Comparing Classic Literature to the Lion King
The first animated film with sound was the 1928 Disney film Steamboat Willie. Since then, animated movies have been cranked out due to the admiration they receive from children. Disney is known world wide for their animated films. People love them because of their feel good story lines, astounding use of animation, and largely, the music incorporated into the movies. My generation especially has grown up watching what could arguably be considered “Disney classics” such as Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King. Although most people still consider Disney films to be more than appropriate for children, some take a deeper look into possible underlying plots that reveal material that may no longer be deemed acceptable and “G-Rate”. Robert Gooding Williams, the author of Disney In Africa And The Inner City: On Race And Space
In The Lion King, argues that The Lion King depicts urban decline in the United States. “The Lion King marks the elephant graveyard as inner city. It uses Whoopi Goldberg's and Cheech Marin's voices to represent the speech of two of the three prominent hyena characters as Black English and Latino slang respectively,” (Gooding-Williams). He views The Lion King to be degrading to some races with inappropriate themes. Matt Roth, another scholar, argues in his article The Lion King A Short History of Disney-Fascism, that Disney supports monarchism and fascist themes due to the story line of The Lion King. “The Lion King echoes all of its fascist themes: hatred of gays, communists, and minorities, and the glorification of violent male initiation and feminine domesticity all set in a bucolic suburban environment under the strong leadership of an all-male state,” (Roth). He argues that Mufasa, the King, rules as a communist or monarchist because all animals in the beginning of the movie bow down to him instead of fleeing from a predator as they would in reality (The Lion King). Annalee Ward, author of the article The Lion King's Mythic
In The Lion King, argues that The Lion King depicts urban decline in the United States. “The Lion King marks the elephant graveyard as inner city. It uses Whoopi Goldberg's and Cheech Marin's voices to represent the speech of two of the three prominent hyena characters as Black English and Latino slang respectively,” (Gooding-Williams). He views The Lion King to be degrading to some races with inappropriate themes. Matt Roth, another scholar, argues in his article The Lion King A Short History of Disney-Fascism, that Disney supports monarchism and fascist themes due to the story line of The Lion King. “The Lion King echoes all of its fascist themes: hatred of gays, communists, and minorities, and the glorification of violent male initiation and feminine domesticity all set in a bucolic suburban environment under the strong leadership of an all-male state,” (Roth). He argues that Mufasa, the King, rules as a communist or monarchist because all animals in the beginning of the movie bow down to him instead of fleeing from a predator as they would in reality (The Lion King). Annalee Ward, author of the article The Lion King's Mythic
Cited: The Lion King. Dir. Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff. Perf. Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Matthew Broderick. Walt Disney Feature Animation, 1994. Videocassette. McElveen, Trey. Hamlet and The Lion King: Shakespearean Influences on Modern Entertainment. Rep. N.p.: n.p., n.d. 17 Apr. 1998. Web. 19 Apr. 2013.