This is a personalized detailing of my experience watching Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox.
At the age of ten, I watched Fantastic Mr. Fox for the first time. The only valuable things I gathered from it were 1. it was quite an odd interpretation of the iconic novel that I treasured so much and 2. it had such particular stop motion animation techniques, far different from the likes of Wallace and Gromit that I was awestruck by in my youth. In honor of Wes Anderson’s latest venture in animation, I decided to rewatch the masterpiece that is Fantastic Mr. Fox for the first time since childhood. Fantastic is really the one word I can use to sum up this film, but I’ve decided to use a few more to explain its genius:
-The fact that a movie geared for children actually deals with and handles very real, very heavy topics, while displaying the fact that achieving a picture-perfect ending isn’t everything in life.
-It works with very adult themes, such as existentialism, financial consulting, teenage angst and confusion, corporate greed, and even marital sacrifices.
-Poignant and cunning humor, whether visual or verbal, that is genuinely thoughtful and impressive, a usually difficult task to achieve.
-The humanity within each character, not only emulated through the impressive artistry of each scene, but also through the unbelievably immersive voice acting, while holding true to the inevitable savagery and wild side to every animal. The “Canis Lupus” scene actually gave me chills – purely breathtaking and grounding.
-The visual appeal, whether through the facial characteristics that contributes to the emotion behind each character (hypnosis anyone?), or through the consistent symmetrical perspective techniques so familiar to Anderson’s work.
-Alexandre Desplat at his finest. Need I say more? (Seriously, this score/soundtrack is life changing.)
It is INCREDIBLY RARE for me to desire to rewatch a film. Ever. But, ever since I finished watching Fantastic Mr. Fox, I cannot stop thinking about it, and I have that exact desire to watch it again and again. I have no doubt that this movie will be remembered as an absolute classic. Who knew it’d take a family of woodland creatures and their struggle to find their true identities to convince me of such!
Live in Peace. Best Wishes, Madee