Wednesday 22 May 2013

Munir's Disney Retrospective -- Animated Classic #19: The Jungle Book (1967)



Last Week's: Munir's Disney Retrospective -- Animated Classic #18: The Sword in the Stone (1963)

Walt Disney didn't live to see The Jungle Book in theatres, but his touch on the film is undeniable. Dissatisfied with the studio's two previous efforts, Walt turned his full attention to this film - something he hadn't done since the 50s - and turned the initially dark story into a lively and colourful tale. Instead of being faithful to the grim Rudyard Kipling novel, Walt and his team just took some basic characters and altered the storyline into something more fun-filled, with memorable characters and catchy music. While the plot may be light, we aren't so much interested in the ultimate goal as on the journey that the characters take - and what a fun journey it is! The Jungle Book was Walt's swan song and it's a testament to his vision as a storyteller and filmmaker that it remains one of the studio's most treasured classics. Rating: 5/5.

Next Week: Animated Classic #20: The Aristocats (1970)

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