The Encyclopedia of Walt Disney's Animated Characters: From Mickey Mouse to Hercules by
John Grant
Walt Disney Character Description of Thomas from "Pocahontas" (1995)
A callow youth, Thomas epitomizes the changing mood of the settlers. When we first see him he is kissing his mother goodbye on the dock in London - they may never see each other again. Within an instant, however, he is enthusiatic about the challenge of the voyage and by the prospect of serving with the great "savage" slayer John Smith. Later Smith saves his life as, during the storm at sea, Thomas very courageously attempts to save a cannon from being washed overboard. But Thomas, despite his valor, is no master of the martial arts; derided on occasion by Ratcliffe, he is nevertheless sent by him into the forest in pursuit of Smith, and it comes as a surprise - to Thomas and us when he shoots dead the murderous Kocoum, for beforehand Thomas has done nothing much with his musket except miss whatever target he has aimed at. Smith sends him back with his tail between his legs to the stockade, and for the first time, it seems, Thomas begins to realize his error in accepting the racist wisdom of the other settlers. Thereafter he is among the first of the whites to recognize the humanity of the Native Americans.
John Grant
Walt Disney Character Description of Thomas from "Pocahontas" (1995)
A callow youth, Thomas epitomizes the changing mood of the settlers. When we first see him he is kissing his mother goodbye on the dock in London - they may never see each other again. Within an instant, however, he is enthusiatic about the challenge of the voyage and by the prospect of serving with the great "savage" slayer John Smith. Later Smith saves his life as, during the storm at sea, Thomas very courageously attempts to save a cannon from being washed overboard. But Thomas, despite his valor, is no master of the martial arts; derided on occasion by Ratcliffe, he is nevertheless sent by him into the forest in pursuit of Smith, and it comes as a surprise - to Thomas and us when he shoots dead the murderous Kocoum, for beforehand Thomas has done nothing much with his musket except miss whatever target he has aimed at. Smith sends him back with his tail between his legs to the stockade, and for the first time, it seems, Thomas begins to realize his error in accepting the racist wisdom of the other settlers. Thereafter he is among the first of the whites to recognize the humanity of the Native Americans.
John Grant
Walt Disney Character Description of Shanti, The Girl from "The Jungle Book" (1967)
The little lass with a red spot on her forehead who comes down from the manvillage to captivate Mowgli is full of eastern promise. Although it will be a decade or so before the promise turns into anything else, she nevertheless enchants Mowgli as she fetches water from the river and sings the song "My Own Home", yet another fine piece of work from the Sherman Brothers.
She has little by way of character except her basic allure, which weaves a more powerful spell upon Mowgli than even Kaa's hypnotic attempts. Baloo advises the boy when he sees a female human for the first time: "Forget about those - they ain't nothin' but trouble!"
Mowgli, though youthful, has more sense.