Ok for kids? Yes, but it's slow-moving and probably won't hold the attention of kids 8 and older. For more info, see "The Kid Factor" below. 

THE STORY: Disney's 24th full-length animated movie, first released in 1981, tells the story of two best friends who don't realize they're supposed to be enemies.

It begins with a mother fox, frantically carrying her cub in her mouth, as hunters and dogs chase them across a wooded landscape. She deposits the cub near a farmhouse, and scampers over a hill, only to be shot by a hunter (thus fulfilling the "mother dying" theme of so many Disney movies).

A motherly owl named Big Mama (voiced by Pearl Bailey) sees the orphaned cub and brings it to the attention of Widow Tweed (Jeanette Nolan), who lives in the farmhouse. The lonely widow brings the little guy into her home, feeds it, and names it Tod (short for Toddler). Keith Mitchell voices the young Tod.

As the cub learns his way around the farm, he makes friends with Copper (Corey Feldman), a hound puppy living next door with Amos Slade (Jack Albertson), a hunter with anger-management issues, and his old hound dog, Chief (Pat Buttram, aka. Mr. Haney on "Green Acres"). The young fox and hound become inseparable, spending their days playing, tussling, and having fun. They promise to be friends forever.

As winter nears, Amos takes Chief and Copper away and trains Copper how to hunt. When they return, the grown-up Tod (Mickey Rooney) tries to renew his friendship with the grown-up Copper (Kurt Russell). But the hound is now a full-fledged hunting dog. He warns Tod to stay away if he doesn't want Amos to kill him. When Chief is injured while chasing Tod, Copper angrily breaks off his friendship with the fox.

Though she loves Tod, the Widow Tweed decides his rightful place is in the wild. So she takes him to a distant place in the woods and says a tearful goodbye. Tod feels lonely and out of place, but things start looking up when he meets a female fox, Vixey (voiced by Sandy Duncan).

On a hunting trip, Amos nearly kills the fox, but Copper leads the hunter astray, saving his former friend Tod "just this once". When a giant bear attacks Amos and Copper, Tod is conflicted, but decides to save the dog's life by fighting off the bear. Likewise, when Amos tries to shoot Tod, Copper returns the favor by standing between his master and his friend.

"The Fox and the Hound" is a transitional movie for veteran Disney animators, who supervised a group of young artists who would later create the blockbuster cartoon movies of the 90s and beyond. There are a few gentle songs, and the animation features a blend of old-fashioned, hand-drawn imagery with colorful action.

THE KID FACTOR:

PRESCHOOLERS (ages 2-5): Some scenes might be too scary for preschoolers: Tod's mom is shot by hunters (we don't see it happen, but we hear the gunshot and see birds circling); several scenes involve Amos shooting wildly; Chief suffers a serious fall and ends up in the river; and a climactic fight scene with the bear is pretty realistic.

However, other than these violent scenes, this movie is gentle and slow-paced, which is why I recommend it for kids on the higher end of this age group. Unlike the fast-paced cartoons of today, the film unfolds leisurely and, thankfully, doesn't rely on crude humor. Most of the laughs come from a pair of woodpeckers trying, unsuccessfully, to catch a caterpillar (which turns into a butterfly at the end).

GRADE-SCHOOLERS (ages 6 - 10): Grade-schoolers more accustomed to fast-paced cartoons will probably be bored with the gentle animation and simple dialogue of this movie. On the plus side, the plot deals with mature issues like loss and letting go. The bittersweet finale, where the fox and the hound smile at each other and go their separate ways, knowing they can never be friends again, is particularly poignant. It's good for kids to realize that sometimes friends grow apart and go their separate ways, and that's ok.

And for once, the animals are realistic. A fox and a hunting dog would probably never be friends in real life. Still, kids on the higher end of this group will probably wander off in the middle of this folksy, laidback movie. It's best suited for kids aged 5 to 8.

TWEEN / TEEN (ages 11+): This movie is geared for the younger crowd, although older kids who remember the original might want to check it out.

BONUS FEATURES:

- "Passing the Baton: The Making of The Fox and the Hound Featurette": Hear Disney history as legendary animators hand over the reins to a new generation of artists.

- The Fox and the Hound Art Gallery.

- Forest Friendship Game: Play a game of hide 'n seek, and learn more about the characters and their best buddies.

- DVD Storybook: "New Best Friends" – Read along or listen to the tale of Tod and Copper's special friendship.

- Bonus Shorts: "Lambert, The Sheepish Lion" and "Lend a Paw".

- Sing-Along Song: "The Best of Friends".

- Available Audio Tracks: English, French, and Spanish.

- Sneak Peeks: "The Fox and the Hound II," "Cars," "Peter Pan, 2-Disc Special Edition," "Meet the Robinsons," "Cinderella III," "Enchanted Tales: A Kingdom of Kindness," "Tinkerbell," "Air Buddies," and "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody" (TV series).