Rikki-Tikki-Tavi (1975)

Rikki-Tikki-Tavi

“1975 ended the Cricket series, but it also launched the three Rudyard Kipling adaptations that Chuck Jones made between 1975 and 1976. These three specials are among the best of Jones’ work, capturing both the darkness of the original stories and providing a template for Jones’ artistry to go wild.   The first of these three specials, Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, is twenty-five minutes of sheer excellence from top to bottom. The simplicity of backgrounds and shapes jettisoned here in favor of a more realistic animation style. I never knew traditionally animated cobras could be so frightening, but between the menace of Orson Welles and June Foray’s vocal intonations and their ominous, supple animation, that’s exactly what I thought in these moments.   Even better is the stylistic choice” read more

1001 Animated Shorts You Must See - The Full List (1001 movies items)

"DIR: Chuck Jones SUMMARY: An adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's classic tale of a mongoose who defends a family living in India from two murderous cobras. WHY IT'S HERE: The first of a trio of TV specials based stories by Rudyard Kipling, 'Rikki-Tikki-Tavi' was one of Chuck Jones's last great works before he settled into making inferior latter day segments featuring classic Warner Bros. characters. Bright and colourful but also notably dark in many of its story elements, 'Rikki-Tikki-Tavi' reta"