Mr. Fox and Mrs. Fox walk closely together through orange fields
(20th Century Studios / Fantastic Mr. Fox)
By Sergio Gonzalez
Released in theaters in 2009, Wes Anderson’s “Fantastic Mr. Fox” stood alongside animated films such as “Coraline” and “Up.” More than a decade later, it has stood the test of time as an example of what stop-motion animation can achieve, serving a folksy and sweet reminder of home
For students away from home, or those who find themselves longing for autumn comfort, Anderson’s film can offer a familiar warmth. As a loose adaptation of Roald Dahl’s children’s novel by the same name, the film follows Mr. Fox, as he learns the value of wealth over riches in the form of home, food and family. “Fantastic Mr. Fox” highlights family, community, and the bonds between people through its cast of anthropomorphic animals. The film is a genre roller coaster of coming-of-age, old western, romantic comedy and war.
(From left) Mr. Fox, Mrs. Fox and their son, Ash, inside their treehouse home
(20th Century Studios / Fantastic Mr. Fox)
The film, already alluring in its presentation, features big industry names such as Willem Dafoe, George Clooney, Meryl Streep and Owen Wilson as leading and supporting voice roles. The voices are one part of a two-part system of an authentic autumnal aesthetic, where the other is a score orchestrated by Alexandre Desplat, who also provided the scores for the “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 and Part 2” films and “Isle of Dogs,” another Wes Anderson film.
The film’s presentation, to me, was the biggest lure of all. The stop-motion capture was done at a lower frame rate to purposely capture a more authentic feel, leading to more staggered movement instead of the computer-animated smoothness of other films. The characters and backgrounds are comprised of miniature malleable figures to meticulously create character expressions, all accompanied by a soundtrack that moves just as freely between genres. At times, the film feels more like a multi-handed passion project for dedication to the craft of stop-motion.
The overall color palette feels like something out of a rural town in autumn with oranges, yellows and browns dominating the scenes. Fun fact: According to Olivia Rosenberg, a contributing writer for The Daily Illini, another student-run newspaper for the University of Illinois, there is not a single frame in the film that lacks the color orange.
Mr. Fox and Badger watch as Mrs. Fox works on her painting
(20th Century Studios / Fantastic Mr. Fox)
“Fantastic Mr. Fox” captures weaving character dynamics that reach an audience broader than the children the original story by Dahl was marketed to. “Fantastic Mr. Fox” is an animal-based film advertised as a suitable for children but is easily as enjoyable, if not more enjoyable, for adults. It is the perfect movie to watch this autumn to experience the warm feelings of home.
