Lion Books Explained

Ja Kanji:ライオンブックス
Ja Romaji:Raion Bukkusu
Type:Manga
Author:Osamu Tezuka
Publisher:Shueisha
Demographic:Shōnen
Magazine:Omoshiro Book
First:August 1956
Last:July 1957
Volumes:11
Volume List:
  1. 1950s manga series
Type:Manga
Lion Books II
Author:Osamu Tezuka
Publisher:Shueisha
Demographic:Shōnen
Magazine:Weekly Shōnen Jump
First:March 22, 1971
Last:February 19, 1973
Volumes:24
Volume List:
  1. 1970s manga series

is a 1950s Japanese manga series by Osamu Tezuka. It was published by Shueisha in the Omoshiro Book as a supplement. The same company published Lion Books II in Weekly Shōnen Jump in the 1970s, which would commonly be referred to as The New Lion Books. The series was partially adapted into an experimental anime series in the 1980s and 1990s.

1950s manga series

There are no continuations or relations between any of the stories.

NameOriginal nameReleased
1 August 1956
2 September 1956
3 Spaceport October 1956
4 November 1956
5 December 1956
6 January 1957
7 February 1957
8 March 1957
9 April 1957
10 May 1957
11 June 1957
12 July 1957

1970s manga series

There are no continuations or relations between any of the stories.

NameOriginal nameReleased
1 March 22, 1971
2 April 26, 1971
3 May 24, 1971
4 June 21, 1971
5 July 26, 1971
6 August 23, 1971
7 September 27, 1971
8 October 25, 1971
9 November 22, 1971
10 December 27, 1971
11 January 17, 1972
12 February 14, 1972
13 March 20, 1972
14 April 17, 1972
15 Mimigarasu May 15, 1972
16 June 19, 1972
17 July 17, 1972
18 August 14, 1972
19 September 18, 1972
20 October 16, 1972
21 November 20, 1972
22 December 18, 1972
23 January 22, 1973
24 February 19, 1973

Anime adaptations

Two of the stories in the manga were adapted into an experimental anime series titled the Lion Books collection. The original concept was to make 26 new anime episodes and canvass them for sale without any broadcast contract with TV stations.[1] The first adaptation came in 1983 using the story "The Green Cat". It is regarded as the first attempt to produce an original video animation release on October 10. With no other episodes to follow in production, it very well could have been qualified as the first anime OVA, but because there is uncertainty as to whether the VHS was actually available for sale at the production end date, Dallos is credited to be the first official OVA released by the industry. The Green Cat is known to be screened in the "4th Tezuka Osamu Fan Club Meeting" on October 10 of the same year.[2]

The second story "Adachi-ga Hara" was adapted in 1991, and became the only film in the series to be released to theaters.[3] Four other stories were filled in from non-manga sources. The series was re-released as a DVD on March 21, 2003. It is also available on the streaming service Viki.[4] The five first episodes were directed by Osamu Tezuka himself, while the last, shown at a Hong Kong Film Festival, was the first anime directed by his son Makoto Tezuka.[3]

StoryAnimeRelease
1 October 10, 1983
2 December 24, 1983
3 April 13, 1985
4 August 15, 1986
5 November 16, 1991
6 July 16, 1993

See also

Notes and References

  1. Tezuka Info. "Tezuka Info". The Green Cat. Retrieved on 2006-12-12.
  2. Tezuka Accomplishments. "Tezuka Accomplishments". The Green Cat Screening. Retrieved on 2006-12-12.
  3. Clements, Jonathan. McCarthy Helen. [2006] (2006). The Anime Encyclopedia: Revised & Expanded Edition. Berkeley, CA: Stone Bridge Press.
  4. Japan - TV - Tezuka Lion Book Series "Tekuka Lion Book Series". Retrieved on 2012-09-13.