The Jungle Book 2

Production

The Rescuers Down Under is notable for Disney as its first traditionally-animated movie to completely use the new computerized CAPS process. CAPS (Computer Animation Production System) was a computer-based production system used for digital ink and paint and compositing, allowing for more efficient and sophisticated post-production of the Disney animated films and making the traditional practice of hand-painting cels obsolete. The animators' drawings and the background paintings were scanned into computer systems instead, where the animation drawings are inked and painted by digital artists, and later combined with the scanned backgrounds in software that allows for camera positioning, camera movements, multiplane effects, and other techniques.

As a result, The Rescuers Down Under was the first feature film for which the entire final film elements were assembled and completed within a digital environment. However, the film's marketing approach did not call attention to the use of the CAPS process. It is Disney's second animated feature that does not include any musical numbers, the first being Disney's The Black Cauldron. The film also uses CGI elements throughout such as the field of flowers in the opening sequence, McLeach's truck, and perspective shots of Wilbur flying above Sydney Opera House and New York City.

A team of over 415 artists and technicians were required for the production of the film. Five members of the team traveled to the Australian Outback to observe, take photographs and draw sketches to properly illustrate the outback on film.

On its initial release, The Rescuers Down Under was preceded by a short subject starring Mickey Mouse in an adaptation of The Prince and the Pauper. (This was only the second new Mickey Mouse short made since the 1950s, the first being Mickey's Christmas Carol, which was made to accompany the 1983 re-release of The Rescuers.)

Characters

The Rescuers Down Under features three characters from the first film: Bianca, Bernard, and the Chairmouse.

• Bernard, voiced by Bob Newhart, a mouse and the United States representative of the Rescue Aid Society.
• Miss Bianca, voiced by Eva Gabor, a mouse and the Hungarian representative of the Rescue Aid Society
• Wilbur, voiced by John Candy, a comical albatross, named after Wilbur Wright. He is the brother of Orville, the albatross who appeared in the first film.
• Cody, voiced by Adam Ryen, a young boy able to converse with most animals, who is implied to be a recurrent ally of theirs.
• Marahute, voiced by Frank Welker, a giant golden eagle.
• Percival C. McLeach, voiced by George C. Scott, a sadistic poacher and the main antagonist of the film.
• Joanna, voiced by Frank Welker, a giant goanna and McLeach's pet, who acts to terrify his captives.
• Jake, voiced by Tristan Rogers, a debonair, charismatic, friendly kangaroo rat.
• Red, voiced by Peter Firth, a male kangaroo captured by McLeach. It is unknown if he is saved or not.
• Frank, voiced by Wayne Robson, an erratic frill-necked lizard captured by McLeach. It is unknown if he is saved or not.
• Krebbs, voiced by Douglas Seale, a koala captured by McLeach. It is unknown if he is saved or not.
• Polly, a platypus captured by McLeach. It is unknown if he is saved or not.
• Faloo voiced by Carla Meyer, a female kangaroo, who summons Cody to save Marahute.
• Chairmouse, voiced by Bernard Fox, chairman of the Rescue Aid Society.
• Doctor Mouse, voiced by Bernard Fox, the supervisor of the surgical mice who examine Wilbur when he is injured.
• Nurse Mouse, voiced by Russi Taylor, the operator of Doctor Mouse's instructions and a competent second-in-command.
• Nelson, an echidna.

Release

The Rescuers Down Under was released in the Walt Disney Classics video series in 1991 on VHS like The Rescuers. However, unlike The Rescuers, the film did not make it to the Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection. It was released on DVD on August 1, 2000 as part of the Walt Disney Gold Classic Collection. It has yet to join the several other Disney films in the "Platinum/Special Edition" DVDs or Blu-Rays.

Reception

The film received a mostly positive response. On Rotten Tomatoes, 77% of the critics reviews were positive. But despite the critical acclaim, the film underperformed at the box-office, grossing only $27 million, making it the least successful box-office performance of any major release of the Disney Renaissance era.