Jungle Book PE Details

Classic Disney DVD Will Hit Shelves on October 2nd

Sep 27, 2007 Dominic von Riedemann

Extras in the Jungle Book Platinum Edition DVD will spotlight the forgotten character of Rocky the Rhino. DVD hits shelves on October 2nd.

The good folks over at Animated News managed to score the details for The Jungle Book Platinum Edition DVD. Disney's Platinum Edition series is supposed to honour the studio's greatest classics, and no expense was spared to make this set as enticing as possible.

The big news about this DVD box set is a discussion about the lost Jungle Book character of Rocky the Rhino. Walt Disney personally created the character, intended for the scene where Mowgli meets the four vultures, as a “loveable rhinoceros who is half blind and extremely dumb.” Frank Fontaine voiced the character. Rocky was later edited from The Jungle Book, for reasons which remain unclear to this day.

Other Bonus Features

The Bare Necessities: The Making of The Jungle Book featurette looks at Walt Disney’s contributions to last animated movie and shows how director Woolie Reitherman filled in for the Old Maestro after his passing. Disney’s Kipling examines Walt’s interpretation of Rudyard Kipling’s Mowgli Stories, plus a film commentary from original animators Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston and director Woolie Reitherman.

There is also a commentary from current animated filmmakers such as Brad Bird (The Incredibles, Ratatouille), Glen Keane (The Little Mermaid), and Andreas Deja (Beauty and The Beast, The Lion King).

In Mowgli’s Return to the Jungle, director Woolie Reitherman's son Bruce, who voiced Mowgli, shares his memories of making the film and how the experiences influenced his current job as a wildlife filmmaker. There's also the Baloo’s Virtual Swingin’ Jungle Cruise game, and "much, much more!"

Bonus Features:

  • The Lost Character: Rocky The Rhino - For the first time ever, the near-sighted, short-tempered rhinoceros named Rocky is brought to the screen using original storyboards and original voice recordings by Frank Fontaine.
  • The Bare Necessities: The Making of The Jungle Book - A comprehensive look at the last animated film that Walt Disney produced using existing archival footage in addition to new interviews with Richard Sherman, Brad Bird, Glen Keane, Eric Goldberg, James Baxter, Will Finn, Andreas Deja, Burny Mattinson, Ted Thomas, Bruce Reitherman, John Culhane, John Canemaker and Neal Gabler - plus a never-before-seen collection of artwork and treatments from the film.
  • Disney’s Kipling: Walt’s Magic Touch on A Literary Classic - A discarded film treatment from 1963 includes scenes from Kipling’s Mowgli Stories and more are used to illustrate Walt’s interpretation of the literary masterpiece.
  • The Lure of The Jungle Book - Many of today’s biggest names in animation were inspired to pursue their careers after seeing this film; this feature examines this phenomenon and features new interviews with Brad Bird, Andreas Deja, Sergio Pablo, Will Finn and Eric Goldberg.
  • Mowgli’s Return to the Jungle - Learn about nature filmmaking and the experience of making The Jungle Book firsthand from Bruce Reitherman, the voice of Mowgli.
  • Baloo’s Virtual Swingin’ Jungle Cruise - Join everyone’s favorite bear in this set-top and DVD-ROM game on an adventure through the jungle: enjoy fun activities and musical challenges, but keep an eye out because there’s no telling what’s on the other side of the river bend!
  • Audio Commentary - Combines comments from current animators with audio from the original creative team who made the film
  • English Learning Feature
  • Still Frame Art Gallery

In case you don't know the story, The Jungle Book follows the adventures of the man-cub Mowgli as he makes his way to the man-village with Bagheera, the wise panther. Along the way he meets jazzy King Louie, the hypnotic snake Kaa and the lovable, happy-go-lucky bear Baloo, who teaches Mowgli The Bare Necessities of life and the true meaning of friendship.

Based on Rudyard Kipling’s Mowgli Stories, The Jungle Book was the 19th and the final film Walt Disney personally and the 10th title to be honoured with The Walt Disney Company's Platinum status.

The original cast included a pair of Winnie the Pooh stars: Sterling Holloway (Pooh) as the untrustworhty python Kaa, and Sebastian Cabot voicing Bagheera the panther. Oscar winning actor George Sanders (All About Eve) voiced the villainous tiger Shere Khan. Bruce Reitherman, son of director Woolie, played Mowgli, with Phil Harris voicing Baloo the Bear. Singer/songwriter Louis Prima voiced the swingin' King Louie.

  • Feature run time: 78 min.
  • Rated: G. Bonus materials not rated, and subject to change.
  • Aspect ratio: 1.75:1—The first time ever the film will be presented in its original aspect ratio.
  • Sound: All-new 5.1 Disney-enhanced Home Theater Mix, and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
  • Languages: French, Spanish audio tracks. Close Captioned in English
  • Disney Fastplay enabled

The Jungle Book: Platinum Edition DVD is available only for a limited time, with a suggested retail price of $29.99 in the U.S. ($36.99 in Canada). It comes out October 2nd.

Fun Fact: Hmm, now that the Loonie is on par with the Greenback, prices won't change. Cursed import duties! Wasn't NAFTA supposed to help with this!

The copyright of the article Jungle Book PE Details in Animated Films is owned by Dominic von Riedemann. Permission to republish Jungle Book PE Details in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
The Jungle Book Platinum Edition, copyright 2007 Walt Disney Company The Jungle Book Platinum Edition
Rocky the Rhino, copyright 2007 Walt Disney Company Rocky the Rhino
 
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