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Credit: DisneyWalt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios might be resting on their laurels with Inside Out 2 (2024) and its billion-dollar success, but the game isn’t over yet. As part of its healing process, Disney just made a major move to remind all viewers why the company is still the gold standard of animation with its re-release of The Lion King (1994).
The Lion King is undeniably one of the highest grossing animated movies of all time, and it still retains the title of the most successful traditionally animated film in the medium’s history. In honor of its 30th anniversary, Simba, Nala, and all their animal friends are roaring back onto the big screen.
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This isn’t the first time Disney returned the film to theaters, but it feels like this particular re-release comes at a very peculiar time. After Disney regained its audience after a season of flops, utilizing such a beloved film to sweeten the pot feels all too convenient.
The Lion King: 30 Years of Animated Royalty
The ’90s were easily one of the most successful eras for The Walt Disney Company, but the absolute jewel of the Disney Renaissance was The Lion King. Although the studio was banking on Pocahontas (1993) to be its big smash hit, its B project surpassed all expectations and set a new bar for Disney Animation.
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After his loving father is murdered by his twisted uncle, Simba must find the courage to reclaim Pride Rock and take his place as king. Joined by Nala, his friends Timon and Pumba, and the wise old Rafiki, Simba triumphs over Scar and restores the circle of life.
The project was destined for greatness from the beginning. With a phenomenal animation style as big as the African savannah, a multitalented voice cast featuring the likes of Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Whoopi Goldberg, Jim Cummings, Cheech Marin, and Jonathan Taylor Thomas, and an award-winning soundtrack by the legendary Elton John, how could it not be a hit?
Three decades later, The Lion King has left one of the biggest legacies of any Disney animated feature. With a Tony-winning Broadway musical quickly becoming one of the longest-running stage shows, several TV spinoffs, and a live-action remake with a sequel, it’s safe to say that the film has made a long-lasting impact.
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Directed by Rob Minkoff and released in the summer of 1994, The Lion King became a pop culture phenomenon that continues to be a treasured favorite even 30 years later. However, can Disney still learn from its biggest animated treasure?
Kings of the Past Save Disney’s Future
Timeless animated masterpieces aside, this limited release will be a massive moneymaker for Disney. Although its most recent success earned back the studio’s billion-dollar status, re-releasing an iconic film like The Lion King is a surefire way to maintain good faith with a previously jilted audience.
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The phrase “they just don’t make them like they used to” certainly comes to mind when observing Disney bringing back one of their most successful releases. However, keeping films that made the studio so relevant and so iconic might actually be a brilliant business strategy.
Sure, fans can watch it on physical media or stream it on Disney+, but seeing it on the silver screen is a different experience entirely. Thirty years might have passed like a herd of wildebeests, but the film is still a true testament to the power and majesty of Disney’s gift for artistic storytelling.
How old were you when you first saw The Lion King? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!