The Lion King

The Lion King, animated motion picture about a young lion who is led to believe he is responsible for his father’s death. Released in 1994, this Disney animated feature earned Academy Awards for its musical score and for the song “Can You Feel the Love Tonight.” When the lion king (voiced by James Earl Jones) dies, his deceitful brother, Scar (Jeremy Irons), convinces the king’s son Simba (Jonathan Taylor Thomas) that he caused the death. The guilt-stricken Simba exiles himself to the desert, and Scar takes control of the kingdom. After much deliberation, Simba decides to return home and fight for his throne. A meerkat named Timon (Nathan Lane) and a warthog named Pumbaa (Ernie Sabella) provide comic relief.

Directors

• Roger Allers
• Robert Minkoff

Cast

• Jonathan Taylor Thomas (Voice of Young Simba)
• Matthew Broderick (Voice of Adult Simba)
• James Earl Jones (Voice of Mufasa)
• Jeremy Irons (Voice of Scar)
• Moira Kelly (Voice of Adult Nala)
• Niketa Calame (Voice of Young Nala)
• Ernie Sabella (Voice of Pumbaa)
• Nathan Lane (Voice of Timon)
• Robert Guillaume (Voice of Rafiki)
• Rowan Atkinson (Voice of Zazu)
• Madge Sinclair (Voice of Sarabi)
• Whoopi Goldberg (Voice of Shenzi the hyena)
• Cheech Marin (Voice of Banzai the hyena)
• Jim Cummings (Voice of Ed the hyena)

Awards

• Academy Award for Best Music—Original Score (1994): Hans Zimmer
• Academy Award for Best Song (1994): Elton John—Music; Tim Rice—Lyrics, “Can You Feel the Love Tonight”
• Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture—Musical/Comedy (1995)
• Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score (1995): Hans Zimmer
• Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song (1995): Elton John, Tim Rice, “Can You Feel the Love Tonight”

Quotes

• Zazu: “Checking in with the morning report.”
• Mufasa: “Fire away.”
• Zazu: “Well the buzz from the bees is that the leopards are in a bit of a spot. The baboons are going ape.”