8. The Bear Plunges To A Watery Death - The Fox And The Hound (1981)
The Fox and the Hound was a film that was made during one of Disneys dark ages; after Walt Disney died, but before Michael Eisner took over and ushered in the Disney Renaissance (starting with The Little Mermaid). Many of the animated films made during this transitional time period, like Oliver & Company, were mediocre. But The Fox And The Hound stood out, mainly because its aims were modest - it was a simple, raw story about two star-crossed friends - and it had a bittersweet ending that set it apart from most Disney films. The climax of the film takes place on a log, where Todd faces the most evil, demonic looking bear ever conceived by hand - this aint Brother Bear. The death sequence is thrilling, beautifully animated, and absolutely terrifying to watch. The bear is one of the few villains that is not a schemer, but rather a brutal force of nature that cannot be reasoned with and cannot be defended against - only avoided. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wFpTjBr2sw
Kevin is an AP English Language teacher and freelance writer from Queens, NY. His focus is on American pop culture and American issues. He wrote a weekly column for Complex called "Throwback Thursdays," which spotlighted video games and trends from previous console generations. Kevin has also been published in VIBE, Salon, PopMatters, Joystiq, and Racialicious. Follow him on Twitter to learn more.
