Walt Disney Pictures’ The Lion King was Disney’s 32nd animated film. It was released in 1994 during a period known as the “Disney Renaissance.” The film was directed by Rob Minkoff and Roger Allers.
As someone who grew up with Disney movies, there was always something special to me about this film. I would watch it literally every day when I came home from school. To this day, I find myself wanting to watch it over and over again. Even though Disney releases movie after movie, I am still in love with this 1994 classic. The Lion King may seem like just another animated movie, but it has unforgettable characters, memorable songs, and teaches us life lessons that we will remember for years to come. I want to dive deeper into the movie to find out why myself and so many others claim this film to be, dare I say it, the best movie of all time.
Reason One: The Movie is about Family
One of the biggest themes in The Lion King is the theme family. The story centers around a family of lions who coexist and struggle like any other family. One of the most important aspects of the movie are the relationships between Simba, Mufasa, and Scar. Both Mufasa and Scar each represent the good and bad qualities of being in a family.
The good qualities are reflected in Mufasa. He believes in compassion, kindness, and living together in harmony with others. These are all the qualities of a good family. The bad qualities are reflected in Scar. He is self-serving and only cares about what he wants and has a complete lack of loyalty to his family. He represents how a family shouldn’t behave.
Simba’s actions in the movie reflect both good and bad qualities. While in exile, Simba acts selfishly and leaves his home to starve while he enjoys life with his friends. He does not concern himself with the needs of his home because he feels like it’s a thing of his past. It is only when he sees his father, his family, that he realizes that his duty is to his home and not his desire to let the past go.
At the end of the day, it is not a desire for power that motivates Simba to return to Pride Rock, but his desire to be loyal to his family and honor his father. It is Simba’s love of his family that gives him the strength to face his uncle and take back his home.
Reason Two: Scar is the Best Disney Villain of all Time
When it comes to great Disney villains, there is none more favored than Scar. Reason one why Scar is the best villain is that he’s a master manipulator. Scar has wanted to be king for a long time, so he wasted no time devising a plan on how to make that happen. He uses young Simba’s adventurous nature and Mufasa’s desires to protect his son against them. In just two days, Scar kills his brother, guilts his nephew into running away, and takes over the Pride Lands as the new king. He also manipulates the hyenas into being his henchmen by offering them what they want the most, access to food. Scar’s ability to make anyone believe what he wants makes him a truly sinister villain.
Reason two Scar is the best villain is that he has one of the greatest villain songs in Disney’s history. The song “Be Prepared” is one of the best in the film. It has a catchy melody and Jeromy Irons voice is iconic. I think it’s safe to say the song is undeniably unforgettable.
Reason three Scar is the best is because he actually gets what he wants. Unlike most villains whose plans are usually thwarted by the heroes, Scar’s plan to take over the Pride Lands actually succeeds. He even manages to rule the Pride Lands for many years. At the end of the day, Scar’s ultimate downfall is his refusal to let go of his pride, preferring to carry out his own selfish actions which cause Simba to come back to the Pride Lands to reclaim the throne. Even though he is defeated, he still succeeds, which is more than most villains can say. I think we can all agree that for these and so many other reasons, Scar is the best Disney villain ever.
Reason Three: Timeless ‘Nature’
The reason I keep coming back to The Lion King is that there are so many memorable aspects of the film. The lessons that the film teaches are ones that are important for all ages to learn. The story of a young lion who learns that you cannot run from your past is a lesson that can be understood at any age. The way the film makes the lions seem like real people means that you can project yourself onto the characters. Rather you see yourself in Simba, Mufasa, Nala, or even Scar, there is something for everyone to enjoy. This story is one that will never lose its appeal.
Even as new animated movies continue to be released, The Lion King is one movie that will never be forgotten. There are many iconic elements of the film. The music, the characters, the animation, and so much more make this film one for the ages. It’s no wonder that Disney has decided to do a live-action remake of this classic. After my deep dive, it’s clear that The Lion King is not just an animated film, but rather a classic piece of cinematic history. The decision is yours to make, but I believe The Lion King is the best movie of all time. That is why it is and always will be my favorite movie.
*Sources: Wikipedia, Oh My Disney
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