Life’s greatest adventure is finding your place in the Circle of Life.|Jun. 23, 1994|USA|89 Min.|G
Genre: Animation;Drama;Family
Description: In the African Pride Lands, a lion pride governs the animal kingdom from Pride Rock. King Mufasa and Queen Sarabi introduce their newborn son, Simba, to the animal community through Rafiki, the kingdom’s shaman and advisor. Mufasa takes Simba on a tour of the Pride Lands, explaining the duties of kingship and the “circle of life,” which binds all living beings. However, Mufasa’s younger brother, Scar, desires the throne and devises a plan to eliminate Mufasa and Simba to seize power. He deceives Simba and his best friend, Nala, into visiting a forbidden elephant graveyard, where they are ambushed by a group of hyenas. Mufasa, alerted by his majordomo Zazu, rescues the cubs. Although disappointed, Mufasa forgives Simba and assures him that the great kings of the past watch over them from the stars. Simultaneously, Scar conspires with the hyenas, promising them hunting rights in exchange for their assistance in overthrowing Mufasa.
Scar orchestrates a deadly plan, trapping Simba in a gorge and stampeding a herd of wildebeest to crush him. He informs Mufasa of Simba’s danger, knowing the king will risk his life to save his son. Mufasa rescues Simba but is left clinging to the edge of the gorge. Scar allows Mufasa to fall to his death and convinces Simba that the tragedy is his fault, urging him to flee the kingdom and never return. Simba narrowly escapes the hyenas’ attempt to kill him. Scar claims the throne, announcing Mufasa and Simba’s deaths and permitting the hyenas to inhabit the Pride Lands.
Cast director: Roger Allers
Cast actor: Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Rowan Atkinson, Niketa Calame, Jim Cummings, Whoopi Goldberg, Robert Guillaume, Moira Kelly, Nathan Lane
Original name: The Lion King