Jungle Taitei - Leo (Grieco Collection)Leo · Grieco Collection

This figure from the Grieco Collection captures Leo, the white lion protagonist of Osamu Tezuka's Jungle Taitei (Jungle Emperor Leo), known internationally as Kimba the White Lion. The figure stands approximately 150mm tall and portrays the character who became one of anime and manga's most iconic animal heroes. Serialized from 1950 to 1954, Jungle Taitei tells the story of Leo, a rare white lion cub orphaned after his father Panja is killed by humans. Raised briefly by a human boy, Leo eventually returns to the jungle to succeed his father as its protector and ruler. Tezuka, heavily influenced by Disney's Bambi, crafted a narrative emphasizing ecological advocacy, the tension between wildlife and human encroachment, and the responsibilities of jungle governance. The series is credited as a pioneering work in serialized television animation, with its 1965 anime adaptation produced by Mushi Production. The Grieco Collection figure stands at 150mm and commemorates one of Tezuka's most enduring creations, a character whose story of loss, maturation, and stewardship helped shape the future of anime storytelling.