3. The Lion King (1994)
The Lion King was the 1994 release by Disney and one that provided audiences with particularly adult themes in a film designed for children. With the film starring the voicing talents of Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones and Jeremy Irons, the film gained critical and commercial success, becoming one of Disneys biggest films to date. The story follows a young lion cub named Simba, who following the guidance of his father, the King Mufasa, we engage in the early developments of a young, innocent and wildly enthusiastic cub whose childlike instincts provide him with a reckless streak. This carelessness eventually leads to the introduction of our antagonist, Scar, brother of Mufasa and Uncle to Simba and begins a sequence that has become synonymous with the film. Echoing the death of Bambis mother in the 1942 classic, the death of Simbas father Mufasa is as emotionally evocative as any other scene in the history of cinema, irrespective of whether it is animation or not. The heart wrenching scenes of Simba begging and pleading his father to wake verge on disturbing, such is the inclination to look away, but impact that the moment has on Simba aswell as the audience compels us to watch on. Down to its mere components, The Lion Kings central themes are a depressingly grim affair, the death of a father, the betrayal of an uncle, but through the excellent development of characters, moments of comic relief and gloriously created animation, this subdued tone has proven to be an appealing prospect for many viewers. Another aspect that should not be underestimated is the catchiness of the songs - "Circle of Life" is a superbly written ballad written and sung by Elton John, while "Hakuna Matata" is a quirky, light-hearted song that could easily have been taken from previous Disney effort The Jungle Book. The strength of the songs gives the film an additional dimension and one that allows more the evocative moments to feel far more convincing. The animation is once again typically remarkable and begins another development of computer animated technology merging with hand drawn animation. Scenes involving packs of wildebeest were digitally created, focusing on the alliance that both computer and hand drawn animation can provide. With the majority of the film being hand drawn, the colour palette does associate itself well with the environment the film is set, the yellow desert provides the backdrop with the screen shimmering and glowing from the visuals Disney have created. An impressive feat and one enhanced by the incredible score that seamlessly layers itself on top of the visuals. Ultimately, The Lion King is still a childrens film, but one that carries much emotional weight with it, potentially allowing children to associate themselves with the lessons they will eventually learn. Providing love, death, coming of age and a host of catchy songs, The Lion King forces itself to be one of the greatest animated pictures ever.