George of the Jungle (1997) directed by Sam Weisman, is an adaptation of a live-action animated series of the same name. The film stars Brendan Fraser in the lead role of George, a primitive man raised by animals in the jungle. George was first introduced on screen by Jay Ward and Bill Scott in an American animated television series. The character of George is inspired by the very famous tale of Tarzan, created by Edgar Rice Burroughs.
With an absolutely amazing use of CGI which wasn’t very popular at that time, George of the Jungle was one of the fitting adaptations of the 1967 animated series.
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Brendan Fraser talks about using CGI in George of the Jungle
In a recent interview with GQ, Brendan Fraser opened up about his role as George in the 1997 film Naming George “the original baby in the woods”, Fraser explained how George was there to help. Expressing the rule that George would always win the day because of his stupid luck, the actor went on about the film’s use of CGI.
“George the Jungle used CGI technology in a way that was just beginning to come to the world of cinema in a way that we really take for granted now.”
The Mummy The actor was open about the difficulties he faced when introducing Shep the elephant, who George calls his dog. Shep’s actions were also similar to an excited puppy in the film.
“The plan was devised for Shep to be framed with George, and then George introduces his ‘dog’ to Ursula,” Fraser explained Shep’s introduction.
The scene where George pets Shep was tricky because a lot of the movie’s budget was spent on CGI, making Shep act like a puppy. The Stand Off actor explained how he had to be specific about how he interacted with the anima. If the arm was too low or too high, it could disrupt the CGI team’s plans to animate the animal, as well as the film’s budget.
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Bearing in mind that CGI was not common in movies at the time, its use in George of the Jungle was the one that turned out to work wonders.
Brendan Fraser’s portrait of George in George of the Jungle
George of the Jungle adapted from an animated series was a parody of the well-known Tarzan. The film opened with a transition from cartoon to live action as George ages from a child in the series to an adult in the film. George is initially kept as a mystery, portrayed as a bloodthirsty native legend who rules the jungle to George’s love interest, Ursula Stanhope, played by Leslie Mann. However, the myth turns out to be wrong when George saves her from a lion that tries to attack her.
The film doesn’t forget to give the film’s scenes a comedic edge, with one featuring George crashing into a tree while swinging. The character’s broken English is another chance for fans to laugh. George’s animal parenting and love for them is evident when he doesn’t hesitate to return to the jungle to save his family.
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Although the film is not among the best films that Brendan Fraser has starred in, George of the Jungle always makes viewers nostalgic and shares laughs on the film adaptation of a beloved show.
George of the Jungle was released in theaters on July 16, 1997. Brendan Fraser in George of the Jungle is available on Disney+
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