The Lion King: Disney’s Golden Era of Animated Film
Directed by Rob Minkoff and Roger Allers
“Being brave doesn’t mean you go looking for trouble.”
Mufasa
With the release of the most recent live-action installment of Mufasa: The Lion King, I decided to review the success that started it all. It all began with The Lion King. The film has a run-time of just 88 minutes, but the product is a wonderfully executed story with beautiful animation and elevated characterization. Under the careful direction of Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff, the animated version comes to life. The direction is only as good as the dialogue and it proved to have elements of wit, humor, and much emotion which aided in the relaying of the tale.
Regarding the cast, James Earl Jones brought the necessary power that the character of Mufasa required as King of the Pride Lands. The relationship dynamic between him and young Simba voiced by Jonathan Taylor Thomas were developed wonderfully. Even adult Simba, acted by Matthew Broderick, held his own weight. He navigated life with Timon and Pumbaa, voiced by Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella. Opposingly, Jeremy Irons perfected the cunning nature of Scar and was a true antagonist to the letter. Other supporting characters, such as Whoopi Goldberg, Moira Kelly, and Rowan Atkinson, played key roles. They greatly aided the development of the characters within the story.
The soundtrack, an original score by Hans Zimmer, embodied the feel of the Tanzania Pride lands. Teaming up with Tim Rice, singer and songwriter Elton John played a vital part in crafting five original songs for the film. The most memorable songs are “Hakuna Matata“1 and “Circle of Life.”2 However, all other songs have garnered much acclaim and they are still pervasive in modern media. Nearly three decades have passed since its release yet this film still carries the qualities that helped it to succeed. The Lion King will remain cemented in cinematic history as one of the best animated films of all time.
Citations:
- “Hakuna Matata (from The Lion King).” YouTube, uploaded by DisneySingItVideos, 21.10.2011, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaOIxll4LCA. ↩︎
- “Carmen Twillie, Lebo M. – Circle of Life (From “The Lion King”).” YouTube, uploaded by DisneyMusicVEVO, 25.09.2014, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaOIxll4LCA. ↩︎
The Island Cinephile 