Okay, so placing The Fox and the Hound into the same category as The Bicycle Thief may be a stretch, but there is something about this movie that sets it apart from all other Disney animated films. Fox, along with Bambi and Lady and the Tramp, are the only Disney animated films that portray a reality without fairy dust, animals wearing clothes or lions that have formed alliances with hyenas to overthrow an animalistic royal lineage. True- the animals do talk and occasionally sing, but for the most part, they do stay true to the nature of their existence. But, Bambi, with its characters reacting against and to nature, borders on being an animated nature documentary (if such a thing is possible.) And, Lady and the Tramp has far too cheery of a Hollywood ending to be accepted as neorealism. Which leaves Fox and the Hound: the tale of young pup Copper and fox Tod who become childhood friends and are then forced to turn on each other by the demands of society. Not exactly your standard Disney fare. And, most importantly, it has a true, realistic, bittersweet ending. It's only been attempted once by Disney and probably never again. Which is a shame because Fox and the Hound has some of the most sincere and heartbreaking moments ever brought to animation. It isn't a perfect film, but its intentions are honorable and that makes The Fox and the Hound a true animated classic.

**Note- the current 25th Anniversary DVD does not do justice to this film. It is not presented in the correct aspect ratio. The image has been cleaned to a degree, but there is too much digitization. Considering the significance of Fox and the Hound in the history of Disney animation, it deserves a two disc, widescreen DVD release.

This is without a doubt one of Disney's most under appreciated classics. Great animation, fantastic voice acting and lovable characters and before all the PC nonsense that bogs down most newer Disney productions. This is Disney at its best, much better than the likes of Hunchback, Tarzan, Pochonatas, Hercules, Aladdin etc. If you haven't seen this one, give it a try, you'll be in for a pleasant surprise!

Very loosely adapted from the Daniel P. Mannix novel of the same name, 'The Fox And The Hound (1981)' focuses on two unlikely friends who struggle to maintain their bond as they inevitably move into adulthood. One is trained to hunt (and even kill) the other, which obviously puts a bit of a strain on the relationship. Will they be able to overcome their nature and stay pals? Well, that's basically the core concept of the piece. It's an interesting theme and the flick often does a decent job dealing with it. It's a small-scale story with personal stakes that typically works quite well. The film is rather slow, though; its plot seems to have been stretched to fit its feature length. It lacks energy, too. I mean, its opening is possibly one of Disney's dullest and its songs are just lazy, to be honest. Ultimately, though, it's a relatively enjoyable time. Its finale is exciting, its animation is entertaining and its central relationship is engaging. It's a solid, mid-tier effort from Disney. 6/10.

This is a film that both delighted me and deeply upset me, because it seemed so happy, and yet, so unfair at the same time. The two best friends, the "Fox and the Hound", meet again after they are fully grown adults, or, when they are old enough to face the fact that their friendship was never meant to be. That broke my heart, because it was such a beautiful friendship, unfairly tarnished by a cruel world. If only our world was a happy place, where races and cultures didn't matter, and if only we could recognize those characters as our friends, and not our enemies simply because of our ethnic differences. Years later, Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing" brought up that same point with a vengeance. And, like "The Fox and the Hound", it shows how much that beautiful friendship between people won't last because of how society determines our friends and enemies. It makes no sense, and it's unfair. What's more, Tod, the fox, endures more than any other character in the film. Other characters, and especially the hunter, discriminated against him without thinking. And we the audience had to endure seeing him go through this misery, all because he was born a fox! It's insane! Sadly, it's true to life. And that is the main reason it was made for kids, to point out how wonderful a friendship is, and how ridiculous it is to tarnish it because of a racial or ethnic difference! And although this film runs on the standard Disney formula, with the songs, the comic relief, the love interest, and the villain, this film really touched me, because I wanted to see their friendship go on. And although it did go on in some form, there is always that feeling of "he doesn't belong" being uttered by many of the other characters. Why? Well, this film asks children and adults alike, that very question.

I really liked the way this film followed two different characters on their life journeys. It was a departure from the usual Disney plot structure. These characters are well fleshed out and engaging. The only reason I didn't rate this higher was because of a certain unbelievable bridge scene.

This is my favorite Disney movie of all time. It is, in my opinion, one of their finest. Why do I think so? First, I like its realism. It is not some fantastic fairy tale, nor is it some good-against-evil-good-eventually-triumphs story. There are no heroes or villains in this story. This lack of good and evil made the story and the characters seem more alive than the ones you usually see.

I also like the message this movie gives. It is simple yet powerful. The two main characters wanted only the most innocent of things - friendship. Yet society couldn't allow this friendship to be. This movie tugs at your heart, and it doesn't stop tugging. And the realism didn't diminish any by the movie's close. The main characters' problems remained unresolved, yet each finished the movie in contentment. I feel that this lack of a "everything's okie-dokie again" finish like you see in traditional animated movies gave this story a powerful element.

If you're looking for songs your children can sing over and over again, you've come to the wrong movie. Each song is sung in a flavorful yet discreet manner. Little orchestration. Yet if you're looking for memorable characters, you've come to the right movie. Each character is very well developed, motivated by true emotions and the things that the everyday person wants - love, food, companionship. Each character is vibrantly drawn, and this vibrancy is matched by the character's personality. I saw a real person within the animal. Nobody is created in an idealistic image.

From realistic characters come a realistic story. Nothing felt written or hacked. Everything felt like it was supposed to happen. There was nothing outlandish about the entire story. And if you're looking for comedy, you'll find none. This is pure drama, yet it's drama that kids can easily understand. This movie had a story that seemed like it could've easily happened to the average person. This is a rare and endearing quality.

Basically, I loved this movie for what it had, a heart of gold, but also for what it lacked, a traditional formula. If you're looking for a story with a difference and a bittersweet flavor, this is the movie for you! It is nice, quiet, yet provocative and emotional. To sum it up, it is good clean fun with a touch of heartache, a true drama!

There's a sense of melancholy that pervades even the lightest moments here. While it certainly has some competition, it's probably the saddest of all Disney classics. Not sad like Bambi, Dumbo or Rescuers, which tug at emotions before resolving all conflicts by the end. TF&TH is bold enough to get sad & stay sad until the very end. A great stand in for any two friends who stand on opposing sides (race, class, gender, etc), it's a quietly moving (though far from perfect) Dark Ages Disney entry.

The Fox and the Hound, one of Disney's forgotten treasures, I honestly don't know why this movie is more noticed by people. This is one of my favorite animated movies of all time, it's innocent, it's simple, it's lovely, and just a wonderful tale about the most unlikely pair becoming the best of friends. The Fox and the Hound, yeah, it does go a little overboard on the cuteness factor with baby Tod and baby Copper, but this is when Disney really did mean well and came up with such a sweet and wonderful story that is classic.

After a young red fox is orphaned, he is adopted the Widow Tweed, she names him Tod. Meanwhile, Tweed's neighbor, a hunter named Amos Slade, brings home a young hound puppy named Copper and introduces him to his hunting dog Chief. Tod and Copper become playmates, and vow to remain "friends forever." Slade grows frustrated at Copper for constantly wandering off to play, and places him on a leash. While playing with Copper at his home, Tod awakens Chief. Slade and Chief chase him until they are stopped by Tweed. After an argument, Slade says that he intends to kill Tod at his first opportunity. Hunting season comes and Slade takes his dogs into the wilderness for the interim. Meanwhile, Big Mama explains to Tod that his friendship with Copper cannot continue, as they are natural enemies, but Tod refuses to believe her. Months pass, and Tod and Copper reach adulthood. On the night of Copper's return, Tod sneaks over to meet him. Copper explains that he is a hunting dog now and things are now going to be different between them.

The Fox and the Hound is such a great movie, honestly if you don't like this film, I don't know what's wrong with you, but you need to get something checked because everything about this film is just wonderful. The songs, animation and characters are just lovely. Plus there are some fun jokes, I loved seeing Chief constantly chasing after Tod and then Slade runs over to Tweed's house to scream about the fox but she just kicks his butt and tells him to get off her property. This is such a great movie, I highly recommend you see it if you get the chance.

10/10

In 1981, Disney released their 24th animated feature, The Fox & the Hound, based on the book by Daniel P. Mannix. Attempted as a more mature feature than their other endeavors at the time, the film went through constant meddling behind the scenes with the higher ups tampering with the original source material, in addition to animator Don Bluth and his posse to leave half-way through and compete with the Mouse House. Nowadays, while not regarded as a Disney classic like Pinocchio or Bambi, it's still fondly remembered by people who grew up with it. As for me, while I admire it to some capacity, it could have been so much more.

The film focuses on a domesticated fox named Tod and a hound dog named Copper who become friends when they're meant to be enemies, not helped by their masters' expectations. As the two older, with Copper becoming a strong hunting dog and Tod a wild fox, they'll have to overcome their differences to salvage their friendship. Conceptually, this is a really good setup for the type of movie this is meant to be, and the themes of racism are quite subdued to make the commentary more timeless. Unfortunately, the film falls flat in its execution thanks to a weak comedic subplot that barely has anything to do with the feature at all, and the toned down second act. For every disturbing moment in the film, there's always a lame excuse for levity than actually ends up hurting the tone more than anything. It doesn't help that the film barely has much story in its second half, as it mostly consists of Tod meeting a young vixen named Vixie until the climax ensues. If you're going to tell a story about a fox and a hound overcoming prejudice, have one focus and one focus only.

However, when the film does something right, it really leaves somewhat of an impact. While the film is visually restricted to just a forest area and a couple of cottages, the art direction and world-building make the most out of the limited environments with strong colors and gorgeous shot compositions. While the characters have their typical Disney-standard designs, the animators did the most with what they were given with strong gestures and specific acting. When you take into account that a new generation of artists were being passed on the batton from the nine old men, it must have been terrifying to continue the Disney legacy. Also, the third act might be the most memorable part of the whole movie, because not only does the climax really test Tod and Copper's relationship, but a notable bear fight puts one at the edge of their seats. With Glen Keane's ginormous draftsmanship and dynamic camera angles ensuing, this scene alone showcases everything the movie should have been: daring, unafraid to take risks, dark, violent and impactful on the dangers of harming animals.

In terms of any other specifics, the voice-acting is pretty spot on, especially with the contrasts between young Tod and Copper as kids and them as adults. Mickey Rooney seems like an odd choice for Tod, but he's able to come off as brash and young as ever in his sly role, and Kurt Russell gives off a brooding yet innocent presence of Copper maturing in his later years. While some Disney regulars of the time period show up like Pat Buttram as the old stuffy Chief, Jenatte Nolan as the kind hearted but overprotective old widow, and Dick Bakalyan and Paul Winchell as the pointless and obnoxious comic reliefs Dinky & Boomer, some other noble veterans of cinema include Jack Albertson as the craggily and stubborn Amos Slade and Pearly Bailey as the kind-hearted teacher to Tod Big Mama. Even with forgettable musical numbers and trite side material, the supporting actors are able to do the most with each of their individual personas. One can't expect much from a watered down tale of prejudice, but at least the cast can lend some substance to the experience.

The Fox & the Hound feels like a fascinating case study of the Disney studio getting themselves back up on their feet after the death of their founder. While it might not have been as strong in its execution as its concept, it does at least have its moments of impact that understandably resonated with its own generation. The Disney studio would only go on to do better things as their company expanded in quantity and quality, but it's cool to see where the generation after the nine old men were at in terms of making the best film they could. After almost 40 years, it's still a peculiar type capsule nonetheless.

Looking back as child having watched this film, it never struck me for anything more than fuzzy/singing/talking animals that pandered to all my childish wants and needs. After all, that's why you watched Disney movies as a kid, right? It's just what you did in your childhood.

Now, watching it again, about to embark on adulthood and all that it entails, it really moved me. How Todd and Copper, a young fox and a hound were the best of friends. Todd having been taken in by a kindly old women and nursed backed to health while right next door, Copper, owned by a mean and bitter old hunter, is being groomed as hunting dog.

Yet, like children, they don't judge. They don't know about the differences between each other and they don't care. They just want to play hide and seek. It is when they grow older that they realize that it was never meant to be. How sometimes societal rules can stamp out the most innocent of ventures. Much like becoming an adult, reality sets in. Life is unfair.

It's a truly beautiful movie, for it's simplistic yet universal message and unlike the vast library of previous Disney inventions, as stated before, it lacks the happy ending. The proverbial feel good formula that is the frame work for all Disney movies. It's because of it's bittersweet delivery and surprising realism, that it's become a lifeline to my childhood that I will carry with me for as long as I live.

Halfway through production, Don Bluth mutinees, taking most of Disney's best animators with him. Another bunch resign. One dies. Drawings are stolen. Production is delayed endlessly. You would think that if ever a Disney feature were destined for disaster, this was it. Instead, 'Fox and the Hound' is probably the best Disney animated feature of its generation. You could clear a space about 10 years either side of it before you ran into something that gave it serious competition.

We start with an orphaned fox kit - pardon me as my jaw doesn't drop in amazement. There have been, what - TWO Disney films where both parents survive? And, well, he is adopted by an elderly widow named Tweed, he develops a friendship with a hunting dog owned by Widow Tweed's crochety neighbor, and he starts to grow up, and life suddenly becomes very difficult, dangerous, and emotionally complicated.

I won't give it away, in case you haven't seen it, but for my money this movie has close to the saddest, most desolate, tear-jerking scene in any Disney film I can think of. But don't worry, it bounces back well and truly. This is a long way from being a morose film. In fact it's an excellent balance of drama, action, pathos and humour. My only minor complaint is that there are a couple of comic sidekicks in this movie that are pretty annoying and contribute just about nothing to the story.

Coming after 'The Rescuers', 'The Fox and the Hound' might have been the start of a Disney resurrection, but perhaps Bluth's departure really was a body blow. As it is, 'Fox and the Hound' is a moment of beauty and brilliance in the otherwise pretty murky first 20 or so years after Walt's death.

Although it didn't cause much of a stir at the time, it has developed a deserved base of loyal fans in the twenty-three years since it was made.

The film tackles themes of conflicting loyalties, friendship, love, identity, and somehow does it with a minimum of schmaltz and a maximum of heart. It's one of Disney's best, and you owe it to yourself to see it.

9 out of 10

Historical Note: Mickey Rooney plays the adult Tod, the fox in 'Fox and the Hound'. According to Rooney's 1991 autobiography, when he was 5 years old he wandered into an office at Warner during breaks between shooting in one of his child-star films, and introduced himself to a bloke who turned out to be Walt Disney, and who was in the process of drawing a new mouse character, who he decided on the spot to name after Mickey. It just tops it off nicely, doesn't it?

Since I was very young, this has been one of my childhood favourites. For a long period of time, I hardly watched it, but luckily we watch it regularly again now! :) I love the characters, the storyline is pretty good, the animation is lovely Disney and the songs are good!

The film is about an orphaned fox called Tod, who is cared for by a human called Widow Tweed and an owl called Big Mamma. One day, the next door farmer buys a basset hound puppy, about the same age as Tod. When the two meet, they become the best of friends...

I recommend this to all dog lovers, fox lovers, people who like Disneys but also like non- Disney cartoons, children who like a good adventure story and adults who would like to try out a heartwarming Disney classic. Enjoy!

P.S There are a few scary scenes, so some cautious parents may want to decide which scenes to fast-forward when their kids are watching.

A Very Sad Animation and Childrens. It Should Be A Drama. Its A Very Very Sad Movie. If You Want To Cry. This Is The Movie For You!

A beautifully animated cartoon, with loving attention to detail and bright, pleasing colors....but the story is overly predictable. Kids will probably like this, and adults will have a passable time, but don't expect anything in the realm of "Alladin"...(**1/2)

One of Disney's finest motion pictures, extremely underrated and forgotten to a pulp. Kurt Russell, Mickey Rooney and even Corey Feldman all give their talent to this story of a fox and a hound who become friends, only to turn on themselves in later years because they are expected to. Not only is the film engaging, but it also has a metaphorical story going on. I understand it is supposed to represent humans and racism, but apart from the preachiness of it all the film is quite good on the level of a whole. A definite must-see. The ending is bittersweet and at many times during the film you will actually start to feel for these creatures. On a sidenote, I used to have a dog just like the one in this movie. It was just like the one in this film.

**** 1/2 out of *****

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

This has got to be one of the most underappreciated Disney classics yet. The Fox and the Hound is probably the most heartwarming Disney film yet. It mixes humor, action, and romance as well as any other Disney film, except for a select few such as Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Mulan, or Tarzan. Nevertheless, I cannot believe this is rated only a 6.6. Several Disney films that are rated above this movie come nowhere near close to it in quality (i.e. Snow White, Bambi, Sleeping Beauty, etc...). I cannot comprehend how it is rated so low...9/10 (Ranks right up there with the likes of Robin Hood and Pinocchio).

For some reason, this animated feature from the Disney stable had eluded me until now - even if I remember it being shown in local theaters on original release: I understand that it's among the less well-regarded efforts, but I found it a cute little film overall; even so, the plot line (adapted from a book by Daniel P. Mannix) is somewhat thin and the songs (never my favorite element in these films) very pedestrian. As a matter of fact, it's the various endearing characters which make it watchable - and not just the titular duo (the surprising, but most capable, cast of voice actors includes such veterans as Jack Albertson, Pearl Bailey, John Fiedler, John McIntire, Jeanette Nolan, and Mickey Rooney as Tod the Fox); that said, the romantic interest which crops up during its last third proves a distraction from the central relationship - which is quite movingly developed. Ultimately, though, the animation itself seems rather flat and uninspired: it's clearly a case of "we've been here before" and this leads to few, if any, memorable highlights. By the way, as per the regrettable Disney Studios custom of late, a direct-to-video sequel recently appeared.

The Fox and the Hound is such an excellent Disney film, being on one of the tops of my list. I couldn't of asked for a better Disney film either. This movie made me cry a lot and I'm a guy. It was like the only movie I cried to except The Return of the King. The movie is bittersweet and heartwarming and the movie also gets into your heart and rushes out. The movie is quite underrated to my belief. Getting a 6.5 rating and 3 stars is just not in my books. Well, I guess the critics do it call a classic so I don't know. I highly recommend this movie and if your looking for a film to cry to this is the movie to get. A very stunning picture

Hedeen's outlook: 10/10 **** A+

The ruins of an interesting film can be seen here. I don't know much about the creation of this film, nor about its source material, but I don't feel especially compelled to. The Fox and the Hound features moments that try to attain the kind of drama of Disney's very earliest work, but by the end comes off as little more than a retread of past Disney films with much weaker animation and less compelling characters, despite some psychological content that might have held potential for more mature storytelling.

Structurally, this thing is a straight lift of Bambi. The first half details Tod the Fox and his days as a child learning the ways of the world. Interestingly, the film kicks off with a surprisingly dark tone, killing off the mother in the first scene and leaving an orphaned cub to be taken in by Tweed the widow. Already, some interesting themes are introduced as we see Tod make friends with the hound pup Copper, a friendship that's clearly doomed to tragedy. Aside from the obvious forbidden friendship, there are themes of man's relationship to nature in the widow becoming a mother figure to Tod. Clearly, this was the most character driven Disney feature in a long time for Disney. Does it pay off? Nope. Mostly, the first half of The Fox and the Hound prefers to waste time with a bunch of asinine comic set-pieces in which the twosome play tricks on Chief the hound and get the Hunter all riled up for some wacky redneck gags. In between this is a lot of cloying nothing that isn't half as cute as watching Bambi stumble his way through early life. It meanders and meanders without really making much of a point other than these guys enjoy each others company. There's also some side plot about a pair of woodpeckers trying to get a worm, but it adds up to absolutely nothing and mostly serves as annoying padding.

Then, like Bambi, we get the second half where Tod simultaneously discovers his sexuality and the horrors of life. This half works a bit better, with some moments of real power, but makes a fatal flaw with the relationship between Tod and Copper. Tod sends Copper on a vengeance fueled rampage against his former friend when he...gets Chief's leg broken. Now, had Chief been shown as a faithful friend and father figure to Copper, and had Tod gotten him killed (as, I believe, it was originally meant to be) this shift would have real gravitas to it. Instead, it comes off as unearned and random, totally against what we've come to know about his character. The rest of the film simply doesn't have the weight it needs because of this one fatal script flaw.

Which isn't to say there aren't those moments that truly work wonders toward the end. The bear scene in particular, though rather abrupt, is fantastically animated and legitimately thrilling, a triumph for greenhorn lead animator Glen Keane. The climax, in which the Hunter compromises his pride, is legitimately powerful as an ending, and in a better context would have been truly moving. Alas...whatever moments work here, they're constantly hindered by what comes before and after.

As animation, The Fox and the Hound is a real step down for the studio. Disney's newfound star, Don Bluth, stayed aboard for a time before packing his bags and walking out to start work on the vastly superior Secret of NIMH. His team's animation here reminds of their work on The Rescuers; very well done technical wizardry for pretty vapid scenes. A few of the Nine Old Men do scant work here and there, but none of it stands out. The best work is done by future star animator Glen Keane, whose bear scene has a remarkable weight and power to it, and whose Badger character is kind of fun too. Otherwise, the animation on this film is competent at best and mechanically dictated by adherence to animation principals at worst. It's a shame seeing technical elements so by-the book here. What's even more distressing is that it's still far better animated than the next Disney project, which will barely pass "Saturday Morning Cartoon with more in-betweening" levels.

One can see the process Disney was going through. Take an old framework like the plot to Bambi and update it to fit the trend of edgier animation that was going on at the time. It's too bound by convention to be anything but a pale retread, unfortunately, and it's unsurprising that the Disney exodus took place during the making of this and The Black Cauldron. Bluth moved to his new studio to make The Secret of NIMH, a great, dark fantasy feature that accomplished everything Disney was trying to, and various others left either with him or to start their own projects.

It's really a precursor to The Black Cauldron, a film that aims for the same goals to a much more prevalent and upfront manner while failing even more miserably as a film. They didn't call this the dark age for nothing.