- “Maybe she can help me too. I seem to be s-s-stuck! I'm afraid my belly is bigger than my...everything!”
- ―Kaa when he got stuck
The Ancient Ruins is one of the settings from Disney's 1967 film, The Jungle Book, its sequel, and television series. In the original film, it was the home of King Louie and the Bandar-log. During Mowgli's rescue by Baloo and Bagheera, the ruins were mostly toppled, but their remains were later occupied by Baloo and the other jungle animals when Louie departed.
Appearances[]
The Jungle Book[]
The Ancient Ruins was once a human city, before being abandoned and eventually reclaimed by nature and settled by the Bandar-log centuries later. Eventually, an orangutan named Louie claimed the ruins as his own kingdom where all the monkeys of the Seoni jungle could live and/or take refuge in. As time passed, King Louie sought more control over the jungle but knew he could not have it without the secret of man's red flower (fire). Louie believed his opportunity had come when the man-cub Mowgli was being sent to the Man Village despite his insistence on staying in the jungle. As such, he ordered the Bandar-log to kidnap the boy and bring him before him.
When the deed is done, Louie welcomes his primate cousin to his kingdom and offers him protection and refuge in exchange for the secret of how to making fire. Mowgli claims he doesn't know, but Louie refuses to believe. Baloo and Bagheera devise a plan: while Baloo distracts the monkeys, Bagheera will rescue Mowgli. Baloo dresses himself as an orangutan and dances with Louie. They are discovered after Baloo's costume comes apart and a chase begins. The chase results in one tower collapsing just as Baloo, Bagheera, and Mowgli make their exit leaving Louie at a rubble of stones.
The Jungle Book 2[]
The Ancient Ruins return in the sequel, but is now run by Baloo and the Bandar-log. Mowgli and Baloo travel to the Ancient Ruins in the middle of the film to avoid capture from Bagheera and the villagers. The ruins are featured during the musical number "W-I-L-D". They are last seen after the song. Baloo tells the other animals about the Man Village when Mowgli leaves.
Jungle Cubs[]
The Ancient Ruins reappear in the TV series, serving as the central location for the cubs during the first season.
Trivia[]
- The ruins appear to be based on either Hampi in Southern India or Angkor Wat in Cambodia.