10 Interesting Facts About The Making Of The Lion King
3. The Hyena March In ‘Be Prepared’ Was Inspired By Nazi Germany
Scar is a wickedly entertaining villain with many memorable moments, including his epic musical number: ‘Be Prepared’. During this sequence, he prowls around and sings about his evil scheme. It’s a visually stimulating sequence with green geysers, hot lava, and a large onslaught of marching hyenas.
This sequence – as strange as it may sound – was actually inspired by Nazi Germany. Throughout the 1930s, there were plenty of Nazi rallies in Germany. These frightening events often featured marching soldiers, and during the making of The Lion King, the animators took inspiration from Triumph of the Will, a Nazi propaganda film directed by Leni Riefenstahl. The film chronicles the Nuremberg Rally in 1934, which featured Nazi soldiers, supporters, and their infamous leader, Adolf Hitler.
Using the Nazis as an influence may seem like an odd thing to do when making a kids’ movie, but no one can deny the end result is a spectacle to behold.