- Director: Wolfgang Reitherman
- Year: 1967
Overview
Mowgli is an orphaned human boy raised by wolves in the Indian jungle. When the man-eating tiger Shere Khan returns, the wolf council decides Mowgli must return to the man-village for his own safety. The panther Bagheera volunteers to guide him, but Mowgli resists because he wants to stay in the jungle. He meets Baloo, a laid-back bear who teaches him an easygoing lifestyle. Mowgli gets kidnapped by monkeys and threatened by the snake Kaa, but he eventually confronts Shere Khan using fire. He ultimately decides to enter the man-village after seeing a young girl.
Takeaways
The jungle is a dangerous place, and Mowgli's lack of claws or fur makes him an easy target for Shere Khan. Bagheera is the responsible one, constantly pushing Mowgli to go back to the human village where he'll actually be safe. Baloo teaches him that life can be simple and fun when you relax, but his carefree attitude doesn't prepare Mowgli for real dangers like tigers or hungry snakes. Mowgli wants to stay a wild kid, but seeing the girl at the edge of the village shows him that he belongs with other humans after all.