The Ultimate Lion King Quiz

The Lion King: A Disney Classic

• The Lion King is a 1994 American animated musical drama film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures.

• It is the 32nd Disney animated feature film and the fifth produced during the Disney Renaissance, inspired by William Shakespeare's Hamlet with elements from the Biblical stories of Joseph and Moses and Disney's 1942 film Bambi.

• The film features an ensemble voice cast that includes Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Rowan Atkinson, and Robert Guillaume.

• Its original songs were written by composer Elton John and lyricist Tim Rice, with a score by Hans Zimmer.

• The Lion King tells the story of Simba, a lion cub who is to succeed his father, Mufasa, as King of the Pride Lands; however, after his paternal uncle Scar kills Mufasa to seize the throne, Simba is tricked into believing he was responsible for his father's death and flees into exile.

• The film received critical acclaim for its music, story, themes, and animation, and finished its theatrical run as the highest-grossing film of 1994 and the second-highest-grossing film of all time, behind Jurassic Park (1993).

• The film remains the highest-grossing traditionally animated film of all time, as well as the best-selling film on home video, having sold over 55 million copies worldwide.

• It received two Academy Awards, as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.

• The film has led to many derived works, such as a Broadway adaptation in 1997; two direct-to-video follow-ups—the sequel, The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (1998), and the prequel/parallel, The Lion King 1 (2004); two television series, Timon and Pumbaa and The Lion Guard; and a photorealistic remake in 2019.

• In 2016, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

• The origin of the concept for The Lion King is widely disputed, but it was developed over several years by various writers and filmmakers.

• The original script was vastly different from the final product, and the story was retooled to focus on the themes of leaving childhood and facing up to the realities of the world.

• The film's story was inspired by the lives of Joseph and Moses from the Bible, Shakespeare's Hamlet, and other heroic archetypes.The Lion King: Development, Animation, Music, and Release

• The Lion King's revision process involved fixing emotional issues and adding comedic situations for certain characters.

• Lyricist Tim Rice worked closely with the screenwriting team to ensure his songs fit in with the narrative.

• Voice actors were chosen based on how well they fit the characters, with James Earl Jones selected for his "powerful" voice.

• Animators studied real-life animals for reference and visited a Kenyan national park for inspiration.

• The film's epic feel was influenced by the works of painters Charles Marion Russell, Frederic Remington, and Maxfield Parrish.

• The "wildebeest stampede" sequence involved creating hundreds of distinct wildebeest characters in a 3D computer program.

• The film's soundtrack was composed by Hans Zimmer and featured five original songs by Tim Rice and Elton John.

• The Lion King's marketing campaign included tie-ins with various brands and merchandise, accounting for 186 licensed products.

• The film had a limited release in the United States on June 15, 1994, playing in only two theaters before a wider release on June 24.

• The Lion King was translated into 28 different languages, including a special Zulu version made specifically for the film in South Africa.

• The VHS edition of The Lion King became the best-selling videotape of all time, selling over 30 million copies before going into moratorium in 1997.

• The film's success led to a special Māori language version of The Lion King, released in 2022 to align with the Māori holiday of Matariki.The Lion King: Box Office Success and Re-releases

• The Lion King was released in 1994 and became the highest-grossing animated film of all time, earning $968.5 million worldwide.

• The film sold over 55 million video copies by 1997, making it the best-selling home video of all time.

• The Lion King was re-released on VHS and DVD in 2003 as part of Disney's Platinum Edition line, featuring bonus features and a remastered version for IMAX.

• The DVD release included a newly created scene and a Disney Enhanced Home Theater Mix.

• The Diamond Edition was released in 2011, marking the first time the film was released in high-definition Blu-ray and on Blu-ray 3D.

• The Diamond Edition topped the Blu-ray charts with over 1.5 million copies sold and grossed $101.14 million.

• The Lion King was re-released in 2017 as part of the Walt Disney Signature Collection on Digital HD, Blu-ray, and DVD.

• The film was released on Ultra HD Blu-ray and 4K digital download in 2018.

• The Lion King grossed $422.8 million in North America and $545.7 million in other territories during its initial run.

• The film held the record for the highest-grossing animated feature film until it was surpassed by Finding Nemo in 2003.

• The Lion King was released in IMAX and large-format theaters in 2002, earning $15.7 million.

• The film was converted to 3D and re-released in 2011, earning $94.2 million in North America and $83.4 million internationally.The Lion King: Legacy, Controversy, and Adaptations

• The Lion King sparked an interest in hyenas but also faced criticism for negative ethnic stereotypes.

• The film was accused of plagiarism by Japanese cartoonists who saw similarities to Kimba the White Lion.

• The controversy over Kimba and The Lion King was parodied in The Simpsons.

• The Lion King has spawned several sequels and spin-offs, including a TV series and a CGI remake.

• Black Is King is a live-action film inspired by The Lion King and serves as a visual album for the tie-in album The Lion King: The Gift, curated by Beyoncé.

• A follow-up film, Mufasa: The Lion King, is in development and will focus on the titular character's origin story.

• The Lion King inspired several video games, including one for the Square Enix series Kingdom Hearts.

• A musical stage adaptation of The Lion King premiered in Minneapolis in 1997 and is still running on Broadway.

• The musical features songs from the movie and new compositions by Elton John and Tim Rice, and incorporates six indigenous African languages.

• The Lion King has inspired two attractions at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts: "The Legend of the Lion King" and "Festival of the Lion King."

• "Festival of the Lion King" incorporates musical numbers into gymnastic routines with live actors and animatronic puppets.

• "The Legend of the Lion King" was featured in Disneyland Paris from 2004 to 2009.