The Lion King

The Lion King is a 1994 animated feature 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. Disney later produced two related movies: a sequel, The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, and a semi-prequel, The Lion King 1½.

Characters
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.
 * Mufasa, voiced by James Earl Jones, is King of the Pride Lands and Simba's father.
 * Scar, voiced by Jeremy Irons, is the film's antagonist and Mufasa's brother, who aspires to take his place as king.
 * 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.

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. 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. 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.

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.


 * "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 2002 IMAX theater 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.

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.

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.

Relevance to "Hamlet"
It is a known fact the The Lion King is a animated adaption of Shakespeare's play Hamlet. Most characters in The Lion King relate to a character from the play. Other similarities include:
 * Mufasa The late king of Pride Rock, murdered by his brother, Scar.
 * Simba(Prince Hamlet): His father, Mufasa, is murdered by his uncle, Scar, and seeks to rid his rightful kingdom of Scar.
 * Scar(Claudius): Murders his brother, Mufasa, to inherit the crown.
 * Sarabi : Mother of Simba, who rules with Scar after the death of her husband, Mufasa.
 * Nala(Ophelia): who is betroved to and in love with Simba.
 * Timon and Pumba(Rosencrantz and Guildenstern): A comic pair who befriend Simba and convince him to return to the kingdom. Timon and Pumba were also featured in The Lion King 1 1/2, a re-imagining of The Lion King from their perspective, as were Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in Tom Stoppard's play "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead", which tells the story of what happened to them before, between, and after the scenes they appear in during "Hamlet".
 * Scar sending Simba away from the kingdom after the death of Mufasa, hoping he would die in his travels, as did King Claudius to Prince Hamlet. (The reasons for sending him away [murder] are also alike.)
 * Scar's attempt to murder Simba after the death of Mufasa, by sending his followers to kill him, as did King Claudius to Prince Hamlet.
 * Mufasa's ghost appearing before Simba telling him he must step up and take his responsibilitly as King, as did King Hamlet to his son, Prince Hamlet.
 * Simba killing, or turning events in order to kill, his uncle, Scar, and avenging his father as Prince Hamlet did to his uncle Cladius.

1995 release
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. 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.

2003 Platinum Edition
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. 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. More than two million copies of the Platinum Edition DVD and VHS units were sold on the first day of release. 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.

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.

2011 Future re-release
Disney has yet to announce a date for the Blu-ray Disc release, although the studio showed clips of the film on Blu-ray at the Consumer Electronics Show 2008. Being a Platinum title, The Lion King will most likely be incorporated into Disney's new "Diamond Edition" home video line which replaces the Platinum Collection. As Disney has announced all future Diamond Edition titles until 2010 (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Fantasia, Fantasia 2000, Beauty and the Beast and Alice in Wonderland), a Blu-ray release/DVD re-release of The Lion King is not expected until 2011 the earliest.


 * March 3, 1995 (VHS - Masterpiece Collection)
 * October 7, 2003 (DVD & VHS - Platinum Edition)
 * October 4, 2011 (DVD & Blu-ray Disc - Diamond Edition)

"THE LION KING!" [Musicals]
The film was adapted into an award-winning Broadway stage musical with the same title "The Lion King", directed by Julie Taymor, and featured actors in representational animal costumes as well as banraku and shadow puppetry. The stage show first opened on July 31, 1997 at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis and was an instant success. After opening on Broadway, the show was nominated for twelve Tony Awards; it won seventy-five, including Best Musical and Best Director.

International productions, including a long-running production at the Lyceum Theatre, London, are currently running to varied success.

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 1990s Japanese anime television show, Kimba the White Lion. The similarities include that the protagonists' names are alike (though Simba is Swahili for lion), 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. 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 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. 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.

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' son, later battled and defeated Set in a fight for the crown of Egypt. The plot also has certain elements of the African story of Sundiata.

Alleged subliminal message
In one scene of the film's original VHS release, it appears that the word "SEX" was embedded into several frames of animation, 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. Due to the controversy it caused, the image has been edited out of the 2003 DVD and VHS editions.

"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. )

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, saying: "You must avenge my death, Kimba... dah, I mean Simba," a reference to the Lion King/Kimba the White Lion controversy.

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. Pumbaa made brief appearances in The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Aladdin and the King of Thieves, 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.

Video games
Two video games based on the film have been released. The first, entitled, The Lion King, was published in 1994 by Virgin and was released on NES, SNES, Game Boy, Sega Master System, Sega Genesis, Game Gear, PC and Amiga. The second, entitled The Lion King: Simba's Mighty Adventure, was published in 2000 by Activision and was released on PlayStation and Game Boy Color.

A third game was published in 2004 simply called The Lion King for Game Boy Advance in Europe and Asia, but was in fact a game based on the direct-to-video prequel/midquel The Lion King 1½ with Timon and Pumbaa as the playable characters.

Part of the main plot of The Lion King is retold in the 2005 Square Enix PlayStation 2 game Kingdom Hearts II. The characters of the film appear in "Pride Lands", one of the many Disney "worlds" in the game. The plot is altered and new dialogue was recorded to accommodate the presence of the three main protagonists (Sora, Donald Duck and Goofy).

Trivia

 * Scar claims he despises It's a Small World, which has been claimed to be one of the most annoying songs in history.
 * The CBS special AFI’s 10 Top 10 lists this movie as fourth in the animation category.