Back in 1994, The Lion King revolutionized family animated features. For one, Disney give it their all in terms of the animation style… and even 30 years on, no one can deny the significant impact the film’s score and voice acting have left. As funny as it may be now to see cat videos on the internet mimicking Scar and Mufasa’s “cliffhanger” scene, Mufasa’s death, back in the day, was the shocker of the millennium!
To see little Simba try to wake his father after his fall was, and continues to be, a tearjerker. As harrowing as it is to see the light leave Mufasa’s eyes upon learning Scar’s betrayal, the scene continues to remain etched in our memories owing to the amazing performances of Jeremy Irons and James Earl Jones.
The Lion King dealt a bold paw
Loosely based on Hamlet, The Lion King was sure to contain some tragic elements. And the death of a character was nothing new to Disney. Bambi’s mother being killed by a hunter remains a talking point in animation history. Where The Lion King took a bold step though was in killing off a prominent character so early in the film, shortly before the halfway point of the film.
According to co-director Rob Minkoff, the entire movie was an experiment for the team. In an interview Collider, he explained:
So in a movie like Finding Nemo, mom gets killed, but it happens in the first scene, and then it becomes kind of a prologue, but we don’t have any emotional attachment. To actually kill as important a character as Mufasa is, in the middle of the movie, I mean literally in the third reel, is not typical. It’s just not what you do. You don’t necessarily do that.
People loved a particular “formula” in animated movies, they loved a feel-good story from start to finish filled with some laughs and songs along the way. And with Disney, it meant a love song was to be included, but once again, they broke the rules. Having Timon and Pumba croon the intro and ending of “Can You Feel The Love Tonight?” was an excellent way to depict the pain friends feel when you’re swept away forever by a paramour.
Despite breaking the rules, a formula that did work was combing the voices of maestros of the industry. While Jeremy Irons‘ “Long live the king.” still rings in our ears and sends a chill down our spines, James Earl Jones‘ cry in Mufasa’s fall still pangs in our hearts.
A lasting impact, 30 years on
Despite the live-action’s box office success, many viewers and fans of the OG animated film felt the live-action lacked in leaving a lasting impact. This is mostly owing to a change in voice actors and the lack of deep expressions on the faces of the characters. The exaggerated facial animations and hand-drawn animation were the hallmarks of the 1994 film.
And so with the forthcoming Mufasa live-action prequel (which no one really asked for), there’s visibly some hate and raised eyebrows. And Disney’s track record with their live-actions hasn’t exactly been “Hakuna Matata” of late.
The Lion King stands strong against the test of time. The themes of overcoming grief, finding support and understanding the circle of life still holds credence to audiences of all ages. Mufasa’s death still tugs at our heartstrings and seeing Simba overcome all odds to take his place as the rightful king fills us with immense pride. Coupled with Hans Zimmer’s masterful score, the 1994 classic still wears the crown of the best animated feature.
Watch The Lion King on Disney+.
