The Film
Another Disney-related birthday is upon us. To celebrate the milestone, Disney is giving The Fox and the Hound a 30th anniversary Blu-ray release. However, to increase the chances that you might add the studio's 24th feature film into your permanent collection, Disney has packaged in the direct-to-video sequel, The Fox and the Hound II, as an added bonus.
Both follow the Disney formula of cute characters forging friendships. However, the original Fox and the Hound will probably have you shedding a tear. The sequel may too -- but for completely different reasons.
As if Bambi wasn't scarring enough, another parental death leads the 1981 film The Fox and the Hound. However, there's also an unlikely friendship between a young fox named Tod (voiced by Keith Mitchell) and the cute hound pup Cooper (Corey Feldman). The two are separated for a period of a few months, and the reunion isn't all that heartwarming. Age and a series of misunderstandings seem to drive a wedge between the older Cooper (Kurt Russell) and the older Tod (Mickey Rooney).
Disney took a ton of liberties with the Daniel P. Mannix novel of the same name. However, the end result is a sweet, often sad, look at how age and a few differences can alter things drastically. The fact that the film kicks off with death should be an indicator that you're in for a bit of heartbreak. Back in the day, the Disney people really hated the sport of hunting, didn't they?
Thankfully, they trade in shotguns for songs in The Fox and the Hound II, a 2006 "midquel," which means it's not really a sequel. The characters are the same, but instead of continuing the story, Disney flashed back to a time when the two were younger, still friendly, and well, a lot cuter to the direct-to-video crowd. This time, the story has the young pup shunning his fox friend for a gig with "The Singin' Strays" (that's right), with famous voices supplied by the late Patrick Swayze and country star Reba McEntire. The whole "we'll always be friends" theme is still buried in there somewhere, as is the Disney animation. However, this one is really about keeping the little ones occupied with characters and country music, as well as one big money-grab.
The Picture
Disney has remastered The Fox and the Hound, so the film looks insanely good for its age. While the first film still has a very old-school look to it, the colors have a nice, new pop. As with Bambi, some of the background imagery doesn't appear as bold, but that muted backdrop makes those characters and the action appear even sharper than ever.
Besides those backgrounds, there are a few moments in this 1.66:1 transfer that bring down an otherwise stellar presentation. First, the scene where the seasons change looks a little dank. Characters that previous popped appear to be getting lost in a sea of snowflakes. If you can weather that storm, the picture does go back to being as impressive as before. However, there's also the climactic scene in the waterfall that seems a little washed out.
Most importantly, and you may want to turn away before reading this, there is a wavy line that's present throughout most of the film. It's on the right side of the screen, right on the edge. It comes, it goes, and sometimes it's so soft that you barely notice it. Sometimes it's also dancing up a storm. That said, you really have to look for it, so you'd probably be better off not doing that and just enjoy the film. Disney has obviously put a lot into this digitally restored version of the film, and it shows.
Not as much needed to be done to The Fox and the Hound II, which was released in 2006. The animation doesn't have the same old-school charm. Instead, it has that direct-to-video feel -- and rightfully so. That said, the colors are wonderful throughout the film, as is the detail. It's what we'd expect from a newer film, but certainly deserves praise, considering it's a direct-to-video release.
The Sound
Both films get the DTS-HD Master Audio treatment. The Fox and the Hound II does a lot more with it, though. The first film sounds wonderful, with absolutely no signs of its age. The dialogue is crystal clear and sounds as if it was recorded last week. However, the film never really uses the surrounds, which is a bummer considering the action and the atmopshere in the film. Occasionally, you get a bit of the film's soundtrack, and that's about it.
The Fox and the Hound II is all about the music, and pumps all of those speakers at every chance. Right from the get-go, the sequel's audio shows that it's a nice step up, with some strong directional sounds through the grass. That action isn't constant, but carries on sporadically throughout the movie. It's not exactly an immersive experience, but it's a good one nonetheless. Dialogue also sounds wonderful, as does the film's many songs, which are really the main attraction here. Considering the big presence of music in this film, it's surprising that there isn't a bit more bass bumping throughout. However, it's still extremely impressive, once again, considering its direct-to-video status.
The Extras
Disney has been kind enough to pack both Fox and the Hound films onto one 30th anniversary disc. However, there's not much else to celebrate about when it comes to this Blu-ray. The only special feature is a 7.5-minute piece titled, "Unlikely Friends." The good news is that the short is really geared towards the same audience that would appreciate the films, so the wee ones will have something extra to watch. However, it has very little to do with either movie. Instead, the featurette offers an upbeat look at the opposites of the animal kingdom, as they intertwine clips from other Disney favorites, such as Bolt, Dumbo, Finding Nemo, Chicken Little, The Rescuers, A Bugs Life, and more.
If you're looking for additional extras, you'll have to pop in one of the two other discs included in this set. Disney has given each film its own standard-def DVD, which has a making-of featurette and a music video for each.
Final Thoughts
A true Disney collector will appreciate having The Fox and the Hound on Blu-ray. The rest may want to save their money for October's Diamond release of The Lion King. It's certainly a classic, but considering the caliber of recent Disney releases, The Fox and the Hound/The Fox and the Hound 2 combo is a disappointment, to say the least. That sequel probably won't drive too many sales, but it's certainly a nice bonus feature -- one of the few included in this "anniversary" set.
Product Details
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