Bagheera facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bagheera |
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| The Jungle Book character | |
Bagheera (on the tree) with Mowgli and Baloo
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| First appearance | "Mowgli's Brothers" |
| Last appearance | "The Spring Running" |
| Created by | Rudyard Kipling |
| Information | |
| Species | Black panther |
| Gender | Male |
| Relatives | Yusaf (ex-Owner) and Ameena (friend) and Ghargisht |
Bagheera is a famous fictional character from Rudyard Kipling's "The Jungle Book" stories. He is a black panther, which is a type of Indian leopard with very dark fur. Bagheera is a loyal friend, protector, and teacher to Mowgli, a boy raised in the jungle. The name Bagheera comes from a word in the Hindustani language that means panther or leopard.
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Bagheera in Disney Films
Bagheera has appeared in many Disney movies based on "The Jungle Book." He is usually shown as a wise and caring guardian for Mowgli.
The 1967 Animated Film
Bagheera is a key character in the 1967 animated film by Walt Disney Productions. The voice of Bagheera was provided by Sebastian Cabot. In this movie, Bagheera is very smart and looks after Mowgli.
Bagheera finds baby Mowgli and takes him to a wolf pack. He knows Mowgli will need to live with humans someday. When the tiger Shere Khan returns, Bagheera decides to take Mowgli to a nearby human village for safety. He often disagrees with Baloo about how to care for Mowgli. But Bagheera reminds Baloo about Shere Khan, and Baloo agrees to help.
When Mowgli runs away, Bagheera asks Hathi and his elephant herd for help finding him. Later, Bagheera thinks Shere Khan has killed Baloo. He is very upset, but Baloo wakes up, which makes Bagheera angry but also relieved. At the end of the film, Bagheera encourages Mowgli to join a human girl in the village. He then walks off with Baloo, singing "The Bare Necessities".
Bagheera as a Cub
Bagheera also appears as a cub in the TV series Jungle Cubs. In this show, his friends often tease him. Unlike the 1967 film, Bagheera has an American accent in Jungle Cubs. Elizabeth Daily and Dee Bradley Baker voiced him as a cub. Bob Joles voiced him as an adult in special animated parts.
The Jungle Book 2 (2003)
Bagheera returns in The Jungle Book 2, voiced by Bob Joles. When Shere Khan comes back for revenge, Bagheera tries to stop Baloo from helping Mowgli. He thinks Baloo will bring Mowgli back to the jungle. Bagheera even gets help from Hathi, but Baloo tricks him.
Bagheera then rushes to help Mowgli and his friend Shanti. They are trapped by Shere Khan. Bagheera warns Baloo to be careful inside the temple. Mowgli eventually traps Shere Khan. At the end of the movie, Bagheera is seen playing with Mowgli's adoptive brother, Ranjan.
The 1994 Live-Action Film
In the 1994 live-action film, Bagheera is played by a real black leopard named Shadow. In this movie, the animals do not speak.
Bagheera finds Mowgli and his wolf friend, Grey Brother. He leads them to a wolf pack, who adopt Mowgli. When Mowgli grows up, he introduces Bagheera to Kitty Brydon. Bagheera helps Mowgli escape from soldiers. He also saves Dr. Plumford from bandits. Bagheera frees Mowgli when he is tied up. At the end, Bagheera crosses a bridge with Mowgli and Kitty.
The 2016 Computer-Generated Film
Bagheera appears in the 2016 remake of the 1967 film. He is a computer-generated character voiced by Ben Kingsley. His role is similar to the 1967 film. He is a mentor to Mowgli and a voice of reason.
Bagheera saves Mowgli after Shere Khan kills Mowgli's father. He raises Mowgli as part of Akela's wolf pack. When Shere Khan threatens Mowgli, Bagheera guides him to a human village. Shere Khan attacks them, and Bagheera fights him to help Mowgli escape.
Bagheera later reunites with Mowgli and Baloo. He tries to make Baloo lie to Mowgli so Mowgli will stay in the village. Bagheera and Baloo help Mowgli escape King Louie and his monkeys. Mowgli is angry because they did not tell him Shere Khan killed Akela. Bagheera helps Baloo and the wolves fight Shere Khan. This allows Mowgli to trap the tiger. The film ends with Bagheera, Baloo, and Mowgli together in the jungle.
Ben Kingsley described Bagheera as a parent figure to Mowgli. He said Bagheera has a strong, almost military, personality. Critics praised Kingsley's voice acting. They said he gave Bagheera a serious and important voice.
Bagheera in Other Stories
Bagheera has appeared in many other books, TV shows, and movies.
- In the 1967 animated Soviet film, Adventures of Mowgli, Bagheera is a female panther. This is because the Russian word for "panther" is feminine. She has three cubs. She is shown as friendly, loyal, and protective. Lyudmila Kasatkina voiced her in Russian, and Dana Delany in the American version.
- In the Japanese anime Jungle Book Shōnen Mowgli, Bagheera is one of Mowgli's best friends. He was once a pet but was set free to protect him from a cruel owner. Hiroya Ishimaru voiced him in Japanese, and Arthur Grosser in English.
- The 1991 song "Bagheera" by Blues Traveler features Bagheera. He is shown giving advice to a young man about choosing between human life and jungle freedom.
- In the 1996 Hungarian play A dzsungel könyve, Bagheera is again a female panther. She helps the wolf pack accept Mowgli. She also teaches Mowgli and Baloo the Rules of the Jungle.
- In the 1998 film The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story, Bagheera is a female, voiced by Eartha Kitt.
- In the comic book series Fables, Bagheera lives on a farm with other characters. He helps track down Reynard the Fox.
- In the 2018 Netflix film Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle, Christian Bale voiced Bagheera.
Images for kids
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Bagheera (on the tree) with Mowgli and Baloo
