Blossay 1
The episode I will be analyzing is Jungle Emperor 89 Episode 19: Life (American English) from Kimba, The White Lion Also known as Jungle Emperor (Janguru Taitei). This episode was first released in the U.S on October 13, 1966. The production company is NBC Enterprises. The original production company of this franchise in Japan is Mushi Pro. The creator of the franchise, Tezuka Osamu is also the creator of the famous anime Tetsuwon Atom known in the states as Astro Boy. The Kimba, the White Lion series first aired under the name Jungle Emperor Leo on Japan’s Fugi television network. The franchise began as a manga, then evolved into a color television series in Japan. Eventually, the show had been picked up by audience’s worldwide reaching places like North America, France and Spain with all three of these countries translating the show into their predominant spoken language. The reason I decided to analyze Kimba is because shows and movies with an entire animal cast lock my attention more than anything else. I think it might be the cuteness. I watched this episode on YouTube.
The first episode of Kimba, The White Lion that we watched for class was the story of how Kimba came to be. People (hinted at as Americas by one of the human chiefs), invaded Africa in order to capture the animals. The humans were never able to feat Caesar, the great white lion and leader of that part of the jungle. They had to trick him and capture his pregnant girlfriend to finally capture him. While being held captive on a ship, Ceasar’s girlfriend gives birth to their son Kimba. As he is still a toddler, Kimba’s mother tells him to leave the ship and go fend for the other African Animals back in the jungle. Kimba does not want to leave his mother and is very scared. His mother pushes him to build up the courage in the name of his father and with some bravery, Kimba jumps into the water and swims towards salvation.
Episode 19 seems as if it can follow directly after the first episode. Except for that fact that Kimba has grown taller and is now super brave. The opening of the episode shows Kimba bravely running through the plains of Africa through herds of different Animals. During this music is playing in the narration and it ends on a frame of Kimba standing tall and mighty on a the rock edge that his father once stood on. When the episode officially begins Kimba is bravely looking for a place to survive on his own. Everything is deserted, there is nothing in sight except for the bones of dead animals. Kimba is no longer that afraid young boy we saw in episode 1. Now he growls at every noise and is always ready to attack to defend himself. He is all alone but he is not afraid. The animals he does come in contact with all treat him bad. A bird yells at him until he runs away, an owl throws him into a rock pit that he has so much trouble getting out of. In an attempt to get out he gets trampled by ants. He finally gets out and finds a way to get the ants off of him. On his journey to find water or sufficient shelter he gets tired, falls, and surrenders to death. When he wakes up he spots an elephant in the distance. He decides to follow this elderly elephant and is led to a forest, then to a lake. Kimba is happy to finally be around water but although the elephant is in the water himself, he warns Kimba not to get in. The elephant tells Kimba to keep going straight for another lake. Kimba runs off and when he turns around he watches as the elephant drops to its knees and dies.
I think this series was produced as a different version of the same theme portrayed in Astro Boy. This being for a different audience. As Astro Boy may have been targeted more towards males, Kimba, the White Lion has an audiences of both genders and young children. Young children that might not understand Astro Boy will enjoy and consume the message in Kimba because it consist of cute animals. The comparisons of theme I find in Astro Boy and Kimba alike are: being attacked by outer forces, becoming estranged from family, and made to overcome their circumstances and be brave nonetheless. Episode 19 of Kimba made me think of a person who is fighting during a war and had become alienated from everyone else. Alone in a place unfamiliar to them, in search for food and water, being treated poorly because they are and outsider, experiencing death, and hopefully eventually finding means of survival. This is something that it devastating that happens during wars that has found its way artistically into a show suitable for children. Similar to how situations in life can be so cruel and cold but in a leaf elegantly falling off a tree be so alluring.
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