Since its theatrical release in 1994, the animated film The Lion King has been one of Disney’s top-grossing films. Four years after its release, a musical version began showing in theaters, and the film has become a staple on Broadway and elsewhere.

The Lion King was also released on Broadway, celebrating its 27th anniversary as of 2024.

The Lion King

Buy tickets to The Lion King on Broadway at the Minskoff Theatre, read about The Lion King and find the best seats from Broadway Direct

A sequel, Mufasa: The Lion King (2024), was released in 2024.

Mufasa: The Lion King – Movie Trailer & Book tickets | Disney

Visit the official website for Mufasa: The Lion King, where you can find out more about the movie, watch the trailer and book tickets.

The CG of the animals is too realistic.

The 2019 movie “The Lion King” is a realistic CG depiction of the animals. Disney claims it is a “super live-action” version of the film. It is so perfect that one is tempted to call it a live-action version, but most scenes are made with CG. The live-action footage is only one scene at the beginning of the film. For this reason, this film may be categorized as an animated movie. The author also classifies it as a full 3D CG animation.

Unlike the original 1994 version, the realistic animal movements and expressions are reproduced, so the experience is like being in a zoo or safari park. It will be a good opportunity to learn about animal ecology. The film also features endangered animals in the savanna, so the hope is that the audience will learn about their plight and have an opportunity to think about the “Circle of Life.

The CG is very realistic, making it an excellent study of animal life. Still, on the other hand, it inevitably had the disadvantage of lacking the emotional expression of the characters. Compared to the original version, which is characterized by lively facial expressions, the overall tone of this film is darker and has a more solid image. The story is also dark and serious for Disney, so the target age range is higher than the original. The lack of facial expressions made it more difficult to distinguish between the characters. It may be a point that will be improved in the future with technology.

Works that make you imagine homages and inspirational sources.

I also felt that the 2019 movie “The Lion King” reminds viewers of many different works. The original may be the 1994 “The Lion King,” but it also has the essence of many other works. That is because, since the original version’s release, Disney has revealed that this film is based on Shakespeare’s masterpiece “Hamlet. The plot, in which the main character is a prince and his brother murders his father, the king, is almost directly from “Hamlet. The characterization of Scar, the villain in this film, is also heavily influenced by Claudia in “Hamlet. It has also been stated that “Bambi,” another Disney film, is the subject of this film. The shocking scene in which the main character witnesses the death of his parents is undoubtedly a common thread. Elements of these films that were the subject matter of the original version have been carried over to the super live-action version.

Several homages to other Disney films also appear. In the scene where the protagonist Simba is spoken to by his late father Mufasa, there is a subtle homage to the relationship between Darth Vader and Luke in the “Star Wars” series. It is because James Earl Jones also voices Mufasa, who also voices Darth Vader. It is a tribute that is carried over from the original version. New tributes in the super-live-action version include a part where Timon sings a bit of a song from the movie “Beauty and the Beast” and a reference to the trolls’ lines from the movie “Anna and the Snow Queen.” Disney lovers will get a kick out of this area. Also, the overall tone is somewhat reminiscent of the drama series “The Mandalorian,” but this is probably because Jon Favreau directs both films.

Masterpieces reappear with increased power!

This production of “The Lion King (2019)” also reintroduces some great songs from the original version. The music of “The Lion King” is well known for being performed by British pop star Elton John. The Lion King” won two Academy Awards and is a classic. In the super live-action version, John and Tim Rice have re-teamed, as in the original, and added new songs to the familiar ones. The new songs are sung by the diva Beyonce, who plays the heroine Nala in the super live-action version. In addition, renowned artist Pharrell Williams joined the production, making the songs alone a gorgeous piece of work. In addition, the musical accompaniment was created with “The Lion King” in mind. The soundtrack of this super live-action version, which combines the songs from the original version with the wonderful music of the musical version, can be called the definitive soundtrack of “The Lion King.”

“The Lion King” (2019) is a film that combines realistic animals and savannah scenery with great CG, homage and respect for other films, and the best music. I recommend this film to those who want to experience “The Lion King” anew.