The Fox and the Hound

The Fox and the Hound is the 24th Disney animated feature film.

Plot summary

A young fox kit is left orphaned when his mother is killed. A kindly owl, named Big Mama, arranges him to be adopted by the compassionate Widow Tweed as a pet on her farm and names him Todd. Shortly after that, Tweed's neighbour, an ill tempered hunter named Amos Slade, brings home a young hound puppy named Copper.

Related Topics:
Fox - Owl - Hunter

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The two young animals meet and quickly form a fast friendship they feel will last forever. However, Todd's visit to Slade's farm goes disasterously wrong when he inadvertantly wakens the hunter's mean older dog, Chief, who promptly chases him throughout the farm with Slade shooting at him as well. Although the pursuit is stopped by the furious Widow Tweed, the belligerent Slade makes it clear that he intends to kill Todd at his first oppurtunity.

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However, the matter is shelved for the moment with hunting season commencing and Slade takes his dogs into the wilderness for the interim. Months pass, and Copper becomes an excellent hunting dog while Todd refuses to believe that his friendship with him will be gone when the dog returns. Upon Copper's return, Todd meets him only to find that his friend can barely tolerate his presence beyond a warning to keep his distance from now on for his own sake.

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However, Chief awakens and chases Todd along with Slade while Copper reluctantly deciding to relent in his assumed role in his hunting role to divert Todd's pursuers. However, Chief maintains the pursuit up on a trestle when a train suddenly approaches. Todd is able to duck under the vehicle, but Chief is struck and wounded. Finding Chief wounded, Copper swears revenge on Todd.

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Realizing that Todd cannot safely stay on her farm now, Tweed leaves him at a nature preserve. Although Todd has a difficult time adjusting, Big Mama helps by introducing him to a beautiful Vixen, named Vixey, and the two hit it off well.

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However, the vengeful Slade and Copper trespass into the preserve to kill Todd with leg traps and gun. The result is a harrowing chase throughout the forest that climaxes when Slade and Copper inadvertantly provoke an attack with an disturbed bear. Against his better judgement, Todd intervenes to save his friend and lures the bear on to a fallen trunk that breaks and sends the two falling down a waterfall.

Related Topics:
Leg trap - Bear - Waterfall

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Todd survives and meets Copper at shore, who is stunned at Todd's heroism for his sake in spite of current events. However, Slade does not share any gratitude and suddenly appears, still vindictively eager to kill the fox. Copper makes the moral decision of interposing his body in front of Todd and Slade, reluctant to kill his best hound for a petty vendetta against a fox who had just saved their lives, is forced to relent and return home. The fox and hound share one final smile before going their separate ways. Amos Slade hurts his leg from the traps he left, and Tweed helps him recover. Amos Slade and Widow Tweed become good friends.

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In the end, the two friends reconcile that they can never be together again, but their love can still be cherished.

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