The Lion King facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Lion King
A promotional image of the characters from the film. From left to right: Shenzi, Scar, Ed, Banzai, Rafiki, Young Simba, Mufasa, Young Nala, Sarabi, Zazu, Sarafina, Timon, and Pumbaa
Directed by	Roger Allers Rob Minkoff
Produced by	Don Hahn
Written by	Irene Mecchi Jonathan Roberts Linda Woolverton
Story by	Jim Capobianco Lorna Cook Thom Enriquez Andy Gaskill Francis Glebas Ed Gombert Kevin Harkey Barry Johnson Mark Kausler Jorgen Klubien Larry Leker Rick Maki Burny Mattinson Joe Ranft Chris Sanders Tom Sito Gary Trousdale
Starring	Matthew Broderick James Earl Jones Jeremy Irons Jonathan Taylor Thomas Moira Kelly Nathan Lane Ernie Sabella Rowan Atkinson Robert Guillaume Madge Sinclair Whoopi Goldberg Cheech Marin Jim Cummings
Music by	Hans Zimmer
Editing by	Ivan Bilancio
Studio	Walt Disney Pictures Walt Disney Feature Animation
Distributed by	Buena Vista Pictures
Release date(s)	June 15, 1994 (1994-06-15)
Running time	88 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$45 million
Money made	$987.5 million

The Lion King is an animated movie made by Walt Disney in 1994. It was the most successful animated movie of the 1990s. The movie is about a young lion prince who learns about his role as prince and in the circle of life. It is dedicated to Frank Wells, who was the president of The Walt Disney Company and died shortly before the movie was released into theaters on June 15, 1994. It was the first full-length Disney movie to feature no human characters since Bambi. Much of the voice acting work was done by well-known actors, including James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Matthew Broderick, Whoopi Goldberg, Rowan Atkinson, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, and Nathan Lane. The Lion King is a musical; the songs have music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice. Computer animation was used a lot when making the movie, like during the song "Circle of Life" and others. When they were making it, this movie was thought of as just "alright" compared to the movie they were going to make after that, which would be Pocahontas. The studio released the trailer, and found that many people liked it, especially the song "Circle of Life". When it was released, the movie became the most successeful movie worldwide (in the United States, Forrest Gump was most successful of that year) and the most successful animated feature movie of all time until Finding Nemo. Since then, Shrek 2 has become more successful than Finding Nemo, making The Lion King the third most successful.

The movie was also made into an award-winning stage musical. The stage show first opened on November 13, 1997 in New York City, and it was a big success. A version opened later in London, England. Many other shows of The Lion King have been shown across the world, and is one of the UK's biggest and most popular shows.

The story

In the movie's opening scene, lots of animals and birds gather at Pride Rock to see Simba, the new prince who has just been born. Simba is the son of Mufasa and Sarabi. Rafiki picks up Simba and lifts him high up so that all of the animals can see. The animals celebrate and rejoice. But Scar, Mufasa's brother, is jealous because Simba will be king instead of him.

Scar lies to Simba about a dangerous place called the Elephant Graveyard. Scar says that only brave lions go there, causing Simba to be interested, even though Mufasa has forbidden Simba from going there. Simba lies to his mother, Sarabi, about going to the Water Hole when he is actually going to the Elephant Graveyard. Simba's friend Nala and Zazu, the king's messenger, go with Simba. Simba and Nala trick Zazu with the song "I Just Can't Wait to be King" and run away from him. Simba and Nala find the Elephant Graveyard but are chased by the three hyenas Shenzi, Banzai and Ed. Mufasa saves his son and Nala and takes them both home. Mufasa speaks to Simba alone and explains to Simba that being brave is not about looking for danger. He also explains that the great kings of the past look down from the stars and watch over Simba. Scar, in the Elephant Graveyard, is angry with the hyenas because they did not kill Simba. It is revealed that the hyenas are working for Scar during Scar's song "Be Prepared".

The next day Scar takes Simba into a gorge (long, deep hole in the ground - also known as a "valley") where he explains that Mufasa has a wonderful surprise waiting. Scar has actually planned a wildebeest stampede with the hyenas. Simba is trapped in the gorge as the wildebeest run towards him. Scar tells Mufasa that Simba is in trouble and Mufasa rescues his son. Scar then throws Mufasa into the stampede and Mufasa dies. Scar blames Simba for the death of Mufasa and Simba runs away. Scar becomes king and tells everyone that Simba and Mufasa are dead. Simba runs to a desert and collapses. He is rescued by Timon the meerkat and Pumbaa the warthog. Timon and Pumbaa live in the jungle and are very relaxed, which they show in their song "Hakuna Matata". Timon and Pumbaa look after Simba until Simba is an adult lion.

One day a lioness (female lion) comes to the jungle and tries to kill and eat Pumbaa. Simba fights the lioness because he wants to save Pumbaa's life. While the two lions are fighting Simba finds out that the lioness is his friend Nala. They are very happy to see each other and they fall in love. Nala wants Simba to go home and fight Scar because Scar is a bad king. Simba will not go home because he thinks that he killed Mufasa and he does not want his family to know. Rafiki comes to the jungle and takes Simba to a field. In the sky above the field Mufasa's ghost appears and tells Simba that he must go home because Simba is the right king. After this Simba goes home to Pride Rock. Nala, Timon and Pumbaa follow him. When they get to Pride Rock they find that the land is dry and the animals have gone.

At Pride Rock Simba sees Scar hitting Sarabi. This makes Simba angry and he tries to make Scar leave Pride Rock. Scar does not leave and makes Simba fall over the edge of Pride Rock. Simba does not fall and holds on to the edge. Scar thinks that he was won so he tells Simba the truth about the death of Mufasa - that Scar actually killed Mufasa. Simba is upset and a big fight happens. The lionesses fight the hyenas and Simba fights Scar. While the fighting is going on lightning hits a dead tree and starts a fire. Scar and Simba fight on top of Pride Rock. Scar does not want to die and lies to Simba that the hyenas are to blame for everything. Another fight happens and Simba throws Scar over the edge. Scar does not die after the fall, but the hyenas attack and kill him the hyenas are angry that Scar blamed them. Rain falls and puts out the fire. Simba walks to the top of Pride Rock and roars. Much later the animals come back. At the end of the movie Rafiki picks up Simba and Nala's daughter and lifts her up high above Pride Rock so the animals below can see.

Characters

• Mufasa - King of the Pridelands at the start of the movie, Simba's father, Scar's older brother and Sarabi's husband. He dies when thrown off a cliff into a wildebeest stampede by Scar after he rescues Simba from it.
• Simba - Mufasa and Sarabi's son, Scar's nephew, Nala's eventual husband and the future king of the Pridelands.
• Nala - Best friend and future wife of Simba.
• Scar - Mufasa's younger brother, Sarabi's brother-in-law and Simba's uncle. He kills Mufasa by throwning him off a cliff into a wildebeest stampede and exiles Simba so he can become king. He is later overthrown by Simba and killed by his hyena army after he blamed them for Mufasa's death.
• Sarabi - Simba's mother, Mufasa's wife and the sister-in-law of Scar.
• Rafiki - A Mandrill shaman.
• Timon and Pumbaa - A meerkat and a warthog who adopt Simba.
• Zazu - A hornbill who serves as adviser to The Lion King.
• Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed - Three hyenas who help Scar to kill Mufasa and chase Simba away. They later kill Scar after he blames them for Mufasa's death.

Voices

Singing voices

Box office performance