The mythical monster of Tarzan II is actually a lonely, grumpy hermit gorilla
In short: In this 2005 prequel to Disney's original Tarzan, a young, socially awkward Tarzan flees his ape family, fearing he is a burden. He encounters a terrifying beast on Dark Mountain, only to discover the monster is a fraud using hollow trees to amplify his voice and scare away intruders.
Released in 2005, Tarzan II serves as a midquel to the original Disney film, focusing on Tarzan's childhood years before he meets Jane. The story begins with a young Tarzan, voiced by Harrison Chad, struggling to keep pace with his gorilla family. After an accident leads his adoptive mother, Kala, to believe he has perished, Tarzan decides to leave the pack to protect them from his perceived clumsiness and the dangers he brings.
His journey leads him to the Dark Mountain, a place rumored to be the home of a monster called the Zugor. Tarzan eventually discovers that the Zugor is not a mythical beast but an elderly, reclusive gorilla, voiced by George Carlin. The hermit has been using hollow trees as makeshift loudspeakers to project his voice, successfully intimidating other jungle creatures to keep them away from his territory and food supply. This discovery forces an unlikely alliance between the boy and the hermit.
The film introduces a trio of antagonists: the overprotective Mama Gunda and her two sons, Uto and Kago. As Tarzan learns to embrace his unique human traits and cleverness, he eventually uses traps to defeat the bullies and save his mother, Kala, from a cliff-side accident. While the film received a 33% score on Rotten Tomatoes, it remains notable for the return of composer Mark Mancina and songwriter Phil Collins, with the track 'Leaving Home' later evolving into 'I Need to Know' for the Broadway musical adaptation.
The production featured a mix of returning and new talent, with Glenn Close and Lance Henriksen reprising their roles as Kala and Kerchak. Directed by Brian Smith, the film was nominated for Best Home Entertainment Production at the 33rd Annie Awards. Ultimately, the story serves as a coming-of-age narrative where Tarzan realizes that his differences are not flaws, but rather the very tricks that define his identity within the jungle.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Tarzan II
- Also: Wikidata — Tarzan II · CC0
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