Fantastic Mr. Fox (film): Difference between revisions

While raiding Berk's [[squab (food)|Squab]] Farm, Mr. Fox triggers a fox trap caging himself along with his wife, Felicity. She reveals her pregnancy to her husband and pleads with him to find a safer job if they escape, and he agrees.

Two human years (12 fox -years) later, the Foxes and their son Ash are living in a hole. Mr. Fox, now a newspaper columnist, moves the family into a better home inside a tree, ignoring the warnings of his lawyer Clive Badger about how dangerous the area is for foxes due to its proximity to facilities run by three farmers: Walt Boggis, Nate Bunce, and Frank Bean.

Anderson, regarding the production design, said his intention was to use real trees and sand for the sets, "but it's all miniature".<ref name=enlist/> [[Great Missenden]], where Roald Dahl lived, has a major influence on the film's look.<ref name=greatmissenden/> The film mixes several forms of animation but consists primarily of [[stop motion]].<ref name="catch">{{cite news|author=Michael Fleming|date=October 25, 2006|title=Fox catches Dahl's Fox|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|url=https://variety.com/2006/digital/markets-festivals/fox-catches-dahl-s-fox-1117952669/|url-status=live|access-date=February 25, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314083150/http://variety.com/2006/digital/markets-festivals/fox-catches-dahl-s-fox-1117952669/|archive-date=March 14, 2016}}</ref> Animation took place in London,<ref name="darjeeling"/> on Stage C at [[3 Mills Studios]], and the puppets were created by Mackinnon & Saunders,<ref>{{cite news |title=Who Are the Animators on Fantastic Mr. Fox? |work=Lineboil |date=January 12, 2010 |url=http://lineboil.com/2010/01/who-animated-fantastic-mr-fox/|access-date=January 17, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100128111245/http://lineboil.com/2010/01/who-animated-fantastic-mr-fox/|archive-date=January 28, 2010}}</ref> with Anderson directing the crew, many of whom animated [[Tim Burton]]'s ''[[Corpse Bride]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=51902|title=Henry Selick on Making Coraline|author=Edward Douglas|work=ComingSoon.net|date=February 2, 2009|access-date=February 2, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212181905/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=51902|archive-date=February 12, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Selick, who kept in contact with Anderson, said the director would act out scenes while in Paris and send them to Gustafson and the animators via [[iPhone]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Steve Prokopy|title=Capone Talks with CORALINE Director and Wizard Master Henry Selick!!!|work=[[Ain't It Cool News]]|date=February 2, 2009|url=http://www.aintitcool.com/node/39977|access-date=February 2, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205134901/http://www.aintitcool.com/node/39977|archive-date=February 5, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> To capture an autumnal aesthetic, there is no frame in the film that lacks the color [[Orange (colour)|orange]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Garibay |first=Carolina |last2=Rosenberg |first2=Olivia |date=2021-10-14 |title=‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’ whimsically captures fall aesthetic |url=https://dailyillini.com/buzz-stories/buzz-columns/featured-flicks/2021/10/14/fantastic-mr-fox-whimsically-captures-fall-aesthetic/ |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=The Daily Illini}}</ref>

The three farmers, Boggis, Bunce, and Bean, represent the wealthy in society.<ref name=moraes>{{cite web|title=Thematic Analysis of Fantastic Mr Fox|author = Frank Moraes| date=April 29, 2015 | url=https://franklycurious.com/wp/2015/04/28/thematic-analysis-of-fantastic-mr-fox/|publisher=Frankly Curious|access-date=April 28, 2024}}</ref> Mr. Fox has a desperate desire for [[Emotional validation|validation]] from others, as he battles his own internal insecurities.<ref name=medium>{{cite web|title=Overcoming Self Doubt like Fantastic Mr. Fox|author =Nandini Sharma|date =May 22, 2023| url=https://medium.com/indian-thoughts/overcoming-self-doubt-like-fantastic-mr-fox-c4c7b419ef15|publisher= Medium|access-date=April 28, 2024}}</ref> Mr. Fox exhibits [[narcissism]] and a fear of accepting [[Defeatism|defeat]], although the film demonstrates that [[failure]] is not a bad thing, despite the destruction of his home.<ref name=noah>{{cite web|title=Fantastic Mr Fox|author = Noah Douglas| url=https://www.noahdouglas.net/blog/fantastic-mr-fox|publisher= Noah Douglas|access-date=April 28, 2024}}</ref> The farmers' attacks on the animals is due to Mr. Fox's narcissism and his resiliencereliance on [[burglary]].<ref name=moraes/>

Unlike in the book, Mr. Fox possesses [[self-consciousness]] and has an [[existential crisis]] in the film.<ref>{{cite web|title='Different Yet Fantastic' – Fantastic Mr. Fox and the Theme of Identity|author = Faisal Hay| url=https://issuu.com/vicscreenwriting/docs/issue_3/s/15908864|publisher=Issuu Inc.|access-date=April 28, 2024}}</ref> Mr Fox's existential crisis is what drives him to purchase a newer house and regress back to his criminal habits in order to obtain better food for his family. However, only by the end of the film he realizes that his [[pride]] had gotten in the way, where he put his loved ones in danger, and this therefore becomes the [[moral]] of the story; to prohibit self-pride getting in the way of loved ones.<ref name=open>{{cite web|title=Difference, Power, and Discrimination in Fantastic Mr. Fox| author= Nadia Bodner|date= 2021 |url=https://openoregon.pressbooks.pub/dpdfilm/chapter/378/#:~:text=Though%20it%20is%20not%20until,of%20those%20you%20love%20most.|publisher= Pressbooks|access-date=May 21, 2024}}</ref>

The film depict issues of [[Class conflict|class struggle]], as Mr. Fox feels poor and is then determined to take on the affluent, avaricious farmers. In retaliation to Mr. Fox's [[theft|thievery]] of produce, the farmers destroy nearly everything, killing almost every animal in town (as a means of [[collective punishment]]), with others being [[Internally displaced person|displaced]]. In the end, however, it is the [[low class|lower class]] (or the unfortunate and feeble) animals who are the champions and are able to outwit the rich, vindictive farmers.<ref name=indiana/> Moreover, ''[[The Jewish Chronicle]]'' pointed out similarities to the [[Gaza–Israel conflict]] during the farmer's siege of the hill.<ref>{{cite news|title= Review: Fantastic Mr Fox|url = https://www.thejc.com/life-and-culture/film/review-fantastic-mr-fox-shezqetg|publisher=[[The Jewish Chronicle]]|access-date=April 27, 2024}}</ref>

The film focuses on what it means to be a father and husband; Mr. Fox breaks his promise made to his wife by continuing to steal, and therefore turns everyone's lives upside down (after still continuing to steal), whereby the situation compels him to look at himself and to acknowledge who he is.<ref name=indiana>{{cite web|title=Fantastic Mr. Fox: A Kid's Film for Adults| date= February 9, 2017 |url=https://blogs.libraries.indiana.edu/mediabeat/2017/02/09/fantastic-mr-fox-a-kids-film-for-adults/|publisher=The Trustees of Indiana University|access-date=April 28, 2024}}</ref>

A lotMany of the qualities that Mr. Fox feels that makes him great are linked with his [[masculinity]],; since thisthe film is set in the 1970s, a period when [[gender roles|men were taught]] that they should be strong and confident earners offor the family. The reason Mr. Fox's fails halfway through the film isbecause duehe to him feelingfeels that he has [[Underachiever|not achieved]] sufficiently as a man. As a [[housewife]], Mrs. Fox's main contribution to the film's plot is pressing Mr. Fox to evaluate the impact of his [[Recklessness (psychology)|recklessness]], as; she wasis stereotyped as a "proper woman", a notion commonly held in the 1970s.<ref name=open/>

According to ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'', the film is "both a delightful amusement and a distillation of the filmmaker's essential playfulness"<ref>{{cite magazine | title= Wes Anderson's Return to Form | url= http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1938838,00.html | date= November 13, 2009 | magazine= [[Time (magazine)|Time]] | first= Mary | last= Pols | access-date= May 17, 2011 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110214124823/http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1938838,00.html | archive-date= February 14, 2011 | url-status= dead}}</ref> and was one of the ten best films of the year.<ref>{{cite magazine | title= Wes Anderson's Return to Form | url= http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1945379_1943915_1943921,00.html | date= December 8, 2009 | magazine= Time | first= Richard | last= Corliss | author-link= Richard Corliss | access-date= May 17, 2011 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110623184851/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1945379_1943915_1943921,00.html | archive-date= June 23, 2011 | url-status= dead}}</ref> [[Cosmo Landesman]] of ''[[The Sunday Times]]'' said "having a quirky [[auteur]] like Anderson make a children's film is a bit like [[David Byrne]], of [[Talking Heads]], recording an album of [[nursery rhyme]]s produced by [[Brian Eno]]". According to Landesman: {{cquote|In style and sensibility, this is really a Wes Anderson film, with little Dahl. It's missing the darker elements that characterize Dahl's books. There you find the whiff of something nasty: child abuse, violence, misogyny. Gone, too, is any sense of danger. Even the farmers, who are made to look a touch evil, don't seem capable of it. We never feel the tension of watching the Fox family facing real peril. The film certainly has Americanized Dahl's story, and I don't mean the fact that the good animals have American accents and the baddies have British ones. It offers yet another celebration of difference and a lesson on the importance of being yourself. But it does leave you thinking: isn't it time that children's films put children first?<ref>{{cite news | title= The Fantastic Mr Fox | url= http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/film_reviews/article6884193.ece | date= October 25, 2009 | newspaper= [[The Sunday Times]] | first=Cosmo | last= Landesman | author-link= Cosmo Landesman | access-date=May 17, 2011 | location=London}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>}}

[[Category:AnimatedAmerican animated films about revenge]]