The Fox and the Hound

The Fox and the Hound was released in theatres on July 10, 1981. It marks the first film for a few animators that would eventually become very influential directors, Brad Bird, Tim Burton, and John Lasseter. It also marks the last involvement by the original group of animators hired by Walt during the making of Snow White. The group was known as the Nine Old Men. The last remaining of that group finishing with Fox and the Hound were Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston.

The Fox and the Hound was a success in the theaters making over 60 million dollars with a budget of 12 million. Still a part of the Forgotten Age where there was little use of the intellectual property. You can find a few plushies and there was a straight to video sequel made twenty-five years later, but for the most part it is lost to the film only.

This seemed like the perfect opportunity to tie in 101 Dalmatians and Lady and the Tramp, but I didn’t notice any cameos or tie ins to those films. Instead, we are treated to an emotional and quite serious Disney film. There is very little comedy in it and the themes are quite dark. It actually gives you some thoughts on destiny and the difference between nature and nurture. In general, I was impressed with how deep the film really is.

The animation and music is par for the course during these times. I thought the animation had a bit more personality than the rescuers and the music was a little less generic, but we are still lightyears away from what they were producing thirty years earlier.

This was a pretty good film that could have been more with some inclusions in the Disney parks, maybe a spin off cartoon. But, the seriousness of the film puts it more in line with Bambi or Lady and the Tramp which are somewhat limited to their inclusion in the park rides and spin offs.

Run Time – 83 Minutes

54th Academy Awards – 0 Nominations – 0 Wins

Disney Animated Canon so far in order of Quality

1. Lady and the Tramp 6-22-1955

2. Peter Pan 2-5-1953

3. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh 3-11-1977

4. One Hundred and One Dalmatians 1-25-1961

5. Dumbo 10-23-1941

6. The Fox and the Hound 7-10-1981

7. Cinderella 2-15-1950

8. Pinocchio 2-7-1940

9. Sleeping Beauty 1-29-1959

10. The Adventure of Ichabod and Mr. Toad 10-5-1949

11. The Jungle Book 10-18-1967

12. Robin Hood 11-8-1973

13. Make Mine Music 4-20-1946

14. Fun and Fancy Free 9-27-1947

15. The Aristocats 12-11-1970

16. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 12-21-1937

17. Saludos Amigos 8-24-1942

18. The Sword in the Stone 12-25-1963

19. The Rescuers 6-22-1977

20. Alice in Wonderland 7-26-1951

21. Melody Time 5-27-1948

22. Bambi 8-13-1942

23. Fantasia 11-13-1940

24. The Three Caballeros 12-21-1944