Blog Response Post: Fantastic Mr. Fox

1. Analysis of the Book

Roald Dahl’s 1970 novel Fantastic Mr. Fox is a children’s novel about a family of foxes trying to evade three farmers. Although Dahl wrote in many genres, he is most known for his children’s literature, which often have adult circumstances. In this novel, the protagonist, Mr. Fox, must steal food in order to provide for his family, has his tail shot off and is constantly threatened by the farmers. Although the novel has a happy ending, with Mr. Fox stealing a whole feast for his family and other underground animal friends, the threat of the farmers (or other humans) has not been removed entirely.

2. Analysis of the Film

Wes Anderson’s 2009 film adaptation of the novel deftly fits into the pattern of his own works. Although this is Anderson’s first animated movie, and his first adaptation, the film shows off the directors own quirks, such as using classic 60’s and 70’s rock (like the Beach Boys), title cards, using the same actors, portraying the use of older technology (such as Mr. Fox’s cassette tape player), a unique wardrobe, and including complicated family dynamics.

3. Analysis of the Adaptation

The film portrays Mr. Fox, in a mid-life crisis, who goes back to his old thieving ways, which gets his family and community of wild animals in trouble. To make the film version of the short novel full length Anderson chose to add to the plot, which now include a nephew and a jilted father son relationship, as the feud between the animals and farmers becomes far more intense than it is in Dahl’s novel. Although Anderson includes his own style, the influences of the novels original illustrator, Donald Chaffin, is apparent in the films depiction of the Fox’s tree house, their Edwardian wardrobe, and more. Although the film attempts to emulate the rather strange and obscure world of Dahl’s novel, the film is brighter and contains a happier ending than the book. Also notable is the very American cast portraying an English novel.

4. Online Research on the Film

• In this interview, Wes Anderson discusses shooting in stop motion and creating the sets in Dahl’s home. Link to article here. 
• This article notes Wes Anderson’s specific attention to detail- the text in the newspaper that Mr. Fox writes for is actually text from Dahl’s novel. Link to article here.
• This interview with Wes Anderson argues that the directors vision works with Dahl’s novel. Link to interview here.

The interviewer, Craig McLean of The Telegraph, believes that stop motion animation, a technique that requires a series amount of time and attention to detail is perfect for the director, who is known for being very detail oriented. The animation allows the film to be in a between cartoon and live action, which harkens back to Wes Anderson’s love of early 20th century surreal filmmakers. The director includes Buneul and Fellini as inspirations, saying that he did not want the film to look entirely real. For example, the water in the film is made from cling film.

5. Critical Argument Paragraph

The filmakers chose to include references to Dahl’s work in order to pay respect to the author, as well as evoking a sense of satire. Fantastic Mr. Fox is one of Wes Anderson’s favorite childhood books, he says “it was the first book I actually owned with my name written in the title page on a little sticker” (McLean).

The film took a long time to establish, Anderson first contacting Dahl’s widown ten years prior to the films finish – creating an adaptation of the novel was something important to the director. Anderson’s works are noted for their “pop-surrealism” and irony (McLean). As well as including actual words from the work in title cards and in the newspapers (as mentioned above), Anderson also modelled the figure of Bean in the likeness of Roald Dahl. Furthermore, the director often creates a scenario where the audience is aware that his films are actually part of book, such as in The Royal Tenenbaums.

From The Royal Tenenbaums.

Works Cited

Bell, Crystal. “‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’ Newspaper: Easter Egg Revealed in Wes Anderson’s Animated Film.” Huffington Post. 9 August 2012.  <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/09/fantastic-mr-fox-newspaper-secret_n_1760690.html>.

McLean, Craig. “Wes Anderson Interview for Fantastic Mr. Fox”. The Telegraph. 20 October 2009. Web. 3 July 2013. <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/6387593/Wes-Anderson-interview-for-Fantastic-Mr-Fox.html>.

Weintraub, Steve ‘Frosty’. “Wes Anderson Interview Fantastic Mr. Fox”. Collider. 2010. Web. 3 July 2013. <http://collider.com/wes-anderson-interview-fantastic-mr-fox/>.