Rikki-Tikki-Tavi (1975)

A young mongoose protects his human family from two murderous cobras.

Director:

Chuck Jones

Writers:

Rudyard Kipling (from the book by) (as Kipling), Chuck Jones (written for the screen by)

Stars:

Orson Welles, June Foray, Les Tremayne

Cast

Cast overview:
Orson Welles	...	Narrator / Nag / Chuchundra (voice)
June Foray	...	Nagaina the Cobra, Wife of Nag / Teddy's Mother / Darzee's Wife (voice)
Les Tremayne	...	Father (voice)
Michael LeClair	...	Teddy (voice)
Shepard Menken	...	Rikki-Tikki-Tavi the Mongoose / Nag / Chuchundra (voice)
Lennie Weinrib	...	Darzee the Tailorbird (voice)

Storyline

An English family living in India discovers a mongoose living on the estate. They decide to keep him as pet, in the hopes that he will keep them safe from the many cobras that live in the surrounding jungle. Their new pet quickly begins earning his keep, as two cobras make the family their new target.

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Plot Keywords:

young boy | courage | pretending to be injured | english | good versus evil | 

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Genres:

Animation | Adventure | Family | Musical | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Quotes

[first lines]
Teddy: Here's a dead mongoose. Let's have a funeral!

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Connections

Referenced in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)

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Soundtracks

When I Was a Lad
from "H.M.S. Pinafore"
Music by Arthur Sullivan
Lyrics by W.S. Gilbert
Performed by Michael LeClair

User Reviews

Superb adaptation of Kipling's adventure story

Chuck Jones took a great story and combined it with a great cast to give us an outstanding animation feature. Orson Welles narrates and supplies the voice of a cowardly muskrat as we see Rikki the orphaned mongoose become a hero to his adopted family in 19th century India. The versatile June Foray provides the voice of Rikki, the boy's mother,the mother bird, and the evil cobra Nagaeena. The text is taken largely from the Kipling story, with whole passages used verbatim. Even the tailor-bird's song is from the original story, with a catchy tune created for the story. This is Chuck Jones' other side: no slapstick. Just a touching, memorable story which captures Kipling's period feel and sentimentality seen through the eyes of the young boy who must live with his colonial family on a distant continent. If you can find this animation on video, your kids ages 5 and up will enjoy it, and you will appreciate the wonderful production and characters.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 January 1975 (USA)

Also Known As:

Rikki-Tikki-Tavi

Company Credits

Production Co:

Chuck Jones Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

24 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1