The Lion King (1994)

The Walt Disney Company is one of those few animation studios that produce pictures not only for children, but for their parents as well. Their masterpieces find appreciation among viewers of all ages, and every generation sees something different and special in them.

The Lion King is an undoubtful Disney masterpiece. This kind, lyric and a little sad animated cartoon brings to the screen beautiful landscapes of African savanna and stunning four-footed personages, who, despite their fangs, manes and tails, are very much human-like.

It seems to have become a tendency to re-release good old cartoons. We have already enjoyed the new format of the magnificent Beauty and the Beast, now it’s the turn of The Lion King. One of the best-known and adored Disney cartoons comes back to us in the brand new 3-D quality and it is actually the third edition of The Lion King. The US première provoked an avalanche of delight from the part of both small film-goers and their nostalgic parents.

Why watch Lion King, this 1994 cartoon known by heart, again in 3-D? Why remake old animations instead of producing new ones? These skeptical questions are quite expected and predictable. There is no answer based on reason and logic. But it’s our hearts prompting that the producers have made the right move. And we who grew up with Simba and know every single word of those fantastic Elton John’s songs are sure to enjoy this wonderful symbol of our childhood over and over again.

The story begins with a significant and solemn event: accompanied by the ballad "Circle of Life" all the inhabitants of the Savanna, from tiny birds to giant elephants, gather under the Pride Rock to greet their king-to-be, now a funny lion cub Simba, the new-born child of Mufasa and Sarabi, the royal couple. Mufasa is a fair and deeply respected king, his lands are flourishing. Little by little he gets Simba involved into his business, sharing his wisdom with the mischievous cub. Simba begins to understand that one day this vast fertile land will belong to him but his father won’t be beside him, and this makes the cheerful kid feel sad for the first time in his life. But sadness and the recognition of the ancient wisdom that life is a closing circle don’t prevent Simba from pranks and care-free games with his friend Nala.

However the happiness can not remain unclouded for a long time. Scar, Mufasa's younger brother, is obsessed with the idea of seizing power in Savanna and becoming the king himself. His plots and intrigues will inevitably lead to tragic consequences.

The simple wisdom of this wonderful cartoon will hardly be perceived by small children, so one can see that The Lion King was initially targeted at the adult audience, too. The philosophy of the movie lies in the idea that life is a closed disk and your destiny will find you wherever you may be. That’s why the only way to be happy is to treat your life with a smile and try not to do harm to the nature and living creatures around you. "But all are agreed as they join the stampede: you should never take more than you give", - sings Sir Elton John in one of his masterpieces, making up the Oscar-rewarded sound track to Lion King. The hilarious duet of Timon and Pumba expresses this idea in simpler terms in their Hakuna Matata. By the way, their song later appeared in Toy Story.

How much wisdom for a cartoon… How multi-facetted and allegorical are the personages! The Lion King is always referred to as one of the best animation movies ever, but in fact it’s much more than a simple animated tale. It’s a timeless legend. It’s an eternal philosophy.