10 Behind-the-Scenes Facts About ‘Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey’
As a child, I was fixated on films that focused on dogs. In elementary school, I was obsessed with “101 Dalmatians” and felt a particular kinship with the character Rolly, as I, too, was chubby and always hankering for the next meal. As a basketball player and Golden Retriever enthusiast, you know that I was all about “Air Bud.” I don’t mean to brag, but I actually owned the soundtrack, which included such hits as “Buddy Makes A Basket,” “Rescuing Buddy,” and “Buddy's Back.” Now, don’t even get me started on the 1993 movie, “Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey.” I loved that movie, but I couldn't emotionally handle it because the idea of a family getting separated from their beloved pets is heartbreaking.
However, I will be re-watching the heartwarming film in celebration of its 30th anniversary.
In honor of “Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey,” I thought I’d share a few incredible behind-the-scenes facts about the movie.
The Film Was Adapted From a Novel
Photo by Berkay Gumustekin on Unsplash
The film was based on Sheila Burnford’s 1961 novel “Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey.”
The First ‘Homeward Bound’ Film Was Released in 1963
Disney first adapted the book two years after it was published. The original movie had more of a documentary vibed compared to its 1993 counterpart.
Two Academy Award Winners Lent Their Voices for the Film
Photo by Dan Dennis on Unsplash
The 1993 film follows a young American Bulldog called Chance, a sassy Himalayan cat appropriately named Sassy, and the wise senior Gold Retriever, Shadow. The trio was voiced by beloved actors Michael J. Fox, Sally Fields, and Don Ameche. Both Fields and Ameche have been recipients of Academy Awards.
The Movie’s Director Was Discovered by George Lucas
Photo by Michael Anfang on Unsplash
After the film’s director Duwayne Robert Dunham graduated from San Francisco State University in the late 1970s, he worked in the city as an editor. Impressed by his work, famed director George Lucas approached him to see if he would join his team. Dunham accepted the position and edited “Return of the Jedi.”
‘Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey’ Was Duwayne Dunham’s Directorial Debut
Photo by Lucas Ludwig on Unsplash
After having a successful career as an editor for 24 years, Dunham decided to try his luck as a director.
Several Cats and Dogs Played Shadow, Sassy, and Chance
Photo by Dan Dennis on Unsplash
Several furry friends took turns playing the Burnford family’s beloved pets.
Duwayne Robert Dunham Shared That It Was Difficult To Work With Animals
In a behind-the-scenes video, Dunham confessed that “working with the animals [was] sometimes very difficult.”
“We can only feed them so much, we can only ask for so much before they say guys I’m full I’m taking a nap, it’s over. You either have your shot or you don’t,” explained the director.
The Furry Friends Had To Interact With Each Other
Photo by Emil Priver on Unsplash
One of the challenges in the film was figuring out how the animals would perform with each other. To ensure they behaved properly, numerous trainers were on set at all times.
The Cats Were Trained With Buzzers
Photo by Emil Priver on Unsplash
The cats who played Sassy were all trained to meet their marks with remote control buzzers that emitted a beeping sound.
The Animals Wore Makeup
Photo by Enis Yavuz on Unsplash
Because several animals played Sassy, Shadow, and Chance, the furry friends had to wear makeup to look the same. According to the film’s makeup artist Barry Demeter, the dogs and cats did not require many touch-ups.
“As compared to people they do not require as much touch up on fur and they don’t get the moisture problem that skin does,” explained the makeup artist.