I don't know about you, but to discover that The Lion King is 20 years old this year make me feel very old indeed.
The Lion King
The Lion King was a box office smash and was the highest grossing Disney animation movie until Frozen came along last year.
The Lion King may have hit the big screen for the first time back in 1994, but it remains a firm favourite amongst all Disney fans. To celebrate the film's 20th birthday, we take a look at some of the greatest moments from the movie. POTENTIAL SPOILERS
- The Circle of Life
No Disney movie is complete without some great musical moments, and this time around, Tim Rice teamed up with Elton John to work on the songs and the music.
The Circle of Life is one of the film's most famous musical moments as it introduces us to Africa as well as the central character of Simba for the first time.
The lions rule over the animals in the Pride Lands of Africa and The Circle of Life sees King Mufasa introduce his son and heir to the world for the first time.
The song was nominated for the Best Original Song Oscar, but lost out to Can You Feel the Love Tonight.
- Mufasa Dies
It was back in 1942 when Disney depicted a parent dying for the first time, and it was in The Lion King where they tackled this issue once again.
The death of Mufasa is even more heart wrenching than that of Bambi's mother - and we see much more of it than we did in Bambi.
Scar is planning to kill Mufasa and Simba so he can take the throne and sets off a stampede of wildebeest in the gorge. Mufasa battles to save his young son... and pays the ultimate price.
- Hakuna Matata
There have been some great Disney musical moments over the year that are designed to lighten the mood - You've Never Had A Friend Like Me (Aladdin) and Under the Sea (The Little Mermaid) being two that particularly stand out.
Hakuna Matata is that moment in The Lion King, as Simba meets meerkate and warthog Timon and Pumbaa after being sent away from the pride by Scar due to the 'death' of his father - something which he blame himself for.
Timon and Pumbaa launch into Hakuna Matata - which means no worries - and it remains one of the greatest Disney songs of all time. It was also nominated for an Oscar.
- Remember
This scene is one of the most powerful in the film, as Simba hears the voice of his father telling him to remember who he is and take up his place as King.
Simba is still afraid to go back and face his past, but with his father and the guidance of Mufasa's mandrill friend and advisor, Rafiki, Simba finally has the strength to return.
This is just a most touching moment between a father and a son - despite the father having passed away.
- King of Pride Rock
Of course, you cannot talk about The Lion King without looking at the moment that Simba finally reclaims what is rightfully his.
With Scar defeated, Simba ascends to the top of Pride Rock and takes over the kingdom with the hope of returning it to his former glory.
As Simba reaches the top, he once again hears his father's voice and knows that the former king is still watching over his young son.
Other great moments include Simba's performance of I Just Can't Wait To Be King, Scar's Death, and Can You Feel The Love Tonight as Simba is reunited with Nala.
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