You probably remember the 1997 Brendan Fraser movie with a certain level of nostalgia. It had that big-budget slapstick energy, a catchy theme song, and a talking gorilla that somehow didn't look terrifying. But then 2007 rolled around, and Teletoon and Cartoon Network decided it was time for a fresh take. That's when we got the George of the Jungle 2007 TV series. Honestly, it was a bit of a shock to the system for fans of the live-action version.
It wasn't a sequel. It wasn't even really trying to be the same vibe.
Instead of the earnest, sweet-natured George we knew, this animated incarnation was hyper-stylized, incredibly fast-paced, and—let's be real—way weirder. The flash animation style was a staple of the mid-2000s, but here it felt particularly frenetic. If you grew up with this version, you probably have memories of George swinging into trees with a much more "rubbery" physics engine than the laws of nature usually allow.
What Really Happened With the George of the Jungle 2007 Production?
The show was a co-production between Studio B Productions in Canada and Classic Media. It debuted on Teletoon in June 2007 before making its way to the U.S. via Cartoon Network. It’s important to realize that the 2007 series was actually a reboot of the original 1967 Jay Ward cartoon, not the movie. That’s why it feels so different. Jay Ward’s original style was built on puns, breaking the fourth wall, and limited animation. The George of the Jungle 2007 team tried to modernize that snarky, self-aware humor for a generation raised on SpongeBob SquarePants.
They brought in J. Falconer as a director, who had a clear vision for the "squash and stretch" look.
It was loud.
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Every episode felt like a 15-minute sprint. While the movie focused on the fish-out-of-water romance between George and Ursula, the show leaned heavily into the "Jungle Family" dynamic. Ape, the super-intelligent gorilla, became more of a cynical roommate/mentor. Ursula was reimagined as more of an urbanized jungle explorer, and Magnolia was the resident "jungle girl" who was way more feral than George most of the time.
The Voice Cast Shift
One of the biggest hurdles for any reboot is the voices. You can’t get Brendan Fraser for a 26-episode cartoon season. Instead, Lee Tockar took over as George. Tockar is a legend in the Canadian voice acting scene—you’ve heard him in everything from My Little Pony to Slugterra. He gave George a higher-pitched, more frantic energy. Paul Dobson voiced Ape, bringing a dry, intellectual wit that anchored the chaos.
The writing was surprisingly sharp. It didn't treat kids like they were slow. It used a lot of meta-humor. For instance, George would often acknowledge the narrator, or the show would poke fun at the absurdity of its own premise.
Why Fans Are Split on the 2007 Style
If you talk to animation nerds, the George of the Jungle 2007 series is a bit of a polarizing topic. Some people love the Flash-based aesthetic. It allowed for wilder expressions and faster movement than traditional hand-drawn cells could afford on a TV budget. Others felt it looked "cheap" compared to the lush, painted backgrounds of the 1967 original.
There's also the "Season 2 Problem."
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The show actually had a weirdly long gap between its first and second seasons. Season 1 aired around 2007-2008. Then, silence. It wasn't until 2016—nearly a decade later—that a second season actually appeared. This second season, produced by DHX Media (now WildBrain), changed almost everything. The character designs were overhauled to be rounder and "cuter," and the voice cast was largely replaced. Cory Doran took over as George.
Most fans of the 2007 run usually pretend the 2016 version doesn't exist. It lost that jagged, experimental edge that defined the mid-2000s era.
Breaking Down the Jungle Dynamics
In the 2007 version, the jungle isn't just a place. It's almost a character. It's filled with weird creatures like the "T-Rex-that-thinks-it's-a-chicken" or various talking insects. The show moved away from the "George goes to the city" trope very quickly because the jungle itself was weird enough to sustain hundreds of plots.
- George: He was portrayed as well-meaning but incredibly dim. His physical durability was basically a superpower.
- Ape: The actual brains. In the 2007 series, his frustration with George's antics was the source of most of the show's best dry humor.
- Ursula and Magnolia: They represented the two sides of "civilization." Ursula was the tech-savvy one, while Magnolia was the one who actually knew how to survive in the wild.
The relationship between George and the Narrator was also a highlight. Unlike the movie where the narrator was mostly a framing device, here, the narrator would actively argue with George. It gave the show a Vaudeville feel.
The Legacy of the "Swing"
So, why does the George of the Jungle 2007 series still get searched for today?
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It’s partly because it represents a very specific era of Cartoon Network history. This was the era of Chowder and The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack. Animation was getting weird, gross, and experimental. George fit right into that. It wasn't trying to be an epic adventure; it was a comedy.
If you go back and watch it now, the animation actually holds up better than some of its peers. The bold outlines and vibrant colors pop on modern screens. It doesn't have that "blurry" look that a lot of early 2000s digital animation suffered from.
Where Can You Find It?
Finding the 2007 series is hit or miss depending on your region. It hasn't been given a massive 4K remaster or a prestigious Blu-ray box set. You can usually find episodes circulating on streaming platforms like Tubi or via WildBrain’s official YouTube channels. It remains a cult favorite for people who appreciate that specific brand of Canadian-produced high-energy comedy.
Actionable Steps for Revisitng the Jungle
If you're looking to dive back into the world of George of the Jungle 2007, don't just go in expecting the movie. Treat it as its own entity.
- Focus on Season 1 first. The 2007-2008 episodes are the ones with the distinct sharp-edged art style and the original "reboot" cast. This is the "true" version of this era.
- Look for the "Ape" episodes. The writing for the character of Ape is significantly more sophisticated than you might remember. His dialogue is packed with subtle jabs that go over kids' heads.
- Compare it to the 1967 original. If you can find clips of the Jay Ward version, you’ll see exactly where the 2007 creators got their inspiration. They kept the "limited animation" gags but turned the speed up to 11.
- Check official YouTube channels. Many of the rights holders for these 2000s shows have started uploading full episodes in 1080p. It’s the easiest way to see the "Flash" animation the way it was intended to look, rather than grainy 240p uploads from fifteen years ago.
The 2007 series might not be the most famous version of the character, but it was certainly the most energetic. It took a 1960s parody of Tarzan and turned it into a caffeine-fueled fever dream that somehow worked. Whether you loved the art style or hated the constant screaming, you can't deny it had a personality all its own.