Yes, Jumanji is supernatural, as explicitly stated in reference materials about the film.
Exploring Jumanji's Supernatural Nature
The core concept of the 1995 film Jumanji revolves around a game that operates outside the known laws of physics and reality. This is the essence of being supernatural.
What Makes Jumanji Supernatural?
According to descriptions of the movie:
- The Game Itself: Jumanji is identified as a "supernatural board game". This direct labeling is the primary evidence of its nature.
- Its Effects: The game doesn't just provide challenges or change the players' environment figuratively. It possesses the power to "make wild animals and other jungle hazards materialize upon each player's move". This act of bringing things into existence from seemingly nowhere is a classic supernatural phenomenon.
How the Supernatural Elements Manifest
Each turn in the game brings forth elements from the fictional jungle world of Jumanji into the real world. These manifestations are not illusions or tricks; they are real creatures and dangers that interact with the players and their surroundings.
Examples of supernatural events triggered by the game include:
- The appearance of lions, monkeys, elephants, and other jungle wildlife.
- The growth of rapid, aggressive plant life.
- The arrival of dangers like stampedes, floods, and quicksand.
- The trapping of players within the game itself until the game is completed.
The Game's Purpose
The supernatural ability of Jumanji isn't random; it's tied to the rules and progression of the game. Players must continue playing to survive and ultimately reverse the chaos unleashed. This ties the supernatural occurrences directly to the game's mechanics, making the game the source of the supernatural events.
| Characteristic | Description | Connection to Supernatural |
|---|---|---|
| Object Type | Board Game | Not a typical game |
| Core Ability | Materializes things from another realm | Supernatural power |
| Manifestations | Animals, plants, hazards appear physically | Beyond natural explanation |
| Requirement | Must be played to stop its effects | Magical/Supernatural rule |
Conclusion
Based directly on its description and the events depicted, the Jumanji board game is definitively supernatural. Its power to cross the boundary between fantasy and reality by materializing elements into the physical world places it firmly in the realm of the supernatural or magical, rather than being purely fantasy in a non-supernatural sense.
For more details on the film, you can explore resources like the Jumanji movie page on Wikipedia (Note: This is a placeholder hyperlink as no specific link was provided in the prompt).
