Disney’s 32nd animated feature, 1994’s The Lion King was its darkest since 1985’s The Black Cauldron, and, in many ways, a departure from the light-heartedness of The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin. There are moments of fun and humor, to be sure, but the undercurrent is of a far more serious, “adult” nature.
In my early twenties at the time of The Lion King’s original theatrical release, I was quickly a big fan. Blessed with wonderful characters, memorable songs and fabulous animation, this African-themed adventure remains a wonderful family film.
Despite Disney’s continued refusal to acknowledge it, much of The Lion King was directly adapted/re-made from something called Jangaru Taitei–a.k.a. Kimba the White Lion. Kimba was an animated television series made in Japan with the cooperation of NBC of America. The show even aired on American television during the late-1960s/early-1970s. It’s pretty likely that some of the people involved in the making of The Lion King even saw the show at some point. As of now, Kimba is available on DVD, so you can see for yourself where Disney copied the series’ narrative.
Also in debt to the Disney classic Bambi, The Lion King revolves around Simba (voiced as a cub by Jonathan Taylor Thomas). When he, the new prince of the Pride Lands, is born, all of the animals under the rule of king Mufasa (James Earl Jones), gather to celebrate his birth—with the exception of Scar (Jeremy Irons), the king’s jealous younger brother. Instead, Scar plots to kill both his brother and his nephew, so he can rule the kingdom.
First, Scar tries to convince Simba and his friend Nala (Moira Kelly) to explore where they shouldn’t go, beyond the boundaries of the pride lands in the territory of wild hyenas. But they’re saved by Simba’s father and Simba’s advisor and right-hand bird, the parrot Zazu (Rowan Atkinson). When that doesn’t work, Scar devises an even more devious plan that leaves Mufasa dead, Simba believing he’s responsible for his father’s death and Scar in charge.
Fleeing to the outer lands, Simba is befriended by a wart hog, Pumbaa (Ernie Sabella) and a meerkat, Timon (Nathan Lane), and there, he grows into adulthood. Now an adult, Simba (voiced by Matthew Broderick) must decide whether to continue to hide or accept his destiny and fight for what is rightfully his.
Given its characters and beautiful animation, The Lion King is everything family entertainment should be. It’s the kind of epic coming-of-age tale that will appeal to kids and adults alike. The story is both playful and dramatic. Add to that breathtaking scenery and an Oscar winning score, and The Lion King is a special experience.
Scar is one of Disney’s most terrifying villains: a conniving scoundrel who lets his greed and jealousy get the best of him. The scenes as he’s preparing to take over the kingdom are truly horrifying, crowds of hyenas lining up for battle. And when he carries out his plan to kill Mufasa, the aftermath is absolutely heartbreaking. Fortunately, though, The Lion King isn’t all death, war and destruction. It’s also sweet and funny, due in large part to the whimsical musical numbers like “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” and characters like the fun-loving, insect-eating (and cleverly written) Pumbaa and Timon.
Available for the first time on Blu-ray, The Lion King is a definite must-have.
Presented in the 1.78:1 aspect ratio this 1080p transfer is another fabulous release from Disney. With colors that virtually jump off the screen, things are bright and vivid throughout without being over-saturated. Black levels are solid from start to finish; digital problems are non-existent and the film’s crisp character designs are rendered in fantastic detail. This is reference quality material.
The DTS-HD 7.1 Master Audio track is stunning. Every element has been perfectly recorded and perfectly reproduced here. Dialogue, both spoken and sung, is crystal clear with excellent frequency response. The surrounds fully come alive with atmospherics and rich ambiance. The soundscape is completely immersive, with some neat examples of ping-pongy, multichannel effects. Also, the more percussion based songs are perfectly integrated into the mix.
French and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 sound mixes are included, as are English, English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles.
Many of the previously released DVD edition’s special features are only available by way of a BD-Live virtual vault. Even so, Disney has provided a nice slate of goodies on the disc:
- Disney Second Screen (HD): Sync The Lion King and your computer or iPad with this downloadable app to enjoy content including interactive games, storyboards and concept art from the film, animation tests and more.
- Audio Commentary: Producer Don Hahn and co-directors Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff deliver an audio commentary sure to delight fans of the film. Don’t look for it in the “Bonus Features” menu, though. It only appears as an option after selecting “Play Movie.”
- Pride of The Lion King (HD, 38 minutes): This recently produced Lion King retrospective features executive producer Thomas Schumacher, former chairman of Walt Disney Studios Jeffrey Katzenberg, former president of Walt Disney Feature Animation Peter Schneider, co-directors Rob Minkoff and Roger Allers, producer Don Hahn, composer Hans Zimmer and other notable members of the cast and crew discussing the film, its production and its legacy.
- The Lion King: A Memoir – Don Hahn (HD, 20 minutes): Don Hahn, circa 2011, takes a look back at himself, circa 1994, and charts the development, creation and release of The Lion King.
- Disney’s Virtual Vault (SD, 109 minutes): While a variety of special features from the previously releases of The Lion King aren’t housed physically on the disc, they are available via Disney’s online “Virtual Vault.” Treat yourself to “The Making of The Morning Report” (3 minutes); additional deleted scenes including “Bug Football,” “Hakuna Matata” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” (5 minutes); six “Musical Journey” featurettes (20 minutes); a “Circle of Life” music video with Elton John (5 minutes); five “Stage Journey” featurettes (17 minutes); seven “Film Journey” featurettes (32 minutes); three “Story Journey” featurettes (12 minutes); a “Storyboard to Film Comparison” (4 minutes); two “Early Concepts,” “Timon & Pumbaa Find Simba” and “Simba’s Presentation” (7 minutes); and an abandoned scene, “Warthog Rhapsody” (4 minutes).
- Deleted & Alternate Scenes (HD, 15 minutes): Allers and Minkoff introduce five deleted and alternate scenes: “Zazu Flatters Mufasa,” “King of the Wild,” “Scar Wants Nala As His Queen,” “Simba and Nala Reunited” and “Zazu Flatters Scar.”
- The Morning Report (HD, 3 minutes): This extended scene, created for the previously released Platinum Edition DVD, brings a song written for the musical stage to animated life.
- Bloopers & Outtakes (HD, 4 minutes): Simba, Timon, Pumbaa, Mufasa, Scar and the rest of the Pride Lands gang flub lines, pull hamstrings and miss their marks in this animated gag reel.
- Interactive Art Gallery (HD): Hundreds of images are spread across four galleries: “Character Design,” “Visual Development,” “Storyboards” and “Layouts and Backgrounds.”
- Sing-Along Mode (HD): Sing along with the film’s songs, karaoke style.
- Sneak Peeks (HD, 12:15): Trailers for Lady and the Tramp, The Muppets, Cars 2, African Cats, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas, Tinker Bell and the Pixie Hollow Games, The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride, The Lion King 1½, Prep and Landing: Naughty vs. Nice, Broadway’s The Lion King, Treasure Buddies and Tinker Bell and the Secret of the Wings top off the package.
