Is Tarzan a Remake of Beauty and the Beast?
Over the last year I have been on a quest to re-watch a lot of the classic Disney movies, since my blog is dedicated to them. There were a few that I hadn’t seen since I was a child, and wanted to give a new, fair chance to. One of these movies was Tarzan. I always felt an odd special connection to Tarzan since it was released the year I was born, but when looking to watch a jungle movie, I would be more drawn toward The Jungle Book or George of the Jungle. The other night, I watched Tarzan, and found some interesting parallels between the film and Beauty and the Beast… let’s talk about it.
Disclaimer: this is not another article talking about how Jane is a descendant from Belle. Though the theory is interesting, I think the similarities throughout the movies are too blaring to think the two characters are just related.
The Characters
Despite most of the Tarzan characters looking physically like their counterparts from Beauty and the Beast, a lot of them have the same personalities too. And let’s remember, Tarzan was released in 1999, and Beauty and the Beast was released in 1991.
Tarzan & the Beast
This is one of the only exceptions in differing personalities, since their origin stories are different. The Beast was a prince named Adam, living a lavish but selfish life. Tarzan grew up in the Jungle with his mother Kala, an ape, and only knew Jungle life. The Beast became angry, shutting himself out from the rest of the world, while Tarzan was eager and happy with his life. The similarity is that they both felt like outcasts - the Beast as a “hideous monster” and unlike other humans, and Tarzan as a human trying to fit in with the apes.
Tarzan and Beast. Images from: https://www.insider.com/movies-shows-coming-to-disney-plus-in-june-2020-6 & https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101414/mediaviewer/rm1407320576/
Jane & Belle
Physically, they are both European girls with brunette hair and wear yellow. Emotionally, they are both looking for adventure. They are both willing to give up their old lives for the new love they have found, and to explore a place outside of their home to learn more. Jane is fascinated by jungle life, studies it with her father, and eventually becomes a part of it. Belle is enamored by story books, getting a new book from the book store all of the time, and joins a fairytale of her own in the end.
Professor Archimedes Q. Porter & Maurice
This one is just uncanny and what sold this theory for me right away. These two characters are almost identical, the kooky father that’s short, with a white mustache and white crazy hair, and interested in science. Maurice and the Professor are supportive of their daughters, believe in them, and follow them on their crazy journeys.
Professor Archimedes Q. Porter and Maurice. Images from: https://haraldsiepermann.com/2019/06/28/tarzans-porter/ & https://www.pinterest.se/pin/445715694364941866/
Clayton & Gaston
The antagonists in both films are EXTREMELY similar, the only difference being that Clayton isn’t romantically interested in Jane, and Gaston is with Belle. They are both hunters, both carry shotguns, both perpetuate that “manly” stereotype that they feel they must keep up. Even the way they are physically built is similar, large muscles with the furrowed eyebrow to show they are bad from the start.
Clayton and Gaston. Images from: https://www.rotoscopers.com/2014/10/02/villain-vignettes-02-clayton/ & https://medium.com/@JeremyWh/gaston-isnt-big-enough-e6ae199bb191
Terk and Tantor & Lumiere and Cogsworth
This one is a little bit of a stretch, but I found these 4 characters had parallels as well. They are both sidekicks of the male protagonist, and they both end up loving the female protagonist in the end. Terk and Lumiere are fearless, comedic, and keep Tarzan and Beast in their humble places. Tantor and Cogsworth are nervous and a little bit cowardly, but still fun characters.
Terk, Tantor, Lumiere and Cogsworth. Images from: https://www.pinterest.es/pin/220465344234093573/?amp_client_id=CLIENT_ID(_)&mweb_unauth_id={{default.session}}&_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.es%2Famp%2Fpin%2F220465344234093573%2F&open_share=t & https://hellogiggles.com/reviews-coverage/movies/beauty-and-the-beast-new-images/
The Scenes
The Attacks
The attack or chase scenes were the first ones I noticed and put together that the two films were very similar. Belle, when trying to escape the Beast’s castle, is suddenly surrounded by wolves in the forest. The Beast jumps into the middle of the attack and eventually scares the rest of the wolves off.
When Jane, her father, and Clayton first come into the jungle, Jane comes face to face with baboons. The only way she was able to get away was by Tarzan swooping in on the vine and saving her from the attack. The other similarity that relates to this scene is that both Jane and Belle are scared of their respective counterparts at the beginning, but eventually warm up to them once they’ve rescued them.
To Be Human
Midway through each movie is when both Jane and Belle try to teach Tarzan and Beast to be more human-like. The Beast in his form must relearn manners and how to properly sit, and Tarzan begins to learn about what human life is all about. The only difference is that the Beast has prior experience, whereas Tarzan has never seen something like it in his life.
The Objects
This one is more well known and a very obvious easter egg, but in one of the Tarzan scenes, you can spot a teapot and tea cups that look strikingly similar to Mrs. Potts and Chip. But another line that was interesting to me was when Tantor and Terk come across the human’s camp, and Tantor gets nervous. Terk responds, “these things aren’t alive”. Though it’s fact, it sounds ironic since similar objects are in fact alive in Beauty and the Beast.
Mrs. Potts in Tarzan. Image from: https://disneytheory.com/2014/04/15/tarzan-jane-beauty-and-the-beast-belle/
Parents
We don’t get a clear explanation about the parents we don’t see in either films, but there are stories that are implied. In the live action version of Beauty and the Beast, it’s explained that her mother died due to the bubonic plague. It’s implied that she’s not around in the animated version because she has passed away. It’s also implied that Jane’s mother has also passed away, with her father saying she takes after her a lot.
It’s clear that Tarzan’s parents have in fact passed away in a tragic accident, and there’s no exclusive explanation for what happened to the Beast’s parents. I have read articles saying that the Beast was an orphan at age 11, when he was cursed by the enchantress.
Clayton vs Tarzan & Gaston vs Beast
This is what really sold me on this theory that they’re almost the same movie, that the death scenes of both antagonists are almost identical.
First, both Clayton and his team and Gaston and the village raid where Tarzan and the Beast live. Then, they come face to face with each other, when both antagonists are able to capture them in a vulnerable spot. Next, Tarzan and Beast are able to overpower the villains, putting them in a weak spot. Tarzan points the gun at Clayton, and Beast holds a sharp, broken piece of his castle over Gaston’s head.
“Shoot me, be a man.”
“Come on out and fight!”
And finally, both Clayton and Gaston fall to their deaths in the rain when they get too hasty during the fight. This scene absolutely sealed the deal for me.
The Endings
In the end of both movies, both of the female leads adapt to their counterparts lifestyles. Jane decides to stay in the jungle with Tarzan and learn his way of life, since that’s what her mission was in the first place. Belle decides to stay in the castle with the Beast once he turns back into a prince, leaving her little town behind. I don’t think the studio purposefully made them connected for some larger theory - I think they may have just seen the success of Beauty and the Beast and followed a similar formula since they know it works. What do you think?
If you liked this post, you’ll also like my previous blog post about if Tangled is a remake of Aladdin!
