The Jungle Book is a classic story that has been told in several different ways, but the Disney animation is one of the most well-known. The story follows Mowgli as he grows up within the jungle when Shere Khan learns of his presence, which leads to him trying to escape before the tiger gets hold of him.
Along the way, Mowgli encounters countless different jungle characters, with some of them being helpful and kind, and others looking to harm the man-cub, or use him for their own benefit. There are some huge personalities within the movie, which makes the journey a lot of fun to witness. But which characters are the most likable?
Shere Khan
Shere Khan is quite obviously the least likable character within The Jungle Book, due to the fact he is the main villain of the story. He is supposed to be unlikeable and that is how he comes across. The tiger is truly the king of this particular jungle, with every other animal fearing him.
The character is excellently portrayed though, as he isn't over-the-top, or loud, and instead, he quietly prowls around which makes him even scarier. His deep voice and commanding presence made him very easy to be scared of, which ultimately makes him one of Disney's greatest villains.
Colonel Hathi
While Colonel Hathi isn't actually a villain in this movie, that doesn't make him a likable character. He is the one in charge of all the elephants, and he is more than happy to let them know that. He's a very bossy character, and that doesn't make him very likable.
He's strict with all of the other elephants, including his own son, and while that is due to him being seen as a military character, that doesn't make him a fan favorite. The other elephants within his group all mock him for a reason, clearly not appreciating being bossed around either.
Kaa
Kaa is one of the first characters that Mowgli encounters on his journey throughout the jungle, and he quickly showcases his true personality. The snake is always looking to take advantage of everybody he can get near with his hypnotizing eyes, which distracts his enemies while he chokes them at the same time.
He's obviously not that likable, which is mainly because of the fact he is always trying to kill everyone he meets. However, the fact that things always go wrong in the funniest manner does make him quite a likable character, as things often go downhill fast for him.
Akela
Akela is the wolf who takes in Mowgli as a young man-cub and acts as his parent, teaching him the ways of the jungle as he tries to make the human feel like one of the pack. He's a very smart character who is mature and knows what he has to do in order to protect the boy.
The fact he is willing to take Mowgli in as a boy, despite the obvious risks highlights the type of character that Akela is. His wisdom and kindness truly make him one of the nicest and most likable characters in the movie.
Junior
While his father can be a little annoying at points, Junior proves to be a very likable and cute character. The young elephant becomes friends with Mowgli during their brief time together and he shows the man-cub nothing but kindness.
He is just a young elephant who is out to have fun, much like Mowgli, which is why they're so great together as friends. Junior is very cute as he tries to copy the older elephants, but he is equally very funny, which makes him a likable character.
The Vultures
The vultures from The Jungle Book are clearly a nod to The Beatles, and they're a really fun addition to the movie. Initially, because they've vultures, most people presume they're going to be villains, but in actual fact, they are very kind and funny characters.
They might be a little dopey, but their arguments amongst each other are funny to see, and the fact that they help Baloo and Mowgli in the big fight against Shere Khan showcases that they've got plenty of bravery and courage too.
King Louie
King Louie is someone who could be seen as a villain, as he is looking to take advantage of Mowgli, and he sends out the monkeys in order to kidnap him. However, he is simply just an animal with a desire to be human, wanting to learn more about what he has to do to make that happen.
King Louie just brings so much energy and charisma during his time in the movie that he becomes one of the best characters overall. His song is one of the best Disney has ever created, and the fact that he is just a lot of fun makes him very likable.
Bagheera
Bagheera might be seen as someone who is very strict and a little boring when compared to Baloo, as he doesn't want to play and have fun as he does. But that doesn't mean he's not a likable character. Bagheera is very wise and is a trusted animal within the jungle, and he is someone who really looks after Mowgli, almost like a father.
He is strict with Mowgli at times, but that is something he is trying to do in able to help the young man-cub, wanting to get him out of the jungle for his own safety. The fact he cares so much and puts in such effort is what makes him a very likable character.
Mowgli
The lead character of the movie is certainly a very likable person. He's only a young boy and because of that he doesn't always showcase a full understanding of the situation, but he is full of energy as he explores the jungle. He's a little gullible at points, and sometimes he can be very stubborn in his refusal to listen to others, but that is simply down to a lack of experience.
However, because Mowgli has such a great love for the jungle and he is passionate about that, it's impossible not to love him as a character. He doesn't show any fear, no matter what challenges he comes up against, and he s a very kind person as well, having been brought up well by the wolves.
Baloo
Ultimately, the most likable character within The Jungle Book is Baloo, who is one of the greatest Disney characters of all time. He is someone that is so full of life and positivity that he just radiates a great energy, which is why Mowgli ends up loving him so much.
While he likes to have fun and doesn't take things too seriously with his laid-back attitude, Baloo knows that the right thing to do is to get Mowgli out of the jungle. He is a fierce protector of the young boy to the point where he almost dies, in one of the most emotional scenes in the movie. But the fact he is willing to go to those lengths to protect Mowgli showcases why he's such a great character in the first place.