Tommy is a Thomson gazelle and Leo's childhood friend, recurring throughout multiple Jungle Emperor adaptations. He embodies a comical, timid personality, frequently jumping to conclusions and providing comic relief alongside the parrot Coco. Within their duo, Tommy typically serves as the skeptical voice of reason. His design always includes a distinctive straw hat, though its origin story and his specific colors and markings vary per adaptation. In the original manga, Tommy appears as a boastful, wise-cracking gazelle greeting Leo in Africa. He actively joins efforts to persuade Leo to stay and rule Panja's jungle. Leo later appoints him minister of agriculture and presents him with the straw hat. Tommy establishes a jungle restaurant and is portrayed as intellectually limited alongside Coco. The 1965 anime depicts him as fearful, goofy, and well-intentioned. His first encounter with Leo happens during an ambush by Claw's hyena minions in "The Wind in the Desert." His friendship with Coco remains consistent, and he frequently appears alongside him. In the sequel series *New Jungle Emperor, Go Ahead Leo!* (1966), Tommy retains his core personality traits but assumes a reduced role due to the series' darker tone. He continues supporting Leo as an adult ruler and provides comic relief, though his narrative significance diminishes. The 1989 remake introduces Tommy already wearing his hat, diverging from previous origins. Named "Tony" in Japanese, the Pioneer English dub renames him "T.K." Dialogue in episode 4 reveals his father recounted tales of Panja's guardianship, indicating Tommy never personally met Panja and only knew the jungle under Bubu's rule before Leo's ascension. The 1997 film repositions Tommy as a comedic yet caring "uncle" figure to Leo's cubs, Lune and Lukio. His interactions with them generate humor, particularly when showing concern after Lune falls during a flight attempt. His partnership with Coco persists as a source of lighthearted moments. Concept art for the 2009 special *Jungle Emperor: The Brave Can Change the Future* included Tommy, confirming planned appearance, though he was ultimately excluded from the final film.