Mowgli gets hi-tech

The series is the first animated version of the stories created by computer, instead of being hand-drawn

Children’s favourite jungle hero Mowgli, Baloo the bear and panther Bagheera will soon return to the small screen in a new hi-tech avatar. The BBC will broadcast the new adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s classic The Jungle Book, which has been made in India at the cost of £8 million. It is the first animated version of the stories since the hugely popular 1967 Disney feature film but has been created by computer instead of being hand-drawn.

The BBC bought the programmes in a £1 million deal with Indian independent production company DQ Entertainment. The 52-part series will air on Children’s BBC later this year. This new adaptation of Kipling’s The Jungle Book is being billed as an “action adventures comedy for 21st century kids” and is already on air in France, Australia and Germany. The series was made in India, which is where Bombay-born Kipling set his original story.

Steven Andrew, head of drama and acquisitions for CBBC, said the programmes updated the stories, which were first published in 1894, for a new generation.

“The world of the jungle is looking glorious in the series and will reintroduce this brand to a generation who might not know this fabulous story.” Tapaas Chakravarti, chief executive of DQ Entertainment, added, “Considerable time and effort has been given to produce an animation series worthy of the rich heritage The Jungle Book represents.” Born in Bombay, Kipling was named after Rudyard Lake, Staffordshire, a beauty spot his parents visited. He turned down a knighthood but in 1907 aged 43 became the first British author to win the Nobel Prize for literature and continues to be the youngest recipient of the award. Kipling wrote The Jungle Book as a collection of stories for a magazine in 1894 before a single book was published, which became one of the most loved children's work. Set in India, the story followed the adventures of man cub Mowgli, who abandoned by his parents, is raised by a wolf with her cubs and his journey back to a human village.

In 1942, it was made into a live action film but it is the 1960s animated feature film that has been most popular. It was also one of the last Walt Disney worked on before his death from lung cancer in 1966. — PTI