Premiere Date: July 10, 1981	Running Time: 83 Minutes
Rated: G

STORY LINE

The story of two friends who didn't know they were supposed to enemies. Tod, an orphaned baby fox, raised by Widow Tweed, is best friends with Copper, a young hunting dog. When they grow up, Copper learns to hunt and discovers he must pursue his friend. Tod is taken to a game preserve for safety, and there he falls in love with Vixey, a beautiful female fox. Copper and his master hunt Tod in the preserve, but when the chips are down, Tod and Copper realize their friendship overcomes all.

CAST

CHARACTER	VOICE TALENT
Young Tod	Keith Mitchell
Adult Tod	Mickey Rooney
Young Copper	Corey Feldman
Adult Copper	Kurt Russell
Big Mama	Pearl Balley
Amos Slade	Jack Albertson
Vixey	Sandy Duncan
Dinky	Dick Bakalyan
Boomer	Paul Winchell
Chief	Pat Buttram
Widow Tweed	Jeanette Nolan
Porcupine	John Fiedler
Badger	John McIntire

CREW

Based on the Book by Daniel P. Mannix
STORY	Larry Clemmons Ted Berman David Michener Peter Young Burny Mattinson Steve Hulett Earl Kress Vance Gerry
CREATIVE ASSISTANT TO THE PRODUCERS	Melvin Shaw
SUPERVISING ANIMATORS	Randy Cartwright Glen Keane Cliff Nordberg Ron Clements Frank Thomas Ollie Johnston
CHARACTER ANIMATION	Ed Gombert John Musker Dale Oliver Jerry Rees Ron Husband Dick N. Lucas David Block Jeffery J. Varab Chris Buck Chuck Harvey Hendel S. Butoy Phil Nibbelink Darrell Van Citters Michael Cedeno Phillip Young Tim Burton (uncredited)
EFFECTS ANIMATION	Ted Kierscey Jack Boyd Don C. Paul
COORDINATING ANIMATORS	Walt Stanchfield Leroy Cross Dave Suding Chuck Williams
KEY ASSISTANTS	Tom Ferriter Sylvia Mattinson
ART DIRECTOR	Don Griffith
LAYOUT	Dan Hansen Glenn V. Vilppu Sylvia Roemer Guy Vasilovich Michael Peraza, Jr. Joe Hale
COLOR STYLING	Jim Coleman
BACKGROUND PAINTING	Daniela Bielecka Brian Sebern Kathleen Swain
PRODUCTION MANAGERS	Edward Hansen Don A. Duckwall
SOUND	Herb Taylor
EDITORS	James Melton Jim Koford
ASSISTANT DIRECTORS	Don Hahn Mark A. Hester Terry L. Noss
MUSIC EDITORS	Evelyn Kennedy Jack Wadsworth
"Best of Friends"	Music by Richard O. Johnston Lyrics by Stan Fidel
"Lack of Education" "A Huntin' Man" "Appreciate the Lady"	Music and Lyrics by Jim Stafford
"Goodbye May Seen Forever"	Music by Richard Rich Lyrics by Jeffrey Patch
MUSICAL SCORE COMPOSED AND CONDUCTED BY	Buddy Baker
ORCHESTRATION	Walter Sheets
CO-PRODUCERS	Wolfgang Reitherman Art Stevens
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER	Ron Miller
DIRECTORS	Art Stevens Ted Berman Richard Rich
Distributed by Buene Vista Distribution Co., Inc.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Tod, Copper, Big Mama, Vixey, Dinky, Boomer, Widow Tweed, Amos Slade, Chief, Squeeks the Caterpillar, Porcupine, Badger

SONGS

"Best of Friends", "Lack of Education", "A Huntin' Man", "Appreciate the Lady", "Goodbye May Seem Forever"

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Home Video (Order)	DVD (Order)	LaserDisc	Soundtrack

FAN SITE LINKS

No Links Found

SPIN-OFFS

"The Fox and the Hound: A Lesson in Being Careful": an educational film, released in September 1981. The film stresses the important lesson that warnings should not be ignored.

TRIVIA

The film marked the premier effort of a new generation of Disney Animators who would, in a few years, creat "The Little Mermaid" and "Beauty and the Beast". With the exception of some early scenes and character development done by veteran animators Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston, and Cliff Nordberg.

Production began in the spring of 1977 but it was delayed by the defection from the animation department of Don Bluth, Gary Goldman, John Pomeroy, and an additional group of animators.

Production was finished in four years, requiring 360,000 drawings, 110,000 painted cels, 1,100 painted backgrounds, and a total of 180 people, including 24 animators.

Released on video in 1994. Released on DVD in 2000.