Jumanji (board game)

Jumanji
Game Statistics
Game Genre	Jungle Animal / Adventure / Survival
Number of Players	4
Game Pieces	Dice x 2 Keratin Rhinoceros Metallic Elephant Obsidian Crocodile Jade Monkey
Random chance	High
Skill(s) Required	Survival Intelligence
Behind the scenes
Appearance(s)	All media
Status	Varies

“''JUMANJI
A GAME FOR THOSE WHO SEEK TO FIND
A WAY TO LEAVE THEIR WORLD BEHIND
YOU ROLL THE DICE TO MOVE YOUR TOKEN
DOUBLES GETS ANOTHER TURN
THE FIRST PLAYER TO REACH THE END WINS
ADVENTURERS BEWARE:
DO NOT BEGIN UNLESS YOU INTEND TO FINISH
THE EXCITING CONSEQUENCES OF
THE GAME WILL VANISH ONLY WHEN
A PLAYER HAS REACHED JUMANJI AND CALLED OUT ITS NAME ”

— Instructions

"JUMANJI", also known as The Game is a seemingly antique board game with elaborate decorations to attract interest to the young in heart and easily bored. Anyone that has played this supernatural game has discovered that "JUMANJI" appears to have a mind of its own (some surviving players even claim that it is cursed) that doesn't rest until those who start playing it, gain the will to finish. The magical powers "JUMANJI" possesses vary from being able to send players into its jungle or to send the various dangers of said reality into the real world like the original. "JUMANJI" gets antsy when it is left unfinished, and on occasion it sends out enticing drumbeats to attract potential players and victims.

"JUMANJI" is also known to have an outerspace-themed "sibling", known as: "ZATHURA" , with identical purpose to keep its finders busy and unable to escape unless the space adventure is finished.

Both "JUMANJI" and "ZATHURA" are unclear in their origins, but the games both share identical traits, intentionally seeking out the younger demographic who are easily bored and crave excitement in their mundane or boring lives. These games also have the tendency to mess with said players itself with their savage nature.

Appearance

Book

Judy and Peter play the game.

In the original picture book, the "JUMANJI" game is as simple as any other board game, being a folded board within a rectangular box. The game board is designed for two players that use simple playing pieces and dice, to move their token along an elongated squared path that starts in the deepest jungle and leads to the final space; "JUMANJI" itself, a city of golden buildings and towers. Each square has a unique written message that will manifest into the real world when a token lands on it. Only when the winner lands their token on the golden city and calls out the name of "JUMANJI" will the consequences vanish and everything become undone.

In the book's sequel, Zathura, Danny wanted to play "JUMANJI" with his brother after he found it, but Walter was uninterested as he saw the game's jungle animal / adventure theme as childish. Danny then discovered a second board game within the "JUMANJI" box, an outer space / sci-fi orientated futuristic game known as: "ZATHURA".

Films

The game's board.

The most widely known version of "JUMANJI" is the 1995 film's depiction. "JUMANJI" is a stylized rectangular folded box, carved out of wood. The attraction of the game is down to the elaborate painting on the front, which is reminiscent of circus posters.

Front

The game's title is held together by a long spear to coincide with portraits in each corner of Van Pelt, a monkey, a rhinoceros and an elephant against a deep jungle, vast lake and volcanic activity, all symbolize the exciting consequences in store; all of which are held together by a bronze zig-zag pattern akin to the book's golden city.

In the film's novelization, "JUMANJI" has a different painting layout, which adds lions and exotic birds to the menagerie as well.

Contents

Inside the folded box rests the game board. Wooden play cards on each side contain written rules for playing the game, although ignoring the rules can lead to disastrous consequences for the player. Flip-lid cupboards store the game dice and playing pieces when not in use. The game board is decorated with carved fallen leaves, in amongst the four individual trails of squared pathways for each player that all lead to the crystal ball in the center, which is also covered by a bronze zig-zag pattern also (alluding to the book's golden city).

Trivia

• According to author Chris Van Allsburg the name "JUMANJI" is a made-up name intentionally made to sound exotic. According to film star Robin Williams, jumanji is the Zulu word for "many effects", which could account for its magic and ability to change forms. However, this appears to be incorrect, as there is no recorded instance of "JUMANJI" prior to the release of the book in the Zulu language. Therefore, it is likely that Williams was simply mistaken.
• Conceptual art for the 1995 film’s logo reveals that a fifth token in the shape of a Lion idol was planned for the game, but ended up being unused in favour of a 1-4 player game. "JUMANJI" eventually ended up having up to five possible avatars when it transformed into a video game, albeit only four players could play.
  • More concept art has a Tiger being included in the "JUMANJI" zoology as one was part of the board game’s diorama painting design ideas, but Tigers ended up not appearing in the film yet were prominent in the animated series.