• Alternate titles for this film during its production included Mowgli’s Story and Return to the Jungle.
• Director Steve Trenbirth makes his feature film debut with The Jungle Book 2. His previous credits include animation director for The Return of Jafar, Aladdin and the King of Thieves, The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride and Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp’s Adventure.
• John Goodman (Baloo) continues his recent stint in Disney animation here, following his popular work as Pacha in The Emperor’s New Groove and Sulley in Monsters, Inc.
• Mae Whitman (Shanti) can also be heard in the television programs Teacher’s Pet and Fillmore!.
• Bob Joles (Bagheera) recently took on another Sebastian Cabot role, that of the Narrator in Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year.
• Tony Jay returns as Shere Khan, a role he voiced in Tale Spin and House of Mouse on television and in the Journey Into Jungle Book show at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Best known as the villainous Frollo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Jay was most recently heard as the prologue narrator in Treasure Planet.
• John Rhys-Davies also voiced Aladdin’s father, Cassim, in Aladdin and the King of Thieves. He can also be seen in his Raiders of the Lost Ark role, Sallah, in the pre-show film at the Indiana Jones Adventure ride at Disneyland.
• Jim Cummings pulls triple duty in The Jungle Book 2, voicing M.C. Monkey as well as Hathi and Kaa. He will next be heard in his two signature roles, as Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, in Piglet’s Big Movie.
• Phil Collins makes his Disney voice acting debut here as Lucky the Vulture. Collins was recently named a Disney Legend for his Oscar-winning music for another Disney jungle adventure, Tarzan, and is currently involved in adapting that film into a Broadway musical. He is also the composer for the upcoming animated feature, Brother Bear (a.k.a. Bears).

Coming Soon in Toon Talk:

• Belle’s Magical World concludes the Beauty and the Beast three part “Special Edition�? DVD releases when it is released on February 25^th.
• French Stewart takes over for Matthew Broderick in the direct to video sequel Inspector Gadget 2, debuting on March 11^th.
• … and this little piggy … gets his own movie? Piglet’s Big Movie hits the big screen starting March 21^st.

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-- Kirby C. Holt

Kirby, a former Walt Disney World Resort Cast Member (and Trivia Champ), is a lifelong Disney fan and film buff. He is also an avid list maker and chronic ellipsis user ...

Took Talk: Disney Film & Video Reviews by Kirby C. Holt is posted whenever there's something new to review.

The opinions expressed by our Kirby C. Holt, and all of our columnists, do not necessarily represent the feelings of LaughingPlace.com or any of its employees or advertisers. All speculation and rumors about the future plans of the Walt Disney Company are just that - speculation and rumors - and should be treated as such.

-- Posted February 19, 2003