Writer of Pop Culture

1981: ‘The Fox and the Hound’ Causes Unrest in the Kingdom

Though in the end, Disney’s 24^th animated film, The Fox and the Hound was a financial success, it took a lot of wear and tear to Walt Disney Studios Animation. The movie was loosely based on Daniel Mannix’s novel of the same name. It featured the voice talents of Jack Alberston, Pearl Bailey, Sandy Duncan, Corey Feldman, Kurt Russell, Paul Winchell and Mickey Rooney. The peaceful storyline of a cute and cuddly friendship between a red fox and a hound dog, was a lot less peaceful behind the scenes.

The movie was the last cartoon to be worked on by the remaining “Nine Old Men” who shared space with a group of newer animators. The old-timers included Wolfgang Reitherman (who served as a director), Frank Tomas and Ollie Johnston. The new animating talent included John Lasseter, John Musker, Ron Clements, Glen Keane, Tim Burton, Brad Bird, Henry Selick and Don Bluth. At the time, Bluth was one of the studio’s rising star animators, but he couldn’t see eye-to-eye with Reitherman. On his 42nd birthday, Bluth quit and asked that he not be credited in the making of the movie. He also took 13 other animators with him creating Don Bluth Productions.

Other problems ensued including a dispute about how the death of a character in the book should be portrayed and the yanking of a scene that featured two cranes (voiced by Phil Harris and Charo) who sang the song, “Scoobie-Doobie Doobie Doo, Let Your Body Turn Goo.” The movie was supposed to be released during Christmas of 1980 but was delayed. (Image: Disney)

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