In Asia, it was broadcast in Indonesia on Lativi, antv and SCTV (1995–96) in Iran on Channel 1 in the Philippines on ABC 5 in Saudi Arabia on Saudi TV and in Sri Lanka on ART TV. Other than the original broadcast in Japan in 1965, the series has been broadcast in many countries around the world. The animated series was first broadcast in Japan on Fuji Television from Octoto September 28, 1966.

Image of Kimba ( Leo) from the anime Kimba the White Lion The first manga volume has been released bilingual (Japanese-English) as Jungle Emperor Leo – Leo Edition. In 1950, the original Jungle Emperor story started in Manga Shōnen (Comic Boy) magazine. Kimba soon learns that only communication and mutual understanding between animals and humans will bring true peace. The show follows Kimba's life after he returns to the wild, still a young cub, and how he learns and grows in the next year. He learns the advantages of human culture, and decides that when he returns to his wild home he will bring culture to the jungle and stand for peace like his father. Kimba lands far from his ancestral home and is found and cared for by some people. Guided by butterflies, he makes it to land. As he begins to despair, the stars in the sky form the face of his mother, who encourages him. The storm wrecks the ship and Kimba starts to drown in the ocean. As a huge tropical storm nears, she urges her cub out through the bars of her cage.

Kimba (Leo in Japanese) is born on the ship. Panja is killed for his hide (but not before asking Eliza to name their child Kimba), and Eliza is put on a ship, destined for a zoo. Instead, he records the sounds of Panja and uses them to trap his pregnant mate, Eliza, who then becomes bait in a trap for Panja. A professional hunter, Ham Egg (Viper Snakely in the English dub), is called in to stop these raids. However, he angers nearby villagers by stealing their cattle and their food to feed the jungle carnivores (in the English dub he merely frees the cattle). In Africa during the mid-20th century, as mankind encroaches, the white lion Panja (Caesar in the English dub) gives the jungle's wild animals a safe haven.

Kimba the white lion manga