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What book are you reading? Because that's not true. Balto was 100% Siberian husky.

He is telling the truth...there are a few really bad books out there...very poorly-researched. One even maintains that the real Balto was a Finnish Lapphund simply because his coloration and markings are similar to that breed. The author took NO time to account for the fact that even Siberian huskies (then as well as now) can also have that marking pattern. Poor research...unsubstantiated claims totally lacking in merit.

Oh, I thought he was trying to claim that Balto wasn't husky. lol. But yeah, there are some badly written books out there. I know the worst I've read was the bravest dog ever. If you want to talk about bad research it says, "Gunnar heard the mayor over the radio. Gunner knew he had the best team and the best lead dog. Balto would come the the rescue." Another thing that bothers me is that most of these people don't seem to know what photos are...Balto's markings are never seem to be right.

I DO belive more focus on the history would do the story a LOT of good, and that Balto has no right to claim it is based on a true story. As I stated, inspired would have been a much better word. Since first seeing it I never thought of it being in the least accurate. It isn't. I've always watched it since the very first time (I was pre-exposed to the real story prior) as the fiction it really is, and enjoyed it. Still, even in fiction I wish more weight had been placed on the run. It is true, and I stated that the whole Steele- Balto transition was a MASSIVE stretch. Again, even staying with the fictitous storyline, I belive leaving the run a relay would have been beneficial. Considering it is designed as a primarily fictitous children's movie, and that is the movie I fell in love with, I don't really mind the fictitous elements of Balto, Jenna, and Boris. However, the lack of consistancy in the relay at least through Togo has always bothered me, from both a historical and a suspense- of- disbelief point of view. (in the sheer distances involved). I think it could have kept it's story, but replaced Steele with the proper relay leads and it would have been far more believable, and better.


Again, I really see Balto as fiction, and don't think it belongs under the docu-toon title it gives itself.


Wow, that many people bought into the story? I find that a little frightening. Simple logic tells us the run as it is depicted is impossible.


Ahh, mightybalto, I think that was it. One thing I cannot stand is inaccuracy in things that claim acctual accuracy.

I have seen far more than that. And many here. One person actually tried arguing with several of us about Balto's heritage. She always maintained that the real Balto actually WAS a wolf dog, because she read it in a book once. Some sort of silly trivia book (a very cheaply-produced one which didn't even focus on specific history...just history in general...and again, very very badly). I don't recall the book though. It was a couple of years ago...

Yeah, history really isnt given the focus it deserves. It is really quite an essential subject.

In the context of this movie though, history is irrelevant. It's based on a true story, it's not a true story in and of itself. I mean I guess it's possible for somebody to not like the movie because it's not accurate in terms of history, but it wasn't intended to be which means they would be missing the point.

It is based on a real dog, and on a real event (the serum run). Since Balto and the serum run are the main focus of the movie's plot, all the changes made beyond that were in the interest of telling an engaging story. I don't personally think there's a problem with the lack of historical accuracy beyond the parts that are historically accurate, I mean as long as they're not claiming that it's a documentary.

There are actual documentaries for that purpose.

Yes, very good point. Like I said, Balto is essentially fiction. It just took inspiration and a few names from the real run. Therefore I see no reason to hold it much closer to the real story, aside from including the other teams in the realy for the sake of believablility and representation. While Balto's journey seems pheasable (assuming he doesnt travel any further then he does in the true story, and Steele represents the other teams), Steele's does not. The distance he covers assuming he is taking the place of the other relays unrealisticly large, which always bothered me a bit. Other then that, I don't think they should have really held the cartoon any closer to fact

Actually what would be great is if they finally consented to doing at least a special edition DVD if not a Blu-Ray edition, and putting in the real story of the serum run as a special feature or two. Maybe the reel they show at the museum could be included, if nothing else. Seems like a perfect use of "special edition" space to me.

That is a fantastic idea

True, but the timespan appears much shorter, I belive the fastest iditerod run was something like 9 days

The only thing I don't like about the movie is the lack of dvd/blu-ray as well as digital releases. At this point I wouldn't be surprised if there won't be any more(at least for a very long time).