Fantastic Mr. Fox is a 2009 clay-mation animated film based on Roald Dahl's novel produced by 20th Century Fox. It was released on November 25, 2009.
Plot[]
Foxy Fox is a sly fox who has a wife named Felicity, together they steal birds from farms and enjoy working together. After accidentally getting caught in a fox trap, Felicity reveals she is pregnant which surprises Mr. Fox but is happy. His wife tells him firmly that if they manage to survive, he has to find a new job, worrying about his wife and unborn cub Foxy agrees.
12 fox years later, Mr. Fox now works as a newspaper man writing his own column which not as popular as he thought. His wife is a landscape artist who enjoys adding storms in and they have a son named Ash who is somewhat stubborn and cranky but considers himself an athlete. His cousin Kristopherson is coming up to stay with them as his uncle is fighting double pneumonia which Ash is not excited about.
Cast[]
- George Clooney as Mr. Fox
- Meryl Streep as Mrs. Felicity Fox
- Jason Schwartzman as Ash Fox
- Bill Murray as Clive Badger Esq.
- Willem Dafoe as Rat
- Michael Gambon as Frank Bean
- Owen Wilson as Coach Skip
- Wallace Wolodarsky as Kylie
- Eric Chase Anderson as Kristofferson Silverfox
- Jarvis Cocker as Petey
- Wes Anderson as Stan Weasel
- Robin Hurlstone as Walt Boggis
- Hugo Guinness as Nate Bunce
- Helen McCrory as Mrs. Bean
- Juman Malouf as Agnes
- Karen Duffy as Linda Otter
- Roman Coppola as Squirrel Contractor
- Garth Jennings as Bean's son
- Brian Cox as Daniel Peabody
- Steven Rales as Beaver
- Jeremy Dawson as Beaver's Son
- James Hamilton as Phil Mole
- Jennifer Furches as Dr. Badger
- Mario Batali as Rabbit
- Allison Abbate as Rabbit's ex-girlfriend
- Molly Cooper as Rabbit Girl
- Adrien Brody as Mouse
- Martin Ballard as Fire chief
Production[]
Joe Roth and Revolution Studios bought the film rights to Fantastic Mr. Fox in 2004. Henry Selick was originally animators with Anderson film "Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" as animation director
In September 2007, Anderson announced voice work would begin. The director chose to record the voices outside rather than in a studio: "We went out in a forest, [..] went in an attic, [and] went in a stable. We went underground for some things. There was a great spontaneity in the recordings because of that." He said of the production design, "We want to use real trees and real sand, but it's all miniature." Great Missenden, where Roald Dahl lived, has a major influence on the film's look. The film mixes several forms of animation but consists primarily of stop motion. Animation took place in London, on stage C at 3 Mills Studio, with Anderson directing the crew, many of whom animated Tim Burton's Corpse Bride. Selick, who kept in contact with Anderson, said the director would act out scenes while in Paris and send them to the animators via iPhone.