Comparing Hamlet And The Lion King

It has been said by many intelligent and informed people that Disney's The Lion King is a children's version of Shakespeare's Hamlet, meaning they are both similar stories. The Lion King, Is a story of a cub named Simba who is to succeed his father, Mufasa, as a king; however, Simba's uncle Scar does not like that a cub is to replace the king and not him. So Scar murders Mufasa and Simba flees into exile. This story is similar to William Shakespeare’s Hamlet in many ways; both are the story of a young male prince who is torn apart by the early death of his father. Also the uncle that takes over the throne that should rightly belong to the prince, and both of the tragic heroes overcome their own flaws and uncertainties to take back their thrones

for the benefit of their countries. Both stories have similar themes and conflicts. Both stories have plenty of other things in common, such as characters, behavior, and lifestyle choices.
In both, the story and the movie the conflicts start when the king dies.

In The Lion King Scar murders his own brother, just like Hamlet. However, in Hamlet, the story never says why King Hamlet was murdered or what led up to his murder. In The Lion King, Scar neglects to show up for his nephew’s ceremony and the disappointed Mufasa warns Scar "Don't turn your back on me Scar." This is a warning. Scar shoots back "No, perhaps you shouldn't turn your back on me!" This is veiled threat on the king's life. In Hamlet, Claudius wanted the throne and King Hamlet’s queen. It doesn’t seem like there was a warning in Hamlet but in both the movie and the story both murders were stealthy and Mufasa nor King Hamlet knew they were being plotted

on.
The Lion King, starts to become more and more like the story Hamlet when, Mufasa dies form the paws of his brother Scar. Scar betrays Mufasa by letting him fall into the stampede of Wildebeests or Oxen. There is where Mufasa gets stomped to death. In Hamlet, Claudius drains poison into his brother’s ear while he is sleeping. Both brothers kill their sibling for power or rank. Simba couldn’t cope with his father’s death so he was sent to exile by Scar; and according to Act IV scene iii; Claudius: “Hamlet, this deed, for that which thou hast done-must send hence, with fiery quickness, to England. According to this line from Hamlet, Hamlet was sent into exile by his uncle as well.
With the major characters in both works aside, there are many similarities between secondary characters in The Lion King and Hamlet. The Lion King goes so far in making the story so realistic that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in Hamlet is Timon and Pumbaa in The Lion King. Timon and Pumbaa provides a distraction to the main tragedy and conflict. Timon and Pumbaa provides a break from reality, and his responsibilities and hauntings of his past by introducing him to the carefree life of "Hakuna Matata. Although, Hamlet's friends are working for King Claudius. There is no direct evidence that Timon and Pumbaa are in the employment of Scar. Nevertheless, Timon and Pumbaa makes a perfect sidekick pair in The Lion King and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are great distractions to Hamlet.
The ghost in Hamlet warned Hamlet about his killer while speaking to him. In act one, scene five the ghost who is supposedly Hamlet’s father tells him “The serpent that did sting father’s life, now wears the crown.” The Lion King, did the same thing only Mufasa talked to Simba; motivating him to take back Pride Rock from Scar and to restore order. Both scenes have ghosts of their fathers motivating them. In Lion King, The ghost of Mufasa says to Simba, “Remember who you are, you are my son and the one true king.” This is almost similar to what Hamlet’s father’s ghost tells him about his brother. Both fathers were there to fuel some kind of motivation to defeat their antagonists. Both fathers in both stories wanted their sons to take back what is theirs.
Hamlet’s actions are closely followed by Simba, Simba reacted the same way just like Hamlet’s delay in performing revenge for his father's death.

Both Simba and Hamlet delay their actions of justice for their own father's deaths. The loss of their fathers leaves Hamlet with a melancholy behavior, and Simba without guidance through his worst times and a father during his fragile years. Both of them runs from their responsibilities, although on the inside they know what must be done (Hamlet attempts to figure out if what the ghost said is true or not while Simba hides from his past). Also, the characters of Hamlet Sr. and Mufasa has a striking resemblance to one another, not only in their actions, but their meanings as

well.
Mufasa has many more scenes than King Hamlet to show character development. Mufasa is a good father and teacher to Simba. It is said King Hamlet is the same toward his son. Simba, as a cub, would was always concentrate on his bravery and acting tough; and it almost got him killed. Now in Simba’s adulthood he became kind and merciful rather than always wanting to prove something to himself. This is because Mufasa taught him what it means to be a king. He said this while they were looking under the stars, “I’m only brave when I have to be. Simba, being brave doesn’t mean you go looking for trouble.” King Hamlet also helps create Hamlet’s character by installing a sense and deep desire for revenge and it eventually causes him to fall into madness and frustration.
Hamlet and Simba are perfect examples of tragic heroes. Both are tested to the extent of their inner strength and faith in the triumph of good. Simba was shown high honorable standards by his father, since he was going to be crowned king he needed to learn proper morals. Mufasa was very upset with himself after he disobeyed his father as a cub. Then when Scar blames Mufasa's death on him, Simba falls into a deep depression, just like Hamlet. Timone and Pumbaa rescue him by carrying him into the shade when he faints from the heat of the sun and his only desire is to keep going until he dies. Like Hamlet, Simba needs to be on his own a lot to reflect. He also tends to go off when he is upset or remembers his father.