The Incredible Journey (film series)
Three pets brave hundreds of miles to find home.
The *Incredible Journey* film series, also known as the *Homeward Bound* series, is a set of American family-comedy adventure movies. They are adapted from Sheila Burnford’s 1961 novel of the same name. The stories follow groups of three pets—an unlikely mix—who must cooperate to travel hundreds of miles back to their homes. The films blend live animal actors with voice-over work to convey the animals’ thoughts and feelings, alongside human actors who play their owners.
The franchise began with a 1963 film adaptation of the novel, which was well-regarded by critics. A 1993 remake followed, which was both a box-office hit and positively received by critics. Its 1996 sequel earned mixed reviews.
- origin
- 1961 novel by Sheila Burnford
- first film
- 1963
- number of films
- 3
- studio
- The Walt Disney Company
- genre
- Adventure family-comedy
- based on
- The Incredible Journey (1961 novel)
Lore & Background
The 1961 British adventure children's novel by Scottish author Sheila Burnford served as the inspiration for The Walt Disney Company's Homeward Bound film series. The story follows three pets: a young Labrador Retriever named Luath, an old English Bull Terrier named Champion Boroughcastle Brigadier of Doune (nicknamed 'Bodger'), and a loyal Siamese cat named Tao. Together the animals brave over 300 miles through the Northwestern Ontario Canadian wilderness, searching for their masters. Burnford stated that though the novel is associated with children's literature, she did not write it with this intention; she was inspired by the three family pets she and her husband had while living in Canada.
Reader's Guide
The franchise includes the 1963 critically esteemed original feature film adaptation of the novel, as well as the 1993 remake and its respective 1996 sequel. The 1993 remake was a box office success and met with positive reception with critics, while its sequel was met with mixed reviews. The series is notable for its portrayal of animal protagonists who communicate through voice acting while real animal actors perform on screen, a technique that helped convey the animals' thoughts and emotions. The films have remained a touchstone for family adventure stories, emphasizing themes of loyalty, teamwork, and the bond between pets and their owners.
Did You Know?
- The 1963 film was critically esteemed.
- The 1993 remake was a box office success and met with positive reception.
- The 1996 sequel was met with mixed reviews.
- The novel was inspired by the author's three family pets while living in Canada.
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