Leo the Lion

[jeffbert]

I was watching the first disk in this series, that somehow could not get the rights to use the names 'Kimba', "Polly Cracker", "Dan'l Baboon", etc. In episode 4, Leo (the adult Kimba) says that as a cub, he was called a coward, "or, in the language of animals, 'Kimba'". I would think the owners of that name would find this rather offensive, and found this quite unexpected. I had to rewind just to make sure I had heard correctly.

[Breakman]

Interesting, but it makes no sense. In the first episode of KWL, Caesar said his son would be named "Kimba". So that means he wanted to call his son "Coward"? Okay then, let's say he did wanted that or take out that scene completely. Kimba goes around helping others and saving them, being a just and kind king, and the animals just call him Coward? If it was an attack on the name "Kimba", it was a bad move. They could have made him say, "Everyone called me 'Kimba' when I was younger, but that was such a childish name and now I call myself 'Leo'." It sounds better, doesn't it? B)

[jeffbert]

Yeah, it does sound better. If they could not get the rights to the names, but used the primary derogatively, even once, I would think that would be grounds for lawsuit. Of course the name owners must first know of that use.

Perhaps it was for the same reason that the guy in Johnny Cash's "Boy named Sue" named the kid 'Sue'. Which according to the song was to make him tough because daddy knew he would not be around to teach him to fight.

[Astro Forever]

Beside Jeffbert and I, has anyone else ever watched this one?

I've never seen the first Kimba series, but I saw this one when I was young. I was astonished to find out it was produced in the sixties! I really don't know how it made its way on a channel in the 80s around here!

I remember that I liked it, but not as much as Astro. Many scenes in Astroboy stayed in my memory until the last months when I finally got to watch them again, even some that I had probably seen only once. I have exactly two memories of the Leo series: once Leo had an argument with his friend the mandrill, and I think he clawed him. Another time he was blinded by something and had to make his way out of a ravine with a man on his back. The man had to give him instructions on where to set his paws since he couldn't see. Then I think the man then put some grains on his eyes and Leo recovered his eyesight. I also remember the family, but not any specific action with them.

Looking at the page on Tezuka's website (here), I can see that Higeoyaji was in it, but somehow I have no memory of him. This is very strange because if I recall correctly, I must have seen this around the time I watched Astro. I still don't know how I missed him. Was he a recurring character?

[jeffbert]

Originally posted by Astro forever@Aug 20 2005, 11:56 PM
Beside Jeffbert and I, has anyone else ever watched this one?

I've never seen the first Kimba series, but I saw this one when I was young. I was astonished to find out it was produced in the sixties! I really don't know how it made its way on a channel in the 80s around here!

I remember that I liked it, but not as much as Astro. Many scenes in Astroboy stayed in my memory until the last months when I finally got to watch them again, even some that I had probably seen only once. I have exactly two memories of the Leo series: once Leo had an argument with his friend the mandrill, and I think he clawed him. Another time he was blinded by something and had to make his way out of a ravine with a man on his back. The man had to give him instructions on where to set his paws since he couldn't see. Then I think the man then put some grains on his eyes and Leo recovered his eyesight. I also remember the family, but not any specific action with them.

Looking at the page on Tezuka's website (here), I can see that Higeoyaji was in it, but somehow I have no memory of him. This is very strange because if I recall correctly, I must have seen this around the time I watched Astro. I still don't know how I missed him. Was he a recurring character?

Higoeyaji was Tezuka's busiest actor. His 'filmography' or 'manga-ography' is by far the largest of any of Tezuka's actors.

http://en-f.tezuka.co.jp/studio/character/...title/c003.html

[Astro Forever]

Yes I know, but I meant: was he a recurring character in Leo the Lion? Like did he appear on many episodes?

BTW, how did you like it?

[jeffbert]

Originally posted by Astro forever@Aug 21 2005, 11:23 AM
Yes I know, but I meant: was he a recurring character in Leo the Lion? Like did he appear on many episodes?

BTW, how did you like it?

I borrowed the DVDs from Netflix, & while the stories were ok, the picture had too much color saturation, & the sound was also rather poor in quality. I do not recall seeing either H or Kenichi dercriticalthinker@yahoo.comin the series, though.

[dannavy85]

Some times I wonder if old Fred Ladd wasn't doing some wild drugs when he came up with the names for the early Japanime shows.