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Jumanji is not a Disney movie, but it is a classic that has been beloved by kids and adults for years. The original film was released in 1995 and starred Robin Williams.
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Introduction
Jumanji is a 1995 American fantasy adventure film directed by Joe Johnston. It was produced by Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald of Amblin Entertainment, and released by TriStar Pictures. The source material for the film was the 1981 children’s book of the same name by Chris Van Allsburg. The film stars Robin Williams, Kirsten Dunst, Bonnie Hunt, and Bradley Pierce.
What is Jumanji?
Jumanji is a 1995 American adventure film directed by Joe Johnston. It is an adaptation of the 1981 children’s book of the same name by Chris Van Allsburg. The film was written by Greg Taylor, Jonathan Hensleigh, and Jim Strain, and stars Robin Williams, Kirsten Dunst, Bradley Pierce, Bonnie Hunt, and Bebe Neuwirth. The special effects were provided by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) for computer graphic elements.
The film was dedicated to visual effects supervisor Stephen Lofredo, who died before its release. It was released on December 15, 1995 and became a financial success; grossing $262 million worldwide on an $65 million budget. It was the ninth-highest-grossing film of 1995. Jumanji was nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Original Song (“Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)”) and Best Original Score (James Horner).
Jumanji as a Disney Movie
There is much debate surrounding Jumanji’s status as a Disney movie. While the film was not produced by Disney, it was distributed by the company through its Touchstone Pictures subsidiary. As such, Jumanji is often considered a part of the Disney canon.
Interestingly, Jumanji was not originally intended to be a family film. The original script was much darker in tone, but the studio felt that it would be too scary for children. The film underwent several major changes during production, resulting in a final product that was more light-hearted and family-friendly.
Whether you consider Jumanji a Disney movie or not is up to you, but there’s no denying that the film has had a lasting impact on popular culture.
The Plot of Jumanji
Jumanji is a 1995 American adventure film directed by Joe Johnston. It is loosely based on the 1981 children’s book of the same name by Chris Van Allsburg. The screenplay was written by Greg Taylor, Jonathan Hensleigh, and Jim Strain, and the film stars Robin Williams, Kirsten Dunst, Lloyd Bridges, Bebe Neuwirth, and David Alan Grier. The special effects were provided by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) for the film’s computer-generated imagery (CGI) sequences.
The story centers on two kids who find and play a supernatural board game, unleashing a man trapped inside it for decades. After finishing the game and freeing him, they are forced to deal with the now dangerous consequences of unleashing the long-imprisoned sorcerer upon the world.
Jumanji was released on December 15, 1995; grossing $262 million worldwide on an estimated budget of $65 million. The film received mixed reviews from critics but was a box office success.
The Characters in Jumanji
The characters in Jumanji are:
-Alan Parrish: A young boy who becomes trapped in the board game Jumanji for 26 years. He is eventually freed by two children, Judy and Peter Shepherd.
-Judy Shepherd: One of the two children who release Alan from the board game. She is brave and resourceful, and quickly becomes friends with Alan.
-Peter Shepherd: Judy’s younger brother and the other child who helps Alan escape from Jumanji. He is initially scared of the game, but learns to face his fears.
-Sarah Whittle: A girl who befriends Alan and helps him with his quest to finish the game.
-Carl Buoyant: The owner of a toy store where Alan buys the board game Jumanji.
-Martha Buoyant: Carl’s wife and Sarah’s mother.
-Akeem Olonodeo: A man who joins Alan’s quest to finish the game.
The Locations in Jumanji
Jumanji was not originally a Disney movie, but it is now owned by Disney. The film is set in two different time periods, the present day and 1969. In the present day, the film follows Alan Parrish who has been stuck in the Jumanji game for 26 years. In 1969, the film follows Judy and Peter Shepherd who are sent to live with their aunt in Brantford, New Hampshire after their parents die in a car accident.
The film was shot on location in Keene, New Hampshire; Peterborough, New Hampshire; Wilmington, North Carolina; and Florida.
Themes in Jumanji
Jumanji is a popular 1995 movie that many kids grew up watching. The movie is based on a board game, and centers around two kids who get stuck in the game and have to finish it in order to escape. Along the way, they are helped by Alan Parrish, an adult who has been stuck in the game for 26 years.
Jumanji is not a Disney movie, but there are many Disney-esque elements to it. For example, there is a scene where Alan helps the kids escape from some monkeys by giving them bananas. This is similar to a scene in Disney’s The Jungle Book, where Mowgli escapes from some monkeys by giving them coconuts.
Jumanji also has some darker themes than most Disney movies. For example, there is a scene where one of the characters gets eaten by a hippo. This would never happen in a Disney movie!
So, while Jumanji may have some similarities to Disney movies, it is definitely not a Disney movie itself.
The Legacy of Jumanji
Released in 1995, Jumanji was a critical and commercial success. The film grossed over $262 million at the worldwide box office and was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Visual Effects.
But despite its success, there is one question that has always dogged Jumanji: is it a Disney movie?
The answer to this question is not as simple as it may seem. While the film was distributed by Sony Pictures (then a subsidiary of TriStar Pictures, which was itself owned by Columbia Pictures, which was in turn owned by The Coca-Cola Company), it was actually produced by Interscope Communications, an independent production company.
So while Jumanji may not technically be a Disney movie, its legacy is inextricably linked to the House of Mouse. The late Robin Williams, who starred in the film, was a beloved Disney stalwart thanks to his performances in films like Aladdin and Hook. And the film’s director, Joe Johnston, would later go on to helm such Disney classics as The Rocketeer and Captain America: The First Avenger.
In other words, even though Jumanji may not technically be a Disney movie, it might as well be.
Conclusion
No, Jumanji is not a Disney movie. It is a Sony Pictures film.
Further Reading
Jumanji is a 1995 American adventure film directed by Joe Johnston. The film was produced by Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald and stars Robin Williams, Kirsten Dunst, David Alan Grier, Bonnie Hunt, Bebe Neuwirth, and Jonathan Hyde. The special effects were provided by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) for the film’s animal effects.
Jumanji was released on December 15, 1995, by TriStar Pictures and grossed over $263 million worldwide, becoming the tenth-highest-grossing film of 1995. The film received mixed reviews from critics but was a box office success. It was followed by two sequels, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) and Jumanji: The Next Level (2019), with Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Karen Gillan, and Nick Jonas in the lead roles.
