History Manga / KimbaTheWhiteLion

* AbusiveParents: Kimba/Leo in the sequel series, at least where Rune is concerned. Leo pushes him hard and routinely shames his efforts -- eventually abandoning him in the cliffs far from home and forcing him to make it back himself.

''Kimba the White Lion'' is a 1965 television series based on Creator/OsamuTezuka's manga "Jungle Taitei" (1950-1954), directed by Tezuka himself. The series follows a white lion named Kimba (Leo in the Japanese version) who, due to the death of his father, is forced to become the King of the Jungle. With the help of [[OldMaster an old baboon who once advised his father]] and a [[ThoseTwoGuys comically mismatched pair of buddies]], he must reclaim his kingdom from Claw, a black-maned, [[GoodScarsEvilScars scarred]] lion who has usurped the throne in his absence.

If this story is starting to seem ''very'' [[Disney/TheLionKing familiar]], we don't blame you. [[note]]Actually, [[TheBardOnBoard Shakespeare did it first.]][[/note]]

Kimba's story doesn't only consist of reclaiming the throne, but rather focuses on the aftermath as he tries to reassert his authority across the jungle, and [[{{Utopia}} create a new paradise where every animal has rights and prove that even animals can overcome the laws of nature]].

Other animes and remakes of the series include (English name used unless stated):

* ''Leo the Lion'' (1966): Sequel series [[PostScriptSeason unrelated to the manga]] focusing both on the now adult Kimba as well as his cub, Rune.

As an additional note, the original series was the first Japanese animated television series produced in color. ''Kimba the White Lion'' later went on to inspire ''Disney/TheLionKing'', which has often been accused of plagiarising ''Kimba the White Lion''.

** Pagoola and Bizo are fit this trope to a T. Pagoola is a giant bully who hates humanity, abuses and throws his weight around smaller animals, gets offended by the smallest insult and demands respect from everyone around him. Bizo is his son, and just like his father, he's a coward who bullies smaller animals and runs crying to his father whenever someone stands up to him. His father also commands a flock of elephants to destroy everything and everyone he doesn't like.

If this story is starting to seem ''very'' [[Disney/TheLionKing familiar]] , we don't blame you. [[note]]Actually, [[TheBardOnBoard Shakespeare did it first.]][[/note]]

This story sounds ''[[Disney/TheLionKing suspiciously]]'' familiar, doesn't it? [[note]]Actually, [[TheBardOnBoard Shakespeare did it first.]][[/note]]

* CruelElephant: The elephants in episode 25 of the anime are massive bullies to every other animal of their preservation center, they believe that the weaker animals deserve to die and keep stealing their food. Once the humans realize if they're not dealt with, the other animals will die, they decide to KillEmAll. Naturally, the other animals in the preservation center all hate them and don't care if they die in the slightest, so Kimba tries his best to save them. [[spoiler:It doesn't work and [[AssholeVictim a pack of over 400 elephants are shot dead]], with the only survivors being a baby and his mother.]]

* AdaptationalAlternateEnding: Revised by Osamu Tezuka himself for the sequel series (in-comparison to the original manga and 1997 movie adaptation): [[spoiler:Rune safely drags Leo/Kimba and Dr. Moustache/Mr. Pompous from the snowy mountains to the jungle. Thus, Leo's family and friends stay alive and safe]].

* AdaptationalAlternateEnding: Revised by Osamu Tezuka himself for the sequel series (in-comparison to the original manga and 1997 movie adaptation): [[spoiler:Rune safely drags Leo/Kimba and Dr. Moustache from the snowy mountains to the jungle. Thus, Leo's family and friends stay alive and safe]].

* AdaptationalAlternateEnding: Revised by Osamu Tezuka himself for the sequel series (in-comparison to the original manga and 1997 movie adaptation): [[spoiler:Thanks to to the efforts of Rune, Leo/Kimba and Dr. Moustache are both safely moved from the snowy mountains to the jungle, keeping Leo's family and friends alive and safe]].

[[Disney/TheLionKing Doesn't this story sound suspiciously familiar?]][[note]]Actually, [[TheBardOnBoard Shakespeare did it first.]][[/note]]

[[Disney/TheLionKing Sounds familiar, doesn't it?]]

As an additional note, the original series was the first Japanese animated television series produced in color.

[[Disney/TheLionKing Sounds familiar?]]

* TalkingAnimal: [[CaptainObvious Make a guess]].

** In the sequel series, there is Zamba, who is like the name of the episode he debuted in, a blue lion.

* ''Leo The lion'' (1966): Sequel series [[PostScriptSeason unrelated to the manga]] focusing both on the now adult Kimba as well as his cub, Rune.

''Kimba the White Lion'' is a 1965 television series based on Creator/OsamuTezuka's manga "Jungle Taitei" (1950-1954), directed by Tezuka himself. The series follows a white lion named Kimba (Leo in the Japanese version) who, due to the death of his father, is forced to become the King of the Jungle. With the help of [[OldMaster an old baboon who once advised his father]] and a [[ThoseTwoGuys comically mismatched pair of buddies]], he must reclaim his kingdom from [[GoodScarsEvilScars a black-maned, scarred lion who has usurped the throne in his absence]].

[[Disney/TheLionKing Remind you of anything?]]

However, for all the comparisons between ''Disney/TheLionKing'' and this show, Kimba's story doesn't only consist of reclaiming the throne, but rather focuses on the aftermath as he tries to reassert his authority across the jungle, and [[{{Utopia}} create a new paradise where every animal has rights and prove that even animals can overcome the laws of nature]].

* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism: All over the dang place. At first, things seem [[LighterandSofter much happier than the original series]] due to the simple fact Leo's parents are still alive... Then we learn that without going through the ordeal of losing both his parents, [[ShrinkingViolet he's not the same lion]]. Mankind has recreated the jungle willing to spare no expense. [[spoiler:Oh, it's being used as an experiment to try and manufacture "perfect" animals. Things then go into [[DespairEventHorizon total despair towards the end, when no one wants to fight the humans, because they can do whatever they want without consequence]]... until Leo decides he has enough and leads the animals on a all or nothing assault on Eternal Earth. [[CrowningMomentofAwesome And wins]].]]