Robin Hood by Walt Disney is one of my favorite traditionally animated movies. The story is great, and the anthropomorphising of the story with a wily fox and a pretty little vixen in the place of two of the main characters is just classical fun. But there is another element that could easily be glossed over while watching the movie. Some of what I'll be saying, I'm no doubt reading into the story, but the allusions are there, whether accidental, intentional, explicit or implicit.
FRIENDSHIP-The theme song used in the intro had me from the time I was 8."RobinHood and Little John,walkingthrough the forest, laughing back and forth at what the other had to say. Reminiscing this and that, and having such a GOOD TIME, udalaly, udalaly, golly what a day". The song is superbably written. (more on that in a minute) Best friends talking & enjoying one another's company in a thick forest. Trust and loyalty encompassed within the fellowship of nature as God intended. When you watch this first seen, you realize these two chum's have know each other for quite some time. The flavor of the moment is as sweet as it is enduring. It is a motif, that is sadly only true to many of us within the context of fiction.
Roger Miller- Do I really need to say anymore. In the opening credit scene he equates the traveling minstrel to a modern day folk singer. The allegory is dated, but nevertheless, true. I'm not sure how many of the songs he wrote for the movie, but his whimsical style, and heartfelt sorrow in an off beat kind of way are completely appropriate. No one else could have pulled off a rooster singing "Every Town has it's ups and downs. Sometimes the ups, outnumber the downs. But not in Nottingham" and have everyone sobbing in the room. He's just great as a big chicken.
Prince John & Hiss- This devilish duo is all too wonderful. Neither of them are idiots. They are simply eaten up with their own selfishness. A groveling, thumbsucking pretender to the throne andhis cohort; a mesmerizing snake that is a miniature of our old fiend in the Jungle Book. These guys are bad in all of the best ways. Smart, greedy, impetuous and braggadocios. We've got to hand it to them, if it weren't for these two hacks, we wouldn't have a story. A simple and old fashioned couple of bad guys. Shriek can't hold a candle stick to this kind of villainy.
The Underdog- What could I say about this monotonous motif, except that it never, ever gets old. After all if something is true, or at the very least reflects the truth, it will resonate with everyone except your typical sociopath. Fighting for the poor and against the oppressive regime, that has been manipulatively forced upon the people. There is a great deal here to relate too. It is a thematic element that is never lost upon the greatest of movies. Only such extreme movies such as "No Country for Old Men" have lost the "hero against all odds" only to replace it with a sick feeling in your stomach. It's true that the bad guy does win, ALOT! But every once in a while the good guy wins, and those are the stories that we rejoice in. Because that is what is good.
Friar Tuck and the Christian Element- Here is my favorite character in the whole movie. The good Friar Tuck is as much the hero as Robin Hood. A kind and gentle old badger, whose main concern in this whole matter is his congregation and the poor people of Nottingham. It is in these tough times, that the good monk shows his steel. There are at least two direct references to the teachings and words of Jesus Christ within the context of Tuck. When the tiny parishioners of the small church give there last farthing, Tuck chokes up and says "No one can give more than that". The reference is obvious. The little female mouse gives only one small farthing, there last farthing, and Tuck, a man of the cloth, is seen praising this act of charity. 
But it gets even better. As the wicked sheriff of Nottingham continues to prey off the weak and defenseless in the small town and church, Tuck gets fed up. A man of peace no doubt, shows what happens when the right hand of fellowship is taken out upon those vessels of wrath. The scene is classic. Tuck kicks the sheriff out of the church and is eventually imprisoned for his action. He isn't taken down lightly though. Only with the help of a trigger happy vulture, can the evil sheriff subdue this badger in his righteous anger. The second reference to Jesus is not hard to see, but easy to miss. While in his prison cell, right before he's broken out by our good friend Little John, we see a bible beside Friar Tuck, 
with the words "Forgive them all" etched into the stone above the book. The idea that a Disney movie would portray Christianity in a positive light is still mind boggling to me. But I'll take it, and I'll be more than happy to point it out to my kids. More often than not, Friar Tucks example of leadership within the Church has been my experience. Not that I"ve been Tuck, even though I have been a badger, the stout hearted work of Christian men has always impressed me. Everyone complains about hypocrites. I would like to praise those fat Friars out there, that are living according to the Word.
The Burning of the Castle- The allusion to the burning of Rome at the hands of a mad emperor seems to be always jumping out at me. I'm probably reading too much into this scene, but the madness of the Prince and the viciousness of the sheriff, seems to evoke that old pattern of Nero-tic blame, upon those who are innocent. Maybe it's just an exciting scene.
True Love- Love is an inexhaustible subject. What I like about this, is that Maid Marian and Robin Hood never kissed during their courting. A virtue I hold dear now that I've got two daughters. I hope that all three of my children will follow in this honorific highway, that so few follow down now. The glorification of marriage bound up in a happy ending where love conquers all is glorious. I love it.
King Richard (The Lion Heart)- Only shown for one scene, it is clearly a reference to the Crusader King Richard. Historically speaking this king was the most just and upright of the many crusader kings. The very idea of portraying anything that has to do with the crusades in a positive light has long since passed in popular culture. Here we've got Richard happily congratulating his new in-laws, and sporting a large cross upon his chest. The emblem of his kingdom.
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