Kimba

Kimba, commonly known as Kimba the White Lion, is the English title for Jungle Taitei, a Japanese manga and anime created by Osamu Tezuka. The story follows Kimba, a white lion cub who grows to become king of the jungle, as he learns about leadership, justice, and peaceful coexistence with other animals and humans who enter his world.

The Jungle Taitei manga debuted in the 1950s, illustrating Tezuka's signature blend of drama, humor, and didactic themes. An animated television series adaptation produced by Mushi Production aired in Japan in 1965–1966 and helped establish early conventions of color anime for younger audiences. International releases followed with English-language dubs in the 1980s and 1990s.

Themes emphasize ecology, empathy, and moral responsibility, with episodic adventures that explore friendship, respect for nature, and the balance between civilization and the wild.

Kimba is regarded as an influential early example of anthropomorphic animal storytelling in anime and a significant part of Osamu Tezuka's legacy. The work is also notable for the recurring public discussion about similarities between Kimba and Disney's The Lion King, a topic of ongoing debate regarding influence and originality.

In Japanese, Jungle Taitei translates to Jungle Emperor, a title used in several international releases; the character Kimba remains a recognizable figure in the history of anime and in studies of Tezuka's body of work.