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Tarzan's Parents

Background information

Feature films

Tarzan

Designer

Glen Keane

Inspiration

John and Alice Clayton from Tarzan books

Character information

Full name

John Clayton (father in the original books)Alice Clayton (mother in the original books)

Occupation

Millionaires

Home

England (formerly)The jungle

Likes

Their son, the jungle

Dislikes

Danger

Status

Deceased

Family information

Other relatives

Jane Porter (daughter-in-law)

Partner(s)

Each other (spouses)

Children

Tarzan (son) Source Tarzan's parents are the posthumous overarching protagonists in Disney's 1999 animated feature film, Tarzan. They were the birth parents of the film's title character.

Contents

• 1 Background
• 2 Appearances
  • 2.1 Tarzan
  • 2.2 The Legend of Tarzan
• 3 Trivia
• 4 Gallery
  • 4.1 Concept art
  • 4.2 Screenshots

Quick Answers

What happened to Tarzan's parents after the shipwreck? Following the shipwreck, Tarzan's parents constructed a house in Africa to care for their son. They were killed by the leopard Sabor, but successfully hid Tarzan before their deaths. Kala, a gorilla, found their bodies and adopted Tarzan. Provided by: Fandom What is known about Tarzan's mom in the Disney film? In Disney's 1999 film, Tarzan's mom is a minor character. She is one of Tarzan's birth parents, depicted as close to her husband. Both parents are deceased, leaving Tarzan to be raised by the gorilla Kala. The film does not specify how they died. Provided by: Fandom How did Tarzan's parents die in the Disney film? In the Disney film, Tarzan's parents are killed by the leopard Sabor after they are stranded in Africa. They had built a house to raise Tarzan and managed to hide him before their deaths. Provided by: Fandom Who killed Tarzan's parents in the 1999 movie? In the 1999 movie, Tarzan's parents were killed by the leopard Sabor. After being stranded in Africa, they built a house to raise Tarzan. During Sabor's attack, they hid Tarzan before being killed. Provided by: Fandom How are Tarzan's parents portrayed in the opening scene? In the opening scene of Disney's 'Tarzan', Tarzan's parents are shown as loving and resourceful. After escaping a burning ship, they embrace, highlighting their bond. The dad from Tarzan is strong and kind, quickly finding a safe place to build a home. Tarzan's mother is independent and emotionally strong. They build a house to raise Tarzan until they are killed by the leopard Sabor. Provided by: Fandom

Background[]

Not much is known about Tarzan's birth parents. They are very close as it is shown in the movie's opening when they embrace after they were all safely off their burning ship.

Tarzan's father seems to be very strong, but also very kind, as well as very observant. When Tarzan pointed to the large tree in a playful manner, he instantly knew it would be a safe place to build a safe home together.

Tarzan's mother seems to be an independent woman with the equal emotional and mental strength to that of her husband. When she and her husband were building the treehouse she was by his side the entire time. She is also strong and persevering because she is seen carrying Tarzan on her back while building the treehouse. Her strength also shows when she pulls her husband into a lifeboat.

It is known, however, that they loved each other, and their son, very much; this was shown at the beginning of the film when the husband risked being burned as he attempted to lower the lifeboat where his wife and son are on it from the burning ship, as well as when his wife helped him into the lifeboat after jumping off the ship.

Another example of their love is when they give their lives to keep Tarzan safe from Sabor. This was their ultimate sacrifice.

There is also a good chance that if they could somehow know about Kala, and her efforts to take care of Tarzan, they would love her and be grateful to her for everything she had done for their son.

Appearances[]

Tarzan[]

While they may not be Greystokes in the animated movie, like in the literature, Tarzan's parents cast ashore in an unknown area of Africa with Tarzan after their ship is burned down. Although unseen, they are killed by Sabor, as seen when Kala rescues Tarzan from her after seeing their dead bodies.

Eventually, they were avenged by Tarzan as an adult, who would grow up to kill Sabor.

Later, when Kala tells Tarzan the truth about his family, Tarzan decides to go to England with Jane Porter, wearing his father's suit.

The Legend of Tarzan[]

After the events of Tarzan, Tarzan, Jane, and Professor Porter move into the treehouse that Tarzan's parents had built before their deaths and still have the photo of them on a wall in their treehouse shown in some episodes.

In the episode "Tarzan and the British Invasion", they were mentioned by Tarzan to Jane's friends Greenly, Hazel, and Eleanor about how he never knew them and how they got killed by Sabor in the treehouse.

Trivia[]

• It seems Tarzan inherited his nose, jawline, and hair color from his father, and his eyes and hair type from his mother.
• In the novel, their names are given as John and Alice Clayton, Lord and Lady Greystoke.
  • Likewise, in the book, Tarzan's mother dies from illness, and Tarzan's father is killed by Kerchak.
• In an alternate opening (available on the 2-disc DVD), we see Tarzan's father look sadly at his wife's picture, implying she is already dead, like in the novel.
  • In the same scene, Tarzan's father is shown to be killed by Sabor onscreen, though the lightning flashes lessen the graphic nature of the act somewhat.
• Due to sharing the same last name as him in the novels, it is possible that Tarzan’s parents were relatives of Clayton.
• Director Chris Buck once joked that King Agnarr and Queen Iduna from Frozen (another Disney film which Chris Buck also co-directed) are basically the same characters as Tarzan's parents from this film, as he stated that they did not really die on their voyage and instead get washed up on an African island, had a baby boy named Tarzan, and got eaten by Sabor the leopard. This concept is however debunked in Frozen II since Agnarr and Iduna's ship was discovered to have been washed in from the Dark Sea and they were revealed to have been searching for Ahtohallan.
• When Kala brings Tarzan to the treehouse when he becomes an adult the skeletons of his parents dead bodies aren't shown. It is unknown if when their dead bodies turned into skeletons that they crumbled into dust and blew away or if the filmmakers chose not to show the skeletons of their dead bodies as to not scare children although the skeleton of Captain Nathaniel Flint's dead body was shown in Treasure Planet 3 years later.

Gallery[]

Concept art[]

Tarzan's mother concept by Glen KeaneTarzan's mother concept by Glen KeaneTarzan's mother concept by Glen KeaneTarzan's mother concept by Glen Keane

Screenshots[]

Baby Tarzan and his parents in Africa.The family finding the perfect spot to build their home.Tarzan's mother tossing her baby son.Tarzan's parents building a fort.Tarzan's parents' dead bodies seen near Sabor's paw prints.The photo of Tarzan's parents on a wall in their treehouse from The Legend of Tarzan episode 6, "Tarzan and the Rogue Elephant".The photo of Tarzan's parents on a wall in their treehouse from The Legend of Tarzan episode 14, "Tarzan and the Jungle Madness".

v - e - d

Media Films: Tarzan (soundtrack/video) • Tarzan & Jane • Tarzan II (video) Television: The Legend of Tarzan • House of Mouse • Tarzan in Concert with Phil Collins Video Games: Disney's Tarzan • Tarzan: Untamed • Return to the Jungle • Kingdom Hearts • Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure Disney Parks Disney Animation Building • Tarzan's Treehouse Entertainment: Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade • Fantasmic! • Festival of Family & Friends • Hakuna Matata Time Dance Party • One Man's Dream II: The Magic Lives On! • Rivers of Light: We Are One • Tarzan Rocks! • Tarzan: The Encounter • The Forest of Enchantment: A Disney Musical Adventure • The Golden Mickeys Shops: Professor Porter's Trading Post Parades: Parade of the Stars • Flights of Fantasy Parade • Mickey's Soundsational Parade Fireworks: Believe... There's Magic in the Stars • Celebrate the Magic • Happily Ever After • Momentous • Remember... Dreams Come True • Tree of Life Awakens • Illuminate! A Nighttime Celebration • Wondrous Journeys Christmas: A Christmas Fantasy Parade Characters Original: Tarzan • Terk • Tantor • Kala • Kerchak • Kerchak and Kala's Baby • Flynt and Mungo • Sabor • Tarzan's Parents • Manu • Jane Porter • Archimedes Q. Porter • Clayton and his men • Baboons • Jungle Animals • Uncle Bert Midquel: Zugor • Mama Gunda • Uto and Kago • Cousy, Tonka, and Mooky TV Series: Robert Canler • Nigel Taylor • Tublat • Hista • Moyo • Zutho • Gozan and Hungo • Ian McTeague • Thaddeus Hunt • Jake & Sam • Mabaya • Gobu • Fungi • Count Nikolas Rokoff • Lady Waltham • Queen La • Leopard Men • Muviro • Kaj • Dr. Doyle • Ian • Robert Markham • Lieutenant Colonel Staquait • Renard Dumont • Johannes Niels • Samuel T. Philander • Theodore Roosevelt • Hugo and Hooft • Nura and Sheeta • Edgar Rice Burroughs • Mangani • Dania • German Poacher • Basuli • Naoh • Chief Keewazi • Female Tyrannosaurus Rex • Velociraptors • Triceratops • Waziri Tribe • Abby Markham • Buto • Usula • Uncle Bert Episodes Season One: "Race Against Time" • "Trading Post" • "Lost Cub" • "Lost City of Opar" • "Fugitives" • "Rogue Elephant" • "Poisoned River" • "Enemy Within" • "Fountain" • "Hidden World" • "Rift" • "Giant Beetles" • "Jungle Madness" • "Protege" • "Leopard Men Rebellion" • "Rough Rider" • "Seeds of Destruction" • "Silver Ape" • "Challenger" • "Outbreak" • "Silver Screen" • "Beast from Below" • "All-Seeing Elephant" • "New Wave" • "Lost Treasure" • "Return of La" • "One Punch Mulligan" • "Missing Link" • "Prison Break" • "Eagle's Feather" • "Face from the Past" • "Caged Fury" • "Gauntlet of Vengeance" • "Mysterious Visitor" • "Tublat's Revenge" Season Two: "British Invasion" • "Volcanic Diamond Mine" • "Flying Ace" Songs Film: Two Worlds • You'll Be in My Heart • Son of Man • Trashin' the Camp • Strangers Like Me • Singing to the Song of Life • Who Am I? Musical: Who Better than Me • No Other Way • I Need to Know • Sure as Sun Turns to Moon • Waiting for this Moment • Different • Like No Man I've Ever Seen • For the First Time • Everything that I Am Locations Africa • Jungle • Pellucidar • Skull Cave See Also The Disney Afternoon • Disney Renaissance • Musical/Soundtrack • Queen La's Staff