The Lion King is a 1994 animated feature Academy Award-winning film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is the 32nd film in the Disney animated feature canon, and the highest-grossing traditionally animated feature film in the United States. The film focuses on a young lion in Africa named Simba, who learns of his place in the "Circle of Life" while struggling through various obstacles to become the rightful king.
The Lion King is a musical film, with songs written by composer Elton John and lyricist Tim Rice, and a film score by Hans Zimmer. The score and one of its songs won Academy Awards.[2] Disney later produced two related movies: a sequel, The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, and a part prequel/part midquel, The Lion King 1½.
Plot
The story of The Lion King takes place in the fictional Pride Lands of Africa, where a lion rules over the other animals as king. At the beginning of the film, Rafiki, a mandrill shaman, presents Simba, the newborn cub of King Mufasa and Queen Sarabi, to a massive gathering of animals at Pride Rock. Meanwhile, Mufasa's younger brother, Scar, realizes that he is no longer the heir to the throne and plots to kill Simba and Mufasa.
Scar plants curiosity in Simba about the elephant graveyard, a place beyond the borders of the Pride Lands where Mufasa has forbidden Simba to go. Simba takes his friend, Nala, to the elephant graveyard, where the cubs are chased by Shenzi, Banzai and Ed, Scar's spotted hyena minions, only to be rescued by Mufasa. Scar becomes very angry as he intended for the hyenas to kill the cubs. Plotting further, Scar gathers more hyenas and buys their loyalty by claiming that if he were king they would never be without food. Later, Scar lures Simba into a gorge for a "surprise from his father," while the hyenas engineer a wildebeest stampede down into the gorge where Simba is. Alerted by an insincerely dramatic Scar, Mufasa races to rescue his son from the stampede, and after saving Simba, Mufasa is killed by Scar, who thwarts his attempted climb to safety over an edge of a cliff. Scar convinces Simba that that he was responsible for his own father's death, and recommends that he flee the Pride Lands, never to return. To compound this, Scar sends his hyena henchmen to kill Simba, but as Simba flees through a thorny embankment, the hyenas break off pursuit and let him escape, hurling threats that he will be killed if ever seen again. Informed that both Mufasa and Simba were killed, the pride regretfully allows Scar to assume the throne as the closest of kin.
Simba collapses in a distant desert, where he is found by Timon, a meerkat, and Pumbaa, a warthog, who adopt and raise Simba under their carefree "Hakuna Matata" lifestyle. When Simba is grown, he is discovered by his childhood friend Nala, who relays that Scar's tyrannical reign has devastated the Pride Lands by allowing the hyenas to hunt recklessly, a problem further compounded by a severe drought. She demands that Simba return and take his rightful place as king, but Simba refuses, still guilty about supposedly causing his father's death. However, after some advice from Rafiki and the ghost of his father, Simba returns home along with Timon, Pumbaa and Nala.
Once back at Pride Rock, Simba confronts his uncle and the truth about Mufasa's death is revealed by an overly confident Scar. A fierce battle breaks out between the lionesses and the hyenas while Simba fights Scar solo. Rafiki, Zazu, Timon and Pumbaa join the battle and fights off Shenzi, Ed and Banzai. In the midst of their fight, Scar tries to surreptitiously blame everything on the hyenas, but they overhear his conversation with Simba. Simba eventually triumphs over his uncle and kicks him over a low cliff, where he is surrounded by the now resentful hyenas. The hyenas surround their traitorous fallen leader and kill him by devouring him alive. With Simba and Nala as the new king and queen, the Pride Lands soon recover, and the herds return. The movie concludes with Rafiki lifting Simba and Nala's newborn cub high into the air, thus continuing the circle of life.
[edit] Production
The Lion King was originally called King of the Jungle during early stages of production.[3] As in the case of the earlier film Bambi, animators studied real-life animals for reference, and some of the filmmakers went to Kenya to observe the natural habitat that would be shown in the film.[4]
The film's significant use of computers helped the filmmakers to present their vision in new ways. These include some shots of Pride Rock, tall green grass, the smoke from the fire, and the waterfall in the new version of "Can You Feel the Love Tonight". The most notable use of computer animation is in the "wildebeest stampede" sequence. Several distinct wildebeest characters were built in a 3D computer program, multiplied into the hundreds, cel shaded to look like drawn animation, and given randomized paths down a mountainside to simulate the real, unpredictable movement of a herd. Similar multiplication occurs in the "Be Prepared" musical number with identical marching hyenas.[5]
The Lion King was once considered a secondary project to Pocahontas, both of which were in production at the same time. Most of the Disney Feature Animation staff preferred to work on Pocahontas, believing it would be the more prestigious and successful of the two.[6] While both films were commercial and critical successes,The Lion King received a greater amount of positive feedback and larger grosses than Pocahontas, but both became known disney classics.
Cast
Unlike many previous Disney animated films that featured only a select few famous voice actors alongside lesser-known performers, nearly all of the voice acting work for The Lion King was done by well-known actors.
- Simba, voiced by Jonathan Taylor Thomas as a cub and Matthew Broderick as an adult, is the protagonist of the movie and destined ruler of the Pride Lands.
- Scar, voiced by Jeremy Irons, is the film's antagonist and King Mufasa's brother, who aspires to usurp the throne.
- Mufasa, voiced by James Earl Jones, is King of the Pride Lands and Simba's father.
- Timon and Pumbaa, voiced by Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella respectively, are the comical meerkat and warthog pair who live under the philosophy of "Hakuna Matata" (no worries).
- Nala, voiced by Niketa Calame as a cub and Moira Kelly as an adult, is the childhood friend and intended mate of Simba.
- Rafiki, voiced by Robert Guillaume, is a wise mandrill who presents the newborn prince of the lions.
- Zazu, voiced by Rowan Atkinson, is a loyal hornbill who serves as Mufasa's majordomo.
- Shenzi, Banzai and Ed, voiced by Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin, and Jim Cummings respectively, are a trio of Hyenas who assist Scar.
- Sarabi, voiced by Madge Sinclair, is Simba's mother and the leader of the lionesses.
- Sarafina, voiced by Zoe Leader, is Nala's Mother
[edit] Reaction
The Lion King garnered mostly favorable critical response, gaining a 92% "fresh" rating at RottenTomatoes.com.[7] Chicago Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert called the film "a superbly drawn animated feature",[9] and The Washington Post called it "an impressive, almost daunting achievement".[10] The film, however, did receive its share of criticism, with Marty Mapes stating "it presents an odd mix of deadly seriousness and slapstick humor."[11]
[edit] Box office performance
| Source | Gross (USD) | % Total | All Time Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic | $328,541,776 ($312,855,561 initially) | 41.9% | 16 |
| Foreign | $455,300,000 | 58.1% | N/A |
| Worldwide | $783,841,776[12] | 100.0% | 22 |
| Domestic Opening Weekend | $40,888,194 | 13.1% | 99 |
| Domestic Adjusted (2007) | $508,185,200 | N/A | 24 |
The Lion King became the highest grossing film of 1994 worldwide, and the second highest in the USA (the first being Forrest Gump).[13] The film initially made US$312,855,561 domestically, but including its 2002 IMAX re-release the domestic amount was $328,541,776. The initial gross includes the film's short return to theaters in November 1994.[14]
It held the record for the most successful animated feature film in history until that record was broken by the computer animated Finding Nemo in 2003. Still, it remains the most successful non-CGI animated feature. When adjusted for inflation, it is the fourth top-grossing animated film (below Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, One Hundred and One Dalmatians and Fantasia).
[edit] Awards
The film won two Academy Awards: Best Original Score and Best Original Song ("Can You Feel the Love Tonight"). Besides winning in the same two categories in the Golden Globe Awards, it also won Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy, and another Golden Globe for film editing. In the Annie Awards, it won Best Animated Film, Best Individual Achievement for Story Contribution in the Field of Animation, and Jeremy Irons also won Best Achievement for Voice Acting for voicing Scar.[15]
[edit] Music
Elton John and Tim Rice wrote five original songs for this film, with Elton John performing "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" during the end credits. Hans Zimmer also contributed to the film a score supplemented with traditional African music and choir elements arranged by Lebo M.[16] The film won Best Original Score and Best Original Song ("Can You Feel the Love Tonight") in both the Academy Awards and Golden Globe Awards.[15] Three songs from the film were nominated simultaneously for the Best Original Song Academy Award ("Can You Feel the Love Tonight", "Circle of Life" and "Hakuna Matata"), with "Circle of Life" also being nominated simultaneously in the same category at the Golden Globe Awards.[17]
[edit] Songs
These are the musical numbers of the film, listed in order of appearance.
- "Circle of Life" is sung by an off-screen Carmen Twillie, with African vocals by Lebo M and his African choir. This song is played during the ceremony where a newborn Simba is presented to the animals of the Pride Lands. The song is reprised at the end of the film.
- "The Morning Report", a song originally not in the film (it was created for the live musical version), was added with an accompanying animated sequence in the 2003 Platinum Edition home video re-release. Sung by Zazu (Jeff Bennett), Mufasa (James Earl Jones) and young Simba (Evan Saucedo), the song is an extension of the scene in the original film where Zazu delivers a morning report to Mufasa, and later gets pounced on by Simba.
- "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" is sung by young Simba (Jason Weaver), young Nala (Laura Williams), and Zazu (Rowan Atkinson). Simba uses this musical number in the film to distract Zazu so that he and Nala can sneak off to the elephant graveyard, while expressing his wish to be king as soon as possible.
- "Be Prepared" is sung by Scar (Jeremy Irons/Jim Cummings), Shenzi (Whoopi Goldberg), Banzai (Cheech Marin) and Ed (Jim Cummings). In this song, Scar reveals to his hyena minions his plot to kill Mufasa and Simba.
- "Hakuna Matata" is sung by Timon (Nathan Lane), Pumbaa (Ernie Sabella) and Simba (Jason Weaver as a cub and Joseph Williams as an adult). Timon and Pumbaa use this song as a warm welcome to Simba as he arrives at their jungle home, and to symbolize their "no worries" lifestyle. Simba grows into a young adult by the end of the song.
- "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" is a love song sung mainly by an off-screen Kristle Edwards, with Timon (Nathan Lane), Pumbaa (Ernie Sabella), adult Simba (Joseph Williams) and adult Nala (Sally Dworsky). This musical sequence shows Timon and Pumbaa's frustration at Simba falling in love, and the development of Simba and Nala's romantic relationship. The song won the Oscar for Best Original Song during the 67th Academy Awards.
[edit] Soundtrack and other albums
The film's original motion picture soundtrack was released on July 13, 1994.
On February 28, 1995, Disney released an album entitled Rhythm of the Pride Lands, a sequel of sorts to the original soundtrack which featured songs and performances inspired by, but not featured in, the film. Most of the tracks were composed by African composer Lebo M and focused primarily on the African influences of the film's original music, with most songs being sung either partially or entirely in various African languages. Several songs featured in the album would later have incarnations in other The Lion King-oriented projects, such as the stage musical or the direct-to-video sequels (examples being "He Lives In You" used as the opening song for The Lion King II: Simba's Pride; and a reincarnation of "Warthog Rhapsody", called "That's All I Need", in The Lion King 1½). Rhythm of the Pride Lands was initially printed in a very limited quantity. However, it was re-released in 2003 and included in some international versions of The Lion King's special edition soundtrack with an additional track.
[edit] Sequels and spin-offs
The success of the film led to several spin-offs, its first being a 70mm film released in 1995 entitled Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable. It promoted environmental friendliness and was shown in the Harvest Theater in The Land Pavilion at Epcot in Walt Disney World. Also debuted in 1995 was a spin-off television series called The Lion King's Timon and Pumbaa which focused on the titular meerkat and warthog duo in a more modern, human world to the film's.
In addition, a direct-to-video sequel called The Lion King II: Simba's Pride was released in 1998, focusing on Simba's daughter Kiara. Finally, a direct-to-video prequel/midquel, The Lion King 1½ (also known as The Lion King 3: Hakuna Matata), was released in 2004, showing the timeline of The Lion King from the perspective of Timon and Pumbaa.
Simba, Mufasa, Nala, Timon and Pumbaa were featured as guests in House of Mouse, and Banzai, Shenzi and Ed were part of the Disney villains in Mickey's House of Villains.
Simba, Timon, Pumbaa and Nala were featured in Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse.
Rumor has it that in 2008, a direct-to-DVD film known as Rafiki: The Movie will be released, focusing on Rafiki, but no word from the official Disney camp as of yet.
[edit] Home video
The Lion King was first released on VHS and laserdisc in the United States on March 3, 1995, under Disney's "Masterpiece Collection" video series. The VHS tape quickly became one of the best-selling videotapes of all time: 4.5 million tapes were sold on the first day.[18] In addition, Deluxe Editions of both formats were released. The VHS Deluxe Edition included the film, an exclusive lithograph of Rafiki and Simba (in some editions), a commemorative "Circle of Life" epigraph, six concept art lithographs, another tape with the half-hour TV show The Making of The Lion King, and a certificate of authenticity. The CAV laserdisc Deluxe Edition also contained the film, six concept art lithographs and The Making of The Lion King, but also included storyboards, character design artwork, concept art, rough animation, and a directors' commentary that the VHS edition did not have, on a total of four double sided disks. These home video versions of The Lion King all went into moratorium in 1997.[19]
On October 7, 2003, the film was re-released on VHS and released on DVD for the first time as The Lion King: Platinum Edition, as part of Disney's Platinum Edition line of animated classic DVDs. The DVD release featured a remastered version of the film created for the 2002 IMAX release and a second disc with bonus features. The film's soundtrack was available in its original Dolby 5.1 track or in a new Disney Enhanced Home Theater Mix. The DVD was the first of Disney DVDs to include the Disney Enhanced Home Theater Mix.[20] By means of seamless branching, the film could be viewed either with or without a newly-created scene — a short conversation in the film replaced with a complete song, "The Morning Report". A Special Collector's Gift Set was also released, with the DVD set, five exclusive lithographed character portraits (new sketches created and signed by the original character animators), and an introductory book entitled The Journey.[19] More than two million copies of the Platinum Edition DVD and VHS units were sold on the first day of release.[18] A DVD boxed set of the three Lion King films (in two-disc Special Edition formats) was released on December 6, 2004. In January 2005, the film went back into moratorium.[21]
The Platinum Edition of The Lion King was criticized by fans mainly for its false advertising: producer Don Hahn had earlier stated that the film would be in its original 1994 theatrical version, but it was confirmed after release that it was the "digitally enhanced" IMAX version instead, which is slightly different than the original theatrical cut.[22]
[edit] Controversies
[edit] Story origin
The Lion King was originally advertised as being the first animated Disney film not based on an already-existing story. However, elements of the film bear a resemblance to a famous 1960s Japanese anime television show, Kimba the White Lion.[23] One similarity between the two is that the protagonists' names (Kimba and Simba) are very alike. Other coincidences include that most characters in Kimba have an analogue in The Lion King and that various individual scenes are nearly identical in composition and camera angle. Early production artwork on the Lion King Platinum Edition DVD even depicts a white lion.[24] Disney's official stance is that any resemblance is coincidental, and directors Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff stated that they were well into the development process before the Kimba similarity was identified. Despite the resemblances between the film and the series, neither Disney nor the family of Osamu Tezuka, Kimba's creator, has filed a lawsuit.
The character designs and scenes are the only things that have been speculated to be taken from Kimba, the story from the anime and the Lion King story are quite different. The filmmakers, however, admitted that the story of The Lion King was inspired by the 1942 Disney animated film Bambi, the Joseph and Moses stories from the Bible, and William Shakespeare's Hamlet.[25] Christopher Vogler, in his book The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure For Writers, described Disney's request that he suggest how to improve the plot of The Lion King by incorporating ideas from Hamlet.[26]
The plot also bears a resemblance to the Ancient Egyptian myth of Osiris and Set. According to the myth, Set murdered his brother, Osiris, out of jealousy. Horus, Osiris's son, later battled and defeated Set in a fight for the crown of Egypt. In addition, the plot also is noted as sharing some striking elements with the west African Epic of Sundiata.[27]
[edit] Alleged subliminal message
In one scene of the film's original VHS and LaserDisc releases, it appears that the word "SEX" was embedded into the dust flying in the sky when Simba flops down. [28] which conservative activist Donald Wildmon asserted was a subliminal message intended to promote sexual promiscuity. However, the films' animators have stated that the letters spell "SFX" (a common abbreviation of "special effects"), and was a sort of innocent "signature" signed by the effects animation team to the work they did.[citation needed] Due to the controversy it caused, the image has been edited out of the 2003 DVD and VHS editions.[citation needed]
[edit] "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"
The use of the song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" in a scene with Timon and Pumbaa has led to disputes between Disney and the family of South African Solomon Linda, who composed the song (originally titled "Mbube") in 1939. In July 2004, the family filed suit, seeking $1.6 million in royalties from Disney. In February 2006, Linda's heirs reached a legal settlement with Abilene Music, who held the worldwide rights and had licensed the song to Disney for an undisclosed amount of money.[29]
[edit] Alleged racism
Upon its release, some critics complained that the hyenas in the film depicted negative racial stereotypes of urban blacks and hispanics [30]. It has been argued the "despicable hyena storm troopers speak...in racially coded accents that take on the nuances of the discourse of a decidedly urban, black and Latino youth" [31]. In the movie, the lion kingdom is shown to fall into disrepair when the evil Scar allows the hyenas and lions to live side by side. It can also be noted that, while prominent good characters like Simba and Mufasa have blonde fur and brown manes, Scar has brown fur and a black mane, mimicking African-Americans' skin and hair. However it can also be noted that Scar is voiced by Jeremy Irons, a white Briton, while Mufasa is voiced by James Earl Jones, an African American actor.
[edit] Impact on popular culture
Due to its popularity, The Lion King has been referenced in various media. For instance, in the animated TV series The Simpsons spoofed the film in the episode, "'Round Springfield". Towards the end of the episode, the ghost of Mufasa appears in the clouds with Bleeding Gums Murphy, Darth Vader and James Earl Jones (who actually voiced both Mufasa and Darth Vader in their respective movie appearances), saying: "You must avenge my death, Kimba... dah, I mean Simba," a reference to the Lion King/Kimba the White Lion controversy.[32] The scene is concluded with "this is CNN" (also voiced by James Earl Jones).
Disney has also referenced The Lion King in its own films. In the Disney-released, Pixar-produced 1995 computer animated film Toy Story, the song "Hakuna Matata" can be heard playing in Andy's car during the film's climax.[33] Pumbaa made brief appearances in The Hunchback of Notre Dame[34] and Aladdin and the King of Thieves,[35] both released in 1996. The 1997 animated film Hercules paid homage to both The Lion King and the Nemean Lion: Scar's skin is worn by Hercules while he is posing for a painting on a Greek vase.[36]
A frog species, Philautus simba, first found in Sinharaja Forest Reserve, Sri Lanka, was named in reference to The Lion King's protagonist. [citation needed] In addition, "Sinharaja" means "Lion King" or "Royal Lion" in the local Sinhalese language.
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