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 a famous animated movie made by Walt Disney. It came out in 1994. This film was the most successful animated movie of the 1990s.

The story is about a young lion prince named Simba. He learns what it means to be a prince. He also discovers his place in the "circle of life." The movie was made for Frank Wells. He was the president of The Walt Disney Company. He passed away just before the movie was released on June 15, 1994.

The Lion King was the first full-length Disney movie since Bambi to have no human characters. Many well-known actors gave their voices to the characters. These actors include James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Matthew Broderick, and Whoopi Goldberg.

The movie is a musical. Elton John wrote the music for the songs. Tim Rice wrote the lyrics. Computer animation was used a lot to make the movie. This was especially true for songs like "Circle of Life."

When it was being made, some thought The Lion King would be just "okay." They thought their next movie, Pocahontas, would be bigger. But when the trailer came out, people loved it. They especially liked the song "Circle of Life".

When it was released, The Lion King became a huge hit worldwide. It was the most successful animated movie ever for a while. Later, Finding Nemo and Shrek 2 earned more. This made The Lion King the third most successful animated film.

The movie was also turned into a very popular stage musical. The stage show first opened in New York City on November 13, 1997. It was a big success. Later, a version opened in London. Many other The Lion King shows have been performed around the world. It is one of the UK's biggest and most popular shows.

The Story of Simba's Journey

In the movie's first scene, many animals gather at Pride Rock. They are there to see Simba, the new lion prince. Simba is the son of Mufasa and Sarabi. Rafiki, a wise mandrill, lifts Simba high up. All the animals cheer and celebrate. But Scar, Mufasa's brother, is not happy. He is jealous because Simba will be king instead of him.

Scar tricks Simba about a dangerous place. It is called the Elephant Graveyard. Scar says only brave lions go there. This makes Simba curious. Mufasa had told Simba not to go there. Simba lies to his mother, Sarabi. He says he is going to the Water Hole. But he goes to the Elephant Graveyard instead.

Simba's friend Nala and Zazu, the king's messenger, go with him. Simba and Nala trick Zazu. They sing "I Just Can't Wait to be King" and run away. Simba and Nala find the Elephant Graveyard. Three hyenas, Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed, chase them. Mufasa saves his son and Nala. He takes them home.

Mufasa talks to Simba alone. He explains that being brave is not about finding danger. He also tells Simba that great kings of the past watch over him from the stars. Scar is angry with the hyenas. They did not kill Simba. It is shown that the hyenas work for Scar. This happens during Scar's song "Be Prepared."

The next day, Scar takes Simba into a gorge. A gorge is a long, deep valley. Scar says Mufasa has a surprise waiting. But Scar has planned a wildebeest stampede with the hyenas. Simba gets trapped in the gorge. The wildebeest run towards him. Scar tells Mufasa that Simba is in trouble. Mufasa rescues his son.

Then, Scar throws Mufasa into the stampede. Mufasa dies. Scar blames Simba for Mufasa's death. Simba runs away. Scar becomes king. He tells everyone that Simba and Mufasa are dead. Simba runs into a desert and collapses. Timon the meerkat and Pumbaa the warthog rescue him.

Timon and Pumbaa live in the jungle. They are very relaxed. They show this in their song "Hakuna Matata." Timon and Pumbaa take care of Simba. Simba grows up to be an adult lion with them.

One day, a lioness comes to the jungle. She tries to hunt Pumbaa. Simba fights her to save Pumbaa. While they are fighting, Simba finds out the lioness is his friend Nala. They are very happy to see each other. They fall in love. Nala wants Simba to go home. She wants him to fight Scar. Scar is a bad king.

Simba does not want to go home. He thinks he killed Mufasa. He does not want his family to know. Rafiki comes to the jungle. He takes Simba to a field. Mufasa's ghost appears in the sky. He tells Simba that he must go home. Mufasa says Simba is the true king. After this, Simba goes home to Pride Rock. Nala, Timon, and Pumbaa follow him. When they arrive, the land is dry. The animals have left.

At Pride Rock, Simba sees Scar hurting Sarabi. This makes Simba angry. He tries to make Scar leave. Scar does not leave. He makes Simba fall over the edge of Pride Rock. Simba holds on. Scar thinks he has won. He tells Simba the truth about Mufasa's death. Scar admits he killed Mufasa.

Simba is very upset. A big fight begins. The lionesses fight the hyenas. Simba fights Scar. Lightning hits a dead tree. It starts a fire. Scar and Simba fight on top of Pride Rock. Scar does not want to die. He lies to Simba. He blames the hyenas for everything. Another fight happens. Simba throws Scar over the edge. Scar does not die from the fall. But the hyenas attack and kill him. They are angry that Scar blamed them.

Rain falls and puts out the fire. Simba walks to the top of Pride Rock. He lets out a mighty roar. Much later, the animals return. At the end of the movie, Rafiki picks up Simba and Nala's daughter. He lifts her high above Pride Rock. All the animals below can see her.

Main Characters in The Lion King

• Mufasa - The King of the Pridelands at the start. He is Simba's father, Scar's older brother, and Sarabi's husband. He dies when Scar throws him into a wildebeest stampede.
• Simba - Mufasa and Sarabi's son. He is Scar's nephew. He later marries Nala and becomes the future king.
• Nala - Simba's best friend and future wife.
• Scar - Mufasa's younger brother and Simba's uncle. He kills Mufasa and sends Simba away to become king himself. Simba later defeats him. The hyenas kill Scar after he blames them.
• Sarabi - Simba's mother and Mufasa's wife.
• Rafiki - A wise Mandrill shaman.
• Timon and Pumbaa - A meerkat and a warthog. They become Simba's friends and adopt him.
• Zazu - A hornbill who works as an adviser to the Lion King.
• Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed - Three hyenas who help Scar. They later kill Scar because he betrayed them.

Voices Behind the Characters

Singing voices

Movie Earnings: Box Office Success