Farida Zaki
AP English Language and Composition
11.5.21
The Lion King -The Final Draft
(960 word-count)
"Hakuna Matata" is a Swahili phrase that translates to "no worries" or "no trouble in
English." We've all heard this phrase, but it's not because we know Swahili. Rather, this is
because of the iconic song "Hakuna Matata" from the Disney film The Lion King.The Lion King
is a film that follows the adventures of Simba, a young and ferocious lion cub, who fights to
claim his rightful position in the throne back from his malicious uncle, Scar. This “magnificent
coming-of-age masterpiece takes its rightful place as the reigning star of the acclaimed Walt
Disney Signature Collection.” Because of its simple and clear plot, as well as the important
lessons it imparts about love, family, and living life to the fullest, I think The Lion King is such a
fantastic movie.
The Lion King’s plot is very simple to follow. The movie centers on the adventures of
Simba, a young and dangerous lion cub whose father, Mufasa, rules the African nation of the
Pride Lands.Although Simba is the rightful heir to the throne following his father, his uncle,
Scar, plots against Mufasa and Simba to claim the throne for himself. He attempts to kill his
brother and nephew by luring them into a stampede, in which Mufasa dies. Simba survives this
tragedy and is convinced by his uncle to believe that he was faulty for the death of his father,
influencing him to run away from the Pride Lands and become acquainted with Timon, a
meerkat, and Pumbaa, a warthog. They raise him and ultimately help him to return to the Pride
Lands and reclaim the throne from Scar. There is a conflict between Mufasa and his brother,
Scar, which results in a conflict prevailing between Simba and his uncle, Scar, following the
death of Mufasa. There are not too many characters or settings that the reader needs to keep track
of. The entire plot takes place in the Pride Lands of Africa and involves characters including
Scar (Simba’s uncle), Mufasa (Simba’s father), Sarabi (Simba’s mother), Nala (Simba’s sibling
and future mate), Zazu (the majordomo to Mufasa), Timon (friend of Simba), Pumbaa (friend of
Simba), Rafiki (Mufasa’s spiritual counselor), and the hyenas (accomplices of Scar). This allows
us to understand the flow of events without confusion, since the plot is quite simple.
Nonetheless, it should be noted that although there is a simple and straightforward plot, this does
not necessarily take away from the meaning of the story, the extent to which this message is
expressed, nor the impact of the message on us.
The lesson that the movie provides viewers with is another reason why I believe this
movie is so powerful and proves to have great meaning and insight for us. The plot presents the
audience with a clear conflict between Mufasa and Scar, and later Simba and Scar, which
presents itself as a clash between the good and the evil. Mufasa and Scar juxtapose one another,
with Mufasa representing “good kinsmanship and compassion” and Scar representing “self
serving manipulation” and maliciousness. Through such conflicts, the importance of family and
love are revealed. In the movie, “familial bonds prevail over political ones”, as is reflected when
Simba chooses to return to Pride Rock, an ancient rock formation in the Pride Lands, fueled by
his loyalty to his family. Unlike Simba, Scar plots against his own family early on in the movie
for selfish political interests and ends up losing the loyalty of his accomplices, the hyenas. Along
the way, the iconic phrase, “Hakuna Matata!” teaches viewers the importance of living life to the
fullest and refraining from sweating the small stuff. This allows us to learn a simple, yet valuable
lesson which we can apply to our own lives. In addition, this makes the movie appealing to
those with young children, since it is family-friendly.
Some may argue that the Lion King does not have enough emotion expressed because of
the inexpressive and stiff appearances of the characters. They express that the film was not an
“animated documentary. We’re talking about Disney’s The Lion King, a remake of one of the
most beloved animated children’s films of all time.” Although this is true to some extent, I feel
that the remake enhances the beauty of the African environment to make us feel as though we are
witnessing the flow of events as part of the real world. The technology that was used to make the
movie so life-like was incredible to have been utilized and shows how advanced the filmmaking
industry has become and how far they have come in advancing the aesthetics of films. It unveils
the possibilities that technology can have in improving films in the future.
Overall, I felt that The Lion King was a remarkable film full of meaning and significance
in our world. The straightforward and simple plot, in addition to the lessons it provides viewers
with, allows us to gain a deeper understanding of the significance of love and family and life. I
found the Lion King to be a reviving experience because it took me back to my youth while
watching The Lion King. I had the time to take a more straightforward perspective on my
surroundings. I learned from it how crucial stress relief is. I was motivated by it to really live my
life.Watching the remake had the same impact on me as the original movie, which I had watched
years earlier. The use of new technology and presentation of the plot allowed for a stronger
connection to the real world to be established. The Lion King remake was undoubtedly
something different and unique in the world of Disney.