The Lion King

What Is The Plot?
Okay, so we’ve covered the music and the characters. It’s time to move onto the plot. So, what is The Lion King about?

The film tells the story of Simba, a young lion cub who is the son of Mufasa, King of Pridelands. Simba’s Uncle Scar was jealous of him and his father because he was constantly being pushed down the pecking order of who was going to be the next king. That is, until Scar gets the idea to kill his brother and nephew.

In spite of his brother and nephew, Scar has his hyena minions set off a stampede of wildebeest. Scar summons Mufasa, telling him that Simba is in trouble which is technically true. While Mufasa is able to save his son, he goes to climb the cliff and asks Scar to help him. Scar ignores his brother’s

pleas and throws him from the cliff which Simba witnesses, however the cub does not see his uncle committing the murder of his father.

Scar turns the situation on Simba and blames him for his father’s death before setting the hyenas on him.

Simba manages to get away and later passes out in the desert. He is found by a meerkat named Timon and his warthog pal, Pumbaa. The unlikely pair take the orphaned cub in under the condition that he turn their lifestyle.

At Pride Rock, Scar spins a web of convincing lies to the residents of Pride Rock including Simba’s friend Nala and Simba’s mother and Mufasa’s widow Sarabi. Scar declares himself king of the Pridelands with the hyenas taking control of the Pridelands.

A couple of years pass and Simba grows into an adult with not a care in the world. He follows the Hakuna Matata lifestyle, that is until Nala shows up in his life once more. He is torn between his new life and his original promise to his father that he would take his place within the Circle of Life as the king of the Pridelands. As he falls in love with his childhood best friend. After arguing with Nala and after getting hit in the head with Rafaki’s staff, he realises that he needs to help his former homeland survive after spending years under the paw of a power hungry tyrant that he once called ‘Uncle

Scar’.

Once Scar has been defeated, Simba takes his place as the rightful heir to the Pridelands by becoming the king that Mufasa always knew he could become.

References In Other Media
Since The Lion King’s release, it has been referenced in a series of different media sources that have got nothing to do with film at all. Here are just a few.
• The Simpsons: The film has been spoofed on the animated television series The Simpsons numerous times over the years. References have included Simba’s presentation at the beginning of the film in Season 15, Mufasa appearing the clouds above Lisa in Season 6, a billboard featuring Mr. T in a Lion costume advertising a play called MILK or Mr. T Is The Lion King during Season 19, A poster for a movie called The Lyin’ King in Season 22 and a theatre advertising a play called The Loin King in Season 22.
• Blended: In the Adam Sadler comedy film co-starring Drew Barrymore, a character says “That never happens in The Lion King”.
• Mr. Bones: A character mentions Simba and The Lion King when facing his zoophobia.
• Stuck On You: A male character sarcastically jokes with his conjoined twin brother about knowing the producers of The Lion King and wonders if they are looking for conjoined

hyenas.
• Hotel Transylvania: In the Zing song at the end of the film, one of the main characters Jonathan mentions Simba and Nala.
• Quest of Camelot: A scene mirrors Simba’s presentation.

What Makes The Film A Masterpiece?
The reason people remember the film is because of the wit, humour and the vast array of characters that are involved in the story. It also provides memorable music that the whole fan will remember for generations to come.