Jungle Emperor Leo

Infobox Film
name =Jungle Emperor Leo


caption =The Japanese DVD cover for "Jungle Emperor Leo". One of the cubs is portrayed on the cover.
imdb_id =0119406
director =Yoshio Takeuchi
writer =Yoshio Takeuchi Osamu Tezuka Tezuka Production Committee
producer =Tezuka Production Company Ltd.
music =Isao Tomita
distributor =Media Blasters (R1 DVD)
released =August 1, 1997
runtime =100 min.
language =Japanese English |

nihongo|"Jungle Emperor Leo"|劇場版 ジャングル大帝|Gekijyouban Jyanguru Taitei is a 1997 animated movie focusing on the last half of Osamu Tezuka's epic manga, "Jungle Taitei" (known in earlier US productions as "Kimba the White Lion", and "Leo the Lion").

Plot

In the beginning of this film, Leo is an adult and has just learned that his mate, Laira, has just given birth to two cubs: Lune(pronounced Lu-Ney) and Lukio. After a grand celebration, the scene changes drastically to a bustling city where a man named Ham Egg is travelling from jeweler to jeweler to try and sell a special stone he found in the Bajalu Jungle. After being turned down at every pawn shop and jeweler he goes to, the jewelers all inform someone of Ham Egg's whereabouts, and soon he is hauled away in a black car by intimidating men in black suits.

As it turns out, the stone that he's been trying to sell is really the "Moonlight Stone", a mineral that could be used as a power source and save the world from an impending energy crisis. A scientific organization led by Dr. Plus and Dr. Minus seek the help of Ham Egg to lead them to the source of the Moonlight Stone so it can be salvaged and used to help humanity. Ham Egg, however, is only interested in money, but is soon persuaded by Dr. Plus who is well aware of Ham Egg's illegal poaching activities. Ham Egg agrees to work for them, but demands to be put in charge of the search. Accompanying Ham Egg is Mr. Lemonade of the organization, and Dr. Moustache who is already stationed in the jungle.

When they arrive in the jungle, Dr. Moustache and Mr. Lemonade are shocked by Ham Egg and his "friends" who wantonly destroy jungle forest land and shoot any animal they come across. Dr. Moustache constantly argues with them over being respectful to nature, as Mr. Lemonade records everything that happens in his journal.

As Leo's son, Lune, becomes more and more curious of the human world, Leo continues to protect the animals of the jungle from whatever may threaten them, including Ham Egg's sinister actions, dissent amongst the animals, and a deadly disease that is affecting the animals.

With his domain violated by humans in a relentless search for the Moonlight Stone, their actions bring death to the jungle and break up Leo's family. Leaving Leo with the heavy responsibility of bringing peace to the jungle, his family, and even the humans.

Difference from the manga

A major story change made for this movie version is that while all the animals communicate with each other, they do not talk to the humans. This change is in direct opposition to Tezuka's stated premise behind his original Jungle Emperor story: that an inter-species society of animals must include humans as well.

Characters

*"Leo"
*"Laira"
*"Lune"
*"Lukio"
*"Tommy"
*"Coco"
*"Burazza"
*"Pagura"
*"Bizo"
*"Higeoyaji as "Dr. Moustache""
*"Ham Egg as Himself"
*"Tick/Ramune as "Mr. Lemonade""
*"Notaarin as "Dr. Minus""
*"Duke Red as "Dr. Plus""

References

ee also

* Kimba the White Lion
* Leo the Lion
* List of Osamu Tezuka manga
* List of Osamu Tezuka anime
* Osamu Tezuka
* Osamu Tezuka's Star System

External links

* [http://www.kimbawlion.com Kimba fan site, including images from scenes deleted from this movie]
* [http://en.tezuka.co.jp/manga/sakuhin/m016/m016_01.html Jungle Emperor Leo manga at TezukaOsamu@World] en icon
* [http://en.tezuka.co.jp/anime/sakuhin/mv/mv020.html Jungle Emperor Leo 1997 film at TezukaOsamu@World] en icon
* [http://ja.tezuka.co.jp/anime/sakuhin/mv/mv020.html Jungle Emperor Leo 1997 film at TezukaOsamu@World] ja icon