The Lion King is ranked #4 on AFI's 2008 "10 Top 10" list of the ten greatest animated American films. ...
The Lion King is ranked #4 on AFI's 2008 "10 Top 10" list of the ten greatest animated American films.
King Mufasa, a lion who rules over the Pride Lands of Africa, and his queen, Sarabi, present their newborn son, Simba, to a gathering of the animal kingdom. Poised to take his father’s place, Simba is taught the responsibilities of his role, and about the “circle of life” that joins all living things. As Simba grows, Mufasa’s jealous younger brother, Scar, plots to overtake his brother’s throne. He sends Simba and his girl friend, Nala, to wander around an elephants’ graveyard, where they are ambushed by three hyenas—Banzai, Shenzi, and Ed. Mufasa’s aide, a tropical bird named Zazu, alerts him of the attack, and Mufasa comes to Simba’s and Nala’s rescue. Afterward, Mufasa explains to his son that the stars in the night sky are past kings who watch over them. Scar hatches another scheme to defeat his brother. This time, he lures Simba into a stampede of hyenas and wildebeest. Scar tells Mufasa about the stampede, so that Mufasa will go to save Simba, thereby putting himself in peril. The plan works: Scar manages to kill Mufasa, then convinces Simba it was all his fault. Simba escapes another attempt on his life, and ends up in exile in the jungle, along with new friends, Timon the meerkat and Pumbaa the warthog. They teach the young lion their motto, hakuna matata, which means “no worries.” Time passes, and one day Simba rescues Timon and Pumbaa from a lioness attack. The hungry hunter turns out to be Nala. She and Simba reconnect, and she convinces him to return to the Pride Lands, which has languished under Scar’s tyrannical rule. In a standoff between uncle and nephew, Scar reveals ...
King Mufasa, a lion who rules over the Pride Lands of Africa, and his queen, Sarabi, present their newborn son, Simba, to a gathering of the animal kingdom. Poised to take his father’s place, Simba is taught the responsibilities of his role, and about the “circle of life” that joins all living things. As Simba grows, Mufasa’s jealous younger brother, Scar, plots to overtake his brother’s throne. He sends Simba and his girl friend, Nala, to wander around an elephants’ graveyard, where they are ambushed by three hyenas—Banzai, Shenzi, and Ed. Mufasa’s aide, a tropical bird named Zazu, alerts him of the attack, and Mufasa comes to Simba’s and Nala’s rescue. Afterward, Mufasa explains to his son that the stars in the night sky are past kings who watch over them. Scar hatches another scheme to defeat his brother. This time, he lures Simba into a stampede of hyenas and wildebeest. Scar tells Mufasa about the stampede, so that Mufasa will go to save Simba, thereby putting himself in peril. The plan works: Scar manages to kill Mufasa, then convinces Simba it was all his fault. Simba escapes another attempt on his life, and ends up in exile in the jungle, along with new friends, Timon the meerkat and Pumbaa the warthog. They teach the young lion their motto, hakuna matata, which means “no worries.” Time passes, and one day Simba rescues Timon and Pumbaa from a lioness attack. The hungry hunter turns out to be Nala. She and Simba reconnect, and she convinces him to return to the Pride Lands, which has languished under Scar’s tyrannical rule. In a standoff between uncle and nephew, Scar reveals to Simba that he purposely killed Mufasa. Simba overpowers Scar, who then tries to save himself by blaming his actions on the hyenas. Simba takes mercy on him, but bans him from the Pride Lands. However, when Scar attacks again, Simba throws him from the heights of Pride Rock. After surviving the fall, Scar is killed by the hyenas, who overheard his betrayal. Peace is restored, and the Pride Lands once again flourish under Simba’s rule. One day, from the top of Pride Rock, Simba and Nala proudly present their newborn cub, and the circle of life continues.