| The Lion King 1½ | |
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DVD Cover |
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| Directed by | Bradley Raymond |
| Produced by | George A. Mendoza |
| Screenplay by | Tom Rogers |
| Story by | Roger Allers Irene Mecchi Bill Steinkiller Raymond Singer Evan Spiliotopoulos |
| Starring | Nathan Lane Ernie Sabella Matthew Broderick Julie Kavner Jerry Stiller |
| Music by | Score: Johnny Clegg Don Harper Lebo M Ennio Morricone Songs: Tim Rice Elton John Seth Friedman Martin Erskine |
| Editing by | Joyce Arrastia |
| Studio | DisneyToon Studios Disney Channel |
| Distributed by | Buena Vista Home Entertainment |
| Release date(s) | February 10, 2004 |
| Running time | 77 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Lion King 1½ (also known as The Lion King 3: Hakuna Matata in some countries) is a 2004 American direct-to-video animated film released by Buena Vista Home Entertainment on February 10, 2004. The film is the third installment in the Lion King series. The DVD went to the Disney Vault in January 2005. The film is a prequel/parallel film to the 1994 Disney animated film The Lion King as it focuses on the meerkat/warthog duo Timon and Pumbaa before and during the events of the original film. The film, setup as a frame story, starts out playing the very beginning of the original film. Timon and Pumbaa are shown in silhouette commenting on the movie being shown before them, in a style nearly identical to that of Mystery Science Theater 3000.
The film starts as Timon and Pumbaa are shown watching the opening act of the original film in a dark theater when Timon suddenly uses a remote control to fast forward to where they appear in the film. Pumbaa argues that the film shouldn't go out of order and attempts to rewind the film back to the beginning. Timon and Pumbaa start fighting over control of the film until they agree that the film should tell their side of the story. Throughout the rest of the film, it is occasionally interrupted to have Timon and Pumbaa comment on whatever is happening. Mystery Science Theater 3000-like moments occur as the characters comment on the original film's proceedings. When the film ends, in a theater, Pumbaa insists on watching it again. Timon protests until all their friends and almost every Disney character come to watch it too (with Pumbaa commenting that he still does not "do so well in crowds").
The original cast returns to re-voice the parts, with the striking exceptions of Rowan Atkinson, who voiced Zazu in the original film and was again replaced by Edward Hibbert who voiced the character in The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, and James Earl Jones, who voiced Mufasa (who has no lines in this installment of the series). Also, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, who voiced Young Simba in the original film, is replaced by Matt Weinberg.
While the original film, The Lion King, was compared to Hamlet, this film might have been inspired by the Tom Stoppard play, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, in which the titular characters are seen in every major event of Hamlet.[1][2]. The Lion King 1½ was released on Blu-ray in The Lion King trilogy box set on October 4, 2011, and is scheduled for an individual Blu-Ray release on March 6, 2012.[3]
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The film is told through the perspectives of Timon and Pumbaa who watch their side of The Lion King in a cinema, occasionally stopping the footage to talk with one another. Timon shows Pumbaa his backstory, revealing him to be an outcast in his meerkat colony on the outskirts of the Pridelands. While supported by his mother Ma, Timon wished for more in life and left the colony after his Uncle Max is nearly eaten by hyenas Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed. He meets mandrill Rafiki who advises him to find his place in the world via Hakuna Matata. Timon wanders into some long grass upon deciding to venture to Pride Rock, meeting Pumbaa for the first time and they become friends very quickly.
The pair arrive at Pride Rock during Simba's presentation to the Pridelands' animals. However, Pumbaa informs Timon that he gets anxious in crowds and passes gas explosively that knocks some of the animals out, making the rest of them kneel. Mufasa sees this and is very puzzled. Timon and Pumbaa look for several other places to live, intercepting with other events in the film. They are eventually caught in the wildebeest stampede that takes the life of Mufasa, but survive, and find a vast jungle which they decide to make their home, Timon learning of Pumbaa's own philosophy of Hakuna Matata, embracing it to his fullest. However, the two find Simba and raise him as their own despite the negative effects of Hakuna Matata.
Years on, Nala appears after chasing Pumbaa and reunites with the adult Simba. Timon and Pumbaa attempt to prevent the two lions from getting together, but ultimately fail in their plan. Timon spots Simba running away after his off-screen argument with Nala and laughs it off, Pumbaa feeling guilty. Later, Nala appears asking where Simba is, but Rafiki explains Simba has run off to challenge Scar. Nala goes to follow Simba, whilst Pumbaa argues with Timon, who selfishly declares he has everything he wanted in the jungle but Pumbaa leaves. Rafiki appears to Timon and reminds him that his Hakuna Matata is not a home but friendship, prompting Timon to go after his friends.
At Pride Rock, Timon and Pumbaa evade the hyenas but run into Ma and Uncle Max who came looking for Timon. Whilst Simba fights Scar, Timon, Pumbaa and the other meerkats set a series of tunnel traps that force the hyenas off Pride Rock, just as Simba kicks Scar off the rock to his future demise at the hands of the hyenas. Simba accepts his place as king of the Pridelands, thanking Timon and Pumbaa for helping him. Timon takes Ma, Uncle Max and the meerkat colony to live in the jungle, realizing his true Hakuna Matata is family. At the end of the film, an army of silhouetted Disney characters join Timon and Pumbaa to re-watch the film in the cinema, but Pumbaa informs Timon he still grows anxious in crowds.
Based on 13 reviews from review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 79% approval rating, with an average rating of 6.4.[4]
Frank Lovece of TV Guide stated that "This retelling of THE LION KING (1994) from the point of view of comic sidekicks Timon (voice of Nathan Lane) and Pumbaa (Ernie Sabella) is one of the rare Disney direct-to-video sequels worthy of the original." He went on to say that "The only aspect of the film that feels forced is the revisionist positioning of Timon as young Simba's step-dad, which has no emotional echo in the first film. The quality of the animation is surprisingly impressive; some static backgrounds are the primary concession to a small-screen budget and the fluid character movements and expressions are vastly superior to those of, say, the Timon and Pumbaa TV cartoon series," and gave the film 3½ stars out of 4.[5]
The film soundtrack, The Lion King 1½: Songs From Timon and Pumbaa's Hilarious Adventure, was released to CD by Disney Records on February 10, 2004. It includes two songs from the original film, "That's All I Need" and "Hakuna Matata", re-performed by Nathan Lane who voiced the character Timon. The rest of the soundtrack includes various R&B tracks, including remakes of the Kool and the Gang classic "Jungle Boogie" by The French, and two instrumental pieces from film composer Don Harper. Ennio Morricone was the original composer of "The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly".[6]
A video game of the film was published in 2003 for the Game Boy Advance, featuring Timon and Pumbaa as the playable characters.[7]
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