Extended Analysis of a Film Opening: Fantastic Mr. Fox ;)

“I think I have this thing where I need everybody to think I'm the greatest, quote-unquote Fantastic Mr. Fox. And if people aren't knocked out and dazzled and slightly intimidated by me, I don't feel good about myself.” 

Fantastic Mr. Fox is a 2009 American animated adventure-comedy film directed by Wes Anderson from a screenplay by Anderson and Noah Baumbach and based on the novel of the same name by Roald Dahl. Featuring stop-motion animation, it stars George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe, and Owen Wilson.

The central themes of Fantastic Mr. Fox revolve around the marital issues between Mr. and Mrs. Fox, their son Ash's journey through adolescence, and the family’s struggle to survive amidst various character-driven challenges.

The movie opens with faint, non-diegetic sounds of nature in the woods, accompanied by an aerial shot of a farm that displays a poem foreshadowing key events to come. Directed by Wes Anderson, known for his distinctive visual style, Fantastic Mr. Fox features bold, saturated colors, particularly heightened yellows. This stylistic choice enhances the film's unique aesthetic, emphasizing contrasts between safe and dangerous atmospheres, a theme further explored throughout the story.

The following three shots also feature aerial views, showcasing the name of the production company. A whimsical song then plays, setting a playful, upbeat, and lighthearted tone that juxtaposes the darker themes within the film.

The next shot features the original book on which the movie is based, held by a human hand in a title shot that acknowledges the book’s author, Roald Dahl. The music, initially perceived as non-diegetic, drops in volume during the following extreme wide

shot of Mr. Fox on a hill, introducing diegetic sounds of the woods and a light breeze. From the outset, the film establishes a calming effect that subtly entices viewers to anticipate what might go wrong, while hints of underlying problems are evident from the beginning.

In this wide shot, Mr. Fox stands beside an apple tree, munching on an apple—a moment that portrays his love for good food, a central theme of the movie. This is followed by another wide shot featuring his wife, Felicity. Dressed in a yellow dress with embroidered lace wrapped around her head, she exudes warmth and style. Her stance, with one hand on her waist, conveys her independence and intelligence. Meanwhile, Mr. Fox is dressed in a brown suit with a yellow undershirt, suggesting sophistication, intelligence, and a bold personality. A close-up shot then focuses on the device which was seen playing music, which Mr. Fox switches off to center attention on his conversation with the doctor. After a brief silence, non-diegetic music resumes at a lower volume. When Felicity dismisses the conversation, Mr. Fox tosses his apple in a medium close-up shot and says, “I told you, you ate some bad gristle,” revealing his know-it-all personality. The reference to "gristle"—often inedible, tough meat—hints that the couple is harding making ends meet, foreshadowing one of the film’s main themes.

The music volume rises in a tracking shot of the couple, followed by a close-up of Mr. Fox as he whistles, indicating his witty and carefree personality. A static wide shot shows him running to pick a flower for Felicity, who thanks him, adding a warm diegetic audio moment.

The next scene establishes Berk’s Squab Farm with an establishing shot. This leads to two medium close-up shots of Mr. Fox and Felicity, one from behind and one from the front, as they debate what a squab actually is. A second conversation about which route to take follows, showing

Felicity ultimately conceding to Mr. Fox. A medium close-up of Felicity’s facial expression reveals her dissatisfaction with the quest,

while Mr. Fox’s comments on her demeanor add a sense of awkwardness and foreshadow potential conflict. Still, the film maintains its comedic tone with Mr. Fox’s joking comment in a medium close-up about how Felicity is “glowing.”

The music becomes more fast-paced as the couple trots away to steal the squabs. This sequence includes wide, tracking, close-up, and pan shots, creating a sense of intimacy and showcasing their relationship. The mise en scène highlights farm elements, such as brown crates labeled “Squab Jerky Perishable,” along with horses, humans (showing the scale of the foxes relative to humans), and tractors. The couple whistles and laughs, enjoying their adventurous quest. The music stops abruptly as they exit the shed with squabs in their mouths. Mr. Fox notices a hanging chain—a fox trap. His pride in his intelligence leads him to misinterpret the trap’s function, causing both to get caught in it. This comedic moment also reflects the theme that overthinking and pride can be a flaw. The trap, labeled “Butlers and Sons Wild Animal Destruction Tag,” hints at darker themes. As Mr. Fox talks about the trap, seemingly oblivious to their danger, Felicity reveals she is pregnant. A close-up of Mr. Fox’s joyful reaction is underscored by music, but Felicity’s concern is evident in an over-the-shoulder shot, enhanced by the sound of a gun being loaded. The background light turns on as a farmhouse door opens, and a barking dog, diegetic sound, adds tension. In a close-up, Mr. Fox is warned to “find a new line of work.”

The story then shifts forward to the present, with a downward-tilt shot of gray, gloomy clouds and the sound of thunder. An extreme close-up shows a newspaper on a doormat, revealing Mr. Fox now works as a columnist. 

A wide shot shows the Foxes’ cozy home, focusing on Mr. Fox reading the newspaper at the dining table. Felicity works in the kitchen to the right, with Mr. Fox in the center waiting for breakfast, surrounded by two types of jam. Their son Ash enters from the left, adding depth to the frame. The ambient lighting is warm but subdued, and subtle details in the setting suggest how the couple has progressed over the twelve "fox years" since the initial events. Mr. Fox’s dialogue draws focus on his column, briefly shifting attention to Ash.

The opening scenes set a specific tone that immerses viewers in the story. Though Fantastic Mr. Fox appears as a lighthearted comedic film, these moments hint at its central themes of intelligence, family, and maturity. The setting and dialogue foreshadow the challenges to come while grounding the story in the Foxes’ family dynamics and the tension between Mr. Fox's pride and his love for adventure.