Fifteen years ago today, the Walt Disney Animation Studios released its 32nd feature-length animated film The Lion King (the film was released to selected cities on June 15, 1994). I’m sure most everyone is aware, but the film tells the story of the lion Simba (voiced as a cub by Jonathan Taylor Thomas and as an adult by Matthew Broderick), from his birth to Mufasa, King of the Pride Lands, and Sarabi, to his near death and the death of his father, to the overthrow of his uncle Scar.
The Lion King grossed $783,841,776, the highest of any animated film until the release of the Disney/Pixar film Finding Nemo, which grossed $864,625,978. As a result of its huge success, two direct-to-video Lion King films were later produced: The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride (a 1998 sequel) and The Lion King 1 ½ (a 2004 prequel/parallel to The Lion King that tells the story of Timon and Pumbaa before and during the original film).
The soundtrack to The Lion King included five original songs written by composer Elton John and lyricist Tim Rice: Circle of Life, I Just Can’t Wait to Be King, Be Prepared, Hakuna Matata and Can You Feel the Love Tonight. The songs in the film have become fan favorites, as is also the case for the soundtracks of the other animated features produced during the Disney Renaissance.
The success of The Lion King also resulted in a musical that premiered on July 8, 1997 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Just like the movie, the musical was an immediate hit and opened on Broadway just over four months later on November 13, 1997. The musical was performed in the New Amsterdam Theatre before moving to the Minskoff Theatre on June 13, 2006 to make way for the new Mary Poppins musical.
In addition to the musical and three films, characters from and portions of The Lion King have been included in a number of attractions at Disney theme parks. To my knowledge, the following is a complete list of The Lion King attractions at Walt Disney World (past and present):
- Legend of the Lion King (Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland; June 15, 1994 – February 23, 2002)
- Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable (Epcot’s The Land; January 21, 1995 – Present)
- The Enchanted Tiki Room: Under New Management (Magic Kingdom’s Adventureland; April 5, 1998 – Present)
- Festival of the Lion King (Animal Kingdom’s Camp Minnie-Mickey; April 22, 1998 – Present)
- Mickey’s PhilharMagic (Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland; October 3, 2003 – Present)
It’s worth noting that Mickey’s PhilharMagic takes place in the same location as a previous Lion King attraction, Legend of the Lion King. If I missed any Lion King attractions that are or were located in Walt Disney World, please share that information in the comments section.
Based on the films, musical and attractions, it’s clear that The Walt Disney Company struck gold with The Lion King!
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I still get goosebumps when I watch Festival of the Lion King.
I wonder if the Lion King II was originally planned to go direct to video. Any insight?
From everything I’ve heard and read about the movie, there were never plans for it to play in theaters prior to going to video.