--- title: Tarzan (1999) & The Jungle Book (1967) description: Two animated movies about adopted humans and self-discovery—in the jungle! image: https://www.nathanmcbride.net/hubfs/The%20Jungle%20Book.png --- [Skip to content](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/mindandheart/tarzan-1999-the-jungle-book-1967#main-content) ![Me with books](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Me%20with%20books%20middle%20brighter.jpg?width=1800&height=2155&name=Me%20with%20books%20middle%20brighter.jpg)Homepage - [Home](https://www.nathanmcbride.net) - [Academics](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/academics) - [Blog](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/mindandheart) - [Stories](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/stories) - [Videos](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/videos) - [Home](https://www.nathanmcbride.net) - [Academics](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/academics) - [Blog](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/mindandheart) - [Stories](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/stories) - [Videos](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/videos) ![Mowgli, Baloo, and Bagheera smiling or curiously looking](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/hs-fs/hubfs/The%20Jungle%20Book.png?width=1600&height=900&name=The%20Jungle%20Book.png) # Tarzan (1999) & The Jungle Book (1967) ![Nathan McBride](https://7528315.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528315/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-cms-elevate-theme_hubspot/elevate/images/avatar-placeholder.jpg?width=48&height=48&name=avatar-placeholder.jpg) Nathan McBride October 4, 2026 Two animated movies about adopted humans and self-discovery—in the jungle! **Tarzan (1999; Disney+)** When a white human adopted by African gorillas encounters British researchers, he becomes a bridge between his family’s culture and these strangers like him. This is not a 90s Disney movie I grew up watching. I knew *Beauty and the Beast* (1991), *Aladdin* (1992), and *The Lion King* (1994) backwards and forwards. But this one came out a little later, and it was a little more serious. Prepare to be surprised by a tragic twist early in the story. And this one is also different because it’s not a musical where the characters sing; it’s a musical where Phil Collins sings! Discovering this movie as a young adult, it soon became so special to me that I listened to its songs during my semester abroad in Spain—in Spanish, because Phil Collins sang them in five different languages! The animation is rich. From the character design to the lush forest, the shapes and colors bring cartoons a step up. Like [*Atlantis*](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/mindandheart/atlantis-2001-20000-leagues-under-the-sea-1954),it also incorporates computer animation productively—that water is stunning. The songs are quality and catchy. The story is heartwarming and intense at the same time. And there is a nice subtext that reverses the racist overtones of earlier Tarzan adaptations (I’m looking at you, W.S. Van Dyke). The animal sidekicks get on my nerves a little. But ultimately, they don’t overshadow the bigger picture, which turns out to be a kind animated movie about adult characters overcoming adult conflicts. One of my favorite moments in this film is at the start of the climax. Tarzan starts running to save his family. The scene cuts back and forth between the danger and him, with a fast pace matching the intensity of the action. But most of all, it cuts to *meaningful images* of him. Not just to close-ups of his face, but intentional close-ups, of his hands, for example. Those hands, running on his knuckles, symbolizing his solidarity with those who raised him; those hands that symbolize his oneness with those he loves. *For sensitive viewers: Some rude humor. A small animal dies. Danger and a violent end to the climax. Brief appearances of pipe and alcohol. Tarzan doesn’t wear a shirt.* **The Jungle Book (1967; Disney+)** When the man-hating tiger Shere Khan returns to the jungle, a wolf pack decides to send their boy Mowgli back to the man village. This is a special classic. It is clean, the songs are delightful, and the characters are wonderful. It is one of the few movies that thrives on characters standing around talking to one another *and never gets old*. Bagheera the panther (Sebastian Cabot), Baloo the bear (Phil Harris), and Mowgli are like Spock, Bones, and Kirk in Star Trek: three starkly different personalities, relatable, and dear in their care for one another. In addition to the unforgettable characters and songs, the storytelling is uniquely classic. Walt Disney, who had long outsourced much of the story development to his creative team, came back one last time to get his hands dirty in character and story creation as he did for [*Snow White*](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/mindandheart/toy-story-1995-snow-white-and-the-seven-dwarfs-1937). The result is a series of memorable scenes that link together in a whole as sturdy as an elephant. Shere Khan is mentioned from the start, and the spoken threat alone is enough to keep us on our toes until he appears halfway through—and George Sanders’ deep voice confirms our worst fears. An incredible salad of fun, sadness, danger, and love, in a gentle walk through the jungle so leisurely that a kid can enjoy watching it again and again. Trust me, I have—and it only did me good. Happy birthday, Dad. **Coming Soon…** To continue celebrating my father’s birthday, we’re going to spend the rest of this month in the decade in which he grew up: 1980s. That month of *Star Wars* got me curious about the 1980s. What was there besides George Lucas and Spielberg? Were there any family movies? I have discovered that there were, but with a distinct flavor that makes the decade a rich place to visit, like dark chocolate. In that German Cinema course I am peeking in on, I am delighted to discover a silent film called *[Berlin: Symphony of a Great City (1928)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NQgIvG-kBM)*. It’s just glimpses of Berlin, structured as a day from morning to evening. And it’s fast-paced, enough to be exciting but not frenetic. Here, even working on typewriters is exciting! Another great [silent film](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/mindandheart/hugo-2011-sherlock-jr.-1924) for watching during exercise or putting on the screen while your toddler plays on the floor. ## Share this post [mailto:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nathanmcbride.net%2Fmindandheart%2Ftarzan-1999-the-jungle-book-1967](mailto:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nathanmcbride.net%2Fmindandheart%2Ftarzan-1999-the-jungle-book-1967) ## Keep reading ### [![Jimmy Stewart and Jean Arthur hugging between Lionel Barrymore, Jr. and Edward Arnold](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/hs-fs/hubfs/You%20Cant%20Take%20It%20With%20You%20best.webp?width=1280&height=720&name=You%20Cant%20Take%20It%20With%20You%20best.webp) Meet the Robinsons (2007) & You Can't Take It with You (1938)](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/mindandheart/meettherobinsonsyoucanttakeitwithyou) ### [![Hugo and Isabelle sitting in a movie theater with a projector behind them](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Hugo.webp?width=1920&height=1080&name=Hugo.webp) Hugo (2011) & Sherlock, Jr. (1924)](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/mindandheart/hugo-2011-sherlock-jr.-1924) [![An arch of books with Nathan standing under it](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Me%20with%20books%20middle%20brighter.jpg?width=418&height=500&name=Me%20with%20books%20middle%20brighter.jpg "An arch of books with Nathan standing under it")](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/) - [Home](https://www.nathanmcbride.net) - [Academics](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/academics) - [Blog](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/mindandheart) - [Stories](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/stories) - [Videos](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/videos) --- [Privacy Policy](https://legal.hubspot.com/privacy-policy) and Legal · © 2025. 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