Jungle Emperor Leo

Jungle Emperor Leo (ジャングル大帝), also known as Kimba the White Lion, is a Japanese franchise originating from a 1950-1954 manga. There have been three anime series and five animated film specials based on the manga. The series is about a white lion cub going on various adventures. The lion's name is generally Leo in the Japanese releases and Kimba in the English dubs.

Kimba is strong-willed, friend-oriented and kind-hearted character, who believes there would be peace between animals and humans if each understood the other.

## Media

### Jungle Emperor Leo (1950 manga)

The manga ran from November 1950 to April 1954. The creator and writer is Osamu Tezuka, and released monthly in *Manga Shonen*, where there are three volumes.

This manga was redrawn and tweaked many times by Osamu Tezuka when he had the opportunity to improve in new editions and reprints. There are around 25 different releases of the manga, some with new stories, expansions and diverting plots. You can read more on the Jungle Emperor Leo Wiki.

A 1977 version was released by Complete Manga Works Edition, where some parts were semi-redrawn by Osamu Tezuka because of missing artwork in order to re-release the manga in book format. The new art is in a different newer style, and some story parts were tweaked.

In 2009, the original 1950s was restored using secondary sources, possible because of digital technology.

Original artworkNovember 1971 Tezuka Magazine releaseThe first page in the first issue
### *Shogakukan Leo* / Leo the Lion Cub (1965 manga)

The manga was a tie-in to the original manga that Osamu Tezuka wrote monthly in Shogakukan for the two animes that aired in 1965 and 1966. There are twenty stories.

Cover of the first storyA page of the first story
### ジャングル大帝 (*Jungle Emperor Leo*) / Kimba the White Lion (1965 TV series)

The TV series ran from October 1965 to September 1966. The director is Eiichi Yamamoto. It was released on Fuji TV, and then later ABC, Cartoon Network, NBC, Boomerang Lativi, Saudi TV, Boing, and more. There are 52 episodes.

Original artworkOriginal artworkScreenshot from the first episode
### *Junguru Taitei: Theater Version* / Jungle Emperor (1966 film)

The film was released in July 1966. It is an adaptation of the 1965 TV series, assembled from the existing animation with short new scenes connecting segments. It was directed by Eiichi Yamamoto and produced by Mushi Production. It is 74 minutes long.

DVD cover art
### *Jungle Taitei: Susume Leo! (Jungle Emperor: Onward, Leo!) /* Leo the Lion (1966 TV series)

The series ran from October 1966 to March 1968. It also aired in the US as Leo the Lion in 1984. It is a sequel to the 1965 TV series.The director was Shingo Araki and Rintato, and the producer was Eiichi Tamamoto. There are 26 episodes.

### The New Adventures of Kimba The White Lion (1989 TV series)

The series ran from October 1989 to October 1990. It is a remake of the 1965 TV series. It was directed by Takashi Ui and Rintaro, and produced by Ryōhei Nakamura. There are 52 episodes.

Original artScreenshot from the first episode
### Jungle Emperor Leo: The Symphonic Poem OVA (1991 film)

This original video animation (OVA) was released in 1991. It uses the Symphonic Poem for its audio. The director is Toshio Hirata. It is 51 minutes long.

DVD cover artScreenshot
### Jungle Emperor Leo (1997 film)

The film was released in August 1997. It aired in the US in October 2000. It is based on the second half of the manga. The director is Yoshio Takeuchi and produced by Minoru Kubota, Sumio Udagawa, and Chiharu Akiba.

2003 English DVD coverScreenshot
### Jungle Emperor Leo: Hon-o-ji (2000 film)

The film was released in March 2000. The director is Fumihiro Yoshimura and the producer is Minoru Kubota. It is 9 minutes long.

### *Jungle Taitei: Yūki ga Mirai wo Kaeru* / Jungle Emperor: The Brave Can Change the Future (2009 film)

The film was released in September 2009. It is a new story that occurs in the future. The English dub was released November 2010, but recreated in 2019. The director is Gorō Taniguchi, and is written by Osamu Suzuki. It is 96 minutes long.