This post is about 1970 animated film The Aristocats. It was released on 24th December 1970 and was produced by Walt Disney Productions. It is based on a story by Tom McGowan and Tom Rowe. It is also the 20th Disney feature-length animation film.

The film begins in Paris 1910, where a wealthy retired opera singer lives in a mansion with her cat, the cat’s three kittens and Edger the butler.

Edgar overhears the singer writing her will where all of the singers assets are left to her cats and after they pass away to Edger.

Edger wanting the fortune decides to get rid of the cats so he can inherit. He laces the cats milk with sleeping pills and then drives and leaves them in a basket in the French countryside.

After the cat’s wake up, they have many adventures and meet various characters including Thomas O’Malley.

The film ends with the cats reunited with their owner along with Thomas, Edgar being sent far away and the mansion being turned into a home for all of the alley cats of Paris.

Marie is named after the French Queen Marie Antoinette. In the original concept art for the film, she was called Marie Antoinette, but this was later shortened

Marie is a middle child. She is also the only female kitten.

Toulouse is the oldest of Duchess’ kittens

I will rate the film into five categories, lighting, sound, sadness, scariness and Autism friendly. I will also give an overall score.

Lighting and sound categories are in reference to light and sound sensitivity.  As a person with Autism I have both but it is possible to have one or the other and still be a person with Autism.

Lighting: 1/10

Sound: 2/10

Scariness: 2/10

Sadness: 1/10

Overall Score: 6/40

Autism Friendly: Yes

In my opinion, this is a lovely lighthearted children’s film. However, there are scenes which are racist in nature, mainly the scene with the Siamese cat playing the piano with chopsticks. The cat is also drawn as a racist caricature of an Asian person and voiced by a white actor. It is one of my favourite films and, while I do not approve of the racist scenes, I do have many fond memories of watching the film as a child with my family.