The Lion King (1994)
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A young lion prince must find the courage to reclaim his throne from his treacherous uncle.
The story
In the Pride Lands of Eastern Africa, a pride of lions rules over the kingdom from Pride Rock. King Mufasa and Queen Sarabi's newborn son, Simba, is presented to the gathered animals by Rafiki, the mandrill who is the kingdom's shaman and advisor. Mufasa's younger brother, Scar, covets the throne and plots to eliminate Mufasa and Simba so that he may become king. When Simba grows into a young cub, Mufasa shows him the Pride Lands and forbids him to explore beyond its borders. Mufasa explains to Simba the responsibilities of kingship and the "circle of life," which connects all living things.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In the Pride Lands of Eastern Africa, a pride of lions rules over the kingdom from Pride Rock. King Mufasa and Queen Sarabi's newborn son, Simba, is presented to the gathered animals by Rafiki. Mufasa's younger brother, Scar, covets the throne and plots to eliminate Mufasa and Simba. Scar manipulates Simba into exploring an elephants' graveyard, where Mufasa rescues the cubs. However, Scar later lures Simba into a gorge and orchestrates a stampede; he kills Mufasa and convinces Simba that the death was his fault, leading Simba to flee. Simba is rescued by Timon and Pumbaa, and the three live in exile under the motto "hakuna matata." Years later, Simba encounters Nala, who urges him to return home. After a spiritual encounter with Mufasa's spirit, Simba returns to the Pride Lands. He confronts Scar at Pride Rock, forcing him to admit the truth of Mufasa's death. After a battle with Scar and his hyena allies, Simba defeats Scar, takes his place as king, and Nala becomes his queen, restoring the circle of life.
- First release year
- 1994
- Runtime (minutes)
- 88
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Roger Allers; Rob Minkoff
- Writers
- Irene Mecchi · writer; Jonathan Roberts · writer; Linda Woolverton · writer
- Cast and characters
- Matthew Broderick · Simba; James Earl Jones · Mufasa; Jeremy Irons · Scar; Jonathan Taylor Thomas · Simba; Moira Kelly · Nala; Niketa Calame · Nala; Madge Sinclair · Nala; Nathan Lane · Zazu
- Genres
- animated; musical; drama
- Themes
- Responsibility; The Circle of Life; Identity
- Tone and mood
- Epic; Dramatic; Musical
- Setting
- The Pride Lands of Eastern Africa
- Premise and plot tags
- Coming of Age; Adventure; Family
- Reception
- The Lion King was praised by critics for its music, story, themes, and animation. It was the highest-grossing film of 1994 and held the title of highest-grossing animated film until 2003. It is considered by many to be among the greatest animated films ever made.
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Globe Award · Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy · Win
- Production trivia
- The production team visited Kenya for research and inspiration.; The film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.; The film was the best-selling film on home video.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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