Kimba the White Lion

Kimba the White Lion or Janguru Taitei ("Jungle Emperor, the Great") is a animated series from the 1960s, created by Osamu Tezuka, the creator of another beloved anime star, "Atomu" (Astro Boy), based on his manga of the same title, Janguru Taitei, started in 1950. It was the first color TV animation series created in Japan. The entire series of manga was published first on maganize, and later published as book first in 1970 from Shogakukan.

Under his original name Leo, the lion, Kimba was the star of an anime series that enjoyed immense popularity in Japan, Australia, the United States and Europe in the late 1960s.

Story

Somewhere in the African jungle, Panja, the white lion ruled animals as their Emperor but he was hunted and slayed by humans. His pregnant wife, Eliza was caught and shipped to a certain zoo. During the journey, she bore a baby, Leo. Little Leo escaped from the ship and journeyed to the jungle to guard its peace.

Leo swam to Africa and finally reached the jungle of his fathers. Without Panja, outlaws occupied the jungle and all other animals complainted. Leo swept those outlaws, established order and peace again and became the new emperor of the jungle.

Controversy

Much controversy surrounds the similarity of many elements of Kimba to The Walt Disney Company's The Lion King (1994) but because the original Japanese animator, Osamu Tezuka, thought highly of Walt Disney, Mr. Tezuka's company declined to complain.

The following description could apply to both works: A young lion cub, who's in line to be king of the jungle, loses his parent. The parent's ghost encourages the cub, by appearing in natural forms such as clouds and rippling water, to be the best king he can be. The cub is helped by several sidekicks, two of whom include a wisecracking but cowardly bird, and a wise baboon. The cub must overcome enemies including his uncle, a lean older lion with a scar over one eye and two comedy-relief hyena sidekicks. (Though to be fair, the basic storyline could also easily be considered to be "Hamlet" set in the animal world with comic relief)

Jungle Emperor went on the air in Japan in October 1965. The episodes were usually completed less than a week before they were broadcast. In the United States, Kimba began production in November 1965 and appeared first on Los Angeles' KHJ-TV in September 1966, and in other cities in late 1966 and early 1967.

Leo's name was changed to "Simba" -- the swahili name for "lion". However, only a couple of days before the first episode was to be recorded, it was learned that the name "Simba" was registered. It was decided to play it safe, and the "S" in Simba was changed to a "K" to create a name that was absolutely original.

Since 1978, Leo the Lion has been the mascot for the Japanese baseball team Seibu Lions.

Chronicle

• 1950; Comic Janguru Taitei started at Manga Shonen (Comic Boy) magazine.
• 1965; Anime series started as the first color TV anime series in Japan.
• 1966; Janguru Taitei, the Movie (Dir. Eiichi Yamamoto ) released. Symphonic Poem Janguru Taitei (by Isao Tomita) released.
• 1967; Janguru Taitei, the Movie awarded the St. Mark's Silver Lion Award at the 19th Venice International Film Festival. New series anime Shin Janguru Taitei, Susume Leo! started.
• 1989; Osamu Tezuka died. Remade TV anime series started.
• 1994; Disney's The Lion King released.
• 1997; New Janguru Taitei, the Movie (Jungle Emperor Leo. Dir. Hiroo Takeuchi ) released. Against former TV series (Susume Leo!), it has tragic last scene after comic version.

Further reading

• Frederik L. Schodt Dreamland Japan: Writings on Modern Manga. ISBN 0756751683 ISBN 188065623X

External links

• www.kimbawlion.com
• "How Kimba Came To Be" (full story )
• Remake of Tezuka's Popular Story Turns Into Denial?
• Untold Facts behind "Kimba the White Lion" (multilingual version)
• Many links and texts including Machiko Satonaka letter to Disney signed by hundreds of Japanese animators