parent nodes: Jack Judah | The Lion King
The Lion King is the Walt Disney Company's 32nd animated film. It was released in June of 1994.
The movie is about a young lion cub named Simba who learns about his role place on the throne. Simba's father Mufasa is eventually murdered by his uncle Scar. Then Scar blames Simba before exiling the young cub. After wandering in the desert, he befriends a meerkat named Timon and a warthog named Pumbaa. After growing up with Timon and Pumbaa, Simba's friend Nala eventually finds him. She urges Simba to return to Pride Rock and to retake his rightful throne, but he refuses. After Rafiki the baboon shows Simba that Mufasa's spirit lives inside him Simba goes back to Pride Rock to defeat his uncle Scar and the hyenas so he can reclaim his kingdom.
The Lion King was so successful that it had a direct-to-video sequel and a spin-off television series. It has also been revisioned into a successful stage musical. It was the first full-length Disney film to feature no human characters. A second sequel will be released in 2004. Computer animation was used extensively in the creation of the movie, especially during the Circle of Life and stampeed sequences.
Key Characters
Mufasa - King of the Pridelands, father of Simba and mate of Sarabi.
Simba - The future ruler of the Pridlands who was exiled by his uncle Scar
Nala - Friend of Simba and future mate of Simba. She urges Simba to return to Pride Rock.
Scar - Brother of Mufasa and Simba's Uncle. He murders Mufasa and exiles Simba from the Pridelands.
Sarabi - Mother of Simba and mate of Simba.
Rafiki - Baboon or mandrill who convinces Simba to return to Pride Rock and reclaim his lands from Scar.
Timon and Pumbaa - A comical duo who adopts Simba and raises him under the philosophy of "Hakuna Matata".
Zazu - King Mufasa's majordomo. Early in the movie, he explains to Simba and Nala that they will be married in the future.
Shenzi, Ed and Banzai - Three hyenas who assist Scar in murdering Mufasa and exiling Simba.
Musical
The movie was also adapted into an award-winning musical by the same name. The first stage show opened on November 13, 1997 in New York City, New York.
Controversies surrounding the Lion King
The movie has had its share of controversy. There was some criticism from the gay community regarding a subtle effeminate undertone to the movie's villain, Scar. In one scene of the movie it appears, ambiguously but convincingly, that animators embedded the word "sex" into several frames of animation. And there was dispute over the origin of the story, as it bears a striking resemblance to a Japanese animated television show Kimba the White Lion, so much so that apparently even some animators thought they were doing a remake.