View source for Kimba the White Lion

{{Short description|Japanese media franchise}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox animanga/Header
| name = Kimba the White Lion
| image = Kimba.JPG
| caption = Artwork from the ''Kimba the White Lion - Ultra Edition'' DVD Set
| ja_kanji = ジャングル大帝
| ja_romaji = Janguru Taitei
| genre = <!-- Genres should be based on what reliable sources list them as and not on personal interpretations. Limit of the three most relevant genres in accordance with [[MOS:A&M]]. -->
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type         = manga
| author       = [[Osamu Tezuka]]
| publisher    = {{ubl|Gakudosha|[[Kobunsha]]|[[Kodansha]]}}
| publisher_en = {{English manga publisher
 | JP = [[Jippi English Comics]] {{small|(bilingual)}}<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.j-n.co.jp/books/?goods_code=978-4-408-11018-9|title=英語コミックス ジャングル大帝 <nowiki>[レオ編]</nowiki>|date=December 26, 2018 |publisher=[[Jippi English Comics]]|access-date=2019-11-15}}</ref>
}}
| magazine     = [[Manga Shōnen]]
| first        = November 1950
| last         = April 1954
| volumes      = 3
| volume_list  = 
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
|type = tv series
|director = [[Eiichi Yamamoto]]
|producer =
|writer =
|music = [[Isao Tomita]]
|studio = [[Mushi Production]]
|licensee = {{English anime licensee|NA = [[Right Stuf Inc.|Nozomi Entertainment]]}}
|network = [[Fuji Television|Fuji TV]]
|network_en = {{english anime network
 | AU = [[ABC (Australian TV channel)|ABC]]
 | US = [[NBC]] 
 | UK = [[Cartoon Network (UK and Ireland)|Cartoon Network]] 
 }}
|first = October 6, 1965
|last = September 28, 1966
|episodes = 52<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.awn.com/animationworld/which-real-kimba|title=Which Is The Real Kimba?|website=Animation World Network}}</ref>
|episode_list =
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
|type = film
|director = [[Eiichi Yamamoto]]
|producer =
|writer =
|music = 
|studio = [[Mushi Production]]
|released = {{Start date|1966|07|31}}
|runtime = 74 minutes
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Other
|title = Anime television series
|content =
* ''[[Leo the Lion (anime)|Leo the Lion]]''
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Other
|title = Anime television series
|content =
* ''[[The New Adventures of Kimba The White Lion]]''
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
| type            = ova
| title           = Jungle Emperor Leo: Symphonic Poem
| director        = Toshio Hirata
| producer        = 
| writer          = 
| music           = [[Isao Tomita]]
| studio          = [[Madhouse (company)|Madhouse]]<br>[[Tezuka Productions]]
| licensee        = 
| released        = 1991
| first           = 
| last            = 
| runtime         = 51 minutes
| episodes        = 
| episode_list    = 
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Other
|title = Anime film
|content =
* ''[[Jungle Emperor Leo]]''
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
|type = film
|title = Jungle Emperor Leo: Hon-o-ji
|director = Fumihiro Yoshimura
|producer = Minoru Kubota
|writer = Mayumi Morita
|music = 
|studio = Beijing Sharaku Art<br>[[Media.Vision]]
|released = {{Start date|2000|03|18}}
|runtime = 9 minutes
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
|type = tv film
|title = Jungle Taitei: Yūki ga Mirai wo Kaeru 
|director = [[Gorō Taniguchi]]
|producer =
|writer = Osamu Suzuki
|music = Takefumi Haketa
| licensee = {{english anime licensee
 | NA = [[Discotek Media]]
 | SEA = [[Muse Communication]]
}}
|studio = [[Tezuka Productions]]
|network = [[Fuji Network System|FNS]] (Fuji TV)
|released = {{Start date|2009|09|05}}
|runtime = 96 minutes
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer}}

'''''Kimba the White Lion''''', known in Japan as {{nihongo|'''''Jungle Emperor'''''|ジャングル大帝|Janguru Taitei|lead=yes}}, is a Japanese ''[[shōnen manga|shōnen]]'' [[manga]] series written and illustrated by [[Osamu Tezuka]] which was serialized in the ''[[Manga Shōnen]]'' magazine from November 1950 to April 1954. An [[anime]] based on the manga was created by [[Mushi Production]] and was broadcast on [[Fuji Television]] from 1965 to 1967. It was the first color animated television series created in Japan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/6233/kimba-boxed-set/|title=Kimba Boxed Set : DVD Talk Review of the DVD Video |publisher=Dvdtalk.com |access-date=2012-11-28}}</ref> It began airing in North America from 1966. The later series was produced by [[Tezuka Productions]].<ref>{{cite news|title= Kimba the White Lion Dub.DVD – Review|work=[[Anime News Network]]|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/kimba-the-white-lion/dub.dvd|access-date=2012-03-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|agency= San Francisco Chronicle |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1994-07-12-1994193097-story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150210040633/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1994-07-12/news/1994193097_1_lion-japanese-story-tezuka |archive-date=February 10, 2015 |title=Tezuka Lion King &#124; 'Lion King' recalls beast of another reign|work= Baltimore Sun |publisher= |date=1994-07-12 |url-status= live |access-date=2015-02-21}}</ref>

A TV special premiered September 5, 2009, on Fuji TV. Produced in commemoration of Fuji TV's 50th anniversary, it was directed by [[Gorō Taniguchi]], written by novelist and [[Japanese television drama|drama]] writer Osamu Suzuki, and featuring character designs from illustrator [[Yoshitaka Amano]].

==Plot==
<!-- IMPORTANT: Please keep the plot summary between 400-700 words as WP:FILMPLOT requires. -->
{{see also|List of Kimba the White Lion characters}}
In [[Africa]] during the mid-20th century, as humankind encroaches, the [[white lion]] Panja (パンジャ, Caesar in the English dub) gives the jungle's [[wildlife|wild animals]] a [[wikt:safe haven|safe haven]]. However, he angers nearby villagers by stealing their cattle and their food to feed the jungle carnivores (in the English dub he merely frees the cattle). A [[professional hunter]], Ham Egg (Viper Snakely in the English dub), is called in to stop these raids. He avoids directly attacking Panja. Instead, he records the sounds of Panja and uses them to trap his pregnant mate, Eliza (エライザ), who then becomes bait in a trap for Panja. Panja is killed for his hide (but not before asking Eliza to name their child Kimba) and Eliza is put on a ship, destined for a [[zoo]].

Kimba (レオ, "Leo" in Japanese{{Refn|group="lower-alpha"|The name Kimba was adopted after Simba, meaning "lion" in [[Swahili language|Swahili]] was first suggested, according to [[Fred Ladd]]. The name "Leo" needed to be changed because it coincided with the name of the [[MGM lion]].{{sfnp|Schweizer|Schweizer|1998|p=172}}}}) is born on the ship. Eliza teaches him his father's ideals. As a huge tropical storm nears, she urges her cub out through the bars of her cage. The storm wrecks the ship, and Kimba starts to drown in the ocean. The fish help him learn to swim. As he begins to despair, the stars in the sky form the face of his mother, who encourages him. Guided by [[butterfly|butterflies]], he makes it to land.

Kimba lands far from his ancestral home and is found and cared for by humans. He learns the advantages of human culture and decides that when he returns to his wild home, he will bring culture to the jungle and stand for peace like his father.
The show follows Kimba's life after he returns to the wild, still a young cub, and how he learns and grows in the next year. Kimba soon learns that only communication and mutual understanding between animals and humans will bring true peace.

==Media==
===Manga===
In 1950, the original ''Jungle Emperor'' story started in ''Manga Shōnen'' (Comic Boy) magazine.

The first manga volume has been released bilingually (Japanese-English) as '''Jungle Emperor Leo – Leo Edition'''.<ref>{{cite book |title=Eigo komikkusu janguru taitei (Leo hen) |script-title=ja:英語コミックス ジャングル大帝 (レオ編) |year=2018 |isbn=978-4408110189 |author1=手塚治虫|publisher=実業之日本社 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://metropolisjapan.com/bilingual-manga/ |title=Bilingual Manga: Comics for language learners young and old |work=MetropolisJapan |date=2014-04-22}}</ref>

===Anime===
====1965 series====
{{main|Kimba the White Lion (TV series)}}
[[File:ReallyKimbaTheWhiteLion.jpg|left|thumb|Kimba, as he appears in ''Kimba the White Lion'' (1965)]]
The animated series was first broadcast in Japan on [[Fuji Television]] from October 6, 1965, to September 28, 1966.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mediaarts-db.jp/an/anime_series/315 |script-title=ja:ジャングル大帝 |publisher=[[Agency for Cultural Affairs]] |website=Media Arts Database |language=ja |access-date=April 10, 2015 |archive-date=April 13, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413221002/http://mediaarts-db.jp/an/anime_series/315 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was the first color TV anime series. Six months earlier the color anime ''[[Marine Boy|Dorufin ōji]]'' had been broadcast on the same network, but since it was an experimental project that was cancelled after only 3 episodes, ''Jungle Emperor'' is generally considered the first official color anime series.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Screening: Kimba the White Lion (Jungle Emperor) |url=https://garagemca.org/en/event/screening-kimba-the-white-lion-jungle-emperor |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=garagemca.org |language=en}}</ref>

Other than the original broadcast in Japan in 1965, the series has been broadcast in many countries around the world.

In Asia, it was broadcast in [[Indonesia]] on [[tvOne (Indonesia)|Lativi]], [[antv]] and [[SCTV (Indonesia)|SCTV]] (1995–96); in [[Iran]] on [[Channel 1 (Iran)|Channel 1]]; in the [[Philippines]] on [[TV5 (Philippines)|ABC 5]]; in [[Saudi Arabia]] on [[Saudi TV]] and in [[Sri Lanka]] on [[ART TV]].{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

In Europe, it was broadcast in [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] on [[RTV USK|RTVUSK]]; in [[Croatia]] on [[ATV Split]]/[[TV Jadran]], [[Nezavisna televizija]] (NeT), [[TV Nova Pula]] and [[Gradska TV]] Zadar; in Germany 1977 in ZDF; in France on [[ORTF]] (1972) and on [[TF1]]; in Italy first in syndication from 1977 and lately on [[Italia 1]] (in 1999 and 2003 with the title ''Una giungla di avventure per Kimba'' [literally "a jungle of adventures for Kimba"]) and [[Boing (Italy)|Boing]] (2010) and in Spain on [[TV3 (Catalonia)|TV3]].{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

In North America, it was broadcast in Canada on [[Knowledge Network|Knowledge]]; in [[Mexico]]
on [[Boomerang (Latin American TV channel)|Boomerang]]. It was broadcast, with English-dubbed voices, in the United States and other English-speaking markets, beginning on September 11, 1966. It was first commissioned for U.S. development by NBC Enterprises (the original version, now part of [[CBS Television Distribution]]) and adapted by [[Fred Ladd]], for syndicated broadcast, with Kimba voiced by [[Billie Lou Watt]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kimbawlion.com/kimbawlion/history.htm |title=Kimba The White Lion: History of the original series |publisher=Kimbawlion.com |access-date=2014-07-19}}</ref> In 2005 the original 1965 dub of ''Kimba the White Lion'' was released as an 11-disc DVD set by Madman Anime of Australia and Right Stuf International of the U.S. It was a best seller. The series was re-dubbed into English in 1993, featuring the voice of Yvonne Murray as Kimba and having a new opening, with an all new soundtrack composed by [[Paul J. Zaza]]. In 2012 Right Stuf, Inc. releases "Kimba the White Lion: The Complete Series" 10 DVD box set of the original 1965 series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C6ATG98/ref=assoc_qcb_im/ |title=Kimba the White Lion: The Complete Series|website=Amazon|date=July 9, 2013}}</ref> It was broadcast several times in the United States: on [[KCAL-TV|KHJ-TV]] (1965–1967; [[Billie Lou Watt]] dub), on [[NBC]] (1965–1977, re-runs until 1980; [[Billie Lou Watt]] dub), on [[Broadcast syndication|syndication]] (1965–1977; [[Billie Lou Watt]] dub; 1993, re-runs until 1995; [[Yvonne Murray (singer)|Yvonne Murray]] dub), on [[Kids & Teens TV]] (1993 re-runs; 2005–2009) and on [[Inspiration Life TV]] (1993 re-runs; 2005–2009).{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

In Oceania, it was broadcast in Australia on [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]], [[31 Brisbane]] and [[Access 31]] and on the [[New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation|NZBC]] in New Zealand.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

====1966 film====
The theatrical version of ''Jungle Emperor'', directed by Eiichi Yamamoto, was released in Japan on July 31, 1966.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mediaarts-db.jp/an/anime_series/339 |script-title=ja:ジャングル大帝 |publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs |website=Media Arts Database |language=ja |access-date=April 10, 2015 |archive-date=April 13, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413220543/http://mediaarts-db.jp/an/anime_series/339 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

====1966 series====
{{main|Leo the Lion (TV series)}}
A sequel series, ''[[Leo the Lion (anime)|Jungle Taitei: Susume Leo!]]'' (''Jungle Emperor: Onward, Leo!'') first aired in Japan on Fuji Television from October 5, 1966, to March 29, 1967,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mediaarts-db.jp/an/anime_series/343 |script-title=ja:ジャングル大帝進めレオ! |publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs |website=Media Arts Database |language=ja |access-date=April 10, 2015 |archive-date=April 13, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413220707/http://mediaarts-db.jp/an/anime_series/343 |url-status=dead }}</ref> featuring Leo (Kimba) as an adult. It aired in the United States in 1984 as ''Leo the Lion'' on [[Christian Broadcasting Network|CBN]] Cable Network.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

====1989 series====
{{main|The New Adventures of Kimba The White Lion}}
In 1989, Dr. Osamu Tezuka died at age 60 on February 9. A [[remake]] of ''Jungle Emperor'', ''[[The New Adventures of Kimba The White Lion]]'' was broadcast in Japan from October 12, 1989, to October 11, 1990.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mediaarts-db.jp/an/anime_series/2890 |script-title=ja:ジャングル大帝 |publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs |website=Media Arts Database |language=ja |access-date=April 10, 2015 |archive-date=April 13, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413215731/http://mediaarts-db.jp/an/anime_series/2890 |url-status=dead }}</ref> This series bears little resemblance to the original manga or the first TV series, as the plot is extremely different and the characters have been completely reworked and changed. Several heavily edited episodes of the series were dubbed into English and released directly to video in 1998 under the name: ''The New Adventures of Kimba the White Lion'', by [[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer Family Entertainment]]. It features the voice of [[Brad Swaile]] as Kimba.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

====1991 OVA film====
In 1991, an [[original video animation]] film was created,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mediaarts-db.jp/an/anime_series/3741 |script-title=ja:アニメ交響詩ジャングル大帝 |publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs |website=Media Arts Database |language=ja |access-date=April 10, 2015 |archive-date=April 13, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413215728/http://mediaarts-db.jp/an/anime_series/3741 |url-status=dead }}</ref> using the Symphonic Poem for its audio.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

====1997 film====
{{main|Jungle Emperor Leo}}
A new ''Jungle Taitei'' theatrical film, ''[[Jungle Emperor Leo]]'', was released in Japan on August 1, 1997.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mediaarts-db.jp/an/anime_series/6070 |script-title=ja:ジャングル大帝 劇場版(1997) |publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs |website=Media Arts Database |language=ja |access-date=April 10, 2015 |archive-date=April 13, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413215725/http://mediaarts-db.jp/an/anime_series/6070 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Directed by Hiro Takeuchi, it is based on the second half of Dr. Tezuka's original manga story; it is not entirely faithful, however. It was dubbed into English and released on DVD in 2003 under the name ''Jungle Emperor Leo'' by Anime Works. The film was later released on Blu-ray and DVD by Discotek. In 1997 Julian Grant the head of the Fant-Asia film festival received a Cease-and-Desist from the Disney company to attempt to keep the ''Jungle Emperor Leo'' film from showing at the festival. Despite the order, the film screened to a full house. However, this is the last North American screening the film would ever receive.

The film had a distribution income of {{JPY|430 million}} ({{US$|{{To USD|430|JPN|year=2011}} million|long=no}}) at the Japanese box office in 1997.<ref>{{Cite journal |year=1998|title=1997年邦画作品配給収入|journal=[[Kinema Junpo]]|issue=1998年（平成10年）2月下旬号|pages=168|publisher=[[:ja:キネマ旬報社|キネマ旬報社]]}}</ref>

====2000 short film====
A 9-minute anime short was released in Japan on March 18, 2000 titled ''Jungle Emperor Leo: Hon-o-ji''. It was shown at a theater at Tezuka Osamu World in Kyoto.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

====2009 television film====
A television film, {{Nihongo|''Jungle Taitei – Yūki ga Mirai wo Kaeru''|ジャングル大帝　勇気が未来をかえる}}, aired in Japan on September 5, 2009,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mediaarts-db.jp/an/anime_series/11228 |script-title=ja:ジャングル大帝-勇気が未来をかえる- |publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs |website=Media Arts Database |language=ja |access-date=April 10, 2015 |archive-date=April 13, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413221345/http://mediaarts-db.jp/an/anime_series/11228 |url-status=dead }}</ref> with a completely new story, different from both the previous TV shows and the original manga. The setting was an artificially created jungle in 20XX Earth. In this movie, Panja and his mate, Eliza, are still alive; Coco is an unspecified female bird; and Sylvester, the black panther, serves as an antagonist until he changes his ways when a young boy mends his leg.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.gigazine.net/index.php?/news/comments/20090318_taf2009_leo/ |title=TAF 2009: Osamu Tezuka's "Kimba the White Lion" to be renewed in summer 2009 – GIGAZINE |publisher=En.gigazine.net |date=March 19, 2009 |access-date=2012-11-28 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120718194417/http://en.gigazine.net/index.php?/news/comments/20090318_taf2009_leo/ |archive-date=July 18, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2019, the [[Japan Foundation]] produced an English dub of the film which was released on ''RetroCrush'' in July 2020.

An earlier English dub of the film premiered on Cartoon Network in the Philippines on November 19, 2010.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cartoon Network Philippines - free online games & videos |url=http://www.cartoonnetwork.com.ph:80/ |publisher=Cartoon Network Philippines |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101113002903/http://www.cartoonnetwork.com.ph/ |archive-date=November 13, 2010 |access-date=September 18, 2020 }}</ref>

===Other media===
The music video for the song "A Boy" by [[Leo Ieiri]], which has an animated part made by [[Tezuka Productions]],<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-02-18/leo-ieiri-makes-jungle-emperor/kimba-the-white-lion-music-video | title = Leo Ieiri Makes Jungle Emperor/Kimba the White Lion Music Video | publisher = Anime News Network | date = February 18, 2014 | access-date = February 18, 2020}}</ref> features an anime version of the singer (based on Kimba and modeled after the singer) which meets other characters from the ''Kimba the White Lion'' series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2014/02/17/video-leo-ieiri-collaborates-with-osamu-tezukas-jungle-emperor-in-the-latest-pv|title=Crunchyroll – VIDEO: Leo Ieiri Collaborates with Osamu Tezuka's "Jungle Emperor" in the Latest PV|publisher=[[Crunchyroll]]|access-date=2014-03-13}}</ref>

Jungle Emperor (ジャングル大帝 Jungle Taitei) is a cancelled 1990 eight-bit platform action game that was in development by Taito for the [[Family Computer]], based on the popular manga/anime of the same name (aka Kimba the White Lion) by Osamu Tezuka. Not much is known about this game, except that it was going to be released in November 1990, but it was cancelled for unknown reasons. There were also plans for the unreleased [[Nintendo 64]]. A Jungle Emperor/Kimba the White Lion N64 game titled '''Emperor of the Jungle''' was going to be made for the [[64DD|magnetic disk drive]] peripheral, but was also cancelled. The only known evidence of its existence is a short video clip from [[Nintendo Space World]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Emperor of the Jungle | website=[[IGN]] | date=April 22, 1998 | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/04/22/emperor-of-the-jungle | access-date=April 15, 2024 | archive-date=August 12, 2002 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020812162325/http://ign64.ign.com/articles/123/123766p1.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=The Dying King? | website=[[IGN]] | date=March 31, 1999 | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/03/31/the-dying-king | access-date=April 15, 2024 | archive-date=August 4, 2002 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020804004900/http://ign64.ign.com/articles/067/067557p1.html | url-status=live }}</ref> It was going to be an action-adventure game with vast exploration, but no information regarding the plot of the game currently exists. The game had its first on-video appearance at the 1996 Tokyo Shoshinkai Show, after which the release date of Spring 1999 was announced. A few scenes from the game were shown shortly after. Later that year in an interview at [[E3 1998]], [[Shigeru Miyamoto]] mentioned that the project is in a bit of trouble and may take longer to complete than originally expected, due to inexperience. Its cancellation was announced soon after.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

''Jungle Emperor'' characters have cameos in the [[Game Boy Advance|GBA]] game ''[[Astro Boy: Omega Factor]]'', as well as a chapter from the ''[[Black Jack (manga)|Black Jack]]'' manga and [[Naoki Urasawa]]'s Pluto.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

In the sixth episode of Season 2 of the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] TV series ''[[Fringe (TV series)|Fringe]]'', [[Earthling (Fringe)|Earthling]], Kimba had a cameo in one of the episodes.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

==Music==
{{unreferenced section|date=May 2022}}
The series uses several themes. The 1966 Japanese version uses an opening theme and a closing theme. The opening is called {{nihongo|"Jungle-Taitei"|ジャングル大帝|Janguru-Taitei|"Jungle Emperor"}}. The end song is {{nihongo|"Leo no Uta"|レオのうた|Reo no Uta|"Leo's Song"}}. For the Japanese remake, the opening song is {{nihongo|"Savanna o Koete"|サバンナを越えて|Sabanna wo Koete|"Past the Savanna"}} sung by Ichiro Mizuki, and the ending is {{nihongo|"Yūbae ni Nare"|夕映えになれ}} sung by Tomoko Tokugai.

The American theme was written by [[Bernie Baum]], [[Bill Giant]] and [[Florence Kaye]] and sung by Bill Giant. The opening song for the sequel series is "Go Ahead Onward Leo!" written by [[Isao Tomita]] and sung by [[Mieko Hirota]]. The US-English theme song known as "Leo the Lion" was written by Mark Boccaccio and Susan Brunet of Miami, Florida's SONIC-Sound International Corporation in 1984. ''Jungle Emperor Symphonic Poem'' (by [[Isao Tomita]]) was released on LP in 1966.

==Claims of resemblance to ''The Lion King''==
{{anchor|Lion King}}
[[File:Earlypresentationreelwhitelionking.jpg|thumb|Screenshot from an early presentation reel of "King of the Jungle" that would later become ''The Lion King'' which shows a white lion cub and a butterfly]]

After the 1994 release of [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]]'s animated feature film ''[[The Lion King]]'', it was suggested by some that there were similarities in characters, plotlines, sequences and events in the [[Story credit|story]] resembling those of ''Kimba''.<ref name=":0">{{cite book|last=Patten |first=Fred |author-link=Fred Patten |title=Watching Anime, Reading Manga: 25 Years of Essays and Reviews |publisher=Stone Bridge Press |year=2004 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=81Y1TVYQSrEC&pg=PT171 |page=171|isbn=9781611725100 }} {{ISBN|1-880656-92-2}}</ref> Fred Ladd, the English-language producer, referred to the parallels as "stunning".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Chronicle|first=San Francisco|title='Lion King' recalls beast of another reign|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1994-07-12-1994193097-story.html|access-date=2021-09-29|website=baltimoresun.com|date=July 12, 1994 |language=en-US}}</ref> Similarities in visual sequences have also been noted, most comprehensively by animation historian [[Fred Patten]] who published an essay on the subject.<ref name=":0" /> Patten would later go on to say that allegations that ''The Lion King'' was "simply [an] imitation" of Kimba were "not true",<ref>{{harvtxt|Patten|2003}}: "...And this made it look, uh, to fans who didn't know the full story, as additional proof that ''The Lion King'' was simply a, uh, imitation of, uh, the 1960s, uh, ''Kimba'' TV series, which was not true."</ref> and that many fans who had not seen the show since childhood{{--}}or at all{{--}}had "exaggerated the similarities".<ref>{{harvtxt|Patten|2003}}: "Now, a lot of the American fans had not seen Kimba themselves, or if they had it was only when they were young children, because it hadn't been on American television since the late 1970s. So they were not that familiar with the details themselves, and some of them, uh, exaggerated the similarities between ''Kimba'' and Disney's movies."</ref> [[Matthew Broderick]], the voice actor for the adult [[Simba]], recalled in an interview back in 1994 that he once believed that he was cast in a project about Kimba, bringing up memories of watching the series as a child.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/lion-king-kimba_n_6272316 | title=Was 'The Lion King' Copied from a Japanese Cartoon? Here's the Real Story | date=January 27, 2015 }}</ref>

Upon the release of ''The Lion King'' in Japan, multiple Japanese cartoonists signed a letter urging [[The Walt Disney Company]] to acknowledge due credit to ''The Jungle Emperor'' in the making of ''The Lion King''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mizoguchi|first=Kozo|date=August 10, 1994|title='Lion King' sparks debate in Japan|newspaper=[[The Daily Gazette]]|location=[[Tokyo, Japan]]|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1957&dat=19940810&id=VAUxAAAAIBAJ&pg=3891,2063253|access-date=January 6, 2015}}</ref> 488 Japanese cartoonists and animators signed the petition, which drew a protest in Japan, where Tezuka and ''Kimba'' are cultural icons.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Raz|first1=Aviad E.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7Jk9mv25eloC&pg=PA163|title=Riding the Black Ship: Japan and Tokyo Disneyland|date=1999|publisher=[[Harvard University Asia Center]]|isbn=9780674768949|page=163}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=August 18, 1994|title=Japanese animator protests 'Lion King'|work=[[United Press International]]|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/08/18/Japanese-animator-protests-Lion-King/4250777182400/}}</ref>

Addressing alleged similarities between characters, ''The Lion King'' director [[Roger Allers]] stated it was "not unusual to have characters like a baboon, a bird, or hyenas" in films set in Africa.<ref name="welkos">{{cite news| first=Robert W. |last=Welkos |title=A 'Kimba' Surprise for Disney : Movies: 'The Lion King' is a hit, but reported similarities to the Japanese-created American cartoon of the '60s are raising some questions. |date=July 13, 1994 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-07-13-ca-15117-story.html |access-date=March 30, 2015}}</ref> Additionally, the word {{lang|sw|simba}} is simply the Swahili word for 'lion',<ref name=ign/> which Fred Ladd acknowledges could account for the similarly-named protagonists;<ref name=Clouded/> in fact, Leo (the protagonist's original name) was initially going to be changed in the English dub to "Simba", but an NBC executive changed the protagonist's name to Kimba during development.<ref name=ign>{{Cite news |date=1998-04-22 |title=Emperor of the Jungle |language=en |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/04/22/emperor-of-the-jungle |access-date=2022-05-02}}</ref> According to Ladd, this was because the executive found Simba "too common", which would make it difficult to maintain rights over the character's name.<ref name=Clouded>{{Cite news|last=Denham|first=Hannah|title='Lion King' has been clouded by intellectual property controversy for 25 years. Here's the story behind it.|language=en-US|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/07/26/lion-king-has-been-clouded-by-intellectual-property-controversy-years-heres-story-behind-it/|access-date=2020-11-25|issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

Tezuka's family and [[Tezuka Productions]] have never pursued litigation against The Walt Disney Company for copyright infringement. Yoshihiro Shimizu, the company's director, stated that many of their employees saw resemblances between the two properties, but "any similarities in their plots are based in the facts of nature and therefore are two different works".<ref name=Clouded/> In his book, [[Makoto Tezuka]] states that the controversy started in America and people inflated the issue because of their opposition to Disney's business practices. He also states that he refuses to participate in this denunciation of Disney and that he does not want to see his father's works being turned into a weapon for those people. Tezuka acknowledges that ''Kimba'' and ''The Lion King'' are two different stories with different themes, but if the latter was about a white lion who spoke with humans, then he would not be able to pardon the similarities.<ref>{{cite book |last=Tezuka |first=Makoto |date=April 1, 2003 |title=天才の息子―ベレー帽をとった手塚治虫 |publisher=ソニ-・マガジンズ |trans-title=The Genius' Son |language=ja | isbn=9784789720298}}</ref>
<!--Per community consensus at "Talk:Kimba the White Lion#RFC: YourMovieSucksDOTorg", the video uploaded by Adam Johnston on the YouTube channel YourMovieSucksDOTorg is not considered a reliable source.-->

==Reception==
In 1967, the ''Jungle Emperor'' theatrical feature was awarded the St. Mark's [[Silver Lion]] Award at the 19th [[Venice Film Festival|Venice International Film Festival]].{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

==Commercial use==
In 1978, the adult Leo character, designed by Tezuka himself, became the mascot for the Seibu Lions (current [[Saitama Seibu Lions]]) baseball team, along with his sister Lina who was created for the baseball team. The {{interlanguage link|Leo (mascot){{!}}Leo mascot|ja|レオ (埼玉西武ライオンズ)}} was used on the team [[baseball cap]] and helmet for decades<!--Jp source says 20 years but it is 30 years since it was 1978-2008. The sky blue uniform and Leo on the cap was replaced in 2009 with a navy blue uniform and simple "L" on the cap.--><ref name=sponichi2013>{{cite news |title=Seibu reo māku yunifōmu ni hatsu tōjō! Oyagaisha 100 shūnen kinen |script-title=ja:西武レオマーク ユニホームに初登場！親会社１００周年記念 |newspaper=Sponichi Annex |date=2013-12-19 |url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/baseball/news/2013/12/19/kiji/K20131219007229480.html?feature=related}}</ref> Leo also appeared on the players' uniform for the 2014 season, designed by [[Tezuka Productions]].<ref name=sponichi2013/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://tezukaosamu.net/en/news/?p=5505|title=Jungle Emperor appears on the uniform of Seibu Lions! : News : TezukaOsamu.net(EN)|publisher=[[Tezuka Productions|TezukaOsamu.net]]|access-date=2014-03-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730050324/https://tezukaosamu.net/en/news/?p=5505|archive-date=July 30, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Seibu Holdings|Seibu]] [[Conglomerate (company)|conglomerate]]-owned team's mascot became highly visible throughout Japan on baseball caps, shirts, etc., as well as being heavily used in advertisement especially in the Tokyo area<!--in the 1980s onwards-->.{{sfnp|Schodt|2014|p=272}}<ref>{{cite book|last=Havens |first=Thomas R. H. |author-link=Thomas Havens |title=Architects of affluence: the Tsutsumi family and the Seibu-Saison Enterprises in twentieth-century Japan |publisher=Council on East Asian Studies, Harvard University|year=1996 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y0e1AAAAIAAJ&q=Seibu+Leo|isbn=9780674043619 }} {{ISBN|0674043618}}</ref> [[Frederick L. Schodt]] makes the argument that by the 1980s,<!--specifically before and after the [[Tokyo Disneyland]] opened (in 1983),--> Leo the lion could hardly escape the notice of foreign visitors to the city.{{sfnp|Schodt|2014|p=272}}

Image from the ''Jungle Emperor'' manga appears on shirts made by [[Lacoste]] in cooperation with [[Tezuka Productions]] for their "Lacoste Live" capsule collection "Tezuka Collection", edition Fall/Winter 2013/2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=Designer Hiroaki Ohya Speaks on LACOSTE L!VE x Osamu Tezuka Collaboration|url=http://lifeandtimes.com/designer-hiroaki-ohya-speaks-on-lacoste-lve-x-osamu-tezuka-collaboration|publisher=lifeandtimes.com|access-date=March 24, 2014}}</ref><!--Appearing on Lacoste shirts seems of miniscule importance, but others can make decision to delete it.-->

==See also==
*[[List of Osamu Tezuka anime]]
*[[List of Osamu Tezuka manga]]
*[[Osamu Tezuka's Star System]]
* [[Atlantis: The Lost Empire#Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water controversy|''Atlantis: The Lost Empire'' and ''Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water'' controversy]], a similar plagiarism controversy

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{Cite AV media|first=Fred|last=Patten|section=Interview with anime historian, Fred Patten, of Animation World Magazine|type=DVD|title=Kimba|year=2003|publisher=Rhino}}
* {{cite book|last=Schodt |first=Frederik L. |author-link=Frederik L. Schodt |title=Dreamland Japan: Writings on Modern Manga |publisher=Stone Bridge Press, Inc. |year=2014 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z0yDAgAAQBAJ|isbn=9781611725537 }} {{ISBN|0-7567-5168-3}}, {{ISBN|1-880656-23-X}}.
* {{cite book|last1=Schweizer |first1=Peter |author-link=Peter Schweizer |last2=Schweizer |first2=Rochelle |title=Disney: The Mouse Betrayed |publisher=Regnery Pub. |year=1998 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lZNZAAAAMAAJ&q=Kimba|isbn=9780895263872 }} {{ISBN|0-8952-6387-4}}.
{{Refend}}

==External links==
*{{official website|http://tezukaosamu.net/jp/manga/186.html}} {{in lang|ja}}
*{{Anime News Network|manga|1342|Jungle Emperor Leo}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20020424110538/http://en.tezuka.co.jp/manga/sakuhin/m016/m016_01.html Manga series] at Tezuka Osamu @ World (archived)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20030420191827/http://en.tezuka.co.jp/anime/sakuhin/ts/ts005_02.html 1965 anime series] at Tezuka Osamu @ World (archived)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20030324103327/http://en.tezuka.co.jp/anime/sakuhin/mv/mv022.html ''Jungle Emperor Leo: Hon-o-ji'' film] at Tezuka Osamu @ World (archived)

{{Jungle Emperor Leo}}
{{Saitama Seibu Lions}}
{{Osamu Tezuka}}
{{Tezuka Productions}}
{{Gorō Taniguchi}}
{{The Lion King}}
{{Portal bar|1960s|Anime and manga}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1950 manga]]
[[Category:1965 anime television series debuts]]
[[Category:1977 Japanese television series endings]]
[[Category:Animated television series about lions]]
[[Category:Anime and manga set in Africa]]
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[[Category:Anthropomorphic lions]]
[[Category:Children's television series about talking animals]]
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[[Category:Fuji Television original programming]]
[[Category:Jungle (genre) comics]]
[[Category:Jungle Emperor Leo| ]]
[[Category:Kobunsha]]
[[Category:Kodansha manga]]
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[[Category:Osamu Tezuka anime]]
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