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Tezuka's Jungle Emperor to Return in Summer TV Special

posted on by Egan Loo
Anime to mark 80th birthday of Kimba the White Lion creator Osamu Tezuka

Osamu Tezuka's classic Jungle Emperor (Kimba the White Lion) manga and anime will return as a new television anime special in Japan this summer. The project will mark both the 50th anniversary of the Fuji TV network and the 80th anniversary of Tezuka's birth. Osamu Suzuki, the writer for SMAP x SMAP, other variety programs, and the live-action Lovely Complex film, is penning the script. (Suzuki is also the husband of comedian Miyuki Ōjima.) While the new anime's plot will still be inspired by Tezuka's original story of a young white lion's coming-of-age and adulthood, it will incoporate elements of variety storytelling. Suzuki said that the original was a masterpiece that he and others grew up watching, so he is eager to see another new version made through this unique "Osamu x Osamu" collaboration.

The original manga ran in the monthly magazine Manga Shonen from 1950 to 1954. After the manga became a big hit, it inspired the 1965-1966 television series that came to America under the name Kimba the White Lion. Since then, there have been two film remakes, one television sequel, and one television remake. The white lion Leo is also the mascot of the Saitama Seibu Lions baseball team in Japan.

Source: Sankei Sports via Moon Phase Comments


This article has a follow-up: Geass' Taniguchi, FF Games' Amano on New Jungle Emperor (2009-01-27 11:11)
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