{"id":152,"date":"2013-12-09T15:36:16","date_gmt":"2013-12-09T15:36:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tezuka.strobez.ca\/wp\/?page_id=152"},"modified":"2023-02-16T21:08:47","modified_gmt":"2023-02-16T21:08:47","slug":"jungle-emperor-manga","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/tezuka.strobez.ca\/wp\/?page_id=152","title":{"rendered":"Jungle Emperor [aka Kimba] (Manga)"},"content":{"rendered":"
Also known as \u30b8\u30e3\u30f3\u30b0\u30eb\u5927\u5e1d (Junguru\u00a0Taitei)<\/h5>\n
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\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
English Title:<\/strong><\/td>\nJungle Emperor<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
In English?<\/strong><\/td>\nNo<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Japanese Title:<\/strong><\/td>\n\u30b8\u30e3\u30f3\u30b0\u30eb\u5927\u5e1d
\nJunguru Taitei<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Type:<\/strong><\/td>\nOngoing Serial<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Original run:<\/strong><\/td>\n1950\/11 –\u00a01954\/04<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Published in:<\/strong><\/td>\nManga Shonen<\/em>
\n\u6f2b\u753b\u5c11\u5e74<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Published by:<\/strong><\/td>\nGakudo<\/span>sha <\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Volumes:<\/strong><\/td>\n3
\nMT-001<\/a> | MT-002<\/a> | MT-003<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Arguably Tezuka’s second-most well-known series, after Astro Boy<\/em> (1952-68)<\/a>, Jungle Emperor<\/em>\u00a0(1950-54) was originally published as a serial in\u00a0Manga Shonen\u00a0<\/em>between November 1950 and April 1954. \u00a0Also widely known as Kimba the White Lion<\/em>,\u00a0it\u00a0is one of Tezuka’s earliest serialized (as opposed to all-in-one book) adventures, and its enduring popularity has given rise to several animated television shows<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What it’s about<\/h2>\n

Tezuka’s story begins with the celebrated hunter\u00a0Hamegg<\/a>\u00a0killing the great white lion Panja and shipping his pregnant mate to a zoo in England. \u00a0Panja’s son,\u00a0Leo<\/a>\u00a0is soon born on board, and his mother convinces him to escape a life of captivity and sends him overboard.\u00a0 After washing up on shore,\u00a0Leo<\/a>\u00a0is adopted by\u00a0Kenichi<\/a>\u00a0and his\u00a0uncle<\/a>\u00a0and is taught human ways.\u00a0 When he returns to Africa,\u00a0Leo<\/a>\u00a0is shocked by the “law of the jungle” and so he introduces the animals to many of the wonders of human technology, language and civilization.\u00a0 As he grows,\u00a0Leo<\/a>\u00a0learns of the ancestry of the white lions and comes to accept his role as a leader. \u00a0He eventually marries, and his mate Lyre gives birth to two cubs, Lune and Lukkio.\u00a0 However, when a disease ravages the jungle,\u00a0Leo<\/a>\u00a0must accepts help from his human friends. \u00a0And so, owing a debt of gratitude, he agrees to join them on their expedition to the mysterious Mt. Moon in search of the wondrous Moonlight stones…<\/p>\n

What you should know<\/h2>\n

Originally planned as a one\u2013shot manga entitled\u00a0Mitsurin Taitei<\/em>\u00a0[\u5bc6\u6797\u5927\u5e1d] \u2013 literally “Dense Forest (i.e. “Jungle”) Emperor”, publisher Kenichi Kato convinced the young Osamu Tezuka to expand on his original story idea and offer it as a regular four\u2013page feature in the monthly Manga Shonen<\/em>.<\/i>\u00a0 Debuting in November 1950, the newly renamed and more exotic\u2013sounding\u00a0Junguru Taitei<\/em>\u00a0[<\/i>\u30b8\u30e3\u30f3\u30b0\u30eb\u5927\u5e1d], or “Jungle Emperor”, was an instant hit and was expanded to ten pages the very next month.<\/p>\n

Typical of many of Tezuka’s early works, the story rockets along at breakneck speed, cramming in plot device after plot device. \u00a0As noted Tezkua scholar, Fredrik L. Schodt observes in his book,\u00a0Dreamland Japan: Writings on Modern Manga<\/em><\/a>, \u201cThe printed manga story has gags, comedy, tragedy, allusions to ancient tectonic plates and \u2018supercontinents,\u2019 and exotic medical conditions\u201d (1996, p. 273).<\/p>\n

\"Panja<\/a>

Panja races through the jungle<\/p><\/div>\n

Jungle Emperor<\/em>\u00a0(1950-54) was always close to Tezuka’s heart, and, despite being over ten years old at the time, when the American television giant National Broadcasting Company (NBC) approached Osamu Tezuka in late 1964 with a request for a new program to follow up on the success of the original 1963 black & white\u00a0Astro Boy<\/em>\u00a0animated television series<\/a>, Tezuka was only too happy to pitch them a show following the adventures of the heroic white lion.<\/p>\n

With the success of the\u00a01965 anime television series<\/a>, Osamu Tezuka also decided to revisit Jungle Emperor<\/em>\u00a0(1950-54) in manga\u00a0format\u00a0– only this time for a much younger audience.\u00a0 Not truly a sequel, the\u00a0Leo the Lion Cub<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(1965-67) short stories were published in Shogakukan’s\u00a0Kindergarten & First Grader <\/em>from April, 1965 to March 1967 and in\u00a0Third & Fourth Grader<\/em> from May to November 1966. \u00a0Although they are not part of the regular\u00a0Jungle Emperor<\/em>\u00a0(1950-54) continuity, they often touch on many of the same themes and events. \u00a0The artwork and character designs are quite similar to the\u00a01965 anime television series<\/a>, and they include some of the stories not drawn directly or adapted from the original\u00a0Jungle Emperor<\/em>\u00a0(1950-54)<\/a> manga.<\/p>\n

\"Leo<\/a>

Leo presents Tomy with a hat<\/p><\/div>\n

However, despite boosting its profile, it’s fortunate the\u00a0Jungle Emperor<\/em>\u00a0manga survived the\u00a01965 anime television series<\/a>\u00a0at all. \u00a0This is because a large portion of the original artwork was lost during production in the early 1960’s. \u00a0While working on character designs for the show, one of the studio staff members “borrowed” the original artwork without permission and then died unexpectedly of alcohol poisoning. \u00a0In a panic, Tezuka rushed to the man’s apartment, but not before the authorities had cleared out the place – including his artwork. \u00a0Given the technological limitations at the time, back-up printing plates were prohibitively expensive, so it seemed it seemed lost forever.<\/p>\n

So, when Kodansha decided to publish the\u00a0Osamu Tezuka Complete Manga Works Edition<\/em><\/a>\u00a0in 1977, there was no choice but to redraw a significant part of the series for publication. \u00a0Given the difficulties of returning to an art style after fifteen (at the time) years, there is some notable shifts in style throughout the series. \u00a0It also makes it difficult to determine the “definitive” manga version of\u00a0Jungle Emperor <\/em>(1950-54). \u00a0As was common practice for Osamu Tezuka, every time a new edition of his manga was published, he took it as an opportunity to tweak and improve it, often in an attempt to update elements he felt were becoming dated, and\u00a0Jungle Emperor<\/em>\u00a0(1950-54) is certainly no exception. \u00a0Given the opportunity to redraw a significant portion of the series, certain aspects of the story were changed, expanded, moved around or deleted entirely. \u00a0A prime example of this can be seen in the sequence of events that occur between Leo jumping overboard and being found washed up on the beach.<\/p>\n

\"Leo<\/a>

Leo vs. Fish (1950)<\/p><\/div>\n

In the original version of\u00a0Jungle Emperor <\/em>(1950-54),\u00a0Kutter<\/a>\u00a0finds\u00a0Leo<\/a>\u00a0adrift and invites him aboard his raft. \u00a0When\u00a0Kutter<\/a>\u00a0starts seeing\u00a0Leo<\/a>\u00a0as a meal, the two part company and Leo’s raft sinks. \u00a0He is then taught to swim by some friendly fish – which comes in handy when a much larger fish attacks him. \u00a0After defeating the fish, he is again adrift, he sees his mother in the stars, and is then rescued by a passing ship that just happens to be carrying\u00a0Hamegg<\/a>,\u00a0Prof. Plus<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Dr. Minus<\/a>. \u00a0Onboard, he meets a group of mice who decide to hold a banquet in his honour. \u00a0While the mice run around gathering food,\u00a0Hamegg<\/a>\u00a0gets the Moonlight stone appraised and draws the attention of Plus and Minus. \u00a0Disappointed with\u00a0Leo<\/a>‘s poor job in catching the mice, the Captain decides to throw Leo overboard but relents and gives him\u00a0a life-jacket. \u00a0Leo then washes up on shore and is found by a group of children that includes Mary, Pierre,\u00a0Kenichi<\/a>, Albert, and others.<\/p>\n

\"Leo<\/a>

Leo vs. Fish (1977)<\/p><\/div>\n

In the redrawn and revised (1977) portion of\u00a0Jungle Emperor<\/em>, the sequence is quite different. \u00a0Kutter<\/a>\u00a0still finds\u00a0Leo<\/a>\u00a0adrift, invites him aboard the raft and then parts company with him when hunger begins to set it. \u00a0Floating along, he sees his mother in the stars and is then rescued from his small raft by the passing ship.\u00a0 He meets the mice, who, after deciding to hold a banquet in his honor, run around and gather food.\u00a0 Disappointed with\u00a0Leo<\/a>‘s poor job in catching the mice, the Captain decides to throw\u00a0Leo<\/a>\u00a0overboard but relents and sends him on his way on a raft. \u00a0One of the mice, Jacques, jumps overboard and joins Leo on the raft and the two are soon attacked by a large “saw-tooth” shark. \u00a0After\u00a0Leo<\/a>\u00a0defeats him, with his dying breath the shark offers the pair the use of the remoras on his belly.\u00a0 With the aid of the remoras, Leo<\/a>\u00a0and Jacques follow a trail of butterflies, but when the remoras leave, the two are at the mercy of the waves.\u00a0 Washing up on shore, they are discovered by Mary and Pierre – who are out for a joy-ride in Pierre’s car.<\/p>\n

Given the re-ordered sequence of events, it is difficult to match the chapters of the final (1977) version published in Kodansha’s\u00a0Osamu Tezuka Complete Manga Works Edition<\/em><\/a>\u00a0with the original publication order.\u00a0 Luckily, given advances in digital technology, the original\u00a0Manga Shonen<\/em>\u00a0edition was restored from secondary sources and republished in 2009.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Jungle Emperor<\/em>\u00a0(1950-54) manga is also notable for its controversial depiction of African natives – something which has arguably held up its publication in an English language edition for many years. Despite Tezuka’s humanist views and the overall anti-racist sentiment of his works, he was still very much a product of his times. \u00a0As was common practice at the time, the African natives in\u00a0Jungle Emperor<\/em>\u00a0(1950-54) are largely racist caricatures with ink-black skin and overly large lips. \u00a0However, since retroactive politically-correct edits to his works impinge on Tezuka’s artistic rights, Tezuka Productions has instead opted to include an explanatory message in all Tezuka manga published in any language worldwide.<\/p>\n

What else you should check out<\/h2>\n
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\"Jungle<\/a><\/div>

Jungle Emperor (Manga Shonen)<\/a><\/h3>
Originally planned as a one\u2013shot manga entitled Mitsurin Taitei [\u5bc6\u6797\u5927\u5e1d] \u2013 literally \u201cDense Forest (i.e. \u201cJungle\u201d) Emperor\u201d, publisher Kenichi Kato convinced the young Osamu Tezuka to expand on his original story idea and offer it as a regular four\u2013page...<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Arguably Tezuka’s second-most well-known series, after Astro Boy (1952-68), Jungle Emperor (1950-54) was originally published as a serial in Manga Shonen between 1950\u201354. Also widely known as Kimba the White Lion, it is one of Tezuka’s earliest serialized (as opposed to all-in-one book) adventures, and its enduring popularity has given rise to several animated television shows.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10125,"parent":9248,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[92,285,165,89,166,296,339],"class_list":["post-152","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-manga","tag-adventure","tag-animal-tales","tag-early-works","tag-manga-shonen","tag-mid-career-works","tag-ongoing-serials","tag-shonen-manga","has-thumbnail"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P6vZWu-2s","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezuka.strobez.ca\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/152","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezuka.strobez.ca\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezuka.strobez.ca\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezuka.strobez.ca\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezuka.strobez.ca\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=152"}],"version-history":[{"count":32,"href":"https:\/\/tezuka.strobez.ca\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/152\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13426,"href":"https:\/\/tezuka.strobez.ca\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/152\/revisions\/13426"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezuka.strobez.ca\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9248"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezuka.strobez.ca\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/10125"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezuka.strobez.ca\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=152"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezuka.strobez.ca\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=152"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezuka.strobez.ca\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=152"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}