by Quinn Blackburn

Created on: October 16, 2007

The 2 disc anniversary edition of "The Jungle Book" is based on Rudyard Kipling's classic book. This film tells the story of Mowgli who's parent were killed by Shere Khan, a man-eating tiger. Toddling innocently away from the scene of the murder, Mowgli finds refuge with the leader of the jungle's wolf pack; Akela, his wife and cubs. Bagheera the panther and Baloo the bear teach Mowgli the laws of the jungle as he grows, but when Shere Kahn returns those who love the boy most believe he will be safest in the village among his own kind. Mowgli, however, is determined to live forever in his beloved jungle and defeat the wicked Shere Kahn.

Walt Disney died during the making of this 1966 film, and it was not finished and released until 1967. There was much anxiety in the Disney animation department, for if the film did not do well at the box office the entire department might be eliminated. Audiences then were thrilled with the film and it remains a much beloved Disney classic. Nominated in 1968 for a Golden Laurel award and an Oscar in the Best Music/Original Song category, this film won the Golden Screen awarded in 1988. The xerographic system developed in 1961 for "101 Dalmations", was further refined in this film to combine Xeroxed cels with hand inked details.

The Vultures, who sing the song "That's What Friends are for", were originally meant to be voiced by the Beatles, but scheduling changes made that impossible. Disney had them change the song from it's original Beatles-beat to a barber shop quartet style as he believed the original scoring would date the film too strongly as a product of the 60's. Disney also believed that the original plot line and songs the team had come up with were too dark and brooding. The only song kept from that first writing was "Bear Necessities". Verna Felton, who voiced Winifred the wife of Colonel Hathi, died the day before Walt Disney, leaving this as her final performance. I find it interesting that this uplifting and much loved classic that was so plagued by production issues and death, is the same film that convinced the company to keep its animation department. Without the success of this Disney classic, we might never have seen later works like"The Black Cauldron", "Little Mermaid", "The Incredibles", or "Aladdin"

"The Jungle Book" is a wonderful family film with some timeless animation moments. The acceptance and naming of Mowgli by the Pack, the fun lessons from rumbling jazz-loving Baloo, the kidnapping of Mowgli by

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