The Lion King (1994)

Directors:

Roger Allers
Rob Minkoff

Writers:

Irene Mecchi (written by) and
Jonathan Roberts (written by) ...

Release Date:

24 June 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Drama | Family | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

Life's greatest adventure is finding your place in the Circle of Life.

Plot:

Tricked into thinking he killed his father, a guilt ridden lion cub flees into exile and abandons his identity as the future King.

Plot Keywords:

Tragic Incident | Friendship | Talking Animal | Tastes Like Chicken Joke | No Opening Credits

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 22 wins & 22 nominations

Cast

Jonathan Taylor Thomas	...	Young Simba (voice)
Matthew Broderick	...	Adult Simba (voice)
James Earl Jones	...	King Mufasa (voice)
Jeremy Irons	...	Scar (voice)
Moira Kelly	...	Adult Nala (voice)
Niketa Calame	...	Young Nala (voice)
Ernie Sabella	...	Pumbaa the Warthog (voice)
Nathan Lane	...	Timon the Meerkat (voice)
Robert Guillaume	...	Rafiki the Mandrill (voice)
Rowan Atkinson	...	Zazu the Hornbill (voice)
Madge Sinclair	...	Queen Sarabi (voice)
Whoopi Goldberg	...	Shenzi the Hyena (voice)
Cheech Marin	...	Banzai the Hyena (voice)
Jim Cummings	...	Ed the Hyena (voice)
Zoe Leader	...	Sarafina, Nala's Mother (voice)

Also Known As:

King of the Jungle (USA) (original script title)
Rey león, El (USA: Spanish title)

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Swahili | Xhosa | Zulu

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:F (Ontario) | Portugal:M/6 | Canada:G (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | South Korea:All | Taiwan:GP | Iceland:L | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Chile:TE | Finland:K-8/5 | France:U | Germany:o.Al. | Hong Kong:I | Netherlands:AL | Norway:7 | Peru:PT | Singapore:G | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:U | USA:G | Greece:K | Brazil:Livre

Company:

Walt Disney Feature Animation

Trivia:

A few weeks before the film opened, Elton John was given a special screening. Noticing that the love song had been left out, he lobbied to put the song back in. Later, because of those actions, "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Nala is crouched in the grass right before she pounces at Pumba her eyes are green. When she's fighting with Simba her eyes are blue.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[Scar catches a mouse]
Scar: Life's not fair, is it? You see, I... well, I shall never be king. And you... shall never see the light of another day. Adieu.
Zazu: Didn't your mother ever tell you not to play with your food?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "It Takes Two: (#2.4)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

The Lion Sleeps Tonight

So Good in So Many Ways.

Outstanding animated feature from Disney that sports outstanding songs by Elton John, a compelling story and first-class animation. Young lion cub Simba is to be king, but he leaves after he believes he was the reason for his father's death (of course this is not so). As he grows up, he goes on a journey of love, friendship and discovery which will lead him back to his rightful place in the world. Excellent. 5 stars out of 5.