Beyoncé Remixed the Meaning of <em>The Lion King</em>
When it was released in 1994, The Lion King was billed as Disney animation’s first original story: No fairy tale inspired it. But in the development process, the creators noticed—and then played up—similarities to Shakespeare’s Hamlet in the script they’d come up with. They thought about the Old Testament figures Joseph and Moses too. Some viewers called out similarities to the Japanese cartoon Kimba the White Lion. Others saw a resemblance between Simba and the 13th-century ruler often referred to as the Lion King of Mali. Still others who’ve seen the original or the 2019 remake think of the Egyptian myth of Horus. Or of Black Panther’s T’Challa. Or of Game of Thrones’ Jon Snow.
resembles so many other works less because it is retelling an old story and more because it is telling a simple story, one that people across cultures can’t help but see themselves in. radiated madcap whimsy and awe. The new one is . Both get their messages across.
