About The Fox and the Hound

The Fox and the Hound is a 1981 American animated feature film loosely based on the 1967 novel of the same name by Daniel P. Mannix. The film is a story of friendship between two unlikely animal friends: a red fox named Tod and a hound dog named Copper. Despite their friendship, they are destined to be enemies due to their evolving roles as hunter and prey. This heartwarming tale portrays the struggles and triumphs of their extraordinary relationship.

Making / Production

The film was produced by Walt Disney Productions and released by Buena Vista Distribution. Encompassing a wide range of emotions and situations, this film employed some of the finest animation talents of the period. It was directed by Ted Berman, Richard Rich, and Art Stevens and is the 24th film in the Disney Animated Canon.

Actors

• Mickey Rooney voiced the adult Tod. He brought a youthful and energetic yet innocent charm to the fox character.
• Kurt Russell voiced the adult Copper. His stern yet heartfelt voice portrayal perfectly mirrors the character’s complex emotions.
• Pearl Bailey voiced Big Mama, an old owl who acts as Tod's surrogate mother. Her warm and caring voice added depth to the character.
• Jack Albertson played the role of Amos Slade, Copper's master. He accurately portrayed the stern yet loving characteristics of Amos.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film marked a transition point in Disney’s history. It was the last film to have animation legends, such as Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, as its major contributors.
• It was the first film to make extensive use of the xerography process, which allowed the production team to reproduce the animators' drawings quickly and accurately.
• The movie was the fifth highest-grossing film of 1981.

Awards

The movie was nominated for three awards, highlighting Disney's continued excellence in animation. It received nominations from the Young Artist Awards, Golden Screen Germany, and the Stinkers Bad Movie Awards.

Quotes

• "Darlin, forever is a long, long time, and time has a way of changing things.” - Big Mama
• "We met it seems, such a short time ago. You looked at me, needing me so. Yet from your sadness, our happiness grew. Then I found out, I need you, too." - Copper
• "You may find out, you can't go back home again." - Widow Tweed

Music, Soundtrack

• The film features a music score by Buddy Baker and songs written by Stan Jones, including 'Best of Friends' and 'The Chase.'
• The final soundtrack was released on July 10, 1981, under the Disneyland Records label.
• The soundtrack successfully captures the mood and emotions of the film, providing both uplifting and melancholic tunes.