Kimba the White Lion: Difference between revisions

{{work}}

 

 

 

Yeah, in some adaptions of the story, this really [[It Got Worse|doesn't end well.]] However due to the fact that this particular series was a collaboration between [[NBC]] and Tezuka Studios, the anime series remains high on [[Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism|the more upbeat side of the scale]].

 

As an additional note, this was in fact the first color anime series to appear in Japan.

* [[Bilingual Bonus]]: Arguably, Kimba is a corruption of Simba, the Swahili word for "Lion."

** Actually, Kimba was originally supposed to be named Simba, but the lead letter was changed due to its similarity with the name of a contemporary soft-drink product. At least, that's the story...

* [[Bittersweet Ending]]: If you take the 60's ''Leo the Lion'' into consideration, it's the ONLY version of the original story that doesn't end tragically. {{spoiler|Yet in spite of the high kill count, the near collapse of the animal's utopia when the humans' interest in their area is piqued, and Leo/Kimba's decision and ultimate fate-- The last major threat to said kingdom has been removed, Rune has learned that there is good and evil in animals AND in humans finally understanding his father's [[Knight in Sour Armor|balanced perspective on the issue]], and through the actions of both father and son, [[Earn Your Happy Ending|it's hinted that the animals are on the fast track to being considered sentient by humanity.]]}}

** {{spoiler|[[Downer Ending|The '89 series sort of throws this out the window though, making the deaths and sacrifices seem utterly meaningless.]]}}

* [[Caramelldansen Vid]]: Strangely enough. It can be seen [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRVcRi417Yc here].

* [[Cats Are Mean]]: Played straight with Claw, inverted by Kimba.

* [[Carnivore Confusion]]: When Kimba became the new king, all of the carnivores, including the titular character, weren't allowed to eat one other. They eventually decided to feast on insects.

* [[Cute Kitten]]

* [[Darkest Africa]]: Both Played straight and subverted- The main chunk of story takes place in the last bit of frontier on an Africa on the fast track to becoming a world power. Kimba himself joins in by reorganizing the jungle along the lines of human civilization. In fact, a running theme of the story is the battle between this modernization and nature itself. {{spoiler|[[Bittersweet Ending|It's a tie.]]}}

* [[Darker and Edgier]]: The 1980's remake series. This is probably because Osamu Tezuka died after he made the sixth episode. In the final episode in the Japanese version, half of the main cast, including those that didn't even die in the manga, just got shot after a whole freaking 52 episodes of them appearing regularly.

* [[Downer Beginning]]: The series starts off with Kimba's mother being captured & his father being killed in the rescue attempt. Snowene lives long enough to give birth to her cub - but soon as he's old enough and been told about his father and heritage, the ship gets caught in a nasty storm, Kimba is urged to escape before it hits. He's swept away and wakes up among the debris of the ship. Kimba quickly realizes his mother did not survive the storm.

* [[Dub Name Change]]: At least 90% of the characters.

* [[Fantastic Racism]]: Specklerex had an issue with white lions during his debut episode.

* [[Follow the Leader]]: It's an ersatz version of ''[[Animal Farm]]''.

* [[The Good King]]: Kimba and his father.

* {{spoiler|[[The Hero Dies]]: Kimba in all but the 60's TV series and the TV special. The eighties' series doesn't come out and say it but whatever happened, our hero's been shot and is currently bleeding to death....[[Gainax Ending|then there's a shot of the clouds.]]}}

** [[Humans Are Flawed]]

* [[King of Beasts]]

* [[Lighter and Softer]]: The original manga was filled with [[Tear Jerker|some heartbreaking scenes]], [[Diabolus Ex Machina|horrible events happening for no reason]], [[Downer Ending|and one of the most infamous endings to a shonen manga ever.]] As for the anime series? It still edges into some pretty sad territory, but things don't self-destruct this time around.

** The main reason why the Neo-Jungle isn't working in the TV special. Mixing species together turns out to be a bad idea. {{spoiler|Turns out this was intentional. The Director had planned to use the mixed jungle to weed out the weaker animals and create new species. [[A God Am I|He kind of let this get to his head]].}}

* [[Mood Whiplash]]: The first episode. It literally goes from tragedy to comedy and back every minute or so.

* [[Nice Hat]]: "Tommy, you aren't supposed to ''eat it''!"

* [[Not So Different]]: While we have some humans that don't have any second thoughts about killing animals, we also have a few animals that are more than happy to lead humans, whether they're good or evil, to their deaths.

* [[Pretty Butterflies]]: Kimba followed a swarm of migrating butterflies to get to land when he was lost at the ocean during the first episode.

* [[Punny Name]]: The dub has it's fun with Paulie Cracker, Speedy the Cheetah and the like. Kimba/Leo's kids are given this treatment in the manga....thanks to Paulie/Coco remembering the names mean to 'sleep' and to 'wake up'.

* [[Royals Who Actually Do Something]]: Kimba's family.

* [[Sliding Scale of Animal Communication]]: At Level 8.

* [[Talking Animal]]: [[Captain Obvious|Make a guess]].

* [[Villain Song]]: The Black Four has one.

 

 

* [[A Boy and His X|A Boy And His Lion]]: Kenichi meets Leo and, despite some misgivings on Leo's part to begin with, they strike up a firm friendship.

* {{spoiler|[[Cloning Blues]]: Toto. To the point where he's blinded by rage for all of humanity.}}

* [[Corrupt Corporate Executive]]: Oyama. Sort of. Money isn't his objective so much as {{spoiler|[[A God Am I|godhood]]}}

** {{spoiler|He manages to appear later for [[Last Breath Bullet|one last spite-filled attack on said finch.]]}}

* [[Gender Flip]]: Coco is now female...for some reason.

* [[Interspecies Romance]]: One sided anyway. The now female Coco has a fairly obvious crush on Leo. [[She Is Not My Girlfriend|'Course she'll deny it if you bring it up.]]

* [[Mythology Gag]]: At one point, Kenichi sees a flock of birds, very VERY similar to the original Jungle Emperor opening.

* [[Names to Run Away From Really Fast]]: "Launch the '''[[Oh Crap|carnivorous locusts]]'''!"

** [[Cerebus Rollercoaster]]

* [[World of Cardboard Speech]]: Leo gets one towards the end. While the other animals think opposing the humans will be utterly useless, he decides he's had enough of being a crybaby.

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Anime]]

[[Category:Nozomi Entertainment]]

[[Category:Manga]]

[[Category:Animal Title Index]]