N LITE Announces Exciting Remake of Tezuka's Jungle Emperor Leo Anime
Discover how Tezuka's groundbreaking 1950-1954 manga inspired countless TV anime and film adaptations, shaping modern Japanese entertainment.
Exciting News: Remake of Osamu Tezuka's 'Jungle Emperor Leo' in the Works
Tezuka Osamu's beloved manga, Jungle Emperor Leo, originally published from 1950 to 1954, continues to inspire new generations. The story has been adapted into numerous TV anime and films over the years, capturing the hearts of fans worldwide.
A New Remake on the Horizon
During the NLITE panel at Anime Expo, Christiano Terry from multimedia company N LITE announced that they are working on a remake of Jungle Emperor Leo (also known as Kimba the White Lion). However, details about the format or which part of the story will be adapted remain under wraps. This is exciting news for fans eager to see a fresh take on Tezuka's classic.
About the Original Manga
The manga was serialized in Gakudosha's Manga Shonen magazine from 1950 to 1954. It tells the story of Leo, a white lion raised by humans, who dreams of becoming the emperor of the jungle.
Story Summary:
Right on the equator in Africa, there is a white lion named Panja. He rules the jungle as king of the animals. One day, he is shot by a hunter, and his wife is captured to be sent to the zoo. On the ship, she gives birth to a boy named Leo, telling him to return to Africa to become emperor. After letting him escape, she dies when the ship is sunk in a storm. Leo arrives in a port town in the Arabian Peninsula, where he is raised by a boy named Kenichi. Later, Leo joins an investigation team in Africa to research the Moon Stone. Seeing the jungle for the first time, Leo is disgusted by animals killing each other, but he eventually regains confidence and aims to establish the Jungle Empire to protect the weak.
Adaptations Over the Years
The manga's first TV anime adaptation aired from 1965 to 1966. The story has been revisited multiple times, including the latest adaptation titled Jungle Emperor Leo: Hon-o-ji, which premiered in 2000. These adaptations were produced initially at Tezuka's Mushi Production studio and later at Tezuka Productions.
Future Projects and Collaborations
N LITE is also committed to promoting diverse stories, including afro-anime (AFRIME), which features hand-drawn 2D animation celebrating Black and indigenous cultures. The company is working on various projects, including the upcoming MFINDA film and Chiure: Child of the Sea, which is currently in production.
Source: N LITE AX 2025 panel (Earl Gertwagen)
Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting remake and other anime news!
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