Overlay: Secrets kept by characters in Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

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#Q ORIGINAL QUESTION

Regarding the film Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009), what secrets are the characters keeping?

#M ANNOTATED LLM RESPONSE

In Wes Anderson's Fantastic Mr. Fox, secrets and deceptions drive the plot, often highlighting the tension between the characters' "wild" animal instincts and their "civilized" domestic lives. Here are the specific secrets kept by the characters:

1. Mr. Fox's Secret "Master Plan"

The central conflict of the film stems from Mr. Fox's broken promise. Twelve "fox years" prior, after being caught in a trap with his wife Felicity, he promised her he would stop raiding farms if they survived.

The Secret: While he successfully works as a newspaper columnist for years, he secretly begins plotting "one last big job." He recruits Kylie (the opossum) to help him systematically rob the three local farmers: Boggis, Bunce, and Bean.
The Deception: He hides his "bandit" equipment (masks, maps, and blueprints) and lies to Mrs. Fox about where he is going at night, claiming he is just out for walks or staying late at the office. Even when the farmers begin their siege, he initially tries to downplay his involvement to his family.

2. Mrs. Fox's Pregnancy (The Opening Secret)

In the film's prologue, while Mr. Fox and Felicity are trapped in a cage at Berk's Squab Farm as it's being shot at, Felicity reveals a secret she has been holding:

The Secret: She tells him, "I'm pregnant."
The Impact: This secret is the catalyst for Mr. Fox's retirement. She uses the news to force him to vow to change his life, a vow that he eventually breaks, leading to the events of the main story.

3. Ash's Insecurity and Hidden Resentment

Ash, Mr. Fox's son, keeps his intense feelings of inadequacy and jealousy a "secret" in the sense that he masks them with hostility and "crabbiness."

The Secret: Ash is desperately trying to be an athlete and a "bandit" just like his father, but he keeps his practice sessions and his obsession with his "uniform" (his white cape and mask) largely to himself.
The White Cape: He wears his trousers tucked into his socks and sports a makeshift cape to hide the fact that he doesn't feel like a "natural" like his cousin Kristofferson.

4. Kristofferson's Family Burden

Kristofferson arrives as a guest while his father is suffering from "double pneumonia."

The Secret: While not a malicious secret, Kristofferson maintains a very composed, Zen-like exterior, hiding the deep sadness and stress he feels regarding his father's illness. He rarely speaks of his own problems, preferring to show his prowess in diving or karate, which inadvertently fuels Ash's jealousy.

5. Rat's Role as a Gatekeeper

Rat, the antagonist who serves as Franklin Bean's security guard, guards a very specific secret location.

The Secret: He guards Bean's "Secret Cider Cellar." He considers himself the sole protector of the "liquid gold."
The Hidden Life: Rat is essentially a traitor to his own kind, living in the walls of the human world and keeping the existence and layout of the cider cellar hidden from all other animals until Mr. Fox and Ash stumble upon it.

6. Kylie's Accomplice Status

Kylie, the building superintendent/opossum, is the only one who knows the full extent of Mr. Fox's crimes during the first half of the film.

The Secret: He is sworn to secrecy by Mr. Fox. He is often used as a "lookout" or "assistant," and he has to keep the stolen goods and the planning sessions hidden from Mrs. Fox and the rest of the community. His "secret" is often compromised by his tendency to go into a trance (the "shiner" look) when he is stressed.

7. The Farmers' Secret Strategy

While the farmers are overt in their hatred, they keep their tactical movements secret from the animals.

The Secret: Bean secretly organizes a massive "stakeout" involving dozens of armed men to wait outside the fox hole. Later, they secretly decide to "flush them out" using cider by flooding the tunnels, a plan they keep under wraps until the moment of execution.

#F CORRECTION FEED (CLICK TO SEARCH)

[1] The film's themes of wild vs. civilized nature and secrets/deceptions are well-documented aspects of the narrative

[2] The opening sequence shows Mr. Fox and Felicity trapped at Berk's Squab Farm, where she reveals her pregnancy and he promises to find a safer job. The twelve fox-years time jump is confirmed

[3] Mr. Fox becomes a newspaper columnist and later recruits Kylie the opossum to help him steal from the three farmers: Boggis, Bunce, and Bean

[4] Mr. Fox lies to Mrs. Fox about his activities, claiming to go to 'book parties' or for work, while actually conducting raids with Kylie

[5] While the summary says he tries to downplay his involvement, the film shows Mrs. Fox directly confronts him with suspicion when supplies mysteriously appear in their pantry, and she explicitly warns him 'If what I think is happening, is happening? It better not be.' The downplaying is less emphasized than her direct confrontation

[6] The opening scene at Berk's Squab Farm shows Mr. Fox and Felicity trapped in a cage, where she reveals her pregnancy

[7] Felicity's exact line 'I'm pregnant' is documented in the opening trap scene

[8] The pregnancy revelation causes Mr. Fox to promise to find a safer job, which he later breaks by returning to thievery, creating the central conflict

[9] Ash is characterized as grumpy, cynical, and ill-tempered, masking his feelings of inadequacy and jealousy toward Kristofferson

[10] Ash tries to excel in athletics to be like his father but either fails or is denied the opportunity. He is jealous of Kristofferson's natural abilities

[11] Ash wears a feminine wool sweater and a lacy cape, which other characters say makes him look 'like a girl.' The cape is not specifically described as white, and it's more about his fashion being 'different' than specifically bandit gear. He also tucks his pants into his socks

[12] Ash does tuck his trousers into his socks and wears a cape, described as part of his 'different' appearance that others comment on negatively

[13] Kristofferson comes to stay with the Fox family because his father has double pneumonia and is receiving medical treatment

[14] Kristofferson is described as calm, composed, and maintaining a Zen-like demeanor through meditation. When Ash makes insensitive comments about his father's illness, Kristofferson is visibly upset and says he needs to meditate, showing he is concealing his emotional burden

[15] Rat is confirmed as Bean's security guard who lives in and guards Bean's secret cider cellar

[16] Rat guards Bean's secret cider cellar and describes the cider as valuable, drinking it himself through a tube

[17] In the film, Rat is described as Bean's enforcer and security guard. He's portrayed as self-serving and loves drinking cider in solitude. However, calling him a 'traitor to his own kind' is interpretive language not directly supported by the film. He's simply working for Bean, and in the book he's just a scavenger, not specifically hiding the cellar's existence from other animals

[18] This is factually incorrect. Mr. Fox, Kylie, and KRISTOFFERSON (not Ash) visit the cider cellar. Multiple sources confirm Kristofferson accompanies them on this raid, which Mr. Fox disguises as a 'book party.' Ash is specifically excluded from this trip and becomes jealous about not being invited

[19] Kylie is Mr. Fox's accomplice and superintendent who helps with the raids while keeping them secret from Mrs. Fox and the community

[20] Kylie accompanies Mr. Fox on all his raids and must keep these activities secret, often appearing uncomfortable when Mrs. Fox questions them

[21] Kylie is shown going into a zoned-out state with swirling eyes when stressed or traumatized, like a real opossum's defensive behavior

[22] The farmers keep their plans and movements secret from the animals, including their ambush and flooding strategies

[23] The farmers organize a stakeout waiting for Mr. Fox to emerge from his hole, then later flood the tunnels with cider to force the animals out

#O MISSED POINTS & OVERSIGHTS

Medium

The second pregnancy reveal at the end of the film

The AI Summary mentions Mrs. Fox's pregnancy in the opening as a secret that drives the plot, but completely omits that there is a SECOND pregnancy reveal at the end of the film in the supermarket scene. This bookending device is significant to the film's structure and themes. Mrs. Fox reveals she is pregnant again during the celebration in the farmers' supermarket, creating a symmetrical narrative arc

High

Ash and Kristofferson's secret mission to retrieve the tail

The AI Summary does not mention that Ash and Kristofferson keep SECRET their plan to retrieve Mr. Fox's tail from the farmers. They sneak away from the feast without telling anyone, which leads to Kristofferson's capture. This is a crucial plot point involving characters keeping secrets, directly relevant to the user's query

Medium

Mrs. Fox's awareness and confrontation

While the summary mentions Mr. Fox lying to Mrs. Fox, it understates her role. She catches them with the infamous line 'If what I think is happening, is happening? It better not be.' She is actively suspicious due to supplies appearing in the pantry, not just passively being lied to

#C RELATED QUERIES

#01 What happens at the end of Fantastic Mr Fox in the supermarket scene

#02 Ash and Kristofferson rescue mission tail Fantastic Mr Fox

#03 Mrs Fox 'if what I think is happening' scene Fantastic Mr Fox

#S SOURCES

#R ORIGINAL AI RESPONSE

▼

In Wes Anderson's *Fantastic Mr. Fox*, secrets and deceptions drive the plot, often highlighting the tension between the characters' "wild" animal instincts and their "civilized" domestic lives. Here are the specific secrets kept by the characters: ### 1. Mr. Fox's Secret "Master Plan" The central conflict of the film stems from Mr. Fox's broken promise. Twelve "fox years" prior, after being caught in a trap with his wife Felicity, he promised her he would stop raiding farms if they survived. * **The Secret:** While he successfully works as a newspaper columnist for years, he secretly begins plotting "one last big job." He recruits Kylie (the opossum) to help him systematically rob the three local farmers: Boggis, Bunce, and Bean. * **The Deception:** He hides his "bandit" equipment (masks, maps, and blueprints) and lies to Mrs. Fox about where he is going at night, claiming he is just out for walks or staying late at the office. Even when the farmers begin their siege, he initially tries to downplay his involvement to his family. ### 2. Mrs. Fox's Pregnancy (The Opening Secret) In the film's prologue, while Mr. Fox and Felicity are trapped in a cage at Berk's Squab Farm as it's being shot at, Felicity reveals a secret she has been holding: * **The Secret:** She tells him, "I'm pregnant." * **The Impact:** This secret is the catalyst for Mr. Fox's retirement. She uses the news to force him to vow to change his life, a vow that he eventually breaks, leading to the events of the main story. ### 3. Ash's Insecurity and Hidden Resentment Ash, Mr. Fox's son, keeps his intense feelings of inadequacy and jealousy a "secret" in the sense that he masks them with hostility and "crabbiness." * **The Secret:** Ash is desperately trying to be an athlete and a "bandit" just like his father, but he keeps his practice sessions and his obsession with his "uniform" (his white cape and mask) largely to himself. * **The White Cape:** He wears his trousers tucked into his socks and sports a makeshift cape to hide the fact that he doesn't feel like a "natural" like his cousin Kristofferson. ### 4. Kristofferson's Family Burden Kristofferson arrives as a guest while his father is suffering from "double pneumonia." * **The Secret:** While not a malicious secret, Kristofferson maintains a very composed, Zen-like exterior, hiding the deep sadness and stress he feels regarding his father's illness. He rarely speaks of his own problems, preferring to show his prowess in diving or karate, which inadvertently fuels Ash's jealousy. ### 5. Rat's Role as a Gatekeeper Rat, the antagonist who serves as Franklin Bean's security guard, guards a very specific secret location. * **The Secret:** He guards Bean's "Secret Cider Cellar." He considers himself the sole protector of the "liquid gold." * **The Hidden Life:** Rat is essentially a traitor to his own kind, living in the walls of the human world and keeping the existence and layout of the cider cellar hidden from all other animals until Mr. Fox and Ash stumble upon it. ### 6. Kylie's Accomplice Status Kylie, the building superintendent/opossum, is the only one who knows the full extent of Mr. Fox's crimes during the first half of the film. * **The Secret:** He is sworn to secrecy by Mr. Fox. He is often used as a "lookout" or "assistant," and he has to keep the stolen goods and the planning sessions hidden from Mrs. Fox and the rest of the community. His "secret" is often compromised by his tendency to go into a trance (the "shiner" look) when he is stressed. ### 7. The Farmers' Secret Strategy While the farmers are overt in their hatred, they keep their tactical movements secret from the animals. * **The Secret:** Bean secretly organizes a massive "stakeout" involving dozens of armed men to wait outside the fox hole. Later, they secretly decide to "flush them out" using cider by flooding the tunnels, a plan they keep under wraps until the moment of execution. (Note: This summary was generated by Gemini 3.0 Flash)

#A DIRECT ANSWER (VERIFIED ANALYSIS)

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In Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009), the characters keep several significant secrets:

1. Mr. Fox's Return to Thievery: The central secret is Mr. Fox breaking his promise to Mrs. Fox. After being trapped at Berk's Squab Farm where Felicity revealed her pregnancy, he promised to stop stealing. Twelve fox-years later, as a newspaper columnist, he secretly plans raids on the three farmers (Boggis, Bunce, and Bean) with his accomplice Kylie the opossum. He lies about attending 'book parties' while actually conducting heists.

2. Mrs. Fox's Opening Pregnancy: In the film's opening, while trapped in a cage, Felicity reveals 'I'm pregnant' as a secret that forces Mr. Fox to retire from crime.

3. Mrs. Fox's Second Pregnancy: At the film's end, during the supermarket celebration, Felicity reveals she is pregnant AGAIN, creating a symmetrical bookend to the opening.

4. Kylie's Complicity: Kylie, the building superintendent, keeps Mr. Fox's entire criminal operation secret from Mrs. Fox and the community, though he's uncomfortable with the deception.

5. Ash's Insecurities: Ash hides his intense feelings of inadequacy and jealousy toward his cousin Kristofferson behind hostility. He secretly practices to be an athlete like his father but fails, and wears unconventional clothing (lacy cape, tucked-in pants) to feel special.

6. Kristofferson's Emotional Burden: Kristofferson maintains a composed, Zen-like exterior while hiding deep sadness about his father's double pneumonia. When Ash makes insensitive comments about his father's illness, Kristofferson retreats to meditate.

7. Ash and Kristofferson's Secret Mission: The cousins secretly plan to retrieve Mr. Fox's stolen tail from the farmers without telling anyone, sneaking away from the feast. This leads to Kristofferson's capture.

8. Rat's Role: Rat serves as Bean's security guard, protecting the secret cider cellar. He lives in the cellar drinking cider and keeping its location from other animals until Mr. Fox, Kylie, and KRISTOFFERSON (not Ash) discover it.

9. The Farmers' Tactics: The farmers keep their strategic plans secret, including their stakeout ambush and later decision to flood the animal tunnels with cider to flush them out.

OVERLAY REPORT