| 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: |
|
| 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: |
|
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.
There are no continuations or relations between any of the stories.
| Name | Original name | Released | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
There are no continuations or relations between any of the stories.
| Name | Original name | Released | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
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]
| Story | Anime | Release |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 10, 1983 | |
| 2 | December 24, 1983 | |
| 3 | April 13, 1985 | |
| 4 | August 15, 1986 | |
| 5 | November 16, 1991 | |
| 6 | July 16, 1993 | |