In 1991 Disney released Beauty and the Beast to widespread critical acclaim, such acclaim that it was even nominated for the Best Picture Oscar that year, the first animated film to ever be considered for such a prestigious award. So, where do you go from an Oscar nomination? The obvious answer is to pander to the Academy’s tastes and set your sights on winning that illustrious and highly sought-after award; so that’s exactly what Disney set about doing, and the result of which became 1994’s The Lion King. Despite still not winning the Oscar, The Lion King is widely considered one of the greatest films (animated or not) ever made and for good reason, with it being one of the most visually stunning and emotionally gripping animated films ever made and stands tall as Disney’s most highly respected work of animation.
Simba (Matthew Broderick) is the prince of the Pride Lands and son to the king, Mufasa (James Earl Jones). Despite Mufasa’s best efforts, Simba fails to understand that his actions have consequences, and that one day he will be the king and need to take responsibility not just for his actions, but for the entire animal kingdom. Scar (Jeremy Irons), Mufasa’s brother, is desperate to claim the throne from his sibling and hatches a plot to take both Mufasa and Simba out of the equation.
Following Mufasa’s death, Simba grows up believing that running from his problems and forgetting the past is the best course of action, until he learns of the blight Scar has brought upon the Pride Lands and so makes the necessary changes to be the king he was born to be and take the throne back from his villainous uncle.
Simba (Matthew Broderick) is the prince of the Pride Lands and son to the king, Mufasa (James Earl Jones). Despite Mufasa’s best efforts, Simba fails to understand that his actions have consequences, and that one day he will be the king and need to take responsibility not just for his actions, but for the entire animal kingdom. Scar (Jeremy Irons), Mufasa’s brother, is desperate to claim the throne from his sibling and hatches a plot to take both Mufasa and Simba out of the equation.
Following Mufasa’s death, Simba grows up believing that running from his problems and forgetting the past is the best course of action, until he learns of the blight Scar has brought upon the Pride Lands and so makes the necessary changes to be the king he was born to be and take the throne back from his villainous uncle.
The opening sequence of The Lion King is arguably my favourite scene in animated film history, set to the song ‘Circle of Life’, the scene shows the animals of the Pride Lands waking to a new day and making the journey to Pride Rock, the home of the lions, where a new-born Simba will be presented for the first time. Aside from the song lyrics, there is no dialogue, just the conveyance of story through visual means by Disney’s extremely talented animators. A lot of work went into making The Lion King visually distinct, and in a lot of ways it harkens back to the Golden Age films a lot more than it does the Rennaissance Era films with backdrops that look like watercolour paintings. It’s a scene that never fails to send shivers down my spine and is the perfect way to set the tone for the film.
From there we’re taken on a musical re-imagining of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, set within the animal kingdom. With Simba learning about what it takes to be a king, and soon thereafter the tragic death of his father. Mufasa’s death scene is the definition of a tear-jerker, and although Mufasa isn’t in the film all that long, James Earl Jones brings such life and charisma to the character that it’s impossible not to be moved by the sight of Simba pleading for his father to wake up as he stands beside his father’s corpse.
The film’s midpoint does drag slightly, where Simba meets Timon (Nathan Lane) & Pumba (Ernie Sabella) and they teach him about ‘Hakuna Matata’. Whilst Simba’s transition from child to adult is done very well in the musical number, the rest of the material here feels like padding, which is a shame because other than that The Lion King is of an exceedingly high quality overall.
From there we’re taken on a musical re-imagining of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, set within the animal kingdom. With Simba learning about what it takes to be a king, and soon thereafter the tragic death of his father. Mufasa’s death scene is the definition of a tear-jerker, and although Mufasa isn’t in the film all that long, James Earl Jones brings such life and charisma to the character that it’s impossible not to be moved by the sight of Simba pleading for his father to wake up as he stands beside his father’s corpse.
The film’s midpoint does drag slightly, where Simba meets Timon (Nathan Lane) & Pumba (Ernie Sabella) and they teach him about ‘Hakuna Matata’. Whilst Simba’s transition from child to adult is done very well in the musical number, the rest of the material here feels like padding, which is a shame because other than that The Lion King is of an exceedingly high quality overall.
My favourite musical number in the whole film is Scar’s ‘Be Prepared’. In fact, Scar is arguably my favourite character in the whole film because Jeremy Irons imbues the character with so much charisma and with that, he is the perfect opposition to Mufasa & Simba’s altruistic good. He’s in it for himself and he’ll tell people whatever they want to hear to get him on their side. ‘Be Prepared’ though looks and sounds fantastic with Scar building an army of hyenas, rife with Nazi symbolism, as he spins a story of how they’ll overthrow the lions and be greatly rewarded for their strength and ferocity in the encroaching uprising.
Going back to this film after my last viewing of The Lion King story being 2019’s shoddy CGI remake made me appreciate just how great the original is. The environment and the wildlife are just so alive, whilst the 2019 version is visually impressive, it lacks all the heart and soul of the film, as well as the emotional impact the 1994 animation conveys so well through the fantastic character design and impeccable vocal performances. I honestly can’t understand why you would willing want to watch the 2019 version over the 1994 version when I compare them side by side because the original is superior in every single facet.
Whilst The Lion King didn’t earn Disney Animation the Oscar they so greatly desired, it was a turning point for animation as it made people sit up and look at it as more than just cartoons for kids. Whilst Beauty and the Beast had started this trend with the Best Picture nomination, it was The Lion King that really allowed the floodgates to be opened for more serious animated films. It is unquestionably something you need to experience if you’re yet to do so, and something you’ll find yourself returning to again and again.
Going back to this film after my last viewing of The Lion King story being 2019’s shoddy CGI remake made me appreciate just how great the original is. The environment and the wildlife are just so alive, whilst the 2019 version is visually impressive, it lacks all the heart and soul of the film, as well as the emotional impact the 1994 animation conveys so well through the fantastic character design and impeccable vocal performances. I honestly can’t understand why you would willing want to watch the 2019 version over the 1994 version when I compare them side by side because the original is superior in every single facet.
Whilst The Lion King didn’t earn Disney Animation the Oscar they so greatly desired, it was a turning point for animation as it made people sit up and look at it as more than just cartoons for kids. Whilst Beauty and the Beast had started this trend with the Best Picture nomination, it was The Lion King that really allowed the floodgates to be opened for more serious animated films. It is unquestionably something you need to experience if you’re yet to do so, and something you’ll find yourself returning to again and again.