Story

The Fox and the Hound 2 is a heart-warming animated sequel, set in the world of the beloved 1981 original. It follows Tod the fox (voiced by Jonah Bobo) and Copper the hound (voiced by Harrison Fahn) as they navigate their evolving friendship.

The story begins with Copper, now a young hound, being lured into the world of country music by a group of singing dogs, The Singin’ Strays, led by the charismatic and egotistical music star, Dixie (voiced by Reba McEntire).

As Copper pursues his dream, Tod struggles with feelings of abandonment, leading to complications in their friendship. The tension peaks when Copper must choose between fame and loyalty to Tod.

In the end, Copper realises that true friendship is more valuable than fame, leading to a heartfelt reunion.

Themes

Separation; personal growth; feelings of abandonment; the impact of choices on relationships

Violence

The Fox and the Hound 2 has some violence. For example:

• There’s a lot of slapstick violence.
• There are several chase scenes, including Widow Tweed chasing Amos, dog chases and grasshoppers chasing dogs.
• Characters use hunting guns, which sometimes accidentally go off.
• Tod and Copper hide in the bushes as hunters pass by. There’s a sense of danger and fear for their safety.
• Toward the climax, there’s a chase sequence where Tod and Copper must evade the hunters. There’s a heightened sense of suspense and threat.
• Tod and Copper find themselves near a cliff while trying to escape the hunters.
• There’s a confrontation between Tod and Dixie when Tod feels frustrated and betrayed by Copper’s decision to pursue a music career instead of prioritising their friendship. Tod expresses his anger, leading to some playful but mild fighting, including light shoving and barking.
• In separate scenes, the bus door closes on Cash and Dixie’s mouths.
• Widow Tweed throws a pie in Amos’s face.
• Widow Tweed attacks Amos with a broom.

Sexual references

There are no sexual references in The Fox and the Hound 2.

Alcohol, drugs and other substances

The Fox and the Hound 2 shows some use of substances. For example, when she’s upset, Dixie says, ‘Come on, Zelda. I need a drink’. At a makeshift bar, she says to the bartender, ‘Give me one, straight’. Her drink turns out to be a bowl of water.

Nudity and sexual activity

The Fox and the Hound 2 has some mild nudity and sexual activity. For example:

• Dixie dances suggestively during a song. Other animals copy her.
• Dixie and Cash are love interests and rub up against each other.
• Amos is shown in his boxer shorts.

Product placement

There’s no product placement in The Fox and the Hound 2.

Coarse language

The Fox and the Hound 2 has some mild some coarse language, including ‘loser’, ‘Dang it all’, ‘Oh dang’, ‘Sometimes I swear I just want to bite him’, ‘darn’, ‘Blow it out your ear’, ‘dumb dog’ and ‘heck’.

Ideas to discuss with your children

The Fox and the Hound 2, inspired by the beloved characters from the original 1981 movie, is a charming, animated sequel. Set midway through the timeline of the first movie, it follows Tod and Copper on their journey of friendship. Featuring lively music and vibrant animation, The Fox and the Hound 2 beautifully explores themes of loyalty, personal growth and the challenges of pursuing your dreams.

Because it has some mild danger and emotional moments, The Fox and the Hound 2 is best suited to audiences aged 6 years and over, with parental guidance recommended for children aged 6-8 years.

These are the main messages from The Fox and the Hound 2:

• Love and friendship help you navigate challenges.
• Personal growth comes from embracing your responsibilities.
• Your choices shape your destiny.
• You can overcome obstacles when you stay true to yourself, be brave, and open yourself to self-discovery.

Values in The Fox and the Hound 2 that you could reinforce with your children include forgiveness, courage, friendship, loyalty, teamwork, responsibility, self-discovery and empathy.

The Fox and the Hound 2 could also give you the chance to talk with your children about real-life experiences and issues like:

• jealousy, peer pressure and abandonment
• conflict resolution
• respect for differences
• challenges involved in following your dreams.