John Lasseter, Glen Keane, and many of the other animators that would go on to play pivotal roles in the Disney Renaissance that began with The Little Mermaid) were beginning to take over the production.  The two groups clashed over how to handle the story and the design of the film, and Don Bluth walked out with eleven other artists to start his own studio (and would eventually be responsible for films like The Land Before Time, Thumbelina, and Anastasia).  Replacing those animators and resuming work on the film delayed the release for over a year.

This film looks really pretty.  The backgrounds are very picturesque, much more pleasing in their colors than The Rescuers.  The animation is very nice and skillfully done.  Considering the fact that the film began production with one team and finished with another, it's surprisingly cohesive.  

This is a movie I liked as a kid, but I didn't watch it often because it was intense and made me sad.  I feel the same way about it now... I like it still (probably less than I did then, however) but it's not one I would watch for fun.

What I Liked: The character designs!  The animals look fantastic -- realistic but still charming and cute.

What I Disliked: It's so sad!  Like, yes, I know that's the idea.  And sometimes angst can feel good, but it's just sad.  That's why this is a movie I wasn't looking forward to re-watching.

Should You Watch This Movie: If you can stand the heartbreak.