“The Lion King”, this global success in which Disney did not believe
Thirty years ago, the public discovered the epic destiny of a little lion, son of an all-powerful king. Disney was far from suspecting the resounding success that
The Lion King
when it was released in 1994.
In the 80s and 90s, the film studio had huge successes with animated films
The Little Mermaid
(1989) et
Beauty and the Beast
(1991). This inspired many creators at the Disney studio to continue creating princess stories. Jeffrey Katzenberg, Disney executive and Hollywood pillar, counted on
Pocahontas
(1995) to be their next hit.
This is why the development of
Lion King
was undertaken by artists and storytellers who had to produce something that had to stay in the background. It is this feeling of inferiority that allowed a hungry and competitive creative team to produce this successful original story – because it is not a direct retelling of Hamlet, as some might think.
Taking note of its immediate predecessors, Disney ensured that the film placed music at the forefront of its storytelling, bringing in composer Hans Zimmer (
Rain Man, Gladiator
) to lyricist Tim Rice (
Aladdin, Jesus Christ Superstar
) and the famous international pop star Elton John. This combination of talents gave birth to a soundtrack that earned the film two Oscars in 1995 (best score and best original song for ”
Can You Feel the Love Tonight ?
“). Songs and music have played a vital role in the cultural and commercial impact of
Lion King
. Although certain elements are modified, the songs have remained in almost all adaptations.
At the box office, the film grossed US$763 million worldwide in 1994. For comparison,
The Little Mermaid
had generated 84 million dollars the year of its release and
Beauty and the Beast
$249 million.
Pocahontas
on whom so much hope rested, also failed to surpass
the lion king
with 142 million dollars.
Its success led to direct-to-video sequels, including
The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride
. In 1997, the film was adapted into a musical, a show which tours around the world, and is constantly performed in the West End of London and on Broadway (New York). Then, in 2019, Disney released a live-action remake. And soon, as the original celebrates its 30th anniversary, the prequel,
Mufasa : The Roi Lion
will be released in theaters.
Disney has smartly kept up with fans with these iterations. The 1997 stage adaptation capitalized on the resurgence of musicals in the late ’90s. Since its debut, the musical has received 70 major arts awards, including the 1999 Grammy for Best Musical Show Album and the 1999 Olivier Awards for best choreography and best costume design.
Twenty-five years after the release of the original, Disney decided to remake
the lion king
(after other successes like the remake of
Beauty and the Beast
in 2017) – but the social environment has changed. In 2019, the “live action” remake of the film ensured that this story set in Africa was rightly distributed with a majority of black performers. The cast introduced some new names, but also attracted some big stars, including Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, who plays the character Nala.
After the initial success of
Lion King
the following Disney films (including
Pocahontas
) did not meet commercial expectations. Beginning in the mid-1990s, Disney’s usual dominance at the animated film box office was overtaken by Pixar and its hits, including
Toy Story
.
Disney enjoyed inconsistent success until 2010, with the adoption of 3D CGI animation as the primary production technique for its films. This new style was applied to their proven format of retellings of classic fairy tales, with music placed at the heart of the storytelling, leading to hits such as
Rapunzel
(2010) et
Frozen
(2013).
The lasting success of
Lion King
demonstrates that by focusing on quality animation and solid musical storytelling, even unexpected projects can become a smash hit.
Pair Joel Gray
Associate Dean, Sheffield Hallam University
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This article comes from The Conversation website
