"When you're the best of friends..."
- Despite losing his real mother, Tod has two very loving and nurturing mother figures: Big Mama and the widow.
- Tod and Copper's first meeting, where Copper is tracking a scent and when he realizes it belongs to Tod, he lets out the most adorable baby howl.
- This exchange, which is repeated as an audio flashback at the end of the film when Tod and Copper are torn their separate ways, but know they will always be friends at heart.Tod: Copper, you're my very best friend.
Copper: And you're mine, too, Tod.
Tod: And we'll always be friends forever, won't we?
Copper: Yeah, forever...- The small smiles they give one another before going their separate ways.
- And again, Copper stopping before making another small smile and resting near Chief in the ending presumably for sensing Tod's scent (who is looking at him from the distance with Vixie) and being glad that his friend is still around.
- Tod and Vixey's Falling-in-Love Montage.
- Squeaks turning into a butterfly at the end, and Dinky and Boomer deciding to let him go. Also very symbolic of the larger plot where the hunters and prey reconcile.
- Copper and Chief's bonding.
- When we first meet Copper, Chief is excited, thinking that he's getting a treat. Upon learning that the surprise Slade is talking about is actually a puppy, Chief is dismayed and annoyed. He does all he can to ignore the pup, even pushing him out of the way of the barrel where he sleeps. When does Chief melt? When Copper curls up on his leg and falls asleep. Chief lays down his head and gives a small smile as he falls back asleep.
- During the fight with the bear when Amos Slade realizes just how outmatched Copper is and that all he can hope to do is aggravate and distract the bear, he abandons his attempts to escape the trap and instead tries to reach his gun. While subtle, it sort of highlights just how much he cares for Copper.
- Copper tracks down and mercilessly hunts Tod and his mate, looking like he won't hesitate for a second to kill him should he get a hold of him. Yet when Tod witnesses Copper about to be killed by a bear, he simply can't let it happen and rushes in to save his former best friend. The look of absolute amazement on Copper's face right as he stares at the exhausted fox who had just saved him despite everything that had happened really sells it.
- After the fight with the bear, it seems that Amos Slade will become an Ungrateful Bastard and blast the wounded Tod away. However, Copper, who earlier tried to kill Tod, stands up for Tod and pleads to Slade to be reasonable. This causes Slade to realize what he's about to do, and after he spends a moment feeling shameful about himself, he spares Tod's life. The way Copper defends Tod requires special mention; he isn't standing in fierce defiance at Slade or snarling a warning that he'll attack even him if he tries to hurt Tod. Copper just gives Slade a long saddening glance, begging his master to just let this go.Amos: Copper, get out of the way! [Copper refuses; Slade stares before gradually realizing that it just isn't worth it. He lowers his rifle and pets Copper assuredly.] Well... come on, boy. Let's go home.
- Widow Tweed bandaging up Amos Slade at the end of the film. Mind you neither of them can stand one another and they plenty of reason to quarrel (foxes are known to kill farmers' chickens and Slade explicitly hunts foxes and he hated Todd). Yet Slade was willing to let Tweed help him and Tweed acts all fussing with him to make sure he gets proper care. Considering her willingness to help him in the first place, Amos probably didn't tell her the whole story of how he was injured.
- The moment of Widow Tweed squirting milk into Todd's mouth from the cow's udder was based on a moment from Don Bluth's childhood. As a boy, Bluth was tasked with milking his family's cows, and a feral kitten that lived in the barn would come during milking time. Bluth fed the kitten by squirting milk in its direction, and the cat learned to catch the milk in its mouth.
- When the spring thaw arrives, Slade, Copper and Chief drive home from their hunting trip. While Chief is (understandably) jealous about Copper and Slade's close relationship and upset that he's riding in the back as opposed to the front seat...Slade tells Chief to cheer up because without him, Copper wouldn't have turned out to be such a fine hunting dog. Emphasized by Copper giving Chief a lick and then joining Slade in a howling session. Say what you will about Slade...but it's clear the love he has for Chief and Copper is true.
