Linus the Lionhearted (1964): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1964, Linus the Lionhearted is an animation series.

What it’s about. Linus the Lionhearted is an American animated television series featuring a main character of the same name. The character was created in 1959 by the Ed Graham advertising agency, originally as a series of ads for General Foods' Post Cereals. At first, Linus was the spokesman for the short-lived Post cereal "Heart of Oats". Eventually, the lion was redesigned and reintroduced in 1963 to sell Crispy Critters, which featured Linus on the box. The ads were so popular that a television series was created in 1964 and ran on the CBS network until 1966, then reruns [in color] aired on ABC from 1966, until it was cancelled three years later. A coloring book was published which detailed the adventures of So-Hi going on a scavenger hunt in order to break a curse on a two-headed bird, who is then transformed into a boy due to So-Hi's dedication. In addition to Linus, a rather good-natured "King of the Beasts" who ruled from his personal barber's chair and voiced by Sheldon Leonard, there were other features as well, all based on characters representing other popular Post cereals. The best-known of these was Sugar Bear, who sounded like Bing Crosby and was voiced by actor Gerry Matthews. There was also a postman named Lovable Truly, a young Asian boy named So Hi, and Rory Raccoon.

Who’s in it. Linus the Lionhearted stars Sheldon Leonard as Linus (voice), Carl Reiner as Billy Bird / Sascha Grouse / Dinny Kangaroo (voice), Bob McFadden as Lovable Truly / Rory Raccoon / So Hi (voice) and Gerry Matthews as Sugar Bear (voice), among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 7.4/10, Linus the Lionhearted has been warmly received by audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Linus the Lionhearted page.

If you liked it. Fans of Linus the Lionhearted tend to enjoy Rick and Morty, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Attack on Titan and Attack on Titan: No Regrets.