The special was narrated by Roddy McDowall, who also performs the voices of all the male characters in the film.
Jones also directed adaptations of two other The Jungle Book stories, "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" and "The White Seal", in 1975.
Differences include expanded roles for Baloo and Tabaqui, and that Shere Khan is a white tiger without a lame leg.
While researching for the special, Jones found out that Elsie Bambridge, Kipling's Daughter was still alive.
She expressed disdain for the 1967 film & praised Jones for pronouncing Mowgli's name properly.