I think my earliest memory is of being amazed by Kimba the White Lion (1965).
After a horriffic beginning when his mother drowns in a cage on a sinking ship, Kimba manages to swim to shore and return to his fathers kingdom. (I remember crying on many occasions during the series)
In his fight against his evil aunt and rogue lion, Claw; Kimba feels beaten and useless. He finds and hides away with the skinned remains of his father...which rather than causing him more grief inspires him to fight for his friends and his fathers land....wearing his fathers skin...ew.
This was pretty hardcore exciting when I was 5, and I was lucky enough at 24 to be able to visit a museum in his creators honour (Osamu Tezuka) and buy some of the original books and music. I know Osamu would have been delighted to know his story inspired someone as far away as Ireland. Its still an inspirational story to me, and was weird for me to find out the year Tezuka died was the same year I was so enjoying his story about a little white lion.
Uh...anyway....this washed-out picture was inspired by Kimbas speech to his father as he lay with the remains. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0LiFZUIaHs Excuse my bad Japanese.
UNJOY!
Also because I am a jerk here's the ones that didnt make the cut while I made up my mind:
Nice work Claire! Great backstory too. I wasn't familiar with the Kimba story at all so thanks for making it interesting. Did you actually do those thumbs as well? Great stuff!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind words! I did do all the thumbnails aswell. It was too hard to choose just ONE childhood hero, but I think Kimba could beat all of the rest in a fight!
ReplyDeleteNice work Claire, I really like it. You've inspired me to track down that Jungle Emperor series - it really sounds like some emotional stuff. I've come across it briefly before, mostly in the context of people berating me for loving the Lion King because it was - so they would assert - a blatant ripoff of Kimba. Judging from the clip you posted they may have had a point, but I think I'd prefer to call it an homage rather than a ripoff! I shared your dilemma about picking a hero; I couldn't decide so I did a dream team effort, but there was easily a dozen other candidates. Props to Brian for coming up with a really stimulating topic this month.
ReplyDeleteDon't mention the war.
ReplyDeleteThe art style in the comic books and t.v. series are very basic, but very of its time and it kind of makes it all the more horrifying. It was the first ever colour cartoon produced in Japan I believe, so at the very least it's historical...but the comic is probably best since you dont have to deal with the weird cuts and missing scenes us poor little white kids weren't allowed to see.
When are the poor little white kids ever gonna catch a break?! Comics it is, so. Only comics of Tezuka's I've actually read are the "Buddha" biographies, but they are a heckuva piece of work.
ReplyDeleteholy crap i had forgotten about that! nice one!
ReplyDeletecool stuff! :)
ReplyDeleteExcellent,this reminds me of the sly Simpsons joke. unfortunately I could only find a Spanish version of the link. :( "You Must Avenge My Death, Kimba… I Mean Simba"
ReplyDeleteHaha I remember feeling very vindicated when watching that Bleeding Gums Murphy episode. Damnit Disney.
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ReplyDeleteeu nunca ouvi falar dele eu nasci em 2000 então pesquisei ele
ReplyDeletee isso constuira´ a minha adolecência eu ainda tenho 12 anos
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