The Fox and the Hound (1981)

Directors:

Ted Berman
Richard Rich
(more)

Writers:

Daniel P. Mannix (based on the book by)
Larry Clemmons (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

10 July 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Family

Tagline:

Two friends that didn't know they were supposed to be enemies.

Plot:

Two childhood animal friends find themselves forced to become enemies.

Plot Keywords:

Dog | Fox | Friendship | Animal | Hunting

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Mickey Rooney	...	Tod (voice)
Kurt Russell	...	Copper (voice)
Pearl Bailey	...	Big Mama (voice)
Jack Albertson	...	Amos Slade (voice)
Sandy Duncan	...	Vixey (voice)
Jeanette Nolan	...	Widow Tweed (voice)
Pat Buttram	...	Chief (voice)
John Fiedler	...	Porcupine (voice)
John McIntire	...	Badger (voice)
Richard Bakalyan	...	Dinky (voice) (as Dick Bakalyan)
Paul Winchell	...	Boomer (voice)
Keith Coogan	...	Young Tod (voice) (as Keith Mitchell)
Corey Feldman	...	Young Copper (voice)
'Squeeks' the Caterpillar	...	(voice)

Directed by
Ted Berman
Richard Rich
Art Stevens

Writing credits
Daniel P. Mannix		(based on the book by)
Larry Clemmons		(story) &
Ted Berman		(story) &
David Michener		(story) &
Peter Young		(story) &
Burny Mattinson		(story) &
Steve Hulett		(story) &
Earl Kress		(story) &
Vance Gerry		(story)

Produced by
Ron Miller	....	executive producer
Wolfgang Reitherman	....	co-producer
Art Stevens	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Buddy Baker		(musical score composed by)

Film Editing by
James Koford		(as Jim Koford)
James Melton

Art Direction by
Don Griffith

Production Management
Don A. Duckwall	....	production manager
Edward Hansen	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Don Hahn	....	assistant director
Mark A. Hester	....	assistant director
Terry L. Noss	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Tomas Krantz	....	adr editor (Swedish version)
Herb Taylor	....	sound

Visual Effects by
Jack Boyd	....	effects animator
Ted Kierscey	....	effects animator
Don Paul	....	effects animator (as Don C. Paul)
John Emerson	....	airbrush artist (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Brian LeGrady	....	animation camera operator (uncredited)
Rob Maine	....	animation camera (uncredited)

Animation Department
Daniela Bielecka	....	background painter
David Block	....	character animation
Chris Buck	....	character animation
Hendel Butoy	....	character animation (as Hendel S. Butoy)
Randy Cartwright	....	supervising animator
Michael Cedeno	....	character animation
Ron Clements	....	supervising animator
Jim Coleman	....	color stylist
Leroy Cross	....	coordinating animator
Tom Ferriter	....	key assistant animator
Ed Gombert	....	character animation
Joe Hale	....	layout
Dan Hansen	....	layout
Chuck Harvey	....	character animation
Ron Husband	....	character animation
Ollie Johnston	....	supervising animator
Glen Keane	....	supervising animator: "The Bear"
Dick N. Lucas	....	character animation
Sylvia Mattinson	....	key assistant animator
John Musker	....	character animation
Phil Nibbelink	....	character animation
Cliff Nordberg	....	supervising animator
Dale Oliver	....	character animation
Michael Peraza Jr.	....	layout
Jerry Rees	....	character animation
Sylvia Roemer	....	layout
Brian Sebern	....	background painter
Walt Stanchfield	....	coordinating animator
Dave Suding	....	coordinating animator
Kathleen Swain	....	background painter
Frank Thomas	....	supervising animator
Darrell Van Citters	....	character animation
Jeffrey James Varab	....	character animation (as Jeffrey J. Varab)
Guy Vasilovich	....	layout
Glenn V. Vilppu	....	layout
Chuck Williams	....	coordinating animator
Phillip Young	....	character animation
Brad Bird	....	animator (uncredited)
Don Bluth	....	animator (uncredited)
Ben Burgess	....	assistant animator (uncredited)
Tim Burton	....	animator (uncredited)
Lorna Cook	....	animator (uncredited)
Will Finn	....	inbetween artist (uncredited)
Andy Gaskill	....	animator (uncredited)
Gary Goldman	....	animator (uncredited)
Leslie Gorin	....	assistant animator (uncredited)
Dan Haskett	....	animator (uncredited)
Bill Kroyer	....	animator (uncredited)
Susan Kroyer	....	assistant animator (uncredited)
Dan Kuenster	....	assistant animator (uncredited)
John Lasseter	....	animator (uncredited)
Linda Miller	....	animator (uncredited)
John Pomeroy	....	animator: "Amos Slade" (uncredited)
Harry Sabin	....	assistant animator (uncredited)
Henry Selick	....	animator (uncredited)
Rusty Stoll	....	clean-up artist (uncredited)

Music Department
Buddy Baker	....	musical score conducted by
Evelyn Kennedy	....	music editor
Walter Sheets	....	orchestration
Jack Wadsworth	....	music editor

Other crew
Mel Shaw	....	creative assistant to the producers (as Melvin Shaw)

Production Companies

• Walt Disney Productions (presents)

Distributors

• Buena Vista Distribution Company (1981) (USA) (theatrical) (distributed by) (as Buena Vista Distribution Co., Inc.)
• Greater Union Organisation (GUO) (1981) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Suomi-Filmi (1981) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Abril Vídeo (1996) (Brazil) (VHS)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1985) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Filmes Lusomundo (Portugal)
• Gativideo (Argentina) (video)

Other Companies

• Reeltime Creative  trailer music

Also Known As:

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

3 Channel Stereo (RCA Photophone System)

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | Finland:S | Portugal:M/6 | Sweden:7 | UK:U | USA:G (certificate 26149) | Australia:G | Spain:T | France:U | Peru:PT | West Germany:o.Al. | Iceland:L | New Zealand:G | Singapore:G

Company:

Walt Disney Productions

Trivia:

Animators and Nine Old Men members Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas focused most of their efforts on the story of the film.

Goofs:

Continuity: We see Amos walking with the traps over his shoulder. He's holding onto them with a leather strap. Yet, when he catches up to Copper, the strap is now a chain.

Quotes:

Widow Tweed:Amos Slade, that temper of yours is going to get you into a lot of trouble someday.
Amos Slade:[turns red in the face] Temper? Temper? Woman, you ain't seen my temper! If I ever catch that fox in my property again, I'll blast him, and next time I won't miss!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Hewy's Animated Movie Reviews: The Rescuers Down Under (#3.12)" (2010)

Soundtrack:

Goodbye May Seem Forever

Good clean fun with a touch of heartache

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!