The character Rocky the Rhino never made it past the storyboard phase. He was going to be voiced by Frank Fontaine, who used to work with Jack Benny. Bugs Bunny fans will know his voice as the basis for the character Pete Puma. Rocky was going to be in a scene with the vultures, but Disney thought the frenetic scene threw off the film’s pacing. The scene recreation looks much more interesting than the elephant scenes, which were slowed and dragged the film down.
Disc 2 gives a choice of heading to Jungle Fun or Man Village. Jungle Fun includes games and activities for young viewers and “Disneypedia: Junglemania” which teaches about the animals in the Asian jungle. Man Village is for the serious Disney fan. It presents “The Bare Necessities: The Making of The Jungle Book,” an extensive documentary with new interviews and archival footage about the film’s creation. “Disney’s Kipling” is a 15-minute look at the film’s pre-production and at how Walt took the original story and made it lighter.
The film’s animation is great looking and showcases an authenticity that computer animation has yet to achieve. It’s no surprise many animators reveal how they were influenced in “The Lure of The Jungle Book.” Disney animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston get their own segment to discuss character animation. A number of art galleries can be perused.
The Jungle Book 40th Anniversary Platinum Edition is a great addition to the video library for families and even more so for fans of the film and animation in general. A viewer’s appreciation will only grow when they see a peek at the process. The DVD is not a bare necessity, but it’s very close.
Article comments