Fact #90

Pocahontas was originally going to have 3 side-kicks: a hummingbird (Flit), a racoon (Meeko) and a turkey (Redfeather).

It was decided that three side-kicks would be too many, so Meeko was initially ditched. However, a humming bird and a turkey didn’t match well as side-kicks, so Meeko was brought back and Redfeather ditched.

Redfeather was to be voiced by John Candy.

Fact #72

The Fox and the Hound is loosely based on Daniel P. Mannix’ novel, however almost everything in the book was either changed or removed in the film. In the novel:

• Todd had two vixens that he mates and has cubs with, all of whom are killed by the hunter
• Todd intentionally kills The Chief by jumping out of the way of an oncoming train
• Todd dies from exhaustion while being chased by Copper
• the hunter was an old drunk and the novel ends with the hunter being sent to a retirement home and because dogs aren’t allowed he’s forced to shoot Copper.

Understandably, that would have made for a pretty grim children’s movie.

Fact#63

The original working title for Oliver & Company was Oliver and the Dodger.

Also, it was the fist Disney film to have a department created for computer animation, owing to its heavy use of CGI (used to make skyscrapers, cars, trains and the subway chase)

Fact #41

At the time of it’s release, The Fox and the Hound was the most expensively animated film produced.   

It was also the last Disney film with the credits at the beginning of the film.