The
animation The Fox and the Hound drifts away from the usual "they
lived happily ever after" tune we’re used to in Disney movies before it.
Not only did the movie stray from the happily-ever-after theme, but it also
introduced a more mature story. We get to see how two individuals struggle to
remain friends, even though society and their natural instincts work against
it.
There was a time
when Disney was not hooked on getting everyone to like them, they were more interested
in making animations that were different and pushed the mind, this was one of
them.
When I first saw
this movie, I was expecting the fox and the hound to have a grand reunion at
the end. But, like Bambi, who met a girl and left everything else behind, so
did the fox. On the other hand, the movie also showed something even we adults
can learn from. When a friend-turned-enemy turns their back on your friendship,
you don’t have to do the same. The fox’s choice not to repay evil with evil was
almost Christ-like in nature.
At the time of
its release, this 24th film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series was the
most expensive animated film produced to date, costing $12 million. It went
on to make over $63 million at the box office.
The Fox and the
Hound is based on a novel of the same name by Daniel P. Mannix, published
in 1967. The movie tells the story of two unlikely friends: a red fox named Tod
(who was found by and lives with an old lady, Widow Tweed) and a hound dog
named Copper, who belongs to Widow Tweed’s neighbor.
As pups, Tod and
Copper’s friendship was innocent and enjoyable for both. But as they grew,
Copper was trained to hunt game, while Tod still hoped their friendship meant
more to Copper than his master’s choice to use him as a hunting dog.
Things changed
for both when Copper’s mentor, a dog named Chief, got hurt while chasing Tod.
Now hell-bent on getting revenge for his mentor’s injury, Copper and his master
began plotting to catch and skin Tod.
With a
production time spanning over four years, the movie saw the departure of some
of Disney’s animators and the introduction of new ones. The Nine Old Men began
the production, which newer, younger animators finished.
The movie had a sequel released 15 years later, which was a direct-to-video production.
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