Tarzan is a character from the book Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs and its respective adaptations such as the films of the 1930s-40s where he was portrayed by Johnny Weissmuller and 1999 Disney film where he was voiced by Tony Goldwyn.
History[]
Biography[]
Adventureland[]
The boy who became Tarzan was born to two human parents in 1862. While travelling off the coast of Africa, their ship was set ablaze and the couple abandoned ship with the infant Tarzan. They went on to build a treehouse in the Congo which became their home until they were killed by a leopard called Sabor. The baby Tarzan was however saved by a gorilla named Kala who had recently lost her own son and raised Tarzan as her own.
Tarzan grew up in the troop of gorillas though he was ostracized and often scorned by his adoptive father Kerchak. When he was young, Tarzan befriended an elephant called Tantor which he often rid as a mount. When Tarzan was 20, he used a spear to kill Sabor in order to gain Kerchak's approval. Tarzan failed to gain Kerchak's approval, however.
That year, an English expedition arrived in the jungle to study gorillas composed of Professor Archimedes Q. Porter, his daughter Jane Porter, and a hunter named Clayton. Tarzan saved Jane from an angered flange of baboons and became enamoured with her, partly because he'd never seen another human before. The expedition took to studying Tarzan and educating him on the English language and human culture.
When the expedition was going to leave the jungle, Tarzan was distraught and manipulated by Clayton. Clayton had Tarzan lead them to the gorilla's home to study, only to betray the expedition in a mutiny. Clayton and his men planned on capturing the gorillas to sell to the highest bidder while locking up Tarzan and the Porters. Amidst this, Clayton also planned on shooting Kerchak in order to have him stuffed.
Tarzan escaped and fought Clayton in the tree-tops. Amidst the fight, Clayton accidentally commit suicide by swinging his blade at vines resulting in him falling from the trees with vines around his neck, killing him. After this, Jane decided to stay in the jungle with Tarzan and the professor followed suit. The new family then took to living in the treehouse created by Tarzan's birth parents.
Jungle Cruise appearances[]
Adventure Trading Company[]
Tarzan is not directly featured in this attraction though his treehouse is. In the Treehouse Juju mission, guests are sent to the treehouse to study petroglyphs found at its base. In The Daily Gnus newspaper, Tallahassee Glover interviews Shrunken Ned and José about the petroglyphs and tree's history. Tarzan is only briefly named in the instruction for this mission.[1]
Jungle Cruise[]
In the Magic Kingdom's Jungle Cruise, a film called, "Tarzan and Me" is mentioned as being screened by the Jungle Navigation Company by Albert Awol. Awol also does an impression of Tarzan's distinctive yell while clearing his throat during a message for Colonel Williamson. During the 2021 refurbishment of the attraction, a poster for the Jungle Navigation Company was hung outside of the Jungle Cruise though no references to him were put in the actual refurbishment. These posters had an illustration of Tarzan on them as he appeared in the 1999 Disney film Tarzan.[2] Disneyland posters for the attraction Tarzan's Treehouse show a Jungle Cruise boat passing by the treehouse.[3]
Jungle River Cruise[]
In Hong Kong Disneyland, the song Trashin' the Camp from Tarzan plays from a 1930s radio while passing by the gorillas raiding a camp. Also in Hong Kong Disneyland, Tarzan's Treehouse is one of the locations featured on the jungle cruise.
Tarzan's Treehouse[]
Tarzan is the protagonist of this attraction, appearing as static figures.
Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar[]
There is a photograph in Trader Sam's bar which depicts Jane Porter and Professor Porter. A message from Sam identifies this hoto as coming from the gorilla expedition where they met Tarzan.[4]
Other connections[]
Adventureland Treehouse[]
There is a copy of Tarzan of the Apes on mother's parlour.
Other appearances[]
Great Movie Ride[]
Tarzan as he appeared portrayed by Johnny Weissmuller appeared in this attraction within a segment based on the 1932 film Tarzan the Ape Man. He rides a vine overtop of guests heads, nearby Jane.
Main Street, U.S.A.[]
The jack o'lantern representing Adventureland at Halloween time has Tarzan's likeness.[5]
Differences from the book[]
Biography[]
John Clayton II was born as heir to the earlship of Greystroke and into the position of viscount. His parents were stranded in the jungle aboard a ship, leading them to attempting to survive by constructing a treehouse. When John II was but a baby, his parents were murdered by an ape called Kerchak. The baby was later given the name of Tarzan and adopted by an ape called Kala a tribe of cryptid apes name as the Mangani.
Trivia[]
- In Disney's Tarzan, one of the gorillas imitates one of the gorillas from the Jungle Cruise by staring into Clayton's rifle.
- The film Tarzan and Me which Awol likely references the 1934 film Tarzan and His Mate. This film was worked on by Jungle Cruise imagineer Bob Mattey.
- Tarzan's Treehouse has connections to the Swiss Family Treehouse. Both are Disneyoendron trees, the swisskapolka plays from a victrola in Tarzan's treehouse, and the petroglyphs at the base of the treehouse depict the Robinson family's treehouse.
- Tiana is similar to Princess Tiana in that they are both animated Disney characters referenced in the Jungle Cruise as being part of in-universe properties while also seemingly existing within the continuity.
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=871440051177&set=oa.1903682069948046
- ↑ https://earzup-podcast.com/2018/07/the-history-of-the-jungle-cruise/
- ↑ https://wdwnt.com/2021/09/photos-tarzans-treehouse-closed-unexpectedly-construction-walls-and-scrim-installed-at-disneyland/
- ↑ https://foroparquesdisney.foroactivo.com/t2093-trader-sam-s-enchanted-tiki-bar-disneyland-hotel
- ↑ https://www.thepkpway.com/disneyland-details-halloween-time/