PHOTO PROVIDED “Kimba the White Lion” is a lesser known movies which could be considered a bargain bin classic.

Do you remember those giant bins in Walmart that would have the most obscure, random movies you can think of for only $5? (Do those still exist?)

This was one of those DVDs.

“Kimba The White Lion,” known in Japan as “Jungle Emperor” is a series based on a 1950s manga by the same name. It was broadcast on Fuji Television from 1965 to 1967 and was the first color animated television series created in Japan.

It aired in North America in 1966 and the series was reworked and released directly to video in 1998.

There are a BUNCH of iterations of this show, from the 1950s shonen manga to a 2019 film, so I had to do a semi deep dive to figure out which one in particular I had on DVD as a kid. Apparently, the one I watched was the 1993 Canadian version, which seems extra weird to have in a bargain bin in a Pennsylvania Walmart.

But plus or minus some plot points, the basic premise is that a white lion named Panja (Caesar in the English dub) has been angering villagers by stealing their cattle.

A professional hunter — who, by the way, I remember being super cool because he was named Viper Snakely — named Ham Egg in the Japanese dub, baits Panja into a trap by trapping his pregnant mate, Eliza.

Once captured, Panja begs Eliza to name their child Kimba. He’s killed for his hide, and Eliza is shipped to a zoo.

Kimba is born on the ship enroute to the zoo and is taught his father’s ideals. Kimba escapes their cage after his mother urges him to, just in time for a storm to wreck their ship. As Kimba starts to drown, a bunch of fish come along and teach him how to swim.

Personally, when I was little I remember thinking this part was dumb. Surely the cub would just be eaten by a shark. How would a lion even talk to a fish?

Hopefully if you watch this with any of your little ones, they aren’t as obsessive of the details as little Bre was.

From there is where the main story starts — Kimba swims all the way to shore and is cared for by humans. He then runs off to the jungle to continue his father’s legacy.

The story is really about a kid learning to communicate and understand the world around him, but the lessons are taught in a way for young kids to understand and be entertained by.

The animation style is cute and expressive — like a lot of cartoons were back in the day. It almost has a “Merrie Melodies” charm to it.

The characters themselves are silly despite some more serious undertones about the lessons being learned. The show is enjoyable to watch for both kids and adults.

“Kimba the White Lion” is rated TV-G and can be purchased on DVD online.

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Breanna Hanley is a reporter for The Express.