‘Tarzan’ hangs as a reminder that everyone has a clan to claim
Disney movies are a vital part of every child’s life. Walt Disney created a legacy while he was on this earth. He has affected so many generations of people and continues to affect them today. As a ‘90s kid I feel that the most affected generation was the ‘90s. From 1990 to 1999 there were 10 iconic Disney movies that were released. That list of movies includes “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2”, “The Lion King”, “A Bug’s Life”, “The Santa Clause”, “Beauty and The Beast”, a live action version of “101 Dalmatians”, “Mulan”, “Pocahontas”, and “Tarzan”. All of these movies taught strong life lessons to young children that weren’t even aware of the lessons they were learning at the time.
Hands down, my favorite Disney movie from the ‘90s is “Tarzan”. “Tarzan” is a movie about a young couple and their baby that get stranded on an island after a ship wreck. They make the best of their situation by building a home in the trees out of the shipwrecked boat. Everything is going along fine until the baby’s parents are killed by Sabor, a leopard in the jungle. A family of gorillas also inhabits this jungle and as they are traveling one day Kala, the mate of the leader of the clan, hears a baby crying and goes to the rescue. Sabor is there to claim the baby just as Kala is. Sabor ends up falling from the trees and Kala saves the baby and takes it home to her clan. Her mate, Kerchak, is not amused with the new baby but Kala keeps it anyway. The baby eventually gets the name Tarzan. Tarzan grows up in this family of gorillas with the thought that he is a gorilla himself. As Tarzan grows older he recognizes the differences between himself and the clan. Tarzan gets in trouble with Kerchak one day and Kerchak insists that Tarzan will never be one of them. Tarzan is hurt by this but Kala comforts him by showing Tarzan that they have the same hands, the same eyes, and the same heart. From that moment on Tarzan promises to be the best gorilla ever. He grows into a man and learns how to survive by watching the different animals in the jungle.
The clans’ lives are turned upside down when Jane and her father, a professor studying gorillas, stumble upon a gorilla nest. Jane and her father are on the island to study gorillas but their guide, Clayton, has a different plan for the gorillas they find. Clayton is there under the impression that he will be able to capture the gorillas they find and take them back to his homeland. Tarzan saves Jane from a clan of chimpanzees that are chasing her through the jungle, and she ends up being fascinated by him. Clayton uses Jane’s relationship with Tarzan to trick Tarzan into leading him to the gorillas. Clayton and his men end up capturing some of the gorillas including Kerchak. Kerchak gets away from Clayton because Tarzan gets animals to run into the clearing and save Kerchak. Tarzan then goes back to the clan to find Kerchak dying. Kerchak tells Tarzan that he was wrong about him and calls Tarzan son right before dying.
“Tarzan” is a touching movie that really relates to the world as a whole and even college students. “Tarzan” shows us that although you may not be with your real family there will still be people to take care of you. I am originally from California, so I understand what it’s like to not have my California family around.
Although I am not always with my family, I have my Chadron family here and we are just like the clan in the movie. My first friends in Chadron are natives of Nebraska that took me into their group just like I had been their friend since birth. I still miss and love my family back home but having my Chadron family here is amazing and comforting when I’m having a rough day.
“Tarzan” teaches us that no matter where you end up or who you end up surrounded by, there will always be a family and a “clan” for you to be part of. Even if you are different, like my being from California, there will always be people that appreciate your presence and friendship. Always remember, no matter where you are, you are never alone.