Full Name: Bagheera
Age: he’s got to be at least 45-ish in panther years
Occupation: voice of reason
Voice: Sebastian Cabot

What does it say about me that Bagheera has been my favourite Jungle Book character since before I knew what a favourite character was? We used to play Big Cats when I was about seven. I was always a panther.

Baghee is fabulous, he really is. From the beginning, he has a clear agenda. In the face of Mowgli’s reluctance to comply, which is compounded by Baloo’s egging-on, and all of the dangers the boy faces, Bagheera manages to preserver and eventually completes his mission. In the process, he never compromises his morals. He does despair for a time and gives up on the boy, but his conscience does not allow him to walk away when Mowgli is threatened. And though the “danger” turned out to only be Baloo, Baghee again follows his conscience and remains near Mowgli to protect him.

As Baghee rubs off on Baloo, who becomes ever so slightly more mature, Bagheera picks up some of Baloo’s relaxed attitude. But only some. Just enough for it to be an interesting development rather than an irritatingly out-of-character switch. It always bothered me that Baghee was left out of TaleSpin, but I suppose he would most likely have wound up murdering Baloo. And in any case, they couldn’t very well have Baghee AND Becky around.

And if you want to see something really cute, check out one of the episodes of Jungle Cubs with Dee Bradley Baker as baby Baghee. Very adorable, and in character the whole way. I love it.

And just how do you think you'll survive?
Created December 24, 2003.