Le roi Léo

I recall seeing this as a child in the 60s and early 70s in black and white, and was a bit surprised to discover that it was actually a color series. (We only had a black and white TV at the time, as it happens...) This was beyond the resources of the production company, (which had earlier brought us Gigantor and Astroboy) so they partnered with NBC in the US for both financing and expertise in color animation. NBC also had considerable input into the direction of the story, some of it contrary to what the Japanese write wanted to do. The result was highly successful in both the US and Japan. A sequel, "Jungle Emperor Leo", which featured an adult Kimba (renamed Leo) with a less upbeat tone and more realistic violence, was declined by NBC and was not as popular in Japan as the original.

I bought the series on DVD a little while ago, so I was able to refresh my memory of this delightful series. Kimba is a white lion cub, son of great Caesar the white lion, king of the jungle. He has a goal, that all the jungle animals should live in peace. Inspired by human civilization, he convinces all the carnivores to adopt vegetarian ways and strives to single-handedly (pawedly?) bring about an agricultural revolution and cooperative living among the animals. Although he encounters significant animal resistance, his greatest challenges come from encounters with humans.

This works well, despite some awkwardness in the initial episodes, including a visit to Paris that's glaringly out of place. It helps that Kimba's the cutest little thing that ever beat up an adult rhinoceros. The theme music is addictive and unforgettable.

Significantly, some characters, general themes, and specific scenes were heavily "borrowed" by Disney for "The Lion King". This is discussed in the DVD interview with Fred Ladd, the NBC executive responsible for bringing Kimba to the US. The wise old baboon advisor, the enemy adult lion with the scar across one eye and the comic relief hyena henchmen, and the excitable avian companion are all present. Individual scenes include Kimba looking at his reflection in a pool and wondering how he compares to his father, visions of Kimba's parents in the clouds and stars, and a difficult trek across a desert. The moment in Mufasa's death scene where Simba comforts himself by snuggling next to the body is an echo of Kimba habit of curling up upon his father's pelt (recovered from the hunter who shot him) for comfort in moments of distress or self-doubt. "Simba", the Swahili word for lion, was a name considered for Kimba but rejected during series development. The theme of the exiled lion cub returning to regain the kingship from a vicious usurper was no doubt also inspired by Kimba. This is not to say that "The Lion King" isn't a fine piece of storytelling or excellent animation. It is, and needless to say the animation is far superior to that in Kimba. But the source of many of the ideas for "The Lion King" ought to be of interest to anyone who enjoyed that movie. This is rarely brought mentioned outside a fairly limited anime fan community.

I'm writing because I felt really angry with last comment. Note that I first watched Kimba this Year.

Just for beginning, Kimba was the first Anime in being made in full color, if you watched it for the first time during the XXI Century then you might think animation is quite crappy... but for those times it was outstanding, specially for a Japanese cartoon.

What makes Kimba so different from the other cartoons of time is that each character has depth by itself. Along the different episodes they grow, learn and keep the essential lines about their personalities. The main character, Kimba/Leo, has many doubts about himself and his ability to rule at the beginning of the series, but along them he gain experience and self-esteem enough to don't live behind the shadow of his father's greatness. Also each episode deal with a lesson on morality and justice.

Kimba specially explores the relationship between Humans and animals and delivers a simply message of understanding to everyone.

Is it childish? Well, of course it isn't the same to watch it being a kid than an adult, but you can now certainly understand things that by that time you couldn't. Besides, if you watch any cartoon made for kids, of course that you should spec it to be childish!!

Kimba the White Lion is at all, the perfect merge between Japanese Anime's storytelling and depth, and American cartoon's cuteness, charming characters and sense of humor that make it easy to bare for young children.

A good series with great characters and storyline. However, the Canadian dub is horrid and I recommend the original Japanese language version if you're able to find it, or the American dub.

The article was just being polite about what Disney did with The Lion King, but The Lion King is Disney's rip-off of Kimba.

The animation of The Lion King was good, and it would have been a good show of it hadn't been a rip-off of Kimba. I remember Kimba as a kid and it was one of my favorite shows. And The Lion King being a rip-off of Kimba is disappointing. They should have written a whole story-line of it's own for The Lion King.

I used to watch this show when I was a kid .This and "Astroboy " were some of first Japanese animated TV -shows ,both inspired in comic books of the father of the anime ,Tezuka Osamu . Anime have changed a lot in the recent years ,so maybe for the fans this story would be a bit corny ,but I think that deserves the credit for being one of the first anime shows in the story ,and it is a very good choice for children . The recent movie of Disney , "The Lion King " have a clear influence of Kimba ,but I like both."Kimba the White Lion " could be a bit dated ,but for those who grow -up watching it ,would be reason for a sweet melancholy .