Jungle Book

Details

Mowgli is an orphaned boy raised deep in the jungle by a pack of wolves. Life among the animals suits him perfectly, but his peaceful existence is threatened when the fearsome tiger Shere Khan returns to the jungle. Knowing the danger the tiger poses, Bagheera the panther decides that Mowgli must leave the jungle and return to the nearby man-village where he will be safe.

Reluctant to abandon the only home he has ever known, Mowgli sets out on the journey with Bagheera but soon finds himself distracted by the laid-back bear Baloo, who believes the secret to life is simply enjoying "The Bare Necessities". Along the way Mowgli encounters mischievous monkeys, the hypnotic snake Kaa and, of course, the ever-present threat of Shere Khan lurking somewhere in the jungle.

The journey becomes less about reaching civilisation and more about discovering where Mowgli truly belongs. As he spends time with his jungle friends he must ultimately decide whether his future lies with mankind or with the animals who raised him.

Picture & Sound

For the age and type of film we could hardly expect thunderous bass or the aggressive surround mix found on modern titles such as Tarzan. Nevertheless the audio presentation is more than adequate and allows the film's classic songs, including the Oscar-nominated "The Bare Necessities", to shine through clearly.

The digitally remastered picture is surprisingly good with very little evidence of artifacting and a consistently strong bit-rate throughout. The colours remain vibrant and the image is generally clean for a film of this vintage. In fact it even managed to keep my cats' attention for quite some time, which must count for something.

Watching the animation today is also a reminder of the incredible effort involved in traditional hand-drawn animation. When compared with the computer-heavy techniques used in modern animated films, it becomes clear just how much painstaking work went into creating every single frame of this classic production.

Menu & Extras

The Jungle Book is second only to Snow White as one of Disney's most beloved animated classics, so it is rather disappointing that this DVD release feels somewhat underwhelming. The disc offers no extras whatsoever and the film is presented only in fullscreen. Considering the care that Disney have shown with many of their newer releases, this edition feels like a rather minimal effort for such an important title.

Overall

The Jungle Book remains one of Disney's most charming animated films and is packed with memorable characters, catchy songs and wonderfully fluid animation. The carefree personality of Baloo, the sly menace of Shere Khan and the gentle guidance of Bagheera combine to create a cast that is instantly recognisable even decades after the film's original release.

The film also holds a special place in Disney history as it was the last animated feature personally overseen by Walt Disney before his death. That sense of classic Disney storytelling is present throughout the film, blending humour, music and adventure in a way that few studios have ever managed to replicate.

While the DVD itself may not be particularly impressive in terms of extras, the film it contains is an undeniable classic. For fans of traditional animation or Disney's golden era, The Jungle Book is still a joy to watch and a timeless piece of family entertainment.

Special features

• None