CINE IN QUESTIONS. The African savannah, mythical animals, a revisited classic… We bow down to The Lion Kingby Jon Favreau, broadcast Thursday January 2, 2024 at 9:10 p.m. on W9.
In 1994, The Lion King amazes an entire generation of young and old. Simba, Mufasa and the others become legendary characters in the Disney universe. 25 years later, they return in a new version signed Jon Favreau, already at work on the recent adaptation of Jungle Book . This time, no more traditional animation and room for a revolutionary technique! Indeed, this new Lion King was filmed entirely in virtual reality. Yes, all the settings, inspired by real places located in Kenya, were indeed recreated by computer, then integrated into a video game engine. Enough to bring these beloved Disney characters to life in a different way.
Observe nature up close thanks to The Lion King
Then, equipped with VR headsets, Jon Favreau and his teams could move virtually through each setting to adjust shots, choreograph movements or adjust the lighting. To make this world as realistic as possible, 13 members of the film crew embarked on a two-week safari in Kenya before filming. Their goal: to observe the natural environment and the animals of the savannah as closely as possible. For this, the team had the chance to visit the country from North to South. More than 240,000 photos were taken during this trip, thus constituting a gigantic database intended for special effects creators!
86 animal species in The Lion King and new software developed for the occasion
In total, 86 animal species were created and animated by hand for the purposes of the film. The Lion King. On this wonderful occasion, new software was also developed to better simulate muscles, skin and fur. A real technological challenge and a technical feat to give new life to these emblematic characters, which we love so much… Good news: The Lion Kingby Jon Favreau is broadcast Thursday January 2, 2024 at 9:10 p.m. on W9. See you in front of the screens!
