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Mind-Blowing "The Lion King" Facts You Never Knew
Arguably the greatest Disney film ever made, The Lion King is not only a timeless classic but also an unforgettable, bold vision that brings us evergreen themes, reminding us all to remember who we are. Magic doesn't happen by magic. Hard work and great decisions bring masterpieces to life.
Here are 21 facts about the animated Disney classic The Lion King:
First, the opening scene wasn't originally intended to be the start of the film. That changed when the filmmakers heard the power of the song "The Circle of Life."
This is revealed in the "The Making of the Lion King" featurette.
The unmistakable and unforgettable choir in "The Circle of Life" is what, according to the filmmakers, "found the 'heart' of the film." The African music and choir elements were organized by composer Lebo M, who had previously worked with lead composer Hans Zimmer on past projects.
The voice actors for Timon and Pumbaa (Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella) originally auditioned for the roles of the hyenas. Their comedic compatibility was so great that the characters Timon and Pumbaa were actually created to add an extra splash of comic relief to an otherwise dark film. And to think, we almost missed out on Disney's most dynamic (and hilarious) duo.
Legendary voice actor Jim Cummings provided the voice for the hyena, Ed. Cummings claims that he also voiced Scar for the final verse of "Be Prepared." According to Cummings, Irons was having vocal problems during the recording of the song, so Cummings stepped in and offered his vocal range.
Depending on who you ask, the creators of The Lion King were viewed as the "B-Team" of the studio, while the "A-team" was assigned with the task of creating Pocahontas. The studio saw Pocahontas as a production with higher hopes. It's safe to say they took it personally and created a masterpiece.
The song "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" almost got the ax. Elton John went through dozens of rewrites of the song, but saved his best for last with a finalized song that's considered one of the best love songs in any Disney animated film.
"Hakuna Matata" also almost didn't get included. Elton John was the one who had to advocate for the song.
A production research trip to Africa helped the crew bring the animals featured throughout the movie to life. Director Roger Allers, Artistic Supervisor (Story) Brenda Chapman, and Production Designer Chris Sanders all viewed the wildlife in Africa, which really helped them gain a genuine understanding of how the animals interacted.
Despite the CGI wildebeest, it all started with a hand-drawn image. The image trickled into a CGI model, which evolved into an army of terrifying wildebeest.
Composer Hans Zimmer created the score for Mufasa's death, and he credits the death of his own father, who passed away when he was six, for helping him capture the emotional impact of the score. The film earned an Oscar for Best Score.
Legend Frank Weller made all the lion sounds. The genius of animated sound snarled into a trash can to really make the lion roars come to life.
There was a song titled "The Lion in the Moon," which was cut from an early draft of the film. It was a lullaby sung by Sarabi to young Simba after their run-in with the hyenas. The scene was replaced by Mufasa teaching Simba about the "Great Kings of the Past," which obviously did more for the plot.
Although inspired by Hamlet, The Lion King is technically the first original animated feature film from Walt Disney Feature Animation. Meaning, it was the first film the studio created that wasn't adapted from a pre-existing book, fairy tale, or historical event. Weird, right?
Puumba is the first Disney character to let one rip on screen. First to cut the cheese. First to pass gas. First to make a stink. You get the idea.
The Lion King almost wasn' Lion King. One working title was "King of the Jungle." Assuming the lack of, well, jungle in the story, the title was altered to something a little more sensible. Other titles included: King of the Kalahari and, very simply, Lions.
More than 600 artists and technicians collaborated on The Lion King to bring the final product to life. That's some legendary teamwork right there for a movie about animated animals.
In the original finale, Scar wasn't eaten by hyenas. The original death involved Scar believing he killed Simba and then catching fire as he burned to death, laughing in seeming victory. And Simba watched him burn. The ending was too dark, and honestly, the theatrical death of Scar feels more appropriate to his character.
Unless there is some VCR renaissance in the future, The Lion King will most likely live on forever as the highest-selling VHS tape ever. The movie earned an estimated $520M in VHS sales.
Actor Matthew Broderick, who voiced adult Simba, had his singing cut from the film. He was a Tony Award-winning performer, so the choice seemed odd at the time, but musician Joseph Williams sings the final version. You can't argue with the final product, but you have to feel for Broderick.
A Nazi propaganda film inspired the "Be Prepared" song. With the way the hyenas march to Scar's singing, it's not a very subtle nod, either.
In 1994, a devastating earthquake struck the Los Angeles area, where the film was in its final stages of production. This natural disaster delayed production, which was on track for a fall 1993 release, but was ultimately pushed back to summer 1994.
What's your favorite thing about The Lion King now that you're older? Comment below!
Watch it on Disney+.
