Raised by wolves in the dense Indian jungle, a human boy called Mowgli learns the ways of the animals under the watchful eye of a wise panther named Bagheera and the free-spirited bear Baloo. Mowgli's unconventional upbringing has afforded him unique abilities like climbing and crafting tools, but his presence in the jungle creates tension among its inhabitants. Despite his affinity for the wild and his animal friends, Mowgli struggles with his identity, being neither fully human nor fully beast.

When the fearsome tiger Shere Khan, bearing deep scars from man, detects Mowgli's scent, he vows to eliminate what he sees as a threat to the jungle's order. With Shere Khan's ominous promise looming over the jungle, Bagheera takes it upon himself to escort Mowgli to the safety of a human village. Their journey thrusts Mowgli into a cascade of adventures and trials, forcing the young boy to face his heritage and adapt his animal instincts to confront the dangers not just to himself, but to his animal family as well. Along the way, he encounters various characters, some who aim to aid him, and others who seek to exploit his unique upbringing for their own purposes.