The best of the beasts: who’s your favourite character in The Jungle Book?
Disney's live-action version of The Jungle Book hits Hong Kong cinemas tomorrow. Team YP shares their favourite characters
(L-R) Baloo the bear and Mowgli Who are you looking forward to seeing in The Jungle Book? Disney’s version of Rudyard Kipling’s famous short stories raked in US$103.6 million on its opening weekend and is India’s favourite Hollywood movie. So far it’s earned around US$528.5 million to become the fourth highest earning movie in the world.
So, who’s your favourite character? Team YP shares theirs.
Would it be awful if I picked Rikki-Tikki-Tavi? Well, would it? Just because Disney decided to leave him out doesn’t mean he doesn’t rock. Oh, okay, Shere Khan because no story is complete without a villain. All he ever wanted was some food, but he has that whole gimpy lame thing going on. And aren’t Bengal tigers endangered?
Susan Ramsay
I think everyone could use a friend like Baloo the bear. In a dangerous world where you never know who you can trust, Baloo is someone who is always looking out for you. He’ll listen to your worries and offer his own advice, and he will always protect you. Plus he’s got a great singing voice (at least in the 1967 version).
Sam Gusway
I don’t really remember Disney’s 1967 The Jungle Book that well, but I’ve always liked the Bare Necessities song that Baloo sings to Mowgli. I tend to play it on days when I need a little cheering up ... although my cat Fei Mao doesn’t seem too keen when I try to pick him up to dance along with the song. Oh well.
Heidi Yeung
Bagheera is the black panther who is sharp, cunning and ferocious, but his voice is as soft as a lullaby. While the jungle creatures respect him for his fierce nature, Bagheera is logical and sensible, and looks after Mowgli, and he seems to be the only one who knows that the jungle isn’t safe for Mowgli while Shere Khan is prowling around.
Lucy Christie
Baloo is definitely my favourite character, particularly Bill Murray’s endearing version of the honey-loving sloth bear in the 2016 film. He’s huge and strong, but he never works more than he has to. Just think, if everyone was less aggressive like Baloo, Hong Kong would be a much more laid-back place to live in. I totally agree with his Bare Necessities philosophy. Why always study so hard when there’s so much to enjoy around us? We’re wasting our youth away, not enjoying it! He’s also the kind of friend everyone would want: he doesn’t judge you, he’s got a great sense of humour, and he’s got your back no matter what.
Melanie Leung
King Louie is my favourite character in The Jungle Book. His song I Wanna Be Like You is a classic that always makes me smile, and probably the best part of the entire 1967 movie. Definitely the funniest character in the movie!
Andy Schallenberger
It’s got to be Bagheera, because I love black panthers. Unlike other big cats like lions, tigers and leopards, most people don’t know much about panthers. They’re endangered and not too many zoos keep them.
In The Jungle Book, Bahgeera is Mowgli’s best friend. Bahgeera is an intelligent character and helps Mowgli grow up to be a responsible adult. That’s the kind of friend I’d like to have!
MJ Premaratne
Mowgli is a great character for his resilience, adaptability and the harmonious way he treats animals and the nature. In any crisis, he is able to cope with stress and come up with different strategies to survive. He’s lived in the jungle since he was a baby, and he has no problem interacting with animals. His ability to lead animals like elephants, buffaloes, and wolves is impressive too. It would be nice if we all treated animals with such respect.
Ben Pang
Rikki-Tikki-Tavi is the greatest character in the book – small and brave beyond expectations. But the best characters in the 1967 animation have got to be the vultures. They’re based visually on The Beatles, their indecisive Liverpudlian exchange is hilarious, and then they sing barbershop! Amazing.
Karly Cox
Fun facts about The Jungle Book
1 The name Mowgli means “little frog”
2 Author Rudyard Kipling came up with the stories in The Jungle Book when he lived in India .
3 The proper way to say Mowgli is Mow (that rhymes with “how”) glee; it is not Moh glee
4 Walt Disney didn’t like The Jungle Book as Kipling wrote it; he though it was too intense.
5 Animators had to create more than 70 different kinds of animals and more than 100 million leaves.
6 The Jungle Book was first published in 1894
7 King Louie never actually appeared in the book. Disney made him up and some people think that Louie is a bit racist and embarrassing. Also embarrassing is the fact that orangutans don’t live in India.
8 The most famous character in The Jungle Book stories was the mongoose Rikki-Tikki-Tavi. You can read his awesome story here.