Jungle Book, The (1994)

This film employed forty trainers from seventeen animal companies and used approximately one hundred fifty animals. For this caravan scene, many trainers were present controlling the animals. The supplies and costumes worn by the animals were lightweight, simulating heavy loads, while the face paint on the elephants was a non-toxic make-up applied by the make-up personnel. When the elephant is spooked by Khan and later gives his trunk to Mowgli to hold, a trainer was in front of the elephant giving it verbal commands. The monkeys seen in the background shots were tethered and held by trainers who gave hand and voice commands to make the animals move and react. A trainer worked with the actor playing Mowgli to prepare him to hold the puppy, which was a baby wolf. This scene of the attack at the encampment was very complex. Many trainers and wranglers were present to handle the animals. To create a sense of fear and chaos this scene was carefully choreographed so that special attention could be given to the space and timing between each animal group. The trained elephants were lead in a spinning motion by the trainers, an experienced wrangler rode the horse also in a spinning motion, two oxen were led by a wrangler from A to B with two other oxen trained to follow, camel handlers quickly led the animals from A to B in front of the camera, and a trainer released a horse to run from A to B in front of the camera to a second waiting trainer. Other horses and oxen in the scene were ridden by trained wranglers. The guard attacked by Khan, was an experienced trainer. The tiger which was released by another trainer ran A to B and then made a leap on command. During all stunts involving the tiger, the set was cleared of any non-essential personnel. In the scene involving the horses, the runaway team was driven by a wrangler who was in control of the horses and for the explosion and burning of the cart, a steel box fitted with propane flames was used. The whole scene was very controlled. The fire was never so close to the horses that they were in danger of being burned. The special effects personnel simulated the fire with fire bars and flicker lights. When Mowgli is seen in the runaway cart and then jumping from the cart, an adult small person stunt double was used in place of the child actor. As Mowgli slides down the embankment, again the stunt double was used. A special pouch was constructed inside his shirt to protectively hold the pup, although the real pup was not used. For this scene, a log cart on a ten foot track was constructed in the jungle setting and made to slide slowly only the ten feet. This action was photographed at many different camera angles. In post production the series of shots was edited together to simulate a long and speedy slide down the embankment. The actor on the log was really sitting on a log that did not move holding the pup in the shirt pouch. Wind machines were used to make it appear that he was traveling forward and crew personnel standing just outside camera range shook branches to make it appear as if there was passing foliage. For all the scenes where the wolf pup is walking, two trainers were present. One trainer would release the pup and the animal would walk A to B toward the second waiting trainer. The leopard was tethered at all times and when Mowgli walks behind it holding the cat’s tail, a trainer was just out of camera range leading the leopard on a chain leash. Children were not present on the set when the cats were working and an adult stunt double was used in place of the child actor for these scenes. The scene in which we see Mowgli nose to nose with Bagheera was shot using a process called blue screen. First, the boy is filmed on location while he reacts to the large cat. Later, in a studio, the black leopard was filmed in close up. Finally, in post production the two shots are superimposed and made to appear as if the boy and the cat are in the same place and in the same shot. For this scene a trainer released the wolves from point A and they moved toward trainers at point B who called them with verbal and hand commands. There was also a wire fence erected to separate the mature wolves from the pups and from the actor. A jaguar, used as a double for the black leopard in some of the scenes, was tethered. All tethered animals in the film were trained and comfortable with being tethered. For this scene, a trainer was inside the log holding the bear cub and moving it to make it appear as if the cub was struggling. The hole itself was made of soft styrofoam and the noise of the “pop” was a sound effect dubbed into the film in post production. When we next see Mowgli, he is all grown up and a true child of the jungle. His companions are the full grown wolf named Grey Brother, the bear named Balloo and the black leopard named Bagheera. There are many scenes where you see them all walking together. For these scenes, wire fences were erected to separate the animals from each other. For instances where Grey Brother walks up to Mowgli, a trainer would call the wolf toward the actor who would then reward the animal with food. For the scene where the orangutan steals Mowgli’s bracelet, the black leopard was tethered to the tree where he and Mowgli appear to be sleeping. The orangutan had been trained for the tricks and merely responded to verbal commands given by his trainer. When Mowgli runs through the jungle after the orangutan, a whole pack of wolves follows him. Trainers at point A would release the wolves and they would run to handlers at point B. Each wolf had his own trainer. When the large orangutan teases Mowgli with the bracelet, leading him deeper and deeper into the jungle and through the temple, a trainer would position the animal and give him verbal and hand commands that would cue the animal’s learned behavior. The Monkey Temple was lined with monkeys who move about on the columns and on ledges of the lost city. This was really several different shots superimposed. A wide variety of monkeys were actually filmed in a studio setting against a blue screen. The monkeys responded to verbal and hand commands given by their trainers. These shots were later imposed on master shots of the elaborate Monkey Temple location making it appear as if the animals were actually on the ledges and parapets. The snake used in this sequence was actually a rubber prop that was manipulated by the special effects people to appear as if it was moving through the room and in the water. When the animals are seen growling at the soldiers, trainers were off camera giving the animals verbal and hand commands. The animal heads decorating the trophy room had been supplied by the prop department. For the scene where the bear is shot, a trainer gave the animal voice and hand commands to lay down and roll around and the make up department applied a non toxic fake blood to create the wound. Sound effects were dubbed in later. During the caravan attack, guards are seen being shot off their horses. For this action stunt men were used. For this scene, the leopard had been trained in pre-production to play with the ropes and did so at the command of the trainer during filming. This scene was shot in many cuts and utilized both the blue screen technique mentioned earlier and stunt personnel who were experienced in working particularly with tigers. The stunt man and the tiger were both trained in a play behavior that gave the appearance of the tiger mauling the soldier. Again, the python in this scene was a rubber prop. This scene was shot in cuts and when it appears as if Mowgli and the tiger are in the same shot, a blue screen simulation was used. Kahn no longer sees Mowgli as a man, but as another creature of the jungle, the protector of all animals great and small and the keeper of the Jungle Law. American Humane had two representatives on the set of Jungle Book throughout the filming of animal action. American Humane Guidelines were given to all personnel on the set and the guidelines were carefully followed.