Kimba the White Lion: Vol. 1: The King Is Dead, All Hail the King! (NR)

KIMBA THE WHITE LION, Japan's first color-animated TV series, tells the story of an orphaned lion cub who struggles to take his rightful place as ruler of the jungle and to peacefully unite the animals. VOLUME 1: "THE KING IS DEAD, ALL HAIL THE KING!" contains the first four episodes of the classic TV series. In "Go, White Lion," Kimba is born after his father, Caesar, is killed by a hunter and his mother has been taken into captivity. At his mother's urging, Kimba embarks on a harrowing swim back to Africa. In "Jungle Thief," Kimba must preside over a serious food shortage and find out who's been stealing from the emergency food supply. He directs the other animals in the creation of a farm. "Dangerous Journey" finds Kimba joining the aged mountain sheep Pop Woolly on a perilous trip to obtain a rare medicine that will cure an outbreak of fever among the animals. In "Great Caesar's Ghost," Kimba gets advice from his father's spirit as he faces a challenge from the water buffalo Samson, who has violated Kimba's rules by stealing from a human village.

A classic Japanese-animated TV series finally returns to delight a whole new generation. It offers distinctive characters, colorful animation, exciting stories, plenty of action, and a lush music score. Although the animation is limited by modern standards, older kids will appreciate the intricate storytelling and emotional power. Kimba has plenty of violence, which caused problems for it during the 1970s. Kimba is a scrappy little cub who takes on more powerful opponents, including leopards, hyenas, and armed humans. Yet, the violence has a moral basis as Kimba fights only to defend himself from predators or to protect other animals. Kids always enjoy seeing the small hero stand up to bullies.

Unlike so many animated movies, Kimba isn't cluttered with insipid songs, incongruous comic relief, or gratuitous pop culture references. It doesn't have a lineup of recognizable celebrity voices who are more interested in getting laughs than in creating characters. Instead, it offers a cast of experienced radio and children's show performers who infuse the characters with genuine passion and emotion.