TARZAN II - 2005


Producer Carolyn Bates
Coproducers Leslie Hough & Jim Kamerud
Director Brian Smith
Writers
Jim Kamerud; Brian Smith; Bob Tzudiker & Noni White
Character creation Edgar Rice Burroughs
Songs Phil Collins

MAIN CAST VOICES
Tarzan Harrison Chad
Zugor George Carlin
Uto Brad Garrett
Kago Ron Perlman
Mama Gunda Estelle Harris
Kala Glenn Close
Kerchak Lance Henrikson
Terk Brenda Grate
Tantor Harrison Fahn

BACKGROUND
The Disney folk felt inspired to produce a "lost tale of Tarzan's youth", to fill in the gap left by the transition from child to man seen in the Son of Man song sequence in Tarzan (1999).  Unlike the cheaply made first sequel, Tarzan & Jane (2002), this direct-to-video prequel has lush animation, well-developed characters, new songs by Phil Collins, and accomplished actors providing the voices.  Glenn Close and Lance Henrikson return to reprise their roles as Kala and Kerchak respectively, and Estelle Harris (George Kostanza's mother in Seinfeld) is especially hilarious as Mama Gunda.  Iconoclastic comedian and actor, George Carlin, played the crabby, old Zugo and  Ron Perlman, who played Hellboy (2004), voiced Kago.  Alex D Linz, who had provided the voice for Tarzan as a boy in the original feature, had since grown up and was unable to recreate the role, but was capably replaced by Harrison Chad.  The "ugly duckling" story of Tarzan's inability to cope as an ape is sensitively told.

APE CRY
• To hear the ape cry used in this film move your mouse over this image

PLOT - Note: Spoiler warning

• Young Tarzan flees to the desolate region of the Dark Mountain when he is overcome by feelings of inadequacy as an ape.  He is captured by a trio of outcast large apes - Mama Gunda, a tough old she-ape; Kago, her violent son; and Uto, his dimwitted brother (top) - who are terrified of a monster named Zugor.  He escapes and stumbles upon a grouchy old ape who lives alone in a cave (right).  Tarzan discovers that this is Zugor, who has created the boogeyman myth to preserve his privacy.  Terk, Tantor and Kala arrive at the Dark Mountain looking for Tarzan, but Mama Gunda and her boys attack Kala and throw her over a waterfall.  Tarzan arrives to save Kala and Zugor realises he is attracted to Mama Gunda while they are fighting.   He decides to join her family and sets about imposing some moral discipline on her two boys.  Tarzan is happy to be reunited with his mother and Zugor, his new friend, points out to him that his cleverness is a special gift that makes him unique amongst the apes.

 

MOVING PICTURES
Click on the image below to view a very classy fan-made trailer for this film:
 

SOURCES
• The two embedded Youtube videos were provided by Youtuber juanjo4039.  Many thanks!
IMAGES
• Both photos are screenshots from the Tarzan II DVD, Walt Disney Home Entertainment, 2005
• The video of the fan-made trailer was provided by Youtuber SakuraInfinity.  Many thanks!
LYNX
• Read a review of this film and the DVD at UltimateDisney.com
• Visit the official Disney Tarzan II Homepage

CAPTURE
• Bag yourself a copy of this film on DVD at Amazon.com or eBay



TARZAN® is the property of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc., Tarzana CA.
This independent, fan-based analysis of the Tarzan material is copyright © 2007 Paul Wickham