The Aristocats Discussion

[toonaspie]

I've seen The Aristocats twice now and both times I had the same reaction. It's a hugely entertaining movie but probably one of Disney's lesser cartoons [though not in the bottom five!]. It seems to imitate both The Lady And The Tramp and 101 Dalmations, and while I'm very fond of the rough, xerox-using animation of the films of this era, at times I think the animation is a little poor-I'm especially talking about the old lady's hair! And doesn't she look just like an older version of the Wicked Stepmother in Cinderella? I'm sure they used the same template. The Parisian backgrounds are great though and I do like the slapstick [which some people are not too keen on]-the sequence when the butler tries to drown the cats is superbly inventive, there's so much that happens in a couple of minutes. Great characters throughout and good [if not great] songs. Just like Robin Hood and The Rescuers, I don't consider it any sort of masterpeice but it's an easy going watch that cannot fail to please!

I'm watching The Aristocats on widescreen right now and I hate to agree with you on the animation. Throughout the movie, especially the scenes with humans there is virtually NO cleanup animation. Lines and rough animation are everywhere, especially if the characters are doing sudden movements. The worse animation occurs in an early scene where the lawyer and Lady Bonfamile have their meeting. The cats are off model and the eyes arent even colored in at some points. If you were to watch this movie frame-by-frame you can tell the film phases in an out as far as clean animation goes.

The only explanation I can assume for this is the production of this film was probably staggered or rushed due to the recent passing of Walt and perhaps there was no time to finish cleaning up the animation.

Another interesting thing I've noticed: it looks like Edgar's motorbike was animated using rotoscope. It's hard to tell if you're not noticing though.

[King Louis 2010]

I think you're right, the film just looks rushed and a little cheap. Animation-wise it does improve when the animals start to take centre stage and begin their journey back to Paris, but the human stuff is way below Disney's normal standard.

It's a shame, as said before I am very fond of the film for the most part.

[rodis]

The xerox look suits "One Hundred and One Dalmatians" more than "The Aristocats", probably because it's not a colorful movie and it's mostly the [white] dogs on black/grey backgrounds.

On "The Aristocats", it's too distracting. It's painful to watch and I find nothing attractive about it.

"The Jungle Book" is the best-looking film of that era (1961 to 1977).

[estefan]

On "The Aristocats", it's too distracting. It's painful to watch and I find nothing attractive about it.

Agreed. When I watched the film again recently, I was very put-off by what looked like un-complete animation. It also wasn't helped by quite possibly one of Disney's weakest villains. There are some fun moments and The Aristocats is not a bad film, but it is a weak entry in the Disney canon, in my opinion.

[yukitora]

I don't like the Xerox look in any of the movies except Dalmatians Sword in the Stone also looks incredibly cheap, it is unfortunate because the animation is wonderful.

[Sotiris]

Celebrate 50 Years of “The Aristocats” with Scales, Arpeggios, and A Few Anecdotes
https://www.laughingplace.com/w/article ... ristocats/

[thedisneyspirit]

My friend cries everyday cuz tis show was cancelled. But at least we have Gay Purr-ee which has a similar art style...coincidence? I think NOT. Disney copying from their betters again. Stan the superior Judy Garland

[Mooky]

Scatman Crothers and Phil Harris reunite in 1978, singing "Ev'rybody Wants To Be A Cat".

https://www.reddit.com/r/popculturechat/s/5FDs01FZsh

There's a longer video on YouTube but it's also lower quality:

https://youtu.be/8VBW7i4cHy0?feature=shared