17 July 2020 | TheLittleSongbird

10 | Elephant moralising

'The Elephant's Child' is an adaptation of one of thirteen origin stories forming Rudyard Kipling's 'Just So Stories'. 'Just So Stories' is deservedly considered a children's literature classic and is even more deserving of being one of Kipling's most celebrated works. Of the thirteen stories, which have a playful tone, good lessons and tell how certain animals got certain features, 'The Elephant's Child' appears fifth and is wonderfully adapted here. It also is actually one of my favourite ones as it's one of the more playful Just So tales and one of the most adventurous ones.



'Just So Stories' has been proven to lend itself very well to animation, and while the stories began as bedtime stories adapting 'Just So Stories' in animation form is a good way to introduce the book to children. Proven in Rabbit Ears Productions' adaptation of 'The Elephant's Child'. So successful was this rendering, to me it's one of Rabbit Ears Productions' finest, that the company would adapt two more of the 'Just So Stories' stories the following year. With the same illustrator and composer and also with Jack Nicholson as narrator and also 'How the Leopard Got His Spots' in 1989.



Animation is simple but very effective and extremely charming, the use of still imagery being moved throughout scenes not being gimmicky or abused. The use of colour is striking. The music is always harmonious with what is going on and enhances the story even, it is also very appealing on its own with its whimsy and in keeping one in a good mood.



On the writing front, 'The Elephant's Child' is a triumph. A huge part of the 'Just So Stories' charm is the masterfully playful use of language that translates with ease into the adaptation and never in a going through the motions just getting the job done way, a lot of fun was clearly had here. The story is incredibly charming and the sense of adventure that the original story has also translates very well and in an exciting and accessible way. Any moralising too doesn't resort to preaching and never comes over as too disturbing.



While there are more relatable (am quite big on this as one can tell in my other reviews, as that is one of the things that helps me get invested into a story) characters in other Rabbit Ears Productions' outings, the characters are still very well written and have lost none of the characteristics that they have in the original story. Jack Nicholson's narration is silky and enthusiastic, he doesn't overdo it and he approaches the story and prose exactly as they should be approached. Meaning in a bedtime story and no-nonsense way, considering that is how the story and the rest of the 'Just So Stories' began and were always intended by Kipling.



In conclusion, wonderful. 10/10