Film: The Jungle Book (2016)

1. Overview of The Jungle Book (2016)

The Jungle Book, released in 2016, is a live-action film by Disney, directed by Jon Favreau.
This version was a reimagining of the 1967 animated version, combining elements of CG animation and live-action footage.
The film had a mainstream, global audience due to Disney’s high brand profile and broad family appeal.
The reboot’s use of animation technology illustrates how the media has responded to advancements and public interest in recent decades.

2. Narrative and Themes

The film uses a classic three-act structure, following the journey of protagonist Mowgli as he navigates the dangers of the jungle.
Predominant themes in The Jungle Book include coming of age, resilience, and identity, reflecting the original tales by Rudyard Kipling.
The plot also addresses the relationship between humanity and nature, a socially relevant issue that can resonate with a modern audience.

3. Representation

Mowgli, as a human child raised by animals, raises various questions about identity and belonging.
The film implicitly deals with diversity and acceptance, as various anthropomorphic animal characters accept Mowgli, despite being “different”.
Common binary oppositions are portrayed in the film: nature vs. civilization, innocence vs. experience, and mankind vs. the wild.

4. Industrial Context

The Jungle Book was critically acclaimed and achieved high box office figures, demonstrating Disney’s ability to produce successful live-action remakes.
The integration of live-action and CGI components has set a precedent for future children’s films and sparked a trend in Disney’s production of live-action remakes.
Disney’s marketing strategy relied heavily on nostalgia from the original animated film, targeting both adults who were familiar with the original and young newcomers.

5. Cultural Context

The film received criticism for its perceived ‘Westernisation’ of Kipling’s original Indian-set stories.
Reaction to the film across cultures varied, with a noticeable difference in interpretation and response between the West and East.
Disney made alterations to counter cultural issues in some regions, such as casting popular local actors in voice roles, demonstrating the media industry’s increasingly globalised nature.

These key points should provide a solid base for analysing The Jungle Book (2016) from a Media Studies perspective. Remember, a thorough understanding will also require research into audience reactions, overall box-office performance, interviews and insights from the production team, as well as comparing the film with its 1967 predecessor.