The Jungle Book

Note: this page discusses the original Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling. For information on the 1967 Disney cartoon version see The Jungle Book (1967 movie).

Adaptations

The book's text has often been abridged or adapted for younger readers, and there have also been several comic book adaptations.

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There are several Walt Disney cartoon adaptations based very loosely on the Mowgli stories. (Adaptations of The Jungle Book tend to concentrate on Mowgli's adventures.) It has also been filmed several times with varying degrees of authenticity. Disney's 1967 animated feature film, based loosely on the Mowgli stories, was extremely popular, despite (or possibly because of) the liberties it took with the plot and characters. "Toomai of the Elephants" was filmed as Elephant Boy, which later inspired a television series of the same name.

Related Topics:
Walt Disney - Cartoon - Animated - Feature film - Television

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Live action movie versions

• Jungle Book (1942 film) - directed by Zoltán Korda, starring Sabu as Mowgli
• The Jungle Book (1994 film) - starring Jason Scott Lee as Mowgli
• (1997) - starring Jamie Williams as Mowgli
• (1998) - starring Brandon Baker as Mowgli

Chuck Jones's made for TV cartoons Mowgli's Brothers, Rikki-Tikki-Tavi and The White Seal stick to the original storylines more closely than most adaptations.

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There is a Japanese anime television series called Jungle Book Shonen Mowgli broadcast in (1989). Its adaptation represents a compromise between the original stories and the Walt Disney version. Many of Kipling stories are adapted into the series, but many elements are combined and changed to suit more modern sensibilities. For instance, Akela, the wolf pack alpha eventually steps aside, but instead of being threatened with death, he stays on as the new leader's advisor. Also, there is an Indian family in the series which includes Rikki-Tikki-Tavi as a pet mongoose. Finally at the series' conclusion, Mowgli leaves the jungle for human civilization, but still keeps strong ties with his animal friends.

Related Topics:
Japan - Anime - Television series - 1989 - Mongoose

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There was also a television series adaptation of Jungle Book by Doordarshan in India which was quite popular.

Related Topics:
Television series - Doordarshan - India

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