The Fox and the Hound [DVD] [1981]

One of Disney's less popular animated movies, for absolutely no good reason at all, because it's an excellent story, simply and expertly told. The box blurb rather confusingly compares it to Bambi, but this is a story which has rather more to do with how social conventions can divide friendships than the coming-of-age subtext which underlies the latter. The story is perhaps predictable--a fox cub and a puppy play together as friends, not realising that their places in the scheme of things dictate that they will grow up to become hunter and hunted. Of course, eventually they see the light and it all ends happily, but even so the story promotes the importance of tolerance. The master-stroke, however, is the gradually evolving realisation that the aggressive prejudices which we all stand to inherit from society are nothing more that the products of stupidity and manipulation, and should be treated with the contempt they deserve. Good stuff for kids and adults alike. Trivia buffs might like to know that this is one of the films Tim Burton worked on at Disney, his first job after graduating from college. --Roger Thomas

This special 25th Anniversary edition includes the classic 1981 The Fox and the Hound movie in its entirety and an abundance of special features including a Backstage Disney featurette, two interactive hide-and-seek games, sing-along, read-along, art gallery, and two Disney shorts. The fascinating six-and-a-half minute Backstage Disney segment "Passing the Baton" emphasizes the The Fox and the Hound's place as a historical turning point in Disney animation; chronicling the process by which legendary animators Woolie Reitherman, Frank Thomas, and Ollie Johnston, three of "Disney's Nine Old Men" whose names were synonymous with Disney Animation from the Snow White era, began work on The Fox and the Hound characters and their relationships and then encouraged a whole new generation of young Disney animators including Glen Keane, Randy Cartwright, Ron Clements, and John Musker to build upon that foundation, completing the movie's animation and effectively initiating a whole new chapter in Disney animation that would later culminate in movies like Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin.

The "Passing the Baton" segment also touches upon The Fox and the Hound's underlying messages about friendship, racial prejudice, stereotyping, and bigotry. The "Art Gallery" features a large selection of original art from the movie and includes concept art rendered in both pastels and storyboard pencil sketches, live action footage shot with co-director Art Stevens acting as Amos Slade, footage of voice and musical talent, as well as merchandising and publicity art. Two captivating, eight-minute bonus shorts are also included. The 1951 Lambert the Sheepish Lion tells the story of a young lion cub mistakenly delivered to a mother sheep by a confused stork and promotes acceptance and tolerance of diversity. And the 1941 Lend A Paw is a Mickey Mouse short in which Pluto rescues a drowning kitten and learns important lessons about kindness and acceptance. --Tami Horiuchi

DVD Special Features
Bonus footage
Making of Featurette
Fox and Hound scrapbook
The Best of Friends sing-a-long
Wonder Dog cartoon
Disney's storytime interactive game
Subtitles: English, English for the hearing impaired, Spanish, Portuguese, Hebrew, Greek
Languages:English, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1; Portuguese, Hebrew Dolby Digital 2.0
Running time : 79 mins approx

Disney's 24th animated classic.
Disney proudly presents The Fox and the Hound. In this delightful blend of vibrant animation and breathtaking action you'll meet two best friends who didn't know they were supposed to be enemies.

The fun and adventure begins when a lonely widow adopts an orphaned cub named Tod. The mischievous fox soon meets up with Copper, an adorable hound puppy. As the innocent pair grow up together in the forest they become inseparable friends. But the day soon arrives when their friendship is put to the ultimate test!

Reflecting such timeless values as love, courage and respect, The Fox and the Hound has captured an honoured place among Disney's most beloved and endearing animated classics.