The Disney Films
Original Book written by Leonard Maltin
© JessieFilms, Fourth Edition, 2000

4.  THE REST OF THE STORY, pages 286-287, 318

The one distinction of The Black Cauldron was that it marked the Disney studio's entry into the field of computer-generated images.  Earlier, animators John Lesseter and Glen Keane had spent some time working on a brief computer experiment using characters from Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are.  In Cauldron, baubles, a boat, and the cauldron itself were manipulated by computer, as the animators experimented with moving geometric images, attempting to maintain their feeling of volume from different angles.

There was, at this time, a pall cast over the animation department at Disney.  Most of the studio's celebrated veterans had retired or passed on by now.  The younger generation — what where was of it — now had reason to wonder what the future of animation might be at the studio.  Although [Micheal] Eisner and [Jeffrey] Katzenberg had "green-lighted" the long-delayed The Great Mouse Detective within weeks of their take-over, there was still a lack of enthusiasm in the air.  When the staff was exiled from the Animation building, and moved off the lot to annex buildings in nearby Glendale, the message seemed clear:  Cartoons were no longer a top priority for Disney.

The Great Mouse Detective (1986), based on Eve Titus' book Basil of Baker Street, was the story of a Sherlock Holmesian mouse whose charged with solving a mystery and besting the beastly villain known as Ratigan.  This brisk and enjoyable feature was credited to four directors — John Musker, Ron Clements, Dave Mitchner, and Burny Mattinson — and emerged as an amiable blind of old- and new-style Disney.  Its centrepiece was the vocal performance of Vincent Price as the theatrical Ratigan, whose character was summed up in a signature song, "The World's Greatest Criminal Mind."

The "new" Disney was represented by the studio's most ambitious us of computer imaging to date in the climactic sequence which takes place inside London's famous Big Ben.  As Basil attempted to wend his way through the complex mechanical workings of the clock, his character was hand-drawn, but all the machinery was created using computer-generated imagery.  It looked the way, but given the nature of the assignment — with rackets and gears galore, and an ever changing perspective — the application seemed appropriate.  The film earned favourable reviews, although its box-office take of $21 million was mild.  (Lady and the Tramp, reissued that Christmas, made $31 million.)  The studio reissued it in 1991 as The Adventures of the Great Mouse Detective.

The Great Mouse Detective (later reissued as The Adventures of the Great Mouse Detective)

July [1986] release.  Producer: Burny Mattinson.  Directors: John Musker, Ron Clements, Dave Mitchner, Burny Mattinson.  Story adaptation: Pete Young, Vance Gerry, Steve Hulett, Ron Clements, John Musker, Bruce N. Morris, Matthew O'Callaghan, Burny Mattinson, Dave Mitchner, Melvin Shaw.  Based on the book Basil of Baker Street by Eve Titus.  Supervising animators: Mark Henn, Glen Keane, Robert Minkoff, Hendel Butoy.  Music: Henry Mancini.  Animation consultant: Eric Larson.  Voice cast: Vincent Price (Professor Ratigan), Barrie Ingham (Basil), Val Bettin (Dawson), Susanne Pollatschek (Olivia), Candy Candido (Fidget), Diana Chesney (Mrs. Judson), Eve Brenner (The Mouse Queen), Alan Young (Flaversham), Shani Wallis (Lady Mouse), Ellen Fitzhugh (Barmaid), Walker Edmiston (Citizen), Laurie Main (Watson), Basil Rathbone (as Sherlock Holmes — borrowed from a vintage movie soundtrack).  Running time: 74 minutes.
      The eminent mouse detective Basil of Baker Street is called into service when a master toymaker is kidnapped.