Iconic would be an understatement. The Lion King not only revolutionized the world of animation, but told an incredible and unforgettable story. If I were to fully analyze the magnificence of this film we would be here for hours talking about the beauty of its writing, songs, characters, world building, and especially its animation. I mean the movie itself looks like live action!
However, today I will be discussing two main points that are unique to The Lion King: its voice acting and its use of music. These two aspects give the movie a certain charm that no other movie has. Because of the way it uses brilliant voice acting, a compelling story and cast, and beautiful music to articulate themes of loss and hope, Walt Disney’s movie The Lion King should be considered a classic.
Its voice acting resonates with the watchers and brings the story and characters to life. The entire cast portrays their roles with raw emotions that encompass their characters’ personalities, ambitions, and relationships with others. An example of this is Mufasa’s death scene, which is probably one of the saddest deaths in Disney history. This scene is one of the most impactful from the entire movie. It shows the betrayal in Mufasa when he discovers that his brother would really kill him for the throne, and the pain in Simba’s voice when he sees his father fall to his death into the stampede. Most of all this sets the stage for what a bitter and jealous villain Simba will need to later face. This scene showcases terrific performances from Scar, Simba, and Mufasa, and this is only one of multiple.
Furthermore, the music in this film enhances the actors’ performances, bringing a deeper level of emotion to the film. Although all the songs act as catchy tunes to get stuck in your head, they also play important roles in characterization. Some songs the characters sing and some only the audience can hear, but both are used for different purposes. The songs that characters sing show their ambitions and allow the audience to see deeper into their character and what influenced or will influence their actions. For example, “Just Can’t Wait to Be King” is Simba’s hope song, or his song about his fantasies about being the king. This song shows the audience how his views before his father’s death were very optimistic and naive. This is contrasted by “Hakuna Matata” where Simba is actively avoiding his problems. When looking at the very first thing played in the beginning of the movie, “Circle of Life”, it sets the stage for the themes leading the protagonist and story. It even says in the song’s lyrics, “Through despair and hope, through faith and love, we will find our place, on the path unwinding, in the circle of life.” Along with the use of the native South African language Zulu, this helps show the audience where the movie takes place and makes the world feel more real.
Some critics argue that since this is an animated film and was originally catered towards a younger audience, it does not hold the same level of emotional depth or themes as other movies. Another adding factor is that all the characters are personified animals. Although some might not relate to the film, it is not because of the absence of human characters or the use of animation. The Lion King expresses themes of betrayal, death, and loss which were not diluted. Even though the characters are animals, it doesn’t make their struggles any less difficult. For example, when Mufasa dies, many people can relate to the pain of losing a parent, even though he isn’t a human.
Because every character is written as round and interesting with their own set of strengths and weaknesses, it doesn’t matter whether they’re human or animal. Simply put the Lion King’s story depicts numerous themes that resonate with the audience through its raw voice acting, and music that captures the essence of the movie. The Lion King has influenced countless animated movies after its release. This movie broke through the stereotype that animation was only for children and could not have meaningful impacts. This movie has paved the way for story tellers to reach a wider audience, both young and old, through the versatility of animation.