the jungle book cartoon Archives

Why did I start this blog?

Some time ago, I felt the urge to expand my knowledge about Indian Animation and was shocked to see that there is no single book available so far on this topic. So, I decided to write one, titled “Indian Animation and The Faults In Our Art.” But unfortunately, it didn’t get any publishing deal due to the nature of the subject. So instead of going to a self-publishing route, I thought of converting the content into this blog so that it can reach the maximum number of people for free, and I can always keep on updating it with changing times.

Now the vital question? Why did I write my unpublished book in the first place? Well, that’s because, over the years, I have witnessed that Indian Animation has not made enough progress to make a mark in this world.

You see, the animation is undoubtedly the most flexible form of film-making with the ability to go beyond the expected. But when it comes to India, we are still struggling to get the basics right, we are still struggling to understand the true potential of this medium, and most importantly, we are still struggling to embrace the art of animation.

And the most crucial question is, “Why?”

Why countries like the USA, Japan embraced this art and have managed to turn this medium into full-fledged family entertainment. Whereas in India, it is still looked down on as purely a children’s genre and is ignored by almost all adults. But more importantly, why don’t we shy away from investing our time and money into watching International films like Kung-fu Panda, The Incredibles, but won’t even think of walking into the theater to watch domestic Animated movies?. What makes Disney, Pixar, and Ghibli so successful. And what is that we need to adopt from them to grow and prosper in terms of art, style, commerce, and entertainment.

Through this series of articles, we will explore answers to all these questions and debunk the mysteries behind the success of western and Japanese animated films and the struggle behind our industry. With each chapter or article, we will look at some fundamental and deeply rooted faults in Indian content, things that have worked for us, and things that have led to the downward slope of the art of animation.

As an animator, as a writer, and more importantly, as an audience, my intention behind writing this book or blog is to help the budding generation of artists, industry professionals, and everyone interested in the medium to learn from our past, fix our present, and take a leap into the future. And hopefully, together, we can support our beloved art to earn a respectable place in the business of family entertainment.

When you read these articles, read them as if you are reading a book. I have divided the section into three major parts:

-The Past:

Here, we will witness the journey of Indian animation and what worked and did not work for us.

-The Present:

Here, we will analyze the current state of our art and the reasons for its downward curve.

-The Future:

Here, we will discuss the destiny of our art, and I will share some vital bits of advice for budding artists that will help them to thrive in this industry.

Each section has some interesting chapters mentioned below.

THE PAST: And the Story of our Art!

-Chapter One: The Brief History: And the rise and fall of Indian Animation.

In this chapter, we will shed some light on the journey of Indian animation, right from its inception in shadow forms to the silver screen, and learn about the people who contributed towards making this industry what it is today.

-Chapter Two: The Jungle Book: And what makes it the best show ever?

The Jungle Book is undoubtedly the most popular show in the history of Indian Animation. In this chapter, we will learn about its impact on our generation and what made it so successful.

-Chapter Three: Ramayana: And the struggle to release it.

Like the hugely popular Tv show Ramayana, the animated movie brought a revolution in Indian Animation. In this chapter, we will learn about the struggle behind making this movie and the sacrifices the creators of this movie made to release it.

-Chapter Four: Chhota Bheem: And what makes it so big?

Chhota Bheem is another household name, but have you ever wondered what makes it so big? In this chapter, Let’s look into the psychology of Chhota Bheem and reveal the secrets behinds its fame.

-Chapter Five: Hanuman: And the art of the appeal. Part 1.

This movie instantly made an impact on our viewers, and in these chapters, we are going to decode some of the secrets behind its success with the help of animation principles.

-Chapter Six: Hanuman: And the art of the appeal. Part 2.

This chapter will continue to explore fundamental animation principles that will help our readers to know the groundwork it takes to create these beautiful illusions of lives.

-Chapter Seven: Roadside Romeo: And what went wrong?

The stage was set for Roadside Romeo, and it was released with huge expectations, but unfortunately, everything went downhill. So in this chapter, we will explain what the makers of this should have learned from their famous movie DDLJ.

The Present: And the Faults in our Art!

-Chapter Eight: The Audience: What is an art without its audience?

And this chapter will focus on the roles our viewers can play to bring the change we want to see.

-Chapter Nine: The Story.

In the end, it all comes down to a story that can make or break the art. So in this chapter, we will learn about the fundamental issues with our storytelling and what we can do to improve it.

-Chapter Ten: The Sense of humor:

Animation and comedy go hand in hand, but for some reason, our shows seem to be deprived of humor. So let us learn some tricks and tips that could put a smile on our kid’s faces and know the secrets behind the funny business of western animation.

-Chapter Eleven: The Missing Link:

This mysterious ingredient is one major reason our animation lags in many aspects. If we can manage to implement it soon, we will have Indian animation spreading on the global stage.

-Chapter Twelve: The Copy of a Copy:

Another factor why Indian animation doesn’t hold high standards in the eyes of our adult audiences. So in the chapter, let us learn the art of stealing and implementing it wisely without getting caught.

-Chapter Thirteen: The Women Power:

When the whole world is advocating for equal opportunities. But animation still seems to catch up in this department despite the need for women’s participation has been more than ever before. So in this chapter, let us reflect on women’s working conditions in the animation industry and the need for their empowerment.

-Chapter Fourteen: The Budget:

This is one major hurdle keeping our art behind. So let’s have a look at some of the examples and see how much we really spend on animation as compared to Hollywood.

-Chapter Fifteen: The Right Education.

This is where the problems begin. So let us analyze the issue behind it.

The Future: And The Destiny of our Art

-Chapter Sixteen: STAY ANIMATED STAY MOTIVATED.

The Passion.

The Inspiration.

So here we go.

I will update this blog as and when possible, and soon, I will convert it into a free ebook. So do make sure to subscribe by filling the form below for tons of free content and, more importantly, helping our art leave a mark in the world of family entertainment.


	*“For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.”*― RUDYARD KIPLING, THE JUNGLE BOOK

Adapted from Rudyard Kipling’s book and directed by Fumio Kurokawa, “The Jungle Book” debuted on Indian television in the year 1993. An era hanging on the doldrums of an imbalanced economy, communal violence, and filthy terrorism.

And amid this massive burning cauldron, in the monsoon of July 1993, our houses echoed with a delightful song written by the great Gulzar, the title song of the series “Jungle Jungle baat chali hai, pata chala hai.” It was a much-needed escape from the series of depressing events that engulfed our nation at that time. The song brought a sense of optimism and cheerfulness amongst the people, specifically children, during a challenging time in Indian history.

By that time, many great Disney and Warner Bros shows were already running successfully. Still, none of them were able to instantly resonate with us, and profoundly influence a generation like The Jungle Book. It was a show that brought the families together and made Sunday afternoon the best time of the week. Soon Mowgli became a common household name and an integral part of our pop culture.

So what’s it’s about The Jungle Book specifically, that it was able to touch us in such a way that no other show can recreate the magic to date?. What was it about this show that made every child of our generation, wanting to run with the wolves, learn the language of every species, and climb on Bagheera’s back to jump over the cliff despite its secrets and dangers?

Well, It’s easy to guess it on the surface level, as it’s an entertaining show about a wild Indian boy who swings across the forest in his shorts along with his animal friends and their adventures in the wilderness in the midst of fighting the cunning and cruel tiger. For kids, that was more than enough reason to watch it, but on a deeper level, it was a show filled with great philosophical knowledge, values and was no lesser than a self-help book. At its core, it’s a story about growing up, maturing, learning more about the world, finding new friends, and, more importantly, finding yourself.

In other words, it was an excellent metaphor for our lives. Yes, the forest represented the concrete jungle we stay in. The animals represented our friends and families who care for us and protect us. The nemesis waiting in ambush posed the obstacles and problems we face, and the misfit protagonist represented “US,” lost into the unknown striving to survive. Just like Mowgli, we all face issues like growing up, we all feel like an odd one in the pack of wolves, and we all struggle to find our true identity always trying to adjust according to our environment in the vast civilized jungle.

The series did a fantastic job of showcasing the human values through these animals, and with great subtlety, provided various practical solutions for the dilemmas we face in our daily lives. It showed us the importance of finding our true self, and how everyone has some unique talent and skillsets, which we need to figure out to persevere in this world.

At the same time, it taught us the significance of family bonding, the sacrifices we need to make, staying true to our words and commitments, respecting the law, dealing with the loss of loved ones, and overcoming it.

And most importantly, it taught us the virtues of co-operation over pridefulness, by testing our beliefs against other people and finding common ground. It showed us that life is about walking according to the situation and opening ourselves to change.

And it did it without coming across as preachy or forceful. Its beauty was in its delicacy and simplicity wrapped in the innocence of a young mind. Truly, so far, no other show ever managed to achieve this and deeply touch our emotions, like The Jungle Book.

The anime also did a fabulous job of staying sincere to its original source material by staying dark and realistic as compared to the early cotton-candy Disney version. In the 1967 animated film, the story revolved around Shere khan trying to eat the boy, as his animal family tries to convince him to leave the jungle and live in the human village, which he is hesitant to do.

But later, Mowgli’s mind abruptly shifts when he is captivated by a pretty young girl from the village who is coming down by the riverside to fetch water. After noticing Mowgli, she “accidentally” drops her water pot. Mowgli retrieves it for her and follows her into the Man-Village and lives happily ever after.

Although that’s the basic concept of the anime as well and the movie is enormously popular and features a few memorable songs but received a considerable objection from critics and viewers for portraying certain characters in an insensitive way and altering the plot to serve Disney’s family film genres. That does not do any justice to the dramatic and sinister tone of Kipling’s work like the anime did years later.

Fortunately, Disney did realize their mistake and fixed it effectively in its latest live-action flick in 2016. They understood that it’s not about making selfish choices and our connection with our inner desires. It’s about the relationship between nature and mankind, the importance of respecting the natural laws, and how it is possible for us to harmoniously co-exist with nature that the anime displayed so effectively.

But one important factor that both the movie and the anime exposes is the literary trope called the Noble Savage. It embodies the concept of the indigene, an outsider, wild human who has not been “corrupted” by civilization, and therefore symbolizes humanity’s natural goodness. And it is this sense of innocence and naiveness that makes Mowgli such a relatable character that we all cherish and deeply connect with.

Here is an excellent lesson for Indian animation shows as well. Most of our Tv shows are influenced by Bollywood style structure, where the main protagonist is always invincible and is the epitome of perfection that we will discuss in detail in the upcoming articles.

But the success of The Jungle Book proved that you don’t need unnecessary actions, tacky gags, and larger than life protagonist to make a great show. As there was a show that shared the values of life and made an everlasting impact through an imperfect hero, who struggles like us, commits mistakes like us, learns like us. And most importantly grows like us, making it the greatest show of all time for our generation, at least in our hearts.

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