Age wise Im an adult, but Im still a child when I see this on screen, and thats the way it should be.

Cherry, Peter Ramsey and the Craft of African American Animators.

As the boy grows older, the wise panther Bagheera realizes he must be returned to his own kind in the nearby man-village.

Baloo the bear, however, thinks differently, taking the young Mowgli under his wing and teaching him that living in the jungle is the best life there is.

Bagheera realizes that Mowgli is in danger, particularly from Shere Khan the tiger who hates all people.

When Baloo finally comes around, Mowgli runs off into the jungle where he survives a second encounter with Kaa the snake and finally, with Shere Khan.

Shere Khans stripes on his forehead are absent throughout the movie, but are visible during the extreme close up during his entrance.

Many strange legends are told of these jungles of India, but none so strange as the story of a small boy named Mowgli.

It all began when the silence of the jungle was broken by an unfamiliar sound.

It was a sound like one never heard before in this part of the jungle.

It was a man cub Had I known how deeply I was to be involved, I wouldve obeyed my first impulse and walked away.

Thats What Friends Are For (The Vulture Song) (1967) (uncredited) Words and Music by Richard M.

Sherman Performed by Chad Stuart, Lord Tim Hudson, Digby Wolfe, J.

This is just a pointer to how, considering the film Im writing about, eclectic a true film fans taste has to be.

If, at the end of this film, youre face is not permanently disfigured from smiling, theres something wrong with you.

The characters so loving, the songs so memorable; everything is so uplifting.

I first saw this as a child and right then I loved it, but not until you reach a certain age do you realise how much a film can affect you.

Every character has something about them that you cannot fail to love.

Baloo and King Louie are obvious - they are there for light relief, but even the sinister Kaa the snake and Sheer Khan the tiger are lovable in their own ways.

Mainly I put this down to the voice cast and the way they portray their characters.

Everybody with a good knowledge of film knows that Tom Hanks was the voice of Woody in Toy Story and that Mike Myers was Shrek, but who knows who provided the voice of Baloo It shouldnt matter and, as is the case with The Jungle Book, it doesnt.

Character and plot are the only things that matter in great films and this film has that theory at its bedrock.

If you have a child, sit them down to watch this and I guarantee they will be transfixed.

Cartea Junglei Romana Torrent 3