The Fox and the Hound

[bambifan56]

I know this may end up in the 25th anniversary edition post, but may as well shoot for it. I saw this on Disney channel today and had forgotten about what a great film this is. Great story and animation, my 2nd favorite Disney film. Did anyone notice similaritys in animation to Bambi and it did remind me some of Sword in the Stone (I have no idea why). The backgrounds were soft and lush and the characters were terrific. Anyone else enjoy this, or not, just trying to start some conversation, haha.

[slyslayer3000]

I'm not really a fan of charming Disney classics like The Fox and the Hound, Bambi, etc. I kinda like this classic tale, but The Fox and the Hound will never be in my top 10 favorites. Yes, it's lovely, but I can't stand its innocence and its childish atmosphere.

[bambifan56]

Yeah, you definately have to have a "taste" for them to enjoy them. It either seems you love films like these or they drive you nuts.

[Jeremy]

This is nice little film to watch maybe once a year, but definitely not close my top 20. Some beautiful backgrounds and sequences does help to like it more. I love Glen Keane's bear at the end and that whole sequence! It's a shame the bear had to die...
Ok film but 90's musicals does it better for me.

[Mr. Toad]

Certainly the best of Disney's second dark age films that runs from Robin Hood to Great Mouse Detective.

[Escapay]

Certainly the best of Disney's second dark age films that runs from Robin Hood to Great Mouse Detective.

Odd...I was always under the impression that the Dark Age began (DAC-wise), with Aristocats and ended with The Black Cauldron. I just always assumed the entire 1970s and the first half of the 1980s were considered the second dark age, so roughly 1970-1985...

Anyways, back on topic about Fox & The Hound. It's a cute film, but for me, hardly memorable. I enjoy watching it every few months or so, and plan on picking up the 25th Anniversary Edition later this year. But of the second dark age DAC's, I'd have to say my favorite is Robin Hood, followed by The Black Cauldron, The Rescuers, and then The Fox and the Hound.

Escapay

[ichabod]

The Fox and the Hound is one of those films that really does little for me.
It has some wonderful moments, such as the 2 young animals playing, the glorious fight between Tod and the bear to name to. But as a whole, it always feels me feeling somewhat empty.

Anyway to address a different point, the classing of the 1970s as a dark age in Disney's animation history often puzzles me.

When Robin Hood was released in 1974 it became the biggest Disney box office hit of all time. It was a tremendous success.

Furthermore when The Rescuers was released in 1977 it went beyond its predecessor to become the highest grossing animated feature in history.

I personally find both of these films enchanting (if only He who must not be named could hear me praising The Rescuers ) and I considering their successes I always have to ponder when the 70s are described as a low point in Disney's animation history.

[Wonderlicious]

Anyway to address a different point, the classing of the 1970s as a dark age in Disney's animation history often puzzles me.
...
I personally find both of these films enchanting (if only He who must not be named could hear me praising The Rescuers ) and I considering their successes I always have to ponder when the 70s are described as a low point in Disney's animation history.

This has always puzzled me, too. In terms of live action production, the 70s were a personal low point for Disney, but the early 80s were harsher to animation at Disney, in my opinion, than in the 1970s.

[Lars Vermundsberget]

I'd say, of course, that there are no absolutes as to exactly when the "dark ages" started. When those few "classics" from the 70s were made, Walt was gone, but his people were still essentially doing the job. By the 80s most of them were retired, and new people had to learn the craft - to put it simply. But still, most of the animated features are individually "quite good" and seemingly not representative of "dark ages" - the only really problematic one being "The Black Cauldron". It's also symptomatic of troubled times that "The Fox and the Hound" was the only one between the years 1977 and 1985.

Apart from this, I feel that there are several periods during the history of Disney's animated features that are deserving of various classifications - in different shades of "darkness".

[Texcap]

I saw this on Disney channel today and had forgotten about what a great film this is.

The Fox and the Hound is one of my favorites as well (along with Robin Hood which I saw referenced in the thread) -- I watched it enthusiastically a number of times growing up (in addition to listening to it's story on cassette so many times) and have long remembered the lessons it taught about friendship & loyalty...through a fox and a hound. I've got it on VHS, but it's one of the many that I still need to update to DVD.

Only a matter of time.