Why is Kaa evil in almost every single adaption of the Jungle Books?
In nearly every adaption of the Jungle Books Kaa the snake is evil and attempts to kill and eat Mowgli. Is there a specific reason for why directors/writers of the movies try to turn Kaa evil, in spite of Kaa is one of Mowgli's trusted friends and mentors as depicted in the books?
I struggle to understand it as there are already plenty of villains: Bandar-Log, Shere-Khan, villagers, hunters and the Dhole.
Best Answer
Because Walt Disney himself felt it would be better and audiences wouldn't sympathize with a snake being a good guy.
From wikipedia,
Kaa appears in the 1967 animated adaptation by Walt Disney Productions. This version of Kaa is recast as an antagonist, as Walt Disney felt audiences would not sympathize with a snake character.
this followed the Disney sequels/reboots (The Jungle Book 2(2003), The Jungle Book(1994), and 1967's remake The Jungle Book(2019) )
Pictures about "Why is Kaa evil in almost every single adaption of the Jungle Books?"
Why is Kaa evil?
Originally in Kipling's book, Kaa was depicted as an aide or mentor to Mowgli. In the film adaptations, however, possibly owing to a Western prejudice against snakes, Kaa became an antagonist. This consideration of snakes as vile and conniving largely stems from the Biblical story of Adam and Eve.Why is Kaa bad in Jungle Book?
Kaa holds a disliking for Khan, seeing him as a hypocrite and believing the act of killing for pleasure\u2014as opposed to survival\u2014to be dishonorable. The two beasts are often at odds, though Shere Khan views Kaa as an "eyes and ears" of the jungle, relying on him to assist his search for Mowgli at one point in the film.Is Kaa from The Jungle Book a villain?
As in the 1967 film, Kaa is a villain desiring to hypnotize and eat Mowgli but like the 2003 sequel Kaa has a minor role.Why did Kaa Hypnotize Mowgli?
Luring him in by promising to keep him safe, Kaa hypnotizes him and reveals that Mowgli came to live in the jungle because Shere Khan killed his father as they were traveling between villages, and that Bagheera later found Mowgli and brought him over to the wolves for protection.Kaa, Hold it Kaa! - The Jungle Book
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