Bagheera

Jim Cummings (*Jungle Cubs: Born to Be Wild*, singing voice in *The Jungle Book Rhythm N'Groove*)
Bob Joles (2000-present)
Ben Kingsley (2016 film)
Shadow (1994 film)

### Personality

Dignified, aspiring, humble, responsible, irritable, safe, strict, slightly pessimistic, caring, fatherly, protective, instructive, level-headed, wise, logical, practical, mature, rational, no-nonsense, grouchy, solemn, persistent, loyal, helpful, friendly, intellectual, watchful, easily annoyed, selfless, funny, serious, intolerant, elegant, regal, intelligent, devoted, grumpy, gruff, cranky, respectful, stern, knowledgeable, compassionate, determined, short-tempered

### Loves/Likes

Safety, responsibility, cooperation, being correct, respect

### Hates/Dislikes

Mowgli's stubbornness, antics, rebelliousness and childish behavior, Mowgli in danger, his tail being pulled, Shere Khan, Kaa, danger, immaturity, Baloo's laziness, monkeys, arrogance, selfishness, mischievousness

### Goal

To keep Mowgli safe and return him to the Man Village (succeeded)

### Allies

Mowgli, Baloo, Colonel Hathi, Shanti, Ranjan, Akela, King Louie, Shere Khan (formerly), Kaa (formerly)

### Enemies

Shere Khan, Kaa, King Louie (briefly), Mahra, Ned, Jed & Fred

### Fate

Returns to the jungle with Baloo after successfully escorting Mowgli to the Man Village

### Relatives

Unnamed mother
Mowgli (ward)

### Qoute

"The Man Cub must go back to the Man Village... The jungle is not the place for him."

**Bagheera** is the tritagonist of Disney's 1967 animated feature film *The Jungle Book*. He is an honorable, albeit short-tempered panther (leopard) that served as the guardian of the "man-cub", Mowgli. To protect Mowgli from the threat of the murderous tiger Shere Khan, Bagheera volunteered to escort the man-cub to the Man Village. Along the way, Bagheera's ideology clashes with that of the laid-back sloth bear Baloo.

## Background

Bagheera is the wise and respectable black panther who lives in the Seoni jungle in India. His life changes when he discovers the infant man-cub, Mowgli, in a wrecked canoe and dedicates himself to ensure the safety of the young boy by putting him in the care of the wolves and watch over him until he is ready to rejoin humanity.

*The Jungle Book* takes many creative liberties that deviate from the source material. However, Bagheera deviates the least from Kipling's works out of all the characters in the film. Like in the books, Bagheera is Mowgli's elegant, no-nonsense mentor, but does not spoil Mowgli occasionally, nor is he as effeminate as his book counterpart.

### Personality

Bagheera is presented as a wise figure. Level-headed and intelligent, the panther is amongst the most down-to-earth residents of the jungle. When first introduced, he is seen as a selfless and caring individual, rescuing the orphaned Mowgli, and going out of his way to ensure his safety from that moment forward. Although he cares a great deal about the man-cub, Bagheera is also easily frustrated and intolerable of tomfoolery. This would result in rather heated arguments against the two, specifically in regards to whether or not Mowgli should remain in the jungle or return to the Man Village to live amongst his own species. Bagheera's temper can occasionally blind his sense of judgment, resulting in careless behavior such as abandoning Mowgli in the jungle despite the knowing dangers that lurk. Nevertheless, he is quick to reform and repeatedly finds himself by Mowgli's side once again. He is a devoted ally and makes it a crucial objective to protect those he cares about.

Bagheera is also commonly known as the foil of Baloo the bear, whom the former views as a "stupid, jungle bum". The two have opposite personalities, and continuously annoy one another with their need to push their own personal opinions onto each other. Nevertheless, these conflicts mostly centered around Mowgli's fate, and the two generally share a brotherly bond. Following the climax, when it appeared Baloo had met his demise, Bagheera revealed that he truly did care for the bear, and was notably embarrassed to see that Baloo had overheard his heartfelt eulogy. Once Mowgli made the decision to return to the Man Village, Bagheera and Baloo joyfully returned to their lives in the jungle, setting aside their differences and remained together as best friends.

### Physical appearance

Bagheera is a slender, black panther (Indian melanistic leopard). He has a gray muzzle, a pink nose, and black eyebrows. He has yellow eyes with black pupils, and a pair of numerous whiskers.