The tiger, one of planet Earth’s most majestic and iconic animals, is dangerously close to extinction. The WWF cites the shocking statistic that wild tiger numbers have dropped by more than 95% since the beginning of the 20th Century.
Today marks International Tiger Day, originally created at the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit, in an effort to raise awareness of tiger conservation issues and to advocate for global systems to protect their natural habitat.
Video Librarian has compiled a list of films for the whole family to enjoy, and to spark meaningful discussions with both adults and children alike about the future of the tiger species. These films would make wonderful selections for youth programming at your public library to celebrate International Tiger Day. You could also consider hosting a public screening at a zoo.
The Jungle Book (1967 & 2016)
Kicking things off is a firm family favorite (and potential double feature), The Jungle Book. Based on Rudyard Kipling’s 1894 book of the same name, the 1967 animated version takes on a light-hearted musical flow and follows a young feral boy Mowgli as he is raised by wolves in the Indian jungle. He befriends panther Bagheera and bear Baloo who tries to convince Mowgli to leave the jungle before the evil tiger Shere Khan arrives.
The live-action version follows the same story but with a more action-adventure edge. Mowgli (Neel Sethi) sets out on a journey of self-discovery, having been shunned from his wolf family and the animal kingdom by the fearsome Shere Khan (Idris Elba). The man-eating tiger holds a vengeful vendetta against the humans for scarring him with fire and promises to kill Mowgli once the drought (and temporary truce) is over. For his own safety, Mowgli must endeavor to return to the ‘man-village.' Despite the tiger acting as the villain of the story, it nevertheless indicates the crucial place of the tiger in the jungle ecosystem.
Read our review of The Jungle Book
Kung Fu Panda (2008)
Po (voiced by Jack Black) is a lazy, clumsy panda who dreams of becoming a kung-fu legend. When Po’s homeland is threatened by villainous snow leopard Tai Lung (Ian McShane), Po is chosen to fulfill an ancient prophecy and protect his village from attack. This animated comedy sees kung-fu Master Shifu and his team The Furious Five take on Po and attempt to whip him into fighting shape. Led by the no-nonsense Master tigress (Angelina Jolie), the Five consists of Master Mantis (Seth Rogan), Master Viper (Lucy Lui), Master Crane (David Cross), and Master Monkey (Jackie Chan) – each a homage to the different styles of martial arts. This jovial kung-fu comedy is fun for all the family.
Read our review of Kung Fu Panda
Life of Pi (2012)
Based on a Canadian philosophical novel by Yan Martel, Life of Pi follows the Patel family as they sell their zoo in India and head for Canada. Once aboard the freighter, disaster strikes when a storm hits, killing everyone on board except the Patel son, Pi. Narrowly managing to escape on a lifeboat with his life, Pi soon discovers he is not alone – one of the ferocious Bengal tigers made it aboard too, named Richard Parker. As days turn into weeks, weeks turn into months, boy and tiger must learn to trust each other if both are to survive. There is a philosophical bent to the story, calling Pi’s version of events into question, and delves into an allegorical pondering of spirituality and the meaning of life and God. The unfolding of the unlikely relationship between tiger and boy is truly fascinating to watch.
Read our review of Life of Pi
Two Brothers (2004)
This tale follows two tiger cubs, Kamal and Sangha. They are brutally separated when their father is shot by hunter Aiden McRory (Guy Pearce). Kamal ends up enslaved in a circus, his spirit broken by his abusive trainer. Sangha is adopted by a wealthy politician’s son (Freddy Highmore) but is disowned when he, in self-defense, attacks the family dog. The two brothers suffer greatly at the hands of humanity, paraded and abused for sport until eventually, they meet again, except this time after being broken by their captors they are pitted against each other as enemies. This anthropomorphized tale shows a gentler side to the fearsome tiger and just how corrosive human interference can be on their lives.
Dolittle (2020)
As the third film adaptation of Hugh Lofting’s famous character, Dolittle is inspired by Lofting’s second book The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle (1922), and follows eccentric recluse Dr. John Dolittle (Robert Downey Jr.) and his menagerie of animals who he can communicate with. Dolittle and his furry entourage embark on a mission to a mythical island to find a cure for the ailments of a young Queen Victoria. Somewhere along their journey, Dolittle is thrown into a dungeon with Barry, a ferocious tiger whom Dolittle has a history with. Dolittle diagnoses Barry’s problem – he just wants his mother’s approval. The anthropomorphizing of the animals here is far more fantastical, imbuing the story with both whimsy and heart.