Talk:The Lion King (1994 film)/@comment-25692211-20151101113021/@comment-1635429-20151104235044

I'd have to disagree. There are plenty of examples of characters labeled as "comic relief" that appear only after several key, emotional moments occur in the film. Perhaps not as drastic as death, but emotional enough.

For example, Genie arrives after scenes like Aladdin being publically humiliated on the streets, the chaotic escape scene at the Cave of Wonders, and let's not forget the very beginning of the film, with Gazeem's death.

Here's the thing about Lion King and comic relief: They don't throw in comedic elements late in the film. At the very beginning, we see Zazu, I Just Can't Wait to be King, and the heyenas. Very bouncy, lighthearted moments. That way, when Timon and Pumbaa show up, they don't feel out of place. It would be extremely off putting if, after Mufasa's death, there was suddenly no comedy whatsoever in the film, yet there was plenty of it before the event. That's basically what would have happened if Timon and Pumbaa weren't around.

The same was done with Aladdin. Before Genie, the movie has plenty of comedy to mix with the heavier, more grounded moments (like Aladdin's hardships, and the relationship between Aladdin and Jasmine; not to mention Jasmine believing her only human friend was killed), so when Genie finally arrives, again, it doesn't feel out of place. Iago was also there to provide that comedy element while Genie was dormant, for the same reason.

Still, if you felt Timon and Pumbaa were out of place, that's your opinion, and it's completely valid. I'm just throwing my two cents in as to why I believe otherwise.