<P> The Fox and the Hound is a 1981 American animated drama film produced by Walt Disney Productions and loosely based on the novel of the same name by Daniel P. Mannix . The 24th Disney animated feature film, the film tells the story of two unlikely friends, a red fox named Tod and a hound dog named Copper, who struggle to preserve their friendship despite their emerging instincts and the surrounding social pressures demanding them to be adversaries . Directed by Ted Berman, Richard Rich, and Art Stevens, the film features the voices of Mickey Rooney, Kurt Russell, Pearl Bailey, Jack Albertson, Sandy Duncan, Jeanette Nolan, Pat Buttram, John Fiedler, John McIntire, Dick Bakalyan, Paul Winchell, Keith Mitchell, and Corey Feldman . </P> <P> The Fox and the Hound was released to theaters on July 10, 1981 to financial success . At the time of release it was the most expensive animated film produced to date, costing $12 million . It was re-released to theaters on March 25, 1988 . A direct - to - video followup, The Fox and the Hound 2, was released to DVD on December 12, 2006 . </P> <P> After a young red fox is orphaned, Big Mama the owl, with the help of her friends Dinky the finch and Boomer the woodpecker, arranges for him to be adopted by a kindly farmer named Widow Tweed . Tweed names him Tod, because he reminds her of a toddler . Meanwhile, her neighbor, a hunter named Amos Slade, brings home a young hound puppy named Copper and introduces him to his hunting dog Chief . One day, Tod and Copper meet and become playmates, vowing to remain "friends forever". Slade grows frustrated at Copper for constantly wandering off to play, and places him on a leash . While playing with Copper outside his doghouse, Tod awakens Chief . Slade and Chief chase Tod until they are stopped by Tweed . After an argument, Slade threatens to kill Tod if he trespasses on his farm again . Hunting season comes and Slade takes his dogs into the wilderness for the interim . Meanwhile, Big Mama, Dinky, and Boomer attempt to explain to Tod that his friendship with Copper will not continue, as they are natural enemies, but Tod naively refuses to believe them, hoping that he and Copper will remain friends forever . </P> <P> As months pass, Tod and Copper both reach adulthood . Copper has become an experienced hunting dog, while Tod has grown up into a handsome fox . On the night of Copper's return, Tod sneaks over to visit him . Copper explains that while he still values Tod as a friend, he is now a hunting dog and things are different . Their conversation awakens Chief, who alerts Slade . In the ensuing chase Copper catches Tod . Against better judgement, Copper lets Tod go and diverts Chief and Slade . Tod tries escaping onto a railroad track, but is caught and pursued by Chief as a train suddenly passes by them . Tod ducks under the train, but Chief is struck by the train and falls into the river below, breaking his leg . Angered by this, Copper and Slade blame Tod for the accident and vow vengeance . Tweed, realizing that Tod is no longer safe with her, takes him on a drive and leaves him at a game preserve . </P>

What's the old man's name in fox and the hound