Symphonic Poem: Jungle Emperor Leo

Synopsis

The 1991 date is somewhat deceptive. The Symphonic Poem actually originates from the music Isao Tomita composed for Jungle Emperor in 1965. He later reworked his score into an extended piece that conveys a narrative on its own. (Composers from the late Romantic era called this musical form a "symphonic poem" or "tone poem.") Thus, music originally meant to support visual storytelling became the storyteller itself. Tomita's symphonic poem was recorded in the mid-1960s and released as an LP in Japan, with multiple reissues over time. It has also appeared on CD on more than one occasion. In 1991, Tezuka Productions reversed the process by producing new animation to accompany the symphonic poem. The plot largely follows the first episode of Kimba. It depicts the peaceful animal kingdom under Panja, the arrival of hunters, Eliza's capture, and Panja's death. Kimba is born and manages to escape back to Africa. All of this unfolds without a single spoken word. The animation style of the Symphonic Poem is distinctive, heavily inspired by the 1989 TV series, though Kimba appears different from any other production.