The Fox and the Hound (1981)

Memorable, crazy movie

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

After Walt's death, the Disney animation studio struggled to stay in business and produce wholesome entertaining pictures. While they were harmless and enjoyable entertainment, films like The Aristocats and Robin Hood lacked the cohesive narratives of the films that had Walt's involvement (this was remedied with the release of The Rescuers). The style and look of films had stagnated as well. The xerox technology that streamlined the animation process gave the films a scratchy and unfinished look. This was the style of the Disney films for nearly 20 years with no change nor progress.The release of The Fox and the Hound changed the studio had been going. This was the last film to have prominent involvement of Walt's top artists and writers, some of whom had worked at the studio since the 1930's. Many new artists had been working at the studio for a few years. Thus this film was a transitional film from the old guard to the new. Although from many insider accounts, this transition was not a smooth one. Don Bluth, one of the top artists from the new guard, decided to form his own studio and take many of the animators with him. This delayed the release of this film by a few months.Fortunately, these complications did not affect the overall film. Like The Rescuers that preceded it, this film turned out a strong cohesive narrative. I'm surprised that it hasn't been mentioned much in recent years, but the story has a darker and more mature tone and theme to it than most Disney films of the previous decades. While great liberties were taken in adapting the source material, the writers managed to create a compelling theme of two friends who aren't aware they're naturally supposed to be enemies and how they confront the issue as adults.The artistry of the Disney films finally started to show progress starting with this film. The animation no longer has an unfinished look. I presume the xerox photography had advanced so that they were able to xerox colored lines like those that appeared in the features in the 1940's and 50's. This artistic progression would continue at a great rate for the next several years.While it was critically acclaimed at the time of release and a subsequent reissue, this film hasn't been held in high esteem by fans or the Disney company itself in recent years. The films greatest strengths are the theme of a strong friendship threatened by external circumstances and the fact that there isn't a happy ending, but a bittersweet one, which is unconventional for a Disney film in a way. Definitely worth watching, like most features released after Walt's death, this one is underrated.

This film, despite the flaws that several critics give it, is one of my favorite Disney movies so far. In fact, it started my fascination with red foxes due to its combination of light and dark. This is more of a PG film, as I was genuinely horrified by pictures of Tod snarling at Copper, not to mention thematic elements, peril, and animal/firearm violence. That is one of the main reasons why I just adore this movie, but it is simultaneously an era of change for Disney, as Don Bluth left during development and a combination of old (Wolfgang Reitherman) and new (John Musker, Ron Clements, Glen Keane, John Lasseter, Tim Burton, Brad Bird, and even Joseph Barbera and Iwao Takamoto) faces would contribute to the animation. The songs are slightly forgettable but are still very fun or provoking to listen to (particularly Goodbye May Seem Forever), and despite the failures of Dinky, Boomer, and Squeeks as comic reliefs, the drama more than makes up for it. You will not regret seeing it, even if you don't like foxes or some of the big name actors in the film (Paul Winchell, Mickey Rooney, Corey Feldman, and Sandy Duncan are some examples).

This is one of my all-time favorite cartoons ever since my childhood.It shows us unlikely but really beautiful friendship between little Fox and Puppy who is being trained to become Hunting Hound...Several events take place and they are forced to become enemies and their lives change from its core...They soon have to adjust to extreme changes but eventually learn what is the most important thing...This story is so wonderful, heartwarming and beautifully made that it can't leave anyone indifferent. And it sure brings back great memories ... ah nostalgia ... I would recommend it to everyone. And it will always have a place in your heart.

So this movie is basically about a bromance and friendship between a fox and a hound. The problem is, one is trained to be a hunter and the other is a prey for the human hunter. I my personal opinion the main aspect that drives this movie is the cuteness and the relationship between the animal characters. Also the bond when it comes to friendship is actually heartwarming in this. When it comes to friendship, the test of time plays a big part. The development and the animation is also really well done. There are no musical numbers (well there is, but it's very subtle) or anything like that, this is strictly based on the development of the friendship. Even if some parts seem to be drawn out, like the birds and the caterpillar parts. Overall, this movie plays a part in my childhood memories for a reason, even if it's slightly. I don't know, I like these types of stories, where the relationship between 2 shouldn't be but it happens. And how certain circumstances makes things a bit complicated.7.5/10