Bagheera is the tritagonist of from Rudyard Kipling's collection of stories 1894 The Jungle Book. and it's sequel The Second Jungle Book.
He was panther and Mowgli’s closest friend and mentors, the one to give him great support at times in which the strict and disciplined teacher Baloo could not provide that support, at a point the panther would call the boy “Little Brother”.
Appearance[]
Bagheera describe in the book was a male black panther (melanistic Indian leopard). and he had a scar on his neck from a collar. It reveals he was once held captive by humans before he was escape the wild.
Personality[]
Bagheera is a wise, cunning, bold and reckless panther because everybody knows him and even they cannot dared to cross his path. Like Baloo he was protective and mentor to Mowgli teaching the Law of the Jungle. Unlike Baloo where he was strict and disciplined to the man cub. Bagheera can have his softer side (because he had a voice as soft as wild honey dripping from a tree) particularly in his role as Mowgli's protector and mentor. Bagheera dislikes Baloo's disciplinary methods with Mowgli for his harsh lessons. While he's respected for his cunning and power, he's also shown to be compassionate, caring, and deeply devoted to Mowgli's well-being.
Mowgli and Bagheera's bond
The two became close friends (while they were both raised by humans) He called him "Little Brother". and He also spoils Mowgli a bit.
Biography[]
Adaptations[]
Main article: Bagheera (Disney)
Bagheera appears in Disney's 1967 film The Jungle Book. Like his book counterpart He is wise, and mentor to Mowgli. but in contrast his book counterpart. He is more strict, frustrated and focused on discipline, He volunteered to take the man-cub to the Man Village, but Mowgli refused and wanted to stay in the jungle. They both argue and he abandons him. Bagheera's goal was clashed when he hears the big roar of an animal and thinks something happened to him. When he arrives Mowgli is bonding with a more a lazy, fun-loving, carefree bear, Baloo.
Trivia[]
- Bagheera did not found Mowgli as a cub (like the Disney version). It was actually Raksha and Father Wolf who found him. He never met him until The Council Rock spreading the word of Raksha adopting a man-cub.
- In the Soviet-Russian animated adaptation Bagheera's gender change into female primarily due to the Russian translation of the name "Bagheera," which, along with the word for "panther", is considered feminine in Russian grammar.
- While Bagheera and Mowgli's relationship in the books is more complex, warmth and a real mutual love and understanding and preferred friend than Baloo's, (despite both being mentors). Bagheera and Mowgli's relationship in the Disney film is the opposite. strict, stubborn, and frustrating to him to take back his own kind. Despite this Mowgli preferred Baloo over him.
- Bagheera and Baloo's personalities in the books were swapped by Disney's. (to loyal friend to strict guardian, and strict teacher to fun-loving)
Gallery[]
