Random Thread & The Interchangeable Inside Joke

[MickeyisBeast]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gs4_DFxWxtQ

 

[AmandaSparks730]

The original concept for the production design was to stylize the backgrounds to invoke the colorful and graphic nature of African fabric patterns and tribal art. However, this gave the film an overly stylized quality so the production team then opted for the epic, mystical feel that we see in the film today.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

The plot-line is loosely based upon William Shakespeare's Hamlet; a story of a young prince whose uncle takes over the kingdom and marries the queen after killing the king/prince's father. After being away from home for a period of time, these events lead to the prince's plans for revenge. The prince receives some advice from his father's ghost. Also, during the scene where Zazu sings I've got a lovely bunch of Coconuts, Scar Has a skull in his hand.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

Several character names are based on Swahili words: - Shenzi: Barbarous/Uncouth/Uncivilized/Savage - Pumbaa: Ignorant/Lazy/Careless - Sarabi: Mirage - Rafiki: Comrade/Friend - Simba: Lion/Courageous Warrior - Mufasa: reportedly the name of the last king of the Bagada people, who were dispersed during the English colonization of Kenya. - Nala: gift

 

[AmandaSparks730]

The groundhog that pops up after Simba's pouncing lesson (the song "Morning Report" in the special edition) was originally going to be a naked mole rat, but the animators couldn't get him to look right. One of the directors said, "We would've lost our G rating!"

 

[MickeyisBeast]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QG5ce2Y2roo

i think i'm in love.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

The song that Rafiki sings, 'Asante sana Squash banana, Wewe nugu mimi hapana' is Swahili for "Thank you very much, Squash banana, You're a baboon and I'm not." Simba asks, "What does that mean?" and Rafiki says, "It means you're a baboon and I'm not." This is a popular children's song similar to "Cinderella, dressed in yella" for example.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

Besides inspirations from William Shakespeare's Hamlet (1990/I), the story also has elements of the Osirian family myths of Ancient Egyptian mythology. In the Osirian myths, the king (Mufasa/Osiris) is killed by his jealous brother (Scar/Seth) and the rightful heir (Simba/Horus) is sent into exile as a boy. The murdered king visits and mentors his son in ghostly visits and when the heir comes of age, he returns to exact revenge on his father's murderer.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

The music of the little song Timon performs for the hyenas ("LUAU!") is a fast-paced parody of the Aloha Chant, which can be heard in Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room in Disneyland.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

The lyric for the opening chant of "The Circle of Life" is: "Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba / Sithi uhm ingonyama / Nants ingonyama bagithi baba / Sithi uhhmm ingonyama / Ingonyama Siyo Nqoba / Ingonyama Ingonyama nengw enamabala". This translates as: "Here comes a lion, Father / Oh yes, it's a lion / Here comes a lion, Father / Oh yes, it's a lion / A lion We're going to conquer / A lion A lion and a leopard come to this open place".

 

[AmandaSparks730]

Originally, Scar was going to send adult Nala away from Pride Rock because she ignored his romantic approaches, after which she finds Simba alive and well with Timon and Pumbaa. This idea was ultimately abandoned, as sexual harassment was considered improper in a family movie. However, the stage musical adaptation includes this plot development as part of director Julie Taymor's efforts to expand the female characters' presence in the story.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

The Lion King opened on Broadway in 1997. The musical garnered 6 Tony Awards including Best Musical, and is produced by Disney Theatrical.

 

[MickeyisBeast]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q44MMlhmkWY

<3

 

[AmandaSparks730]

Although all of the animals are obviously anthropomorphic in the film, hyenas (as the villainous characters) were most given the short end of the stick from the reality. In fact, Spotted Hyenas are considered the equal of lions in terms of intelligence and ferocity. They have an equally intricate social structure and are less likely to kill their own kind than lions (hyena clan matriarchs allow very little intra-species aggression). Also, while portrayed as nearly full scavengers, in reality lions scavenge the kills of hyenas as much as (if not more so) than hyenas scavenge lion kills.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

Nala's mother is named Sarafina. The name is never used in the film, however it does appear in the credits and on pieces of merchandise based on the film, including the trading cards issued at Burger King for a Lion King-based promotion.

 

[MickeyisBeast]

Picture spamming time.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane would later appear together in The Producers (2005) . Coincidentally, both films now exist as Broadway musicals.

 

[MickeyisBeast]

 

[AmandaSparks730]

The opening "Circle of Life" sequence stands alone so well, it was used heavily to promote the film's upcoming release. In particular, it was put into regular rotation on the video screens at the rear of most Disney Stores, from late 1992 until the film's theatrical run ended in 1993.

 

[MickeyisBeast]