Between Instinct and Belonging: Fantastic Mr. Fox
Fantastic Mr Fox (2009)
It brings me great pleasure to write about this film. West Andersons Fantastic Mr Fox (2009) is one of my favourite stop-motion films, not only because of it’s visual excellence but also for it’s striking relatability and ability to connect with a wide range of viewers, despite it being an adaptation of Real Dahl’s children book of the same name.
Mr Fox and Ash, his son, embody the internal conflict that comes with resisting who we truly are at our core versus who society expects us to be. Mr Fox, in particular is the quintessential example of this, as well as the existential weight of becoming someone who feels valuable in a way that truly matters.
“I don’t want to live in a hole anymore, and I’m gonna do something about it”.
That line gives me chills no matter how many times I watch the film. Mr Fox isn’t simply referring to his physical home, a literal hole in the ground, but to a deeper sense of internal dissatisfaction. It speaks to the dread and restlessnes that often accompanies human existence. No matter how much we acquire or achieve, there is always the desire for more, even when those around us insists we are enough.
Throughout he film we we repeatedly witness Mr Fox’s ego betray him. His central struggle lie in his desire to be recognised for doing something extraordinary. He believes that he can only achieve this by acting on his natural instincts, hunting and stealing from the nearby farmers.
However, this creates a moral tension. The very actions that bring him success and fulfilment also place his family in danger. What comes naturally to him is also what threatens the stability of the life he has built.
There are several moments in the film where Mr Fox is confronted with these dilemmas. One of the most striking moments occurs just before he and Kylie, his trusted companion, attempt to steal from one of the farmers.
“I’m saying this more as like existentialism, you know? Who am I? And how can a fox ever be happy without a-you’ll forgive the expression-a chicken in it’s mouth?”
Mr Fox once again is questioning his existence. Is his happiness even possible if he is not acting like his true self?
Mr Fox and the Wolf
Eventually, Mr Fox is faced with a moment of inner acceptance in what I consider one of the most understated yet profound scenes in stop-motion film. After escaping the farmers, Mr Fox, Kylie, Ash and Kristofferson notice a wolf in the distance.
The wolf represents Mr Fox’s pure and untamed nature — his “wild side” — the very instinct that led him into this situation. Mr Fox watches the animal in awe as it remains silent, its presence almost overwhelming. There is something in its stillness and majesty that moves him, and he quietly sheds a tear.
He then admits that he has always had a fear of wolves, yet despite this, he raises his fist in a gesture of recognition and unity. In this moment, Mr Fox seems to come to terms with himself. He recognises both the part of him that is instinctive and untamed, and the life he has chosen to build beyond it.