Animation Frontiers
Wednesday, August 5, 2026, 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Instructor: Alice Bullitt, M.A., BMFI Board Member
Adapted from the novel by beloved/subversive children’s book author Roald Dahl, Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) introduces us to its titular character as an irresistibly charming thief—Danny Ocean, but in vulpine form. He convinces his wife to join him as he raids a farm, but when they are caught in a trap, Mrs. Fox tells him that she’s pregnant and asks him to retire from poultry theft. Fast forward to Mr. Fox as a paterfamilias working in a respectable but mundane job as a newspaper columnist. Longing for more financial security (as well as adventure), Mr. Fox ropes his best friend into one last job, conspiring to rob the farms of the wealthy, despicable farmers Boggis, Bunce, and Bean.
Anderson is known and celebrated for his idiosyncratic characters, deadpan humor, and a meticulously constructed but decidedly low-tech aesthetic. Fantastic Mr. Fox is a departure for Anderson in two ways, being his first foray into animation and also his first film adapted from other source material. That said, this film is still very much “a Wes Anderson film” in terms of its visual style and thematic concerns.
Join us for this seminar in which we will discuss the hallmarks of Wes Anderson’s unmistakable style and a conversation about how Fantastic Mr. Fox connects with his larger body of work.
Are you interested in “just” seeing this movie? Visit the public screening page here.
Cinema Classics Seminars offer an entertaining and engaging way to learn more about some of the true classics of world cinema. All students receive an introductory lecture before the film and a guided discussion after the film. In addition, those in attendance receive a ticket to see it on the big screen, as well as popcorn and a drink. Please note: the screening associated with this seminar will be open to the public, as well.
Please contact BMFI Programs and Education Manager Jill Malcolm with any questions.
$30 for members, $40 for non-members
Schedule