The Lion King
Category
Animation
Director
Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff
Cast
- Matthew Broderick
- Jeremy Irons
- James Earl Jones
- Jonathan Taylor Thomas
- Nathan Lane
- Ernie Sabella
- Moira Kelly
- Robert Guillaume
- Rowan Atkinson
- Whoopi Goldberg
- Cheech Marin
- Jim Cummings
Release Date
24 June 1994
Synopsis
While Disney is known for its pretty princesses and charming princes, it attempts to show happily ever after in a different kingdom - the animal kingdom, that is. With the lion as king, and not a plump old man with a crown in a throne, The Lion King burst onto the screens with catchy song numbers, spectacular scenery, and life lessons, all in the Circle of Life.
Young playful cub Simba is chased away by jealous murderous uncle Scar after Mufasa, king of the pride and father of Simba is caught in a perilous stampede. Simba then meets the unlikely duo of Timon, a meerkat and Pumba, a warthog, who are outcasts in their own right, and the three live a carefree life, loyal to their Hakuna Matata mantra. But one day, Simba is knocked back into reality when he encounters childhood friend and sweetheart Nala who tells her about the plight of Pride Rock under his uncle Scar and the gibbering yet wise monkey Rafiki. Simba then decides to take on his destiny and returns to Pride Rock, with the helps of his father's commanding apparition, and he battles to death with the sinister Scar, to ultimately restore the savanna to its glory days.
With its beautifully and intricately drawn characters set against a lively colorful backdrop of an animated African landscape, one can easily understand why Disney decided to stray from the princess-prince-witch formula. With the animals' eyes and motions created to capture very human emotions, The Lion King eases into the children serious life teachings like one's duties as an individual and to one's family. But of course, in true Disney form, any story, however serious it may be, is lightened up by cheerful music and easy humor. With a stellar cast of James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Whoopi Goldberg, and Nathan Lane, just to name a few, lending their voices to this Disney animation, The Lion King showcases not just the capabilities of Disney cartoon magic, but how the right voice talents can create an even more powerful and compelling story that even adults can enjoy.
Snagging two trophies in the 1994 Academy Awards, and often listed as one of the best animated features of all time, The Lion King is a children's classic that will remain with generations of Disney fans to come.