The Legacy of "The Lion King" - An In-Depth Analysis of It's Content and Ongoing Legacy and Spinoff Products

Hi folks! Welcome to my My Own Personal Nerdy Disney and Animation Scrutinizing Analysis blog. A blog where I'm analyzing several Disney films, Disney or Animation in general! These entries are just meant to be my analyses. Not reviews or statements. Just fun analyses! Though I'll make some personal remarks now and then, the content of these entries are meant to be depicted objectively. They're made for entertainment purpose only and the pictures/clips are copyright Disney or other companies. 

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And finally; If you haven't seen the films, beware of spoilers! And the funny lines aren't meant to be nothing than funny. So I hope you won't find them offensive. If so, I apologize

Once again I'm starting an entry that is perceivable of being derivate. But hey, sometimes you cannot escape being derivative. So here you go.

We were so awestruck by the
King that we had to join him :)

 

Don't worry, they've been
frozen, so therefore they're
absent of bacterias :)

And yet I'm standing ;)

Everyone who's ever known Disney 

knows the immortal position of The Lion King. It's everlasting and royal placement is universally known not only among Disney buffs, but among moviegoers/buffs as well. Regardless of it's Legacy, there was another legit reason to celebrate this Royal Feline movie. As it happened to turn 25 the year this entry was written (incredibly enough). For people who grew up with this movie (like myself) have probably felt like it's been there forever. So it's hard to realize that it's haven't always been like that.  

Yes, I'm conceited, so
therefore I'm replacing
Simba :)

It was just made to
comfort him :)

It's fair to state that this 

underdog movie has changed many young people's lives forever. And that has been truly influential, both for Disney and other properties. It`s Legacy has lived on for many years in various forms. Yet it was revived again with it's very successful Jon Favreau remake, which happens to be pretty much an uncanny valley carbon copy of it's original. 

There's no question that these remakes, no matter how you feel about them, are successful cash cows. So The Lion King headed for a very successful July opening (the biggest to date until then) and quickly crossed the $1 Billion mark. More faster than the live action of Aladdin did). Despite how some Lion King purists will groan about it's success, at least it has made this Royal feline's Legacy more alive than ever. Perhaps it's no coincidence that it was released on it's Silver Anniversary. To prove that it could live on an Quarter Century after.

A Scrutiny About the Similarities and Differences Between These Two Versions of The Lion King

Yes, one is chubbier than the other :)

Out of this current live action boom, The Lion King was probably not an unexpected choice to receive one. Yet it may be a contradictory one, since it's not technically an live action property (which made the remake the Highest Grossing Animated Film of AllTtime. Before Frozen II took it`s spot). 
Yet regardless of it's predictable success, it's was received poorly criticially. And overall perceived as being inferior copy of it's animated predecessor (one criticism is how the characters were so uncanny that they lacked emotion. Which I agree with. But it was a conscious choice, as the creators wanted the characters to be as naturalistic as possible). Which pretty much leads to another issue that these remakes have been stuck with recently: Of being inferior to their animated predecessors. Perhaps that stigma isn't strange after all, since these remakes are mostly cash-grabs (let's be real here, guys).
Yet it seems like it has become an general norm to not consider these remakes as superior to their animated counterparts (after all, they've been immortalized for their classic staple). Yet what differentiates the likes of the remakes of the Renaissance pictures than from those from Walt's period, is that they've practically been carbon copies of their predecessors.

It should've been The Lion
King and his Prince :)

Perhaps it's not strange to directly model the Renaissance remakes after their animated versions. Due to how beloved and influential the Renaissance are. Since they frankly were made with an modern audience in mind. Yet what made Walt's remakes different to the Renaissance ones is how essentially Walt's remakes were true remakes (wonder if The Little Mermaid-remake will be akin to it's predecessor). Yet I'll have to be honest and say that I enjoyed the remake of The Lion King and found it to be a worthy successor, despite what it could've been. Of course it doesn't mean that I consider it to be superior to it's animated counterpart. But it's certainly not a remake that truly disgraced it's Legacy.

Don't worry, we won't eat ya yet,
until we become adults :)

However, to get to an in-depth analysis of certain pivotal changes: Mufasa's speech to adult Simba in the clouds was improved, confirming that he was proud of his son (something that frankly could've been in the original). Scar's subplot of desiring Sarabi was an intriguing addition, yet it was vaguely explored and elaborated (which frankly could've been another version of Scar desiring Nala). At least the Jungle is given more inhabitants, some of them being skeptical of Simba and addressing the fact that he's a part of the Food Chain. The new introduction to adult Nala was also a neat addition. Enhancing her screentime as an adult, something that certainly could've been in the animated version (and yes, we all know that our dear Nala was voiced by a certain Beyonce. Who actually did a fairly competent job, despite being instantly recognizable). Zazu volunteering to tell the other lionesses during the stampede was also an improvement. Due to how Zazu is knocked by Scar in the animated movie when it happens. In fact, this movie was balanced in fixing certain criticisms of it's animated predecessor. Unlike the desperate attempt of the live action version of Beauty and the Beast, who tried so desperately to fix the most pivotal ones.

The Rivalry Between The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast & My Personal Opinion About The Lion King

It's well known that Disney always had the tendency to expose and praise their most popular properties and less to their other ones. The Lion King is an example of the former and it's been very overexposed. Yet considering the two properties that got the most credit and belonged to IMDb Top 250, as The Lion King (Beauty and the Beast used to be on the list, it`s was removed from it and being replaced by Aladdin), there seems to be a certain more affection for Beauty by Disney themselves than for Lion King.

It's so Special that
it won't be seen :)

In fact, while it may seem like I'm flamebaiting, there's a clear evidence of this; Beauty has been given praise for being the movie the Disney crew (at the time) clearly enjoyed to work on the most. And has been given more elaborate making-off material. Heck, there`s been even written two making of-books about the film; One by Bob Thomas during it's release and one by Charles Solomon, written 19 years later.

So yes, there`s a rivarly between Beauty and Lion King fans. And as I've mentioned in previous entry for this film, there are many who don't consider The Lion King to be the Pinnacle of Disney Animation. In fact, there has been several campaigns about it. Yet the Box Office numbers have proven that there is a general love for The Lion King. A love that is deserved. Still in my adult years I can personally confess that my impression of The Lion King is not as biased as it used to be. It's a great film that deserved it success. Yet I don't put in on personal pedestal of being the epitome of a perfect film anymore.

The Most Serious of the Early Renaissance Features

At least it's not The Morning
Report :)

Cause The Lion King is a very serious film. Indeed the most serious of the actual Renaissance productions, which had their moments of pathos, still not in the same league. And wihile it has become known as being an often breezy, happy-go-lucky movie for it's light parts, it does take in some pretty Big Themes. Not least the “Circle of Life” from Birth to Death. As well as stressing the message of responsibility and coming of age.

Yes, gas can came out
your mouth as well :)

The pretensious and pompous tone also adds to The Lion King's wistful nature. Sure, there are some fun sequences. But the overall pace screams “mood” from every frame. Yet of course Disney would go on to continue the serious, sweeping epic trend with their follow-ups with Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Who unfortunately were hampered by their seriousness. But also not being as crowdpleasers as the earlier Renaissance films. 

At least it's a clean
version of me :)

Yet no matter how technical you get with the Renaissance, it's true that The Lion King was technically the end of the short-lived Renaissance. Yet was also somewhat perceived of belonging to the serious trend that Pocahontas and Hunchback  started (regardless of how both of them surpassed Lion King in their solemn nature, there's a certain pretentiousness to Lion King that isn't found in it's followers, in my opinion). In fact, while the seriousness may not be the biggest flaw of the film, since the story is filled with depth and layers, which it`s been praised for. Yet the pompous nature has been one of the things that has drawn some reviewers and people from the movie, nonetheless.

The Flaws of The Lion King

If there's a flaw in The Lion King and a minor one, it must be that Simba's venture to the Elephant Graveyeard feels somewhat of a separate storyline to the main story. True, it has it's own purpose, like introducing the issue of responsibility. As well as enhacing the Hyenas's screentime and setting up Scar's furtherplan. Yet the storyline feels somewhat of it's own mini-story and not as glued to the actual plot. 

At least it's not gotta
catch them all :)

Sure, The Lion King is often labeled for being the epitome of perfection. Still there`s been a couple of ongoing complaints about it. Like how cub Simba is essentially a cocky and conceited brat (despite that I had my own personal bias for Simba as a child, like most children happen to adore the protagonists

of the Disney movies. Since let's face it, they are the center and thus easy to identify with. Regardless of how the comic sidekicks are often seen as being put for the kids). 

I'm a feline version of
Maleficent :)

Yay, you touched me
without farting :)

And how Scar eventually morphs into a man-child when he actually gets his position as king. Yet truth to be told, the comedy has also received complains, as not really meshing well with the serious tone. While perhaps not being my biggest issue with the film, at least some of the comedy can be a little off. Some people have complained about Timon and Pumbaa, who I don't consider to be that bad. But personally I've found the Hyenas to be a grating at times, while I know that I'm in the minority.

The Strengths of The Lion King

 

We're trying to convince ya
that we are friends, not
food :)

But those are some minor nitpicks with what is, in all other terms, a masterfully told story and an excellently made movie. There's no doubt that no matter what could be said about The Lion King, it truly has some great components and moments. Which makes it easy to see why it's so loved (and why I loved it). 
It may sound contradictory of me to point this out, due to my aforementioned rants. But hey, every movie has it's flaws and not everything that you love cannot always bring you the same affection. 

True that The Lion King is (in my opinion) more successful in its second half. where the skillful and dramatic storytelling meshes well with the light and playful comedy (despite how the The Circle of Life is a landmark of it's own and I Just Can't to Be King and the Wilderbeest stampede are some definite highlights). The second half truly shows the greatness of the movie. With Can You Feel the Love Tonight and various epic battles and epiphanic scenes in with great flair. Accompanied by Hans Zimmer's excellent and terrifc score (it's remarkable that Zimmer has never been brought on a Disney animated property again ever since). Of course The Lion King has resonated with people due to it's allegorical themes and mythological paralells. And for it's archetypical story and hero's journey structure.

Mufasa`s Death

AC/DC would've loved
me now :)

At least you're not Zeus :)

True that The Lion King has been riddled with controversy since the get-go. About several of it's subliminal conspiracy theories (which I've already written about). Yet one valid controversy is that The Lion King was the first Disney film to truly show a dead corpse of a parent. Which indeed has been one of the most debated scenes in the movie. Yet unlike Bambi, The Lion King has never truly labeled for that scene alone. Yet The Lion King was of course deliberately not going to stray away from the subject, unlike Bambi. Not only in terms of how Mufasa's corpse is shown, which was even controversial among the Disney crew. But also how the story and plot revolves around the death. So therefore The Lion King is a movie, unlike Bambi, that revolves around the subject of grief in general. Despite how the death is still pivotal in Walt's 1942 Classic.

Yet regardless of how The Lion King is explicit about this, we'll
have to remember that the death in Bambi was pretty frankly controversial at the time. However, we could regardless spin around that The Lion King was made for it's time. and regardless of how controversial it truly was, at least it was made for a right time to an audience. And way of storytelling that could truly show such things. Since storytelling has evolved and audiences craves for more intelligent and layered storytelling.

Simba`s Guilt

If there's one thing the movie vaguely dwells on, it`s Simba's famous guilt. As Simba is blamed of being responsible for his fathers death by Scar, yet the film truly dismisses it's internal logic.
Because if we`re really going to scrutinize this issue; Let's be real guys, it's pretty implausible that a young cub could even do what he was accused for. But since The Lion King is mostly an children`s movie, it's tip taps on such a subject without truly diving deep to it. Of course it's remarkable how The Lion King even dares to have such a subject in the first place. Yet it's also a part of it's maturity and sophistication. But it's still a pity that the movie never truly elaborates on it what it truly means. Had The Lion King been another movie genre, it would've been most likely elaborated more. It's a nitpick with the film that my scrutinizing self has pondered about as adult (since we live in a scrutinizing era after all, so I'm allowed, haha).

Yet if we're actually bringing up those who's truly pondered about the consequences of this issue, then it's no other than Our Dearest Doug Walker (a.k.a. Nostalgia Critic). Who's pointed out in his reviews that he consider to be a flaw that Simba is not supported by his Pride when he confesses that he's been responsible for the death. And how Scar is only attacked when he confesses the truth. Well, I guess it's a fair way of looking at it and it would be easy to perceive it that way. Yet personally I never used to used think so. Perhaps I don't think it's as severe as Doug thinks, but we could blame the writing for that issue (no offense to the writers).

How the Spinoff-Projects Have Continued the Saga

This will be a new ride at
DisneyWorld :)

Well, however. We all know that The Lion King has been milked in various ways; A Broadway show. Several attractions on the Disney Parks. A couple of spinoff-series. And a couple of Direct-to-Video cheapquels. The Lion King also inspired a couple of spinoff books that cemented a couple of facts; That Simba's cub was supposed to be a male named Kopa.
Of course this issue was broken with Kiara in Simba's Pride (which certainly was a contradiction, due to how even book adaptations of The Lion King cited that Simba's cub was a male). Yet it was never as disastrous as it wasn't fixable. While Simba's Pride was essentially the ending of The Lion King saga at the time, since The Lion King 1 1/2 would be a remake of the first story.

Yes, you should obey me,
since I can burn you :)

However, the true continuation to Simba's Pride was The Lion Guard. Which was another spin off series. Released in 2015 and ended in 2019. Whatever could be said about The Lion Guard, at least it's one property that truly messed with the continuity of The Lion King. And gave Simba a new son that shares the same age as Kiara. While I`ve ranted about this issue previously, at least the finales of the series has mended this continuity error. And integrated the events of Simba`s Pride within The Lion Guard.
Of course The Lion Guard haven't been the only Disney spinoff property that has messed with already established continutiy (*cough, Disney Cheapquels, cough*). Yet regardless of that issue, the choice of giving Simba another son that isn't even Kopa is not particularly cohesive (and certainly something that irked Kopa purists, no offense to the writers). When it could've easily continued Kiara and Kovu's story, since they grew up in the sequel after all.

It's not just copyright 
Rafiki anymore :)

Yet regarding this issue, there's nothing particularly wrong with the quality of The Lion Guard itself. In fact, it comes across as the kind of series that I personally wished that Disney made at the peak of The Lion King: A naturalistic series which centered around the life in Pride Rock, rather than the comedic Timon & Pumbaa-series that happened to be a departure from the tone of the movie. The Lion Guard is fine enough, whhile of course it's made for a less adult audience in mind. At least Disney shall have credit for at continuing miliking The Lion King franchise. Since it would be more relevant to milk all their newest properties for the sake of currency.

Epilogue

At least it's not London
Bridge ;)

Despite how the "live action" remake has been dismissed in the future at the expense of it's animated predecessor, at least it has kept the Legacy of The Lion King going. A Legacy that shows that the affection for this film was still relevant.

I must take the opportunity to
hold him, soon he'll be heavy :)

Fortunately for certain fans and purists, who will most likely always consider former Disney to be better than current Disney. While it would be easy to groan at the fact that the remake is labeled for being an "live action version", due to how it's techincally not that. As for what the crew who worked on the first movie thought about the remake, they were splitted and divided around it. 

But I guess that's inevitable, considering how opinions will differ. At the end there's nothing more to say than to wish The Lion King an happy former Silver Anniversary and wishing it to get many more. And yes, I know that it probably seemed as if I was bashing the movie previously. But I do have my affection for Lion King nonetheless, despite it's faults.

At least it's not The Lion Squad :)

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References:

The Lion King Platinum Edition DVD.

Mouse Under Glass (David Koenig)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/review96/flionkingcolumn.htm

http://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/lion-king-the

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/review96/lionkinghin.htm??noredirect=on

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LM0nyOupkas - Top 11 Disney Villains - Nostalgia Critic  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnyHqxxsD8g&t=1611s - The Lion King - Nostalgia Critic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8vrmBqJcwg - The Lion King - Disneycember         

https://www.vulture.com/2019/07/mufasa-death-scene-the-original-lion-king-animators-discuss.html

https://moviechat.org/tt0110357/The-Lion-King/5bf1ba9fefa7ad38fee1e592/Is-it-just-me-or-was-Scar-less-likable-after-he-became-King-than-before

https://moviechat.org/tt0110357/The-Lion-King/58c75dbd6b51e905f67de213/How-can-Simba-believe-he-was-responsible-for-Mufasas-Death

https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/cc14q7/did_the_critics_take_the_lion_king_too_seriously/

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_lion_king_2019

https://www.dvdizzy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=32447&sid=62f17d7e35757565a4e7a73f47cc10c8&start=580
https://animatedviews.com/2019/simba-roars-mighty-as-the-lion-king-makes-the-record-books/
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https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-lion-king-2019
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https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=lionking.htm
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https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5hot22 (Nostalgia Chick The Lion King)
https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5d4080f1e4b01d8c9782714a/amp?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZHZkaXp6eS5jb20vZm9ydW0vdmlld3RvcGljLnBocD9mPTEmdD0zMjQ0NyZzdGFydD01ODA&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAMLKZWzFD_uSXW4OGXyTpQDKw39pYfZ0dmT1XB97LRScoI4ZUBJG36WZmU1NWx41JwJSewPfi4r2Mb3IngfIBtqUA0L122VHu9Z7dNYZXN7ibqh5tt4t8lurIbIuPsesW4aZA2Rnwuzbe5d7D6xINBD4I2yTxykLjXlsicX54sX-
https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt2294629/?ref_=bo_se_r_1