Hi folks! Welcome to my My Own Personal Nerdy Disney and Animation Scrutinizing Analysis blog. A blog where I'm analyzing several Disney films, Disney or Animation in general! These entries are just meant to be my analyses. Not reviews or statements. Just fun analyses! Though I'll make some personal remarks now and then, the content of these entries are meant to be depicted objectively. They're made for entertainment purpose only and the pictures/clips are copyright Disney or other companies.
Make sure to leave a comment if you like this site! And if there's something you think could be improved, please let me know. But in a constructive way, please. And just a note; I'm not a Native English writer, so my incorrect grammar may be notable.
And finally; If you haven't seen the films, beware of spoilers! And the funny lines aren't meant to be nothing than funny. So I hope you won't find them offensive. If so, I apologize
There are several creatures in our complicated and nuanced world who are not meant to interact with each other. Unfortunately it`s something that applies to us human beings. But it's certainly something that is true to animals, due to their food chain. A storyline about animals who forms a friendship despite being opposites of their chain is definitively intriguing. And Disney's tackling of the delayed The Fox and The Hound, definitively serves the bill. 
Officially being listed as Disney's 24th animated feature, Hound is a depiction of Daniel P. Mannix grim 1967 novel with the same title (which Disney initially wanted to change to a plural title). This 1981 animated feature (which originally was going to be released the year prior) has certainly been Disneyfied. As the original story is completely devoided of a friendship between our leads (frankly. the camaraderie idea was met with protests by the younger story crew at the Disney studio). But the idea was suggested by Wolfgang Reitherman, who was inspired by his son's petfox (which was used as reference). And Hound was the very first project which Walt had nothing to do with himself!
It's remarkable that when it comes to rank Disney's catalog, it has become a norm to rank certain films as classics, while others as otherwise. That's a consequence by their initial Box Office reception, interest by public and final legacy. But in that case, The Fox and The Hound's position in Disney history is truly peculiar and interesting! Since it was released between Walt's death and the Renaissance, The Fox and the Hound is labeled to belong to Disney's dark era. However, it was a film that was quite steeped in Disney's trademarks and components. __FoxAndTheHound(1995)2.jpg)
It did financially okay ($ 39 million on it`s initial release) and was re-released theatrically in March 1988 (where it gained $ 23 million). Hound has also managed to gain a huge following of it's own. However, the Disney historians doesn't seem to give it enough credit and the same goes for Disney themselves, actually! Despite re-releasing it on some occasions, they've never truly regarded it as one of their most treasured works!
However, a user on moviechat.org named IceBoxMovies told about his/hers failed attempt to make a documentary about Hound. And one of the reasons for failing to make it, was how the production was troubled and full of tension. Why may probably be why elaborate trivia about it is hardly available. And why it's never received a release with elaborate bonus features. However, what's Hound is credited for by Disney historians, is for the arrival of the new generation of animators (among them also being Tim Burton). 
But it was at the time when Don Bluth left Disney, which was the reason for why Hound was delayed. The blend of old and new animators wasn't always smooth and led to arguments. But at the end, the older animators animated the majority of the movie (and at least Hound had some of the first female animators in a while). And it was the most expensive feature made from Disney at the time, with it's twelve Million Dollar Budget! So it makes Hound very astonishing in that regard, though it would of course be suprassed by successors who were more expensive to make.
The Fox and the Hound`s Position in Disney History
It's remarkable that when it comes to rank Disney's catalog, it has become a norm to rank certain films as classics, while others as otherwise. That's a consequence by their initial Box Office reception, interest by public and final legacy. But in that case, The Fox and The Hound's position in Disney history is truly peculiar and interesting! Since it was released between Walt's death and the Renaissance, The Fox and the Hound is labeled to belong to Disney's dark era. However, it was a film that was quite steeped in Disney's trademarks and components. __FoxAndTheHound(1995)2.jpg)
It did financially okay ($ 39 million on it`s initial release) and was re-released theatrically in March 1988 (where it gained $ 23 million). Hound has also managed to gain a huge following of it's own. However, the Disney historians doesn't seem to give it enough credit and the same goes for Disney themselves, actually! Despite re-releasing it on some occasions, they've never truly regarded it as one of their most treasured works!
But it was at the time when Don Bluth left Disney, which was the reason for why Hound was delayed. The blend of old and new animators wasn't always smooth and led to arguments. But at the end, the older animators animated the majority of the movie (and at least Hound had some of the first female animators in a while). And it was the most expensive feature made from Disney at the time, with it's twelve Million Dollar Budget! So it makes Hound very astonishing in that regard, though it would of course be suprassed by successors who were more expensive to make.
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| It was the only gift I could afford, I had to make up for a prank ;) |
Similarities to it`s 70`s Predecessors/Visuals
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| Tod and Vixey are imitations of us :) |
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| It's the end, but not necessarily happily ever after ;) |
But when it comes to Hound's visuals, it incorporates some lush and lavish backgrounds that harkens back to Walt's earlier films, while the characters being drawn with a rougher look to them (but still not as rough as from their former decades). Frankly, The Fox and The Hound rarely gets credits for it's visuals. But at least we could be relieved that the foxes in Hound weren't some replica's of those from Robin Hood, due to it being the second film with foxes in under a decade (which would be enough for people to scream rip-off) |
| It's moonlight without it's shadow ;) |
Similarities to Bambi and Music
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| Try wishing to Santa to be like us ;) |
And yes, folks! I's certainly legit to claim that The Fox and The Hound was modeled and shaped by Bambi! Not only by being a coming of age story with animals, but also sharing same species of animals/forest setting! Which would make any purist to scream rip-off (and funny enough, some scenes from Bambi are directly imported from in this movie). Due to Disney being constantly picked on for their derivation, one could still label the Bambi-structure as a compliment, due to it's high position and influence in Disney history. |
| Yes, this spot is too huge for ya. Duuh :) |
The Fox and The Hound is less poetic, lyrical and visually artistic as Bambi. And that Hound was made four decades later. While Hound certainly emulates the same mellow and harmonic tone as Bambi, it's still given a slighter more spunk and vivacity that identified the Disney productions from the 1960's to the 80's. At least in terms of broad, cartoony gags and energy (which is evident in the first chase between Chief and Tod, which is a remarkably comedic scene). |
| I have yellow eyes and you don't ;) |
Hound, is that unlike the likes of Bambi (and The Lion King) were the humans are never visualized (probably because they would get eaten in the African Savannah, hahahaha), Hound actually does allow the humans to be fleshed-out and pivotal characters.
Another difference is the setting and the music! While Bambi took a place in an obviously non-descriptional forest (though it was modeled after one in Maine), Hound marks it's setting with Southern/Country-influence. Which is evident in the lovely score by Buddy Baker (while the songs were released as a soundtrack, the score itself has unfortunately never been released, though it's been uploaded on YouTube).
Though songs are 
definiti
viely a main attraction for a Disney animated feature, Hound followed a musical pattern that was established in the 70's with those kind of songs. But Hound is barely a musical! It's most remembered song is it's anthem Best of Friends (made by Richard O. Johnston, yes, Ollie Johnson's son). While the rest of them are mostly ignored.
However, most of the songs
are performed the matronly Big Mama (Pearl Bailey, supervized by Ron Clements). And the haunting Goodbye May Seem Forever is an internal song by Widow Tweet. Lack of Education is more of a monologue than a full-lenght song, which also can be said about Amos Slade's The Huntin' Man (Joe Albertson from Charlie and The Chocolate Factory) However, an obligatory component taken from Bambi is a lovesong to make Tod and Vixey fall in love (though also performed by Big Mama and certainly not executed in the same way as from neither Bambi nor The Lion King).The Emotional Moments and The Friendship Between our Two Leads
What truly identifies The Fox and The Hound (at least by the public) is it's heart-tugging and emotional moments. And frankly, I happen to agree with them. The film succeeds to pull off the heart-wrenching moments rightly without overstating it or being too depressing (at least in my opinion). And emotional can definitively be said about Goodbye May Seem Forever, where Widow Tweet leaves Tod back to his origins. But the endearing and heartwarming tone is certainly something that also identifies Hound and why it has appealed to an audience. Which certainly is the film's biggest strength, in my opinion. |
| Try to beat us, Forrest Gump :) |
Due to the intriguing premise of a forbidden friendship, the relationship between Tod and Copper is definitively the heart of the movie (Tod being voiced by Keith Mitchell and yes, Mickey Rooney, while Copper being voiced by Corey Feldman, yeah, Kurt Russell). Despite their relationship is unfortunately not as enhanced as it should've been, the film manages to depict a tender, affectionate and sincere friendship between them to invest in.The Flaws of The Fox and the Hound
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| I'm shrinking my eyes to match this hole ;) |
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| Of course it's exaggeration. Duuuh :) |
Tod`s Mission & The Ending
Of course the purpose for the adopted Tod is to return to his origins, where he belongs (despite being oblivious about it). And having him settling down in this new environment with his love interest, Vixey (Sandy Duncan, who would also work with Hound's director Richard Rich in New Line Cinema's The Swan Princess). While some people have frowned about Vixey, at least she is a logical reason for Tod to stay in the forest. And the animosity between our two leads takes a turn when Tod saves Copper from the enormous black bear (in the much cherished Glen Keane's execution, which he even re-storyboarded and Mark Hehn and John Lasseter being his in-betweeners).
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| No, this isn't tag, folks! ;) |
But the noteworthy thing with the ending is how it's been labeled astragic by the majority! Most likely due to the friendship never getting a true chance to restore again. But I guess that conclusion is fair, since it`s genuinely bittersweet. Of course this ending is open to be interpreted individually, but I stand by my statement about it's being rather bittersweet than downright sad or tragic. Call me out for it if you want to, haha!
Epilogue
Regardless of it's faults and it's position in Disney history, The Fox and The Hound is truly a heartwarming and endearing film. I had a fondness for it as a child, an fondness that I'm still having with me as adult. I remember being particularly interested in those Disney movies who
took place in the woods as a child (I don`t know why they appealed to me, they just did), which was one reason for why I loved Bambi. And when I saw Hound at the age of eleven when it was released on VHS in Norway, I had gone through that transitional age where I was converted to like the Renaissance more than the older classics.  |
| Look at this Kaa, this is how you hypnotize :) |
, it was essentially just a movie that I liked, but was not obsessed with. But in fact, I've been even more fond of it in my adult years, for realizing it`s strengths more. But it seems that the bittersweet quality is why Hound has resonated to an more adult audience. And rightfully so. Hound is certainly steeped in Disney's endearing trademarks and is a worthy addition to Disney's huge legacy. Regardless of how high Hound should be on the ranking of Disney's worshiped classics, it definitively deserves recognition and acceptance for what it is! And of course we could also dismiss that it's so-called midquel (which takes blatantly liberties with the continuity) is even existent.  |
| At least we have the same kind of eyes and noses in common ;) Not only the hearts, as Kala would've implied ;) |
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References:
Mouse Under Glass (David Koenig)
The Art of Walt Disney: From Mickey Mouse to the Magic Kingdoms and Beyond (Christopher Finch).
Disney's Art of Animation: From Mickey Mouse to Hercules (Bob Thomas)
Passing The Baton; Disney's The Fox and The Hound (Making off-featurette)
https://www.amazon.com/Mouse-Transition-Insiders-Feature-Animation/dp/1941500242?ref_=nav_ya_signin&#reader_1941500242
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i331hKG8Xh4
http://www.dvdizzy.com/foxandthehound-2moviecollection.html
http://www.dvdizzy.com/foxandthehound-25th.html
http://animatedviews.com/2011/the-fox-and-the-hound-30th-anniversary-2-movie-edition/
http://animatedviews.com/2009/the-princess-and-the-frog-supervising-animator-mark-henn-part-1-it-all-started-with-a-mermaid/
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=foxandthehound.htm
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082406/trivia?ref_=tt_ql_2
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fox_and_the_Hound
https://web.archive.org/web/20150906033347/https://d23.com/a-to-z/fox-and-the-hound-the-film/
https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1928&dat=19840919&id=PHsgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tmcFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3804,3420618&hl=en
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=releases&id=foxandthehound.htm
http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/The_Fox_and_the_Hound
http://web.archive.org/web/20030418090154/http://www.animated-movies.net/TheFoxAndTheHound.html
http://www.awn.com/mag/issue3.8/3.8pages/3.8sitofox.html
https://moviechat.org/tt0082406/The-Fox-and-the-Hound/58c73bfc6b51e905f66ba85c/Why-Do-They-Always-Fall-In-Love
The Pixar Story
