D52: The Aristocats

The first animated feature created entirely after Walt Disney’s death, 1970’s The Aristocats is a bit of a mixed bag. The story is essentially a retelling of 101 Dalmatians, substituting cats for dogs, but losing some of its charm in the translation.

The animation here is still strong, but the film suffers directorially. It has two tones which battle throughout, the more sedate style of earlier Disney films and a more kinetic, hip style found in the studio’s live action offerings of the time. This disjointed feel, along with the lack of any really memorable characters, likely explains why it leaves so many audience members cold and has never really been regarded as one of the animated classics.

Probably because this wasn’t a very popular film at the time, I didn’t see The Aristocats as a child. Instead I was already well into my teens before first viewing it. As a result, I likely have far less nostalgia for this title than many of the others. That, combined with its tonal and character issues, makes this a notably average film for me. It’s certainly not a bad film, nor does it attempt to be great, it’s simply content in its averageness. Younger viewers will likely get the most out of this, though it is worth watching at least once, even for adults.

The Aristocats DVD release trailer

Up Next: Robin Hood (1973)