The Jungle
Book
Three Hallmark ornaments for Disney's 1967 animated classic — the last film personally supervised by Walt Disney before his death. "The Bare Necessities" plays from two of them. Baloo holds Mowgli in 2014 and again in 2017. Mowgli meets Hathi Jr. nose to nose in 2022. The 50th and 55th Anniversaries captured in resin, both noted rare. Look for the bare necessities — they're here.
"Look for the Bare Necessities" — Walt Disney's Last Film on the Hallmark Tree
The Jungle Book was released by Walt Disney Productions on October 18, 1967 — the last animated feature film personally supervised by Walt Disney, who died on December 15, 1966, before the film reached theaters. Based loosely on Rudyard Kipling's Mowgli stories, it follows Mowgli the "man-cub" — a boy raised by wolves in the Indian jungle — who must be guided to the human village for his safety. The film stars Phil Harris as the voice of Baloo the bear, Sebastian Cabot as Bagheera the panther, George Sanders as the villainous tiger Shere Khan, Sterling Holloway as Kaa the python, and Louis Prima as King Louie the orangutan. "The Bare Necessities" — written by Terry Gilkyson and performed by Phil Harris and Bruce Reitherman — was the film's most celebrated song, nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song (it lost to "Talk to the Animals" from Doctor Dolittle). The song plays on both the 2014 and 2017 Hallmark ornaments.
The Hallmark Jungle Book collection honors the film at three specific intervals. The 2014 "Bare Necessities" Magic Sound ornament (Julie Forsyth, 4.125" wide) captures Baloo teaching Mowgli to drift without worry — press the button and hear the song. The 2017 50th Anniversary ornament (Ken Crow, 4.30" tall, Noted RARE) shows Baloo holding Mowgli aloft and also plays "The Bare Necessities" from three LR44 batteries. And the 2022 55th Anniversary ornament (3.97" wide, Dated 2022, also Noted RARE) shifts focus to a different corner of the film: young Mowgli joining the elephant march and coming face to face — nose to nose — with Hathi Jr., Colonel Hathi's son. Three ornaments. Three moments. The same jungle.
"Baloo teaches Mowgli there's no need to hurry. It's nicer just drifting without fear or worry. Press the button on the ornament to hear a portion of the classic song 'The Bare Necessities.'"
— The Ornament Shop description, 2014 Jungle Book "The Bare Necessities" · Artist: Julie Forsyth · QXD6106 · 4.125" W × 1.75" H × 2.625" D · Magic SoundBoth Anniversary Entries Are Noted Rare
The 2017 50th Anniversary (QXD6192, Ken Crow) and the 2022 55th Anniversary (QXD6483) are both listed as Noted RARE on Hallmark Ornaments.com — the collector resource that flags lower-production or high-demand entries. Anniversary ornaments in the Disney Hallmark catalog are typically produced in more limited quantities than standard yearly entries, and the Jungle Book anniversary ornaments have proven particularly sought-after. If either is available, it warrants attention.
Size: 4.125" W × 1.75" H × 2.625" D
SKU: QXD6106 · Not Dated
Baloo teaches Mowgli to drift without worry. Press the button — "The Bare Necessities" plays.
Size: 2.70" × 4.30" × 2.30"
SKU: QXD6192 · 3 LR44 · Not Dated
Baloo holding Mowgli — plays "The Bare Necessities." 50 years of the film. Noted RARE.
Tips for the Collection
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01Both Magic Sound ornaments play "The Bare Necessities" — position one where it can be pressed without pressing both. The 2014 and 2017 ornaments both play "The Bare Necessities" when pressed. If you display all three ornaments together, place the 2017 (the larger and more detailed of the two, at 4.30" tall) on the most accessible branch as the primary interactive ornament. The 2014 can flank it on an adjacent branch. Two different Baloo-and-Mowgli poses, one song, one jungle.
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02The 2022 Mowgli and Hathi Jr. is the collection's only dated ornament — it represents the 55th Anniversary year specifically. The 2022 entry is Dated 2022 on the ornament itself, making it the only entry that is permanently marked as a specific year's anniversary commemoration. Display it prominently as the most recent and most historically specific of the three. Mowgli nose to nose with Hathi Jr. — the elephant march scene — is also the collection's most charming pose, a quieter moment than the Baloo entries.
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03Both the 2017 and 2022 entries are Noted Rare — act accordingly. Both anniversary entries carry the Noted RARE designation from Hallmark collectors. They were available at Already Christmas when this was written; that availability is worth acting on.
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04All 3 Jungle Book Hallmark ornaments — 2014, 2017, and 2022 — are at Already Christmas. The Bare Necessities playing from the tree. Baloo holding Mowgli for the 50th. Mowgli and Hathi Jr. nose to nose for the 55th. The bare necessities. All three here.
Every Jungle Book Hallmark Keepsake
The Bare Necessities · 50th · 55th. Click to shop.
Walt Disney died on December 15, 1966 — and The Jungle Book, the last film he personally supervised, reached theaters October 18, 1967. Phil Harris' Baloo teaching Mowgli "The Bare Necessities." Terry Gilkyson's song, nominated for the Oscar, remembered by everyone who ever saw the film. In 2014, Julie Forsyth pressed Baloo and Mowgli into 4.125 inches of resin and put the song on a button. In 2017, Ken Crow's 50th Anniversary ornament did it again — Baloo holding Mowgli aloft, the song still playing, noted rare. In 2022, Mowgli met Hathi Jr. nose to nose for the 55th Anniversary. Three ornaments. The bare necessities. All three here.
✦ Part of our Collection: Disney Animated Classics Hallmark Series, Explored ✦