Baloo
That smooth, swingin’ “jazz” voice that made everyone smile and toe-tap along was unmistakably the big friendly Jungle Book character, Baloo. Arguably Disney’s most popular “Bear” cartoon character, after Winnie the Pooh, we all know Baloo as the carefree bear from the movies, The Jungle Book (1967), but he has been featured in several various “Jungle Book” spin-off films and television shows since then. Like many of the actors who have lent their voices to Disney Animated Movies, it was “the voice” that made it really work.
Phil Harris originated the role of Baloo in The Jungle Book (1967). Harris had initially been doubtful in accepting the role, but he relented when the animators allowed him to just use his own, unique, natural voice. He also voiced Thomas O’Malley, the Alley Cat in The AristoCats (1970) and Little John in Robin Hood (1973). Disney created two television which featured the characters from The Jungle Book (1967), called TaleSpin (1990-1991) and Jungle Cubs (1996-1998). Phil Harris was initially supposed to reprise his role as Baloo in TaleSpin (1990-1991), but he unfortunately had grown too old to do so at that point, and the studio hired Ed Gilbert to portray Baloo. Gilbert had previously done additional voice work on The Little Mermaid (1989) and voiced Francois the Grasshopper in The Rescuers Down Under (1990). He also voiced Fasir in Aladdin the TV Series (1994-1995). Pamela Adlon voiced Baloo as a child in Jungle Cubs (1996-1998). The “Baloo” torch was passed to John Goodman for The Jungle Book 2 (2003). Goodman provided the voice for Pacha in The Emperor’s New Groove (2000), Sulley in Monsters, Inc. (2001) and Monsters University (2013), and “Big Daddy” La Bouff in The Princess and the Frog (2009).
In addition to shows produced by Disney, Baloo has also been featured in internationally produced television shows as well. An anime TV Series called The Jungle Book (1989-1990), which was produced in Japan but aired both there and in America, where it was dubbed over in English. A.J. Henderson provided the English-dubbed voice. There is also an Indian computer-animated series called The Jungle Book (2012), that originally aired on the channel, Disney XD, but was moved to Discovery Family in July 2015. Baloo was voiced by Jimmy Hibbert in that show. The Fox Kids Network also created a show entitled Mowgli: the New Adventures of the Jungle Book, where Baloo did not speak.
Disney first re-adapted The Jungle Book for live-action in 1994, with a Baloo who once again, didn’t speak. The film was directed by Stephen Sommers who directed The Mummy (1999) and The Mummy Returns (2001). Brian Doyle Murray (Bill Murray’s brother) lent his voice to Baloo in Disney’s second live-action adaptation of The Jungle Book, entitled, The Jungle Book: Mowgli’s Story (1998). In 2016, however, the “Baloo” torch will be passed to Bill Murray, himself, for Jon Favreau’s (Director: Elf (2003), Iron Man (2008), Iron Man 2 (2010)) new film adaptation of The Jungle Book. The film will also feature the voice talents of Scarlett Johansson, Ben Kingsley, Christopher Walken, Idris Elba, and Giancarlo Esposito.
I think we can all agree that Baloo never ceases to be an optimistic character, considering his philosophy is to always “look for the Bare Necessities.” He reminds every one of us to be anxious for nothing as God tells us in Philippians 4:6-7, because life itself wouldn’t be worth living if we were anxious for things all the time. All of the actors who have portrayed Baloo have been entertaining in their own, special way, but Phil Harris’s performance really is the most impossible to forget, since he was the very first. Whenever life gets us down, we can always use a friend like Baloo.
No comments:
Post a Comment