The Lion King in popular culture
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The following is a list of cultural references of the 1994 Disney film, The Lion King.
Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.
Contents |
[edit] Disney
Disney itself has referenced The Lion King in its own films.
- In the Disney-released, Pixar-produced 1995 computer animated film Toy Story, the song "Hakuna Matata" can be heard playing in Andy's car during the film's climax.[1]
- The live-action Man of the House had a scene in which Jonathan Taylor Thomas (who voiced young Simba) reads a Lion King comic book.[2]
- Pumbaa made brief appearances in The Hunchback of Notre Dame[3] and Aladdin and the King of Thieves,[4] both released in 1996.
- The 1997 animated film Hercules paid homage to both The Lion King and the Nemean Lion, where Scar's skin is worn by Hercules while he is posing for a painting on a Greek vase[5] (not by coincidence, Andreas Deja was the supervising animator of both Scar and Hercules).
- The 1997 film George of the Jungle, referenced the scene where Simba is presented at Pride Rock.[6]
- In the 1998 Disney/Pixar animated film A Bug's Life, a poster of the Lion King Broadway musical is seen in the bug city.
- In the beginning of Chicken Little, when the narrator is deciding on beginngs, the rising sun and bsggining of The Lion king is heard, with the narrator commenting, "Hmm....that sure sounds familiar, does it to you?"
- In teaser trailers for the Disney animated film Lilo & Stitch, the presentation ceremony towards the beginning of the film was one of the scenes in Disney movies that Stitch intruded upon.
[edit] Doctor Who
- One of The Lion King's Oscar-nominated songs was referenced in an episode of the 2005–2006 series of the British science fiction TV serial Doctor Who, "The Christmas Invasion". In the episode, the Tenth Doctor (David Tennant) quotes the first few lines of the song "Circle of Life" when trying to persuade the Sycorax leader to spare humanity. Julie Gardner, the executive producer of Doctor Who, mentions in the audio commentary for this episode that the "Lion King speech" is one of her favorite parts of the episode.[8]
[edit] Animaniacs
One episoide of Animaniacs spoofed the "Circle of Life" intro to the Lion King. In which Yakko Warner, taking the role of Rafiki accedently drops the Simba character and then exclaims "I thought they landed on their feet".
[edit] ER
- The Lion King was referenced in four episodes of the popular medical drama ER: Happy New Year (1995), The Birthday Party (1995), Dead of Winter (1996) and Baby Shower (1996).[9] Parents of young patients talk to the doctors about how their children watch The Lion King frequently.
[edit] Home Improvement
- In the TV Series Home Improvement, while Tim Allen is entertaining his on-screen niece with stuffed animals, he incorrectly refers to a doll as a Simba doll. His niece corrects that the doll is 'Mr. Lion Cub', to which Tim replies "Sorry, I've never been a lion cub before!" Jonathan Taylor Thomas then enters the shot and says "I have. You know, I gotta tell you it's a tough gig. Everyone expects you to be king..."[citation needed]
- In the Halloween episode "I Was a Teenage Taylor", Randy (Jonathan Taylor Thomas) is handing out candy when two little boys come, one dressed as Simba (who Thomas played in The Lion King) and one dressed as Buzz Lightyear (who Tim Allen played in Toy Story). Randy gives one candy bar to Buzz, but gives several to the "cute little lion cub".
[edit] Kevin Spencer
- In one episode of Kevin Spencer, Percy rented a movie he thought was the Lion King, but Anastasia corrected him, saying it was actually "The Loin King", a pornography movie he rented from Stan The Porno Man's pornography shop.
[edit] Kung Pow: Enter the Fist
- An entire scene in the 2002 comedy, Kung Pow! Enter the Fist references The Lion King. While the main protagonist, The Chosen One, is pondering newly received information about his enemies and deceased family, a Mufasa-look-alike called "Mu-Shu Fasa" appears in the clouds. "Mu-Shu Fasa" even calls The Chosen One "Simba" before calling him "Chosimba".[10]
[edit] Reign of Fire
In the 2002 film Reign of Fire, after watching a night-time story that resembles The Empire Strikes Back, the children ask for "Lion King".
[edit] Scrubs
- In My Philosophy, J.D. compares a hospital to the "Circle of Life". Upon hearing this, Dr Cox berates J.D., telling him "you must stop watching the Lion King!", only for J.D. to deliberately forget Simba's name, tricking Cox into admitting that he watches it too.
[edit] The Simpsons
- In "Girls Just Want To Have Sums", towards the beginning of the episode, the whole cast is brought together to see the Itchy and Scratchy musical. In the banner, the symbol is the same of that of the Lion King musical.
- Another Simpsons episoide entitled "Simpson Safari" spoofs the Lion King: The beauty of an African sunrise, silhouttes of animals, and the rhythmic music.
- The Simpsons episode, "'Round Springfield", the ghost of Mufasa appears in the clouds with Bleeding Gums Murphy, Darth Vader and James Earl Jones, saying: "You must avenge my death, Kimba... dah, I mean Simba," a reference to the Lion King/Kimba the White Lion controversy.[11]
[edit] The Office (US TV series)
- In a 2006 episode of the US TV series The Office titled Grief Counseling, Ryan Howard tells the tale of his "cousin Mufasa" who was trampled by wildebeests, in an effort to satisfy his boss, Michael Scott, who insists the staff work through their "grief" over the death of a company man they never knew.[12]
[edit] Hakuna Matata references
- In the 2006 film Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, after Jean Girad escapes Ricky Bobby's rage, he says "Hakuna Matata bitches".
- In the 1998 film Mousehunt, Nathan Lane's character greets a sheik with "Hakuna Matata" (Lane was the voice of Timon).
- The phrase is mentioned in This Girl's Life.
[edit] References
- ^ Toy Story trivia. The Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on August 27, 2007.
- ^ Man of the House in-jokes. Disney Animation Kingdom - Jokes. Retrieved on August 27, 2007.
- ^ The Hunchback of Notre Dame trivia. The Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on August 27, 2007.
- ^ Aladdin and the King of Thieves in-jokes. Disney Animation Kingdom - Jokes. Retrieved on August 27, 2007.
- ^ Hercules in-jokes. Disney Animation Kingdom - Jokes. Retrieved on August 27, 2007.
- ^ George of the Jungle in-jokes. Disney Animation Kingdom - Jokes. Retrieved on August 27, 2007.
- ^ http://disney.wretch.cc/Joke/abl.htm
- ^ Audio commentaries for 2005-2006 Doctor Who episodes. BBC. Retrieved on July 27, 2007.
- ^ http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0110357/movieconnections
- ^ Kung Pow: Enter the Fist trivia. The Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on August 24, 2007.
- ^ A clip from the Simpsons episode 'Round Springfield' which parodied The Lion King. TV.com. Retrieved on August 23, 2007.
- ^ Quotes from The Office episode Grief Counseling. The Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on November 19, 2007.
| The Lion King | |
|---|---|
| Films | The Lion King | The Lion King II: Simba's Pride | The Lion King 1½ |
| Characters | Ahadi | Kiara | Kopa | Kovu | Ma | Mohatu | Mufasa | Nala | Nuka | Rafiki | Sarabi | Sarafina | Scar | Shenzi, Banzai and Ed | Simba | Timon and Pumbaa | Tojo | Uncle Max | Uru | Vitani | Zazu | Zira |
| Songs | "Circle of Life" | "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" | "Be Prepared" | "Hakuna Matata" | "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" |
| Books | The Brightest Star | Friends In Need | Six New Adventures |
| Games | The Lion King | Timon & Pumbaa's Jungle Games |
| Other media | Original motion picture soundtrack | Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable | Rhythm of the Pride Lands | The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa | Broadway musical | Festival of the Lion King | Festival of the Lion King soundtrack |
| Misc | Kings of the Pride Lands | The Lion King family | In popular culture |
| See also | "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" | Kingdom Hearts II | Kimba the White Lion controversy |
]]
