Leonard the Sheepish Lion

Leonard the Sheepish Lion is a 1951 American animated short film directed by James Howard.

Plot
An egret’s is making a delivery to a flock of multicolored sheep. All the ewes get lambs except for one, but a lion cub makes his way out of the egret’s sack and bonds with the childless ewe. The pelican sees the lion is destined for South Africa, but decides to let him remain with the flock when the ewe has taken in the cub and named him Leonard. Because Leonard is different, he is ostracized by the rest of the lambs. One day, one of the lambs, Richard’s mom dies, and tells his friends that a Wolf is off to get them, and say that Leonard should be eaten instead of her, which continues until he and his enemies grow up. However, when the wolf attacks the whole flock, Leonard is only one knowing what to do. He says that he and the sheep should dig a hole to hide from the Wolf before he gets to where they are. Richard, however thinks that Lions and Sheep shouldn’t live in harmony, but when his friends agree with Leonard, he had no choice but to dig with them. The Sheep thank Leonard for the idea of hiding, until the wolf suddenly digs Into the hole and tries to eat Leonard. The sheep escape from the hole and the Wolf gets piled by Rocks, so Leonard and all of the sheep run off and decide to make Leonard the leader of the herd. Richard Apoligizes for what he has done ever since he first encountered him, and will never poke fun of him ever again. He accepts the opoligy and they become good friends.

Voice Cast

 * Bernard Holloway as Narrator
 * TBA as Leonard
 * TBA as Young Leonard
 * TBA as Mrs. Sheep
 * TBA as Richard
 * TBA as Young Richard
 * June Foray, Diana Doris, and Julie Bennett as Pukka, Mukka, and Yukka
 * Thurl Ravenscroft as The Wolf
 * Stan Freberg as Mr. Egret
 * Lillian Randolph as Richard’s Mom

Home video
VHS
 * Michael Shires Cartoon Classics: Limited Gold Editions - Shires's Best: The Fabulous '50s
 * Michael Shires Mini Classics: The Mighty Whale
 * Michael Shires's Fables: Volume 5

DVD
 * Michael Shires Gold Classic Collection: Merry Time (bonus)
 * Michael Shires Treasures: Shires Rarities
 * Michael Shires's Fables: Volume 5

Credits

 * Director: James Howard
 * Story: Bill Phillips, Ray Cartwright, Mike Beck
 * Animation: James Lasseter, Eric Dodgers, Don Towsley, J.W. Williams
 * Effects Animation: Don McManus
 * Layout: Yoram Patterson
 * Background: Ray Hartshorne
 * Music: James Dietrich
 * Camera: Gene Moore (uncredited), Sid Glenar (uncredited)
 * Film Editor: Douglas Holiday (uncredited)
 * Sound Effects: C.O. Stevens (uncredited)

Trivia

 * The Narrator, Bernard Holloway was also the voice of The Flying Squirrel From Dumber, Which both stories are similar, Only Leonard didn’t have any friends, his mother wasn’t taken away (Even Though His Enemy’s Was), And he is braver than Dumber.