I guess from the first 20 seconds. The sun rises and you her aaaaaaaaaaaaa and you just know Disney peaked here. The Lion King is by far one of the greatest Disney Films of all time. First of all, the aesthetic of this movie just hits. Any fan art or professional art for the Lion King is always stunning. Artists just go all in for Lion King art and I love it. Even at Walt Disney World, looking around Animal Kingdom, Animal kingdom Lodge, & Art of Animation, Lion King just makes everything better.
I think what really resonates with most people is how mature the story is. It's a bunch of talking animals but the target audience is not specifically kids. You look at past movies like Aristocats or Oliver & Company - those are cute family fun animal movies. The Lion King is serious... like.... the stampede. The murder. Simba's realization. Disney chose trauma this day, and we all felt that. This came with timeless life lessons very often quoted. Of course the classic - Hakuna Matata - which translates to "put your behind in your past." The past can hurt, but you can either run from it or learn from it. When we die we become the grass, and the antelope eat the grass. The one that hits me most is "remember who you are." Because in the everchanging life we live, we are who we are, take that as you will.
On top of the epic tale is one of the greatest film soundtracks I've ever heard in my life. Hans Zimmer peaked here. All the Light Touches gets me every time. And the iconic songs are you kidding me?!?!?!! The Circle of Life, Just Can't Wait To Be King, Be Prepared, Hakuna Matata, Can You Feel the Love Tonight - every song is a hit for no reason.
This movie was completely revolutionary in more so than any other from the renaissance era. Just thinking about it - within the next several years upon it's release, Animal Kingdom was built, Disney's wildlife charity started, and to this day, Simba is still on an insane amount of merch. The legacy is there. And the lion king will always be my number 1.
I think what really resonates with most people is how mature the story is. It's a bunch of talking animals but the target audience is not specifically kids. You look at past movies like Aristocats or Oliver & Company - those are cute family fun animal movies. The Lion King is serious... like.... the stampede. The murder. Simba's realization. Disney chose trauma this day, and we all felt that. This came with timeless life lessons very often quoted. Of course the classic - Hakuna Matata - which translates to "put your behind in your past." The past can hurt, but you can either run from it or learn from it. When we die we become the grass, and the antelope eat the grass. The one that hits me most is "remember who you are." Because in the everchanging life we live, we are who we are, take that as you will.
On top of the epic tale is one of the greatest film soundtracks I've ever heard in my life. Hans Zimmer peaked here. All the Light Touches gets me every time. And the iconic songs are you kidding me?!?!?!! The Circle of Life, Just Can't Wait To Be King, Be Prepared, Hakuna Matata, Can You Feel the Love Tonight - every song is a hit for no reason.
This movie was completely revolutionary in more so than any other from the renaissance era. Just thinking about it - within the next several years upon it's release, Animal Kingdom was built, Disney's wildlife charity started, and to this day, Simba is still on an insane amount of merch. The legacy is there. And the lion king will always be my number 1.