Crooked Table Podcast: Episode 137 — Danielle Solzman / The Lion King

In the heart of the Disney Renaissance, the studio that had already back-to-back box office smashes (and Academy Award winners) in Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin unleashed its 32nd animated feature. The Lion King pounced into theaters in the summer of 1994, becoming the highest-grossing animated film ever at the time of its release and spawning a cultural phenomenon.

This episode, Danielle Solzman of Solzy at the Movies joins us to discuss the film on its 25th anniversary. Of course, we’ll also cover this year’s “live-action” remake from director Jon Favreau, how the two versions of the story compare and why the original animated The Lion King serves as a seminal cinematic achievement and veritable turning point for the future of animation.

Cue up that iconic Hans Zimmer score, and let’s trek on over to Pride Rock for our discussion on The Lion King.

SYNOPSIS

This Disney animated feature follows the adventures of the young lion Simba (Jonathan Taylor Thomas), the heir of his father, Mufasa (James Earl Jones). Simba’s wicked uncle, Scar (Jeremy Irons), plots to usurp Mufasa’s throne by luring father and son into a stampede of wildebeests. But Simba escapes, and only Mufasa is killed. Simba returns as an adult (Matthew Broderick) to take back his homeland from Scar with the help of his friends Timon (Nathan Lane) and Pumbaa (Ernie Sabella).