The Cartoon
101 Dalmatians , 1961
The Plot
Two Dalmatians concoct a scheme to get their owners together in holy matrimony. A few weeks later, the Dalmatians give birth to 15
puppies. Only there’s one problem. Their puppies are stolen and it is up to them to save the puppies and prevent them from becoming
someone’s fur coat.
Starring
Bette Lou Gerson, Ben Wright, Lisa Davis, Rod Taylor, Cate Bauer, and more.
The Review
Disney’s 101 Dalmatians is a timeless masterpiece. To be honest, I don’t recall watching the cartoon as a young child, though I do
remember Sunday nights being my favorite evening of the week and it was the only night that my sister and I were allowed to stay up
past 7 p.m. That being said, this was my son’s all-time favorite Disney film as a child. He was so infatuated with the Dalmatians that
he desperately wanted us to buy him a Dalmatian of his own. And I actually believe it was this film that sparked his love of animals.
Now, 17 years later, I’m once again reminded at how fun this cartoon was.
It all starts with a dog named Pongo who realizes that it’s time for his owner (or pet as he likes to refer to the humans), Roger, to
find a mate, settle down, and marry. Scheming, Pongo spots Perdita, another Dalmatian, and her owner, Anita walking by their loft. He
knows he must act fast or the two shall never meet so tricks Roger into leaving work –for their afternoon walk in the park. It works
like a charm. The two marry and live a rather nice, quiet life.
But that’s all about to change when Perdita gives birth to 15 beautiful puppies. Anita’s college pal, Cruella De Vil, has her eyes on
the pups and will stop at nothing to get her hands on them. Cruella hires two thugs to steal the puppies and take them back to her run
down farmhouse, where she has already purchased 84 other puppies—all for the sole purpose of slaughtering them for their fur.
Some may think that puppies being stolen, only to be murdered for their furs is too dark and dreary for any child, but Disney turned a
rather sad and gloomy tale into something adventurous and exciting. The puppies, though in a dire situation, don’t seem too worried. In
fact, it’s as though they’re living on blind faith that their parents love them enough to save them. And so they carelessly go about
their days, glued to the only television in the farmhouse.
When the humans give up all hope, it’s up to Perdita and Pongo to save their pups but they end up getting more than they ever bargained
for. And thus the real adventure begins. Will they make it back to Anita and Roger safe and sound? Will all 99 puppies be kept safe? Or
will Cruella De Vil get her way and her spotted dog fur coat?
I think what I liked best about the film was the belief that if we “all” work together we can take a negative and turn it into a
positive. When the humans gave up all hope, the animal community got together, joined forces, and turned things around. It didn’t matter
that they didn’t know each other. It didn’t matter that they were different species. It didn’t matter that they did not have anything
personal at stake. What mattered was that someone was in trouble and someone needed a helping hand. They went out of their way to find
food, shelter, and safe passage for all 101 Dalmatians. And in the end, their generosity not only saved lives, but made the world seem
like a brighter place.
Your Task
As you watch 101 Dalmatians, ask your kids if they understand how to spot a bad guy. Then talk to them about the importance of staying
safe when you’re not around and how to tell if someone is lying. Cruella De Vil was supposed to be a family friend, but she turned out
to be the evil villainess. Sometimes we cannot always trust people we know and it’s important for our kids to understand this, while
still understanding that they should not be afraid of everyone they meet and know. It’s a fine line, but as parents it is our
responsibility to help our children learn how to protect themselves. Then teach them what to do if they feel they cannot trust someone.
Finally, take the time to talk to them about loving people despite their differences and how important it is to end racism—whether it
be based on the color of one’s skin, religious creed, or status in life. If we can all learn to love each other and lend a helping hand
based character alone, the world would be a much brighter place.
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About The Author:
Alyice Edrich is the founder and editor-in-chief of TheDabblingMum.com,
the author of several work-from-home e-books,
the publisher of three monthly e-zines,
a freelance writer for hire
and an artist for hire.
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