TV-Series
Description
Coco is a parrot who appears throughout the various installments of the Jungle Emperor universe. He is established as a childhood friend of Kimba and his mate Kitty, and he remains a constant, loyal presence in Kimba's life as the white lion grows up and assumes his role as leader of the jungle. His physical design is generally that of a parrot, though the 2009 television special reimagines him as a hummingbird.
In terms of personality, Coco is frequently portrayed as a comical and somewhat erratic figure, prone to silly shenanigans that provide moments of comic relief. His behavior is occasionally described as that of a jerk, yet this is paired with a strong and unwavering belief in Kimba and his abilities. One iteration of his backstory, presented in a 1965 anime episode, offers a potential reason for his unstable disposition. It explains that Coco was once the pet of a hotel owner. He attempted to rescue a female parrot he admired from captivity, but the plan ended in disaster, leading to the deaths of most of the escaping birds, including the female. This traumatic event is suggested as the source of his erratic personality.
Coco’s primary role in the story is that of a supporter and companion to the protagonist. He is often seen in the company of his best friend, a gazelle named Tommy, also known as Bucky. One of his key functions in the jungle community is serving as an aerial scout; his ability to fly allows him to be the first to report distant dangers or important events. For instance, in the 1997 film Jungle Emperor Leo, he announces the birth of Kimba and Kitty's cubs. As the cubs grow older, he takes on an avuncular role, even attempting to teach the young cub Lune how to fly, though this particular effort is unsuccessful. His cleverness, while perhaps not always evident, manifests in key moments. He is the one who suggests the names for Kimba's children by reversing the syllables of the words for sleep and awake, resulting in the names Rune and Lukio.
Coco’s background is revisited in different adaptations. The 1989 series, The New Adventures of Kimba, provides an alternate origin, where he was once owned by a human named Nick. He lived in an outdoor cage and knew only two human phrases. After witnessing his friend Tommy save their owner from a leopard and become envious of the gazelle's freedom, Coco decided to fly away from his cage and make a new life for himself in the jungle. One notable point of development occurs in the 2009 special Jungle Emperor: The Brave can Change the Future, where the character is significantly reimagined as a female hummingbird who secretly has a crush on Kimba.
In terms of personality, Coco is frequently portrayed as a comical and somewhat erratic figure, prone to silly shenanigans that provide moments of comic relief. His behavior is occasionally described as that of a jerk, yet this is paired with a strong and unwavering belief in Kimba and his abilities. One iteration of his backstory, presented in a 1965 anime episode, offers a potential reason for his unstable disposition. It explains that Coco was once the pet of a hotel owner. He attempted to rescue a female parrot he admired from captivity, but the plan ended in disaster, leading to the deaths of most of the escaping birds, including the female. This traumatic event is suggested as the source of his erratic personality.
Coco’s primary role in the story is that of a supporter and companion to the protagonist. He is often seen in the company of his best friend, a gazelle named Tommy, also known as Bucky. One of his key functions in the jungle community is serving as an aerial scout; his ability to fly allows him to be the first to report distant dangers or important events. For instance, in the 1997 film Jungle Emperor Leo, he announces the birth of Kimba and Kitty's cubs. As the cubs grow older, he takes on an avuncular role, even attempting to teach the young cub Lune how to fly, though this particular effort is unsuccessful. His cleverness, while perhaps not always evident, manifests in key moments. He is the one who suggests the names for Kimba's children by reversing the syllables of the words for sleep and awake, resulting in the names Rune and Lukio.
Coco’s background is revisited in different adaptations. The 1989 series, The New Adventures of Kimba, provides an alternate origin, where he was once owned by a human named Nick. He lived in an outdoor cage and knew only two human phrases. After witnessing his friend Tommy save their owner from a leopard and become envious of the gazelle's freedom, Coco decided to fly away from his cage and make a new life for himself in the jungle. One notable point of development occurs in the 2009 special Jungle Emperor: The Brave can Change the Future, where the character is significantly reimagined as a female hummingbird who secretly has a crush on Kimba.