The Lion King
Although finally unseated as the most successful animated film of all time by Pixar's Finding Nemo, The Lion King remains the crowning achievement of Disney's traditional cel animation days.
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(TOUCHSTONE, $29.99)
MOVIE: DISC:
THE MOVIE: Although finally unseated as the most successful animated film of all time by Pixar’s Finding Nemo, The Lion King remains the crowning achievement of Disney’s traditional cel animation days. Unencumbered by historical or fairy-tale origins, the movie’s creative team was free to craft an original story—albeit one with strong similarities to Shakespeare’s Hamlet and the studio’s own Bambi—against the breathtaking backdrop of the African savanna, now restored to its original David Lean–worthy widescreen dimensions. Without the success of The Lion King’s contemporary anthropomorphic animal leads (in place of the mermaids, genies, and princesses that preceded them), one wonders whether there would have been room in Pixar’s repertoire for movies cast entirely of toys, bugs, and, yes, even fish.
THE DISC: With “more to be seen than has ever been seen,” this deluxe two-discs set features two versions of the film, including a just-for-home-video “special edition” in which a newly animated rendition of the Broadway show’s “Morning Report” unnecessarily embellishes Simba’s pouncing lesson. (Why not restore the “Warthog Rhapsody” number cut from the original release instead?) Between the commentary and interviews with the directors, animators, and musicians, audiences won’t find better behind-the-scenes access to the Disney process anywhere except the vintage The Reluctant Dragon, included on a recent Disney Treasures Edition DVD.
—Peter Debruge
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