Why the Jungle Book should be in KHIII

[Dave 5,715]

The Jungle Book has been in and out of production of Kingdom Hearts since the beginning, and I don't really know if KHIII will finally be the time when it makes its debut. But I think that not only should it be in at long last, it would probably be the most poignant and thematically necessary world that you could visit for the climax of the series.

 

The Jungle Book is about a boy named Mowgli who lives in a jungle in India, with no knowledge of his family or the world of humans in general. But, unlike Tarzan, this doesn't bother Mowgli at all; in fact, he prefers it this way. He thrives on new interactions with other animals, and looks to understand and adapt with every creature he comes into contact with, from wolves to monkeys to elephants to vultures. It's the constant variety and promise of adventure that makes Mowgli tick. Even if the face of Shere Khan, the beast that everyone in their right mind is terrified of, he's not completely afraid. In fact, the only thing that Mowgli is afraid of is normalcy; having a life that doesn't involve constant adventure, variety, and new interactions. Throughout the film, the threat of returning him to the man village is just that: Mowgli will have to put aside everything that is fun and enjoyable and, well, lead a normal life. The jungle represents freedom, of a world that always seems to have something new, while the man village represents the docile, tamed life. It's safe, it's secure, but that kind of domesticated world is the thing that Mowgli fears the most: for after you settle down, what else is there to do but settle?

 

The themes of Mowgli are almost exactly the themes of Sora. Sora has been under the sea, in the Underworld, to the End of the World, and the workshop of Santa himself, but never once has he ever balked, commented on how strange things are, or expressed any kind of doubt or fears about the constant oddities that surround him. Because encountering these diverse people and worlds and seeing how they work is what he loves. Just like Mowgli trying to march with the elephant patrol, Sora is trying to blend in with everyone he comes into contact with. He wants to go to new and strange places; he wants to try and fit in with other cultures and experiences. Mowgli and Sora both share the joy of discovery and adventure: it's the reason that Sora wanted to leave Destiny Islands in the first place, and its the reason why, aside from a brief aside at the end of KHII, we have yet to see him return there for any great length of time. He doesn't want to settle down either.

 

Which sort of brings us to the interesting part: Just like how Mowgli is afraid of the man village for the threat of normalcy, does Sora share the same anxieties about having to return home, putting up his keyblade, and stop adventuring? Throughout his time, he comments on how he wants to find his friends, but never does he seem to be overly concerned about the state of his home, or the world around it. Indeed, he seems almost more worried about the fate of other worlds. If other worlds exist, it means he can keep exploring; he can stay in the jungle, as it were. But with the Destiny Islands, although he does wish for its safety and the safety of the people within it, there never seems to be a great inclination for Sora to return home. I believe that, like Mowgli, part of Sora doesn't want to return to the village. If he does, it would mean that he wouldn't get to meet new people, or find new places to explore. It would be safe, but it would be stagnant. In many ways, the man village and Destiny Islands both seem to represent an end to childhood and the beginning of adulthood, and I think there's part of Sora that fears that a great deal.

 

Which is why I think this is a theme that needs to be recognized in KHIII. For all intents and purposes, this is the end. Yes, there will probably be other games after this, and I don't doubt that Sora will be back, but with the end of Xehanort on its way, I think there needs to be some kind of reconciliation with Sora: what do you do when your adventure is over? When you've saved the world, and have to go back home, how do you cope with the idea of being in one place for an extended period of time? There's going to have to come a moment when Sora can't just up and leave his dinner behind and fly to other worlds, and when that time comes, how will he handle it? What happens when you have to leave the jungle behind?

 

At the end of the Jungle Book, Mowgli discovers that living with other humans is really just another form of learning, which is something he's always enjoyed anyways. In spite of his fears, he finds himself somewhat more willing to adapt, and maybe the man village, with its tamed way of life, isn't as frightening as he thought. 

 

One wonders how Sora will cope when the time comes for him to leave the jungle and live with the other humans.

[opinion 83]

You guys give square enix to much credit to think that they give this much thought into putting a world into kingdom hearts.

But yea I think it's very likely for it to be in the game just by the fact that it has almost been in the last couple kingdom hearts games but was pulled at some point.

[Dracozombie 4,554]

And here I was opposed to a Jungle Book world because, environmentally and thematically, I thought it'd just be a combination of Deep Jungle and Pride Lands.

 

I've seen quite a few fanfics exploring the idea of how Sora adjusts back to a normal life.  Some are lighthearted, where it's a little boring compared to his adventures, but he doesn't mind too much because it's peaceful and a refreshing change of pace from the constant danger.  Others are heavily cynical, where Sora and Riku have pretty much become adrenaline junkies because they're so used to fighting that danger has become normal to them, and they need to fight or else they become antsy.

 

But his ability to blend in with other worlds (mostly) shows that Sora is pretty adaptive.  It might be melancholy for him at first, but he'll probably get used to a normal life.  He might not even be stuck in Destiny Islands.  Sure, it's not like he can take off for Disney Town on a whim, but you never know.  He's a keyblade wielder and keyblade wielders have means of traveling to other worlds besides gummi ships.  He may or may not settle down completely.  I don't know what his future will hold, but Destiny Islands will always be his home.  Sora can always be a "traveling businessman" equivalent of a hero, but maybe he doesn't mind because he knows he can always return there.

 

The difference between Sora and Mowgli is that it's stated multiple times that Mowgli doesn't belong in the jungle.  Going to the Man Village means he's stuck, whereas Sora wouldn't necessarily be forbidden to leave.  Besides, doesn't Mowgli come to terms with going to the Man Village?  By a pair of tits, if I recall, but he seemed to accept his situation by the end.  And even if Sora is forbidden from leaving as well, for one reason or another, I think he'll too eventually learn it's for the best.

 

Or maybe the worlds will be reunited so there are no barriers in between them, rendering the entire point of being stuck moot.  I dunno.  Let's wait for KH3.

[XxCobaltxX 321]

And here I was opposed to a Jungle Book world because, environmentally and thematically, I thought it'd just be a combination of Deep Jungle and Pride Lands.

 

I've seen quite a few fanfics exploring the idea of how Sora adjusts back to a normal life.  Some are lighthearted, where it's a little boring compared to his adventures, but he doesn't mind too much because it's peaceful and a refreshing change of pace from the constant danger.  Others are heavily cynical, where Sora and Riku have pretty much become adrenaline junkies because they're so used to fighting that danger has become normal to them, and they need to fight or else they become antsy.

 

But his ability to blend in with other worlds (mostly) shows that Sora is pretty adaptive.  It might be melancholy for him at first, but he'll probably get used to a normal life.  He might not even be stuck in Destiny Islands.  Sure, it's not like he can take off for Disney Town on a whim, but you never know.  He's a keyblade wielder and keyblade wielders have means of traveling to other worlds besides gummi ships.  He may or may not settle down completely.  I don't know what his future will hold, but Destiny Islands will always be his home.  Sora can always be a "traveling businessman" equivalent of a hero, but maybe he doesn't mind because he knows he can always return there.

 

The difference between Sora and Mowgli is that it's stated multiple times that Mowgli doesn't belong in the jungle.  Going to the Man Village means he's stuck, whereas Sora wouldn't necessarily be forbidden to leave.  Besides, doesn't Mowgli come to terms with going to the Man Village?  By a pair of tits, if I recall, but he seemed to accept his situation by the end.  And even if Sora is forbidden from leaving as well, for one reason or another, I think he'll too eventually learn it's for the best.

 

Or maybe the worlds will be reunited so there are no barriers in between them, rendering the entire point of being stuck moot.  I dunno.  Let's wait for KH3.

i never thought about like that, how will sora be affected in the long run....you're right i guess we have to wait

[SHAZOW 269]

You guys give square enix to much credit to think that they give this much thought into putting a world into kingdom hearts.But yea I think it's very likely for it to be in the game just by the fact that it has almost been in the last couple kingdom hearts games but was pulled at some point.

It is probably planned but will probably get pulled again.

[Connected 978]

This thread show me how Freaking lazy I am.

 

Anyway for some reason I dont think it will work and personally I dont want it 

[Dracozombie 4,554]

This thread show me how Freaking lazy I am.

 

Anyway for some reason I dont think it will work and personally I dont want it 

 

Care to elaborate?  I mean, the OP gave his own detailed response for why he thinks it should.

[Connected 978]

Care to elaborate?  I mean, the OP gave his own detailed response for why he thinks it should.

But still my opion is that it wont work out

[Dracozombie 4,554]

But still my opion is that it wont work out

 

I mean, can you elaborate on your opinion?  Considering the OP has multiple paragraphs and you have, well... meh i dunno dun think it'll work lol.  Seems a little unfair you want us to accept what you think considering what you're arguing against.

[Connected 978]

I mean, can you elaborate on your opinion?  Considering the OP has multiple paragraphs and you have, well... meh i dunno dun think it'll work lol.  Seems a little unfair you want us to accept what you think considering what you're arguing against.

If you give me 1 milion reasons why Jungle book will fit in KH it won't change my opinion sorry..

[Dracozombie 4,554]

If you give me 1 milion reasons why Jungle book will fit in KH it won't change my opinion sorry..

 

But wouldn't it be interesting to know why you have that opinion?  If you feel so strongly about that, as you quote, "a million reasons" won't change it, well damn it must be a pretty good one.  Why not let us know, given the subject of the thread?

[PrinceNoctis 1,011]

That's a really long text and I totally agree on Mowgli's and Sora's similarities.

[VeNate13 144]

I'd be fine with a jungle book world!

[Lalalablah 1,538]

Um I don't know why my post was deleted?

 

All I said was it was a really moving post the way he compared Mowgli and Sora lol.

[Cucco 1,907]

I think it would be a very good replacement for deep jungle

[twilight_roxas 326]

Plus The Jungle Book is one of Walt's most famous animated films. One of the reasons why The Jungle Book was cut from KH,KHII, and BBS is because of King Louie due to a law issue between Disney, and Louis Prima's wife until 2010 were it is finally drop.

[Terraforce777 19]

You guys give square enix to much credit to think that they give this much thought into putting a world into kingdom hearts.But yea I think it's very likely for it to be in the game just by the fact that it has almost been in the last couple kingdom hearts games but was pulled at some point.

Lol I kinda agree. I wouldn't be surprised if they chose the worlds at random THEN think of how each world relates to themes of KH.