Kimba the White Lion

Alt title: Jungle Taitei

TV (52 eps)
1965 - 1966
3.156 out of 5 from 596 votes
Rank #13,316

Kimba is a young white lion whose early months were marred by tragedy; his father was captured and killed before he was born, and his mother died after the boat they were in capsized. Now back in his real home, in the jungles of Africa, Kimba is joined by a number of fellow animal comrades including a wise baboon, ever-squawking parrot and hat-wearing giraffe. Though humans often try to capture the animals of the forest, Kimba believes in non-violence and hopes that someday, man and beast can communicate and live in harmony.

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Reviews

ChiiYuuki
10

Jungle Taitei is a timeless and influential anime that has left a lasting impact on the world of animation. The series follows the adventures of Kimba, a brave and compassionate white lion cub, as he navigates the challenges of the animal kingdom and strives to create a harmonious coexistence between animals and humans. One of the standout aspects of the show is its beautiful animation, considering its release in the mid-1960s. The art style may seem simplistic by today's standards, but it retains a certain charm that contributes to the overall appeal of the series. The characters are well-designed, and the vibrant colors used in the animation bring the animal kingdom to life. The storytelling in Jungle Taitei is both heartwarming and thought-provoking. The series explores themes of friendship, environmentalism, and the importance of understanding and respecting nature. Kimba's journey is filled with moral lessons and character development, making it suitable for viewers of all ages. Osamu Tezuka's influence is evident in the narrative depth and the incorporation of social commentary. The show's willingness to address serious issues, such as environmental conservation and the consequences of human actions on wildlife, sets it apart from other animated series of its time. While Jungle Taitei has earned its place in anime history, it's worth noting the controversy surrounding its similarities to Disney's The Lion King. Some viewers have pointed out striking resemblances in character designs and plot elements, leading to debates about potential inspiration or influence. In conclusion, Jungle Taitei is a classic anime that continues to be enjoyed by audiences around the world. Its endearing characters, moral messages, and artistic achievements make it a significant piece of animation history, despite the ongoing discussions about its connections to other works.

ThatAnimeSnob
4

This series of reviews will focus on anime which although they were never masterpiece lever, they still retain lots of quality in their own special way. I will start with this one, which although has the name “emperor” in the title, it is not that great of a show. VALUE SECTION: 4/10 Although it appears quite silly in our days, the Jungle Emperor was the first color anime series ever made. Made by the man who created the anime morphology, the God of Manga Osamu Tezuka, this title paved the way of the anime industry. It has a high historical value for being one of the first anime ever made and for being a sweet memory for the older otakus. Aside from that though, it doesn’t have much replay value and it is not memorable in any particular way. ART & SOUND SECTION: 5/10 They will be unbearable if you haven’t been raised with old titles. But they were a technological miracle at the time they were made. They are full of cute animals, a strong depiction of emotions and a high esteem for justice and friendship, dressed nicely with smart camera angles and colors that focus the viewer’s eyes were they should be paying attention. Osamu founded these techniques and they were brand new and downright attractive back in those times.By today’s standards for most people it will be something to laugh at, as the animation fluidity is terrible and all those innocent eyes staring upwards with respect gets irritating pretty fast. The entire cheery atmosphere feels out of place in our era of emos and anti-heroes. Younger otakus would rate them with a 4 or a 3.Just remember that the animation was done by hand, frame after frame. There were no stereo or computer-generated 3D graphics and sound effects back then, so the work they put into making this series in a time when anime were just an unknown form of entertainment, was amazing. So, it gets an aesthetic increase in the marks just for that. Just remember Disney’s Snow White and you may understand why old graphics and sound are still nice to listen to. STORY & CHARACTER SECTION: 3/10 Well, there is nothing much to say. A little white lion is protecting the jungle, helps his friends and learns from the wisdom of his elders. Being shallow even for a children’s story, the series is good only for promoting moral messages to its audience. Besides that, it’s just episodic stories, without much character or story development. The animals are either good or bad and none of them has a strong presence.I’m not going to try to give an aesthetic increase in the marks in this one. There were fine stories being made in the 60’s and I ‘m generally not fond of simple, too-goody characters. ENJOYMENT SECTION: 4/10 Definitely surpassed by a myriad other anime titles, both in characters and general concept. I don’t suggest this to anyone younger than 25. Older otakus and anime collectors on the other hand will appreciate its simple format and its artistically, emotional dressing. VERDICT: 4/10 I regret to inform you that the patient has left us. But worry not, as his ideals keep living inside his descendants. SUGGESTION LIST If you like series with animals in a jungle, there is the much newer Jungle Book: Shounen Mowgli. Disney has reused the same idea and made The Lion King.

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