You might recognize the hilarious quote in my review title from The Simpsons Season 6 (Ep. #2F32: ’Round Springfield ) circa 1995. I admit that back in the 90’s, I wasn’t aware of the significance of that supposed slip-up by the Simpsonized likeness of Mufasa appearing in the clouds (only that it sounded funny). The fact is that it was a clever acknowledgment on behalf of the Simpsons writers as well as a shot fired at Disney for blatantly ripping off Osamu Tezuka’s manga, Jungle Emperor (which became Kimba The White Lion, the first Japanese animated series in colour) and “re-imagining” the story as The Lion King with zero credit given to the source material (dirty pool). And all of this controversy occurred only a few years after the legendary Tezuka had passed away in 1989 (not cool, Disney). Sure, everything is borrowed from something, but the Mickey Mouse corporation still maintains to this day that The Lion King was a completely original Disney creation, despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary. At the very least, “The God of Manga” should have received writing credit (know that Walt Disney is the “Osamu Tezuka of America” and forget that “Walt Disney of Japan” title that has been attributed to Tezuka on occasion). Good movie, but GREAT animated series. As you can probably tell by now, this isn’t a review (and honestly, who hasn’t seen The Lion King by now?) but rather my Tezuka-inspired soap box. Thanks for reading and respect the architects.

Do the knowledge: Kimba The White Lion Ultra DVD Box Set