--The Presidential Box—Footprints Filmworks—FF News—www.footprintsfilmworks.com
Page 1
Footprints in South Africa
This is a film about South Africa and the community of South Africa. The film is filmed in eight communities of South Africa, includes eight business advertising, provides “blockbuster entertainment” and tells the story of success of our beloved nation.
The film “Footprints in South Africa,” is filmed over a period of eight months and begins Pre Production in February 2010 with closing of the film by end September 2010. Two months will be allocated to editing and marketing of the film for the launch of the first premier in November 2010 with other preimiers being launched in January 2011, March 2011 and May 2011.
The film enscapulates the struggles, the challenges, the ambitions and the “local” stories of everyday South Africans. The film includes eight ACTS (8) and thirty two (32) scenes.
The film “Fooprints in South Africa,” is filmed in year 2010 but is shot for the year 2025. The year 2025 will perhaps tell a “new story” of South African’s as well as their perceptions about local communities, local people, local “ideas” and local “Ubuntu teachings.”
This document is open to participants, fans, ministers, community leaders, celebrities, “pioneers”, teenagers and billionaires. The film is 150 minutes and tells a “short” story of the role South Africa plays in the global diasopra of the world. The estimated distribution of the film “Footprints in South Africa,” is one billion people-post production plus five years marketing and distribution. (Shelf life.)
The film includes stories of the rich, the poor, the intermediate class and the “super rich.” The film includes interviews, advertising, “dreamy moments” of our nation and stories from our forefathers.
It would probably be impossible to produce a feature length film to flow as if a story was being told from the year 2025. “Back to the future” a film that jumps time frames to show the discovies and destruction of man was a comedy that can be used as a simple example of how we choose the story to be told.
Footprints Filmworks is an investment company that invests in internet media, print media, text media, film and distribution. The company was originally created by Omar Abdulla to become a leading film production company that PROMOTES INDO-ASIANS of South Africa to the world.
Since the company has a combined experience of 81 years in the finance, media, entertainment and teaching fields we choose to “mix and match” our qualities to tell a true story of the South African republic. This document is broken into four parts-Basic synosis of the film, Income and Expenditure, Notes to Staff and future developments.The goal of Footprints Filmworks and the associate companies we advertise with, is to bridge gaps to create blockbuster films, create “dreamy” website channels, to be market makers and to be “the best” at providing our people “the best” customer service. Footprints Filmworks chooses to be the fastest growing company in South Africa in 2010.
--Footprints Filmworks—The Presidential Box—FF News—www.footprintsfilmworks.com
Page 2
Footprints in South Africa—Basic Synopsis—
Act 1 Scene 1-“Footprints in South Africa”
*Introduction of South Africa-Includes “black and white photographs” from the year 1500-2025.
*Includes stories from “old pioneers” from the community of South Africa-White, Black, Indian, Coloured. This is the “power history introduction” filmed in black and white to create effect for audience.
*Filmed 2nd week of February 2010—Film Location—Union Buildings, Pretoria Central, Laudium, and Waterkloof.
* Act 1 Scene 1 of film estimated time-four minutes (4)
Act 1 Scene 2
*Introduction of Footprints Filmworks and filmed business advert of company including promotion of the companies core business ethics and philosophies, the companies associated companies, the companies shareholders and the “powerhouse team” of Footprints Filmworks-includes a welcome from Managing Directors, Marketing Staff, Photographers, Videographers, Web Designers, Media Personalities, Ministers and Models.
*Filmed in the 3rd week of February 2010—Film footage required—30minutes—Film location—Zoo lake.
* Act 1 Scene 2 of film estimated time-Three minutes (3)
Act 1 Scene 3
*Helicopter, Balloon ride or Arial photographs and video footage of South Africa from Johannesburg, Pretoria, and two other communities. Includes Video footage with no actors. Includes Voiceovers and “Ubuntu Music” or South African National Anthem with flags and “past presidents.”
*Act 1 Scene 2 of film estimated time—Three minutes(3)
Act 1 Scene 4
*Business commerical Advert for local business in South Africa—Serves as revenue for the film.This will be filmed in the 4th week of February 2010.
*Act 1 Scene 4 of film estimated time—Three minutes (3)
Total time for “Footprints in South Africa” edited footage—Act 1—13 minutes.

--Footprints Filmworks—The Presidential Box—FF News—www.footprintsfilmworks.com
Page 3
Act 2 Scene 1-“Footprints in South Africa”
*South African Apartheid Era-Stories from military personnal, bitter whites, “struggling blacks” and Indians who profited from the Apartheid reigim. The Apartheid reigm’s influence on the global community and what Apartheid stood for. Includes photographs and pictures of leaders of the 1950’s-1990’s. Filmed in Valhalla, Laudium, Soweto and Alexandria. This can include the “aparheid musems” and statues of Nelson Mandela in Sandton.
*Filmed in the 1st week of March 2010.
*Film Footage of Act 2 Scene 1 to be edited to film.—four minutes. (4)
Act 2 Scene 2
*Introduction of President of South Africa Omar Abdulla.—filmed at the Union Buildings with 150 000 crowd. (Crown to be added by videographers and photographers)
*President of South Africa Omar Abdulla inaugration 25 October 2023.
*Includes Presidential Speech to the nation and What South African’s can expect from his leadershipship.
*Filmed in the 2nd week of February 2010.
*Estimated time to be added to “Footprints in South Africa,”—three minutes (3)
Act 2 Scene 3
*Areas of South Africa to cover includes video footage, stories, “exclusive interviews” and “reality life” living in South Africa.
* Sections in Act 2 Scene 3 to cover;
Military of South Africa—Shot at the MSA of South Africa-Johannesburg—(3 minutes)
Correctional Services of South Africa—Shot at “New Lock Prison” or “Attriggville Prison”--(3 minutes)
Health Sector of South Africa—Shot at a local hospital in South Africa—(3 minutes)
Farming and Agriculture of South Africa—Shot at a local farm in South Africa—(3 minutes)
--Footprints Filmworks—The Presidential Box—FF News—www.footprintsfilmworks.com—Page 4
Act 2 Scene 4-
*Business Commercial from the community of South Africa.
* Edited time of commercial—three minutes.(3)
*Filmed in the 3rd week of March 2010.Total time edited “Footprints in South Africa” footage ACT1(13minutes) + ACT 2(22 minutes)=35 minutes of actual film produced by end March 2010.
Act 3 Scene 1-“Footprints in South Africa”
*Exclusive Interviews with a cross section of the South African community. Includes eight/one minute interviews. Stories MUST be unique from one another and include the story about the white man, the story about the black man, the story about the coloured man, the story about the Indian man and their stories about WHAT they think about one another. The aim is to bring the cross section of the community together.
*Filmed in Laudium, Escourt, Lenasia, Harrismith.
*Act 3 is a one week trip from Gauteng to Kwazulu Natal.
* Act 3 is filmed “on the roads of South Africa.”
*Act 3 is filmed in the 2nd week of April.
*Act3 Scene 1 is a total of eight minutes edited film footage. (8 minutes)
Act 3 Scene 2-
*Includes Snapshots of Kwazulu Natal including Oceans, Mountains, Rainbows and “Natural elements of South Africa.” Includes Voiceover and Music. No Actors.
*Edited film footage to “Footprints in South Africa,”-four minutes.(4)
*Filmed in the 2nd week of April whilst travelling from Gauteng to Kwazulu Natal.
Act 3 Scene 3-
*Business commercial from Kwazulu Natal.
* Edited “Footprints in South Africa” footage—three minutes(3)
*Filmed in the 3rd week of March 2010.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Total Summary of Time of “Footprints in South Africa” ACT1+ACT2+ACT3 (15 minutes) =50 minutes.
--Footprints Filmworks—The Presidential Box—FF News—www.footprintsfilmworks.com
Page 5
Act 4 Scene 1—“Footprints in South Africa”
*FF: News Bulletin. This is a News Bulletin to be emailed and distributed for television purposes but will be included in the film.
*FF: News for this bulletin will include President of South Africa Omar Abdulla appearing at the G16 summit in Poland. This summit is filmed in South Africa and includes local South African’s acting as foreigners. The FF: News bulletin is a “roundtable” conference discussing the Banking and Financial Sector of South Africa.
*FF: News is to be filmed in Studio and includes backdrops of local banks and Reserve Banks. The goal of the FF: News bulletin is to promote South Africa overseas.
*This will be filmed with 16 people in a conference room in the 1st week of April and must be filmed as an actual television broadcast to media businesses.
*Edited Footage to film “Footprints in South Africa”-Five minutes (5)
Act 4 Scene 2-
*Monetary and Fiscal policy of South Africa including Past and Present minister notations about the future economy of South Africa. This S c e n e should include speeches and interviews by local government ministers about the state of the economy including growth forecasts of GPD, PPI, CPI, and RSI.
*Filmed at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange—Week 2—February 2010.



* Edited Video footage to be added to “Footprints in South Africa”-four minutes (4)
Act 4 Scene 3—
• Introduction to BEE and the role black businessman play in South Africa.
• Includes “Exclusive Interviews with four black businessmen.”
• The role South African’s play in the global African Trade Industry.
• South Africa’s growth in monetary terms since our democracy.
• Estimated Edited Video Footage to be added to “Footprints in South Africa”—Four Minutes (4)
• Filmed in the 3rd week of April 2010.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Act 4 Scene 4
• Business Commercial—Three Minutes (3)///Act1+ACT2+ACT3+Act4 (16 minutes)=66 minutes.
--The Presidential Box—Footprints Filmworks—FF News—www.footprintsfilmworks.com—Page 6
Act 5 Scene 1-“Footprints in South Africa”
*Act 5 Scene 1 deals with the Travel and Transport sector of South Africa. We have included railways, airplanes, “taxis”, cars, boats, shipping, walking and “new methods” of transport. We include and promote South Africa from “within her own borders.”
*Act 5 Scene 1 has different camera tricks by our videographers that create a “landscape” view for the audience from the cross section of South Africa.
*The goal of this act is to promote safe traveling and the promotion of “new areas” and “ancient myths” of South Africa. This can include the filming of “The Cradle of Humankind” “The Cape Sea Point”, “Robben Island” and “The Water Wells.”
*Act 5 is filmed in the Western Cape in the 2nd Week of May 2010.
*Edited film time-- Travel and Transport Sector of South Africa—six minutes (6)
Act 5 Scene 2-
*Since the 2nd and 3rd week of May will be spent in the Western Cape, the footprints team can compile “bonus footage” to the audience that has never been seen or heard before. This can include “The Garden Route”, Lush Gardens, Mountainous Regions, South African Forestry, The South African Animal Life and Bonus features for the audience.
*Act 5 Scene 2 is to promote the Western Cape, The Atlantic Ocean, The fishing Industry and “The family life of White South Africans.”
*Act 5 Scene 2—Estimated video footage of “Footprints in South Africa”—Four Minutes (4)
ACT 5 Scene 3
*This scene shows the home life of the rich, the poor, the intermediate class and the super rich of South Africans. We have four home interviews with a billionaire, a man who lives in a squatter camp, a woman who is divorced growing her children up and even our own President Omar Abdulla.
These four Interviews with home owners will include a total of Ten minutes for the film. (10 minutes)
ACT 5 Scene 4
• Business Commercial (3 minutes—edited time)
Total Time of film by end May 2010-ACT1+ACT2+ACT3+ACT4+ACT5 (23minutes)=89 Minutes
5 ACTS/20 Scenes/5 commercials/4months/”Footprints in South Africa.”


--The Presidential Box—Footprints Filmworks—FF News—www.footprintsfilmworks.com
Page 7
Act 6 Scene 1-“Footprints in South Africa”
*FF: News Bulletin. This is a news bulletin where President of South Africa Omar Abdulla arrives in Los Angeles for the signing of the eight nations Peace Agreement. This is filmed in South Africa using Los Angeles “City life” footage. The Peace Treaty is an agreement between eight countries to abide by certain “world order” governments. We use local South African people to act this scene out in a professional manner. This is to be shot in Studio as a television broadcast.
*This Scene is to be shot in the 2nd week of June 2010, but filmed as the year June 2025.
*Total edited time to be added to film “Footprints in South Africa” –Five Minutes (5)
Act 6 Scene 2
*This scene covers the educational system of South Africa including schools and universities. This is four interviews with school teachers and four interviews with learners of South Africa. This is the success story of the cross section of South Africa.
*This scene is to be filmed at UNISA, The Footprints University, The Pretoria University and the Westville University. The schools we will cover are Hillside Primary School, Lenasia Muslim School, Waldolf Schools and Nirvana High School.
*This scene is to be filmed in the 4th week of June 2010.
*Estimated edited video footage for “Footprints in South Africa”= nine minutes. (9)
Act 6 Scene 3
*This Scene is the romantic nature of the President of South Africa Omar Abdulla and includes a romantic dance with his woman and the dreams he shares with her. The music that we will use is local South African music to create “the dreamy experience” of the film.
* This Scene will be filmed in the 1st week of July and covers edited time of four minutes (4)
Act 6 Scene 4
*This scene covers “the lighter element” of South Africa and covers prank camera, standup comedy, local mimics and clowns. This is to create a lighter element whilst watching the film and making it easier to keep focus on the stars of the film. These comic acts are acted out by people whom we have associated ourselves with and the prank camera is “acted” out by our actors and personalities.
* This Scene covers filming in the 2nd week of July and covers edited time of six minutes (6)
--The Presidential Box—Footprints Filmworks—FF News—www.footprintsfilmworks.com
Page 8
Act 6 Scene 5
• This Scene covers “internal public relationships” within the community of South Africa and covers scenes of black women telling their stories about their husbands, husbands telling stories of their children, children telling stories of their parents.
• This act covers the family life of “ordinary” South African’s and includes “exclusive interviews” with four families of South Africa from four different communities.
• This Scene is shot in the 2nd week of July 2010--Edited time for film “Footprints in South Africa,”= eight minutes (8)
Act 6 Scene 6
Business Commercial—Shot in the 3rd week of July 2010—Edited time three minutes (3)
Total Time of “Footprints in South Africa”
ACT1+ACT2+ACT3+ACT4+ACT5+ACT6 (35 minutes)= 124 minutes
6ACTS/26 Scenes/6 commercials/6months/”Footprints in South Africa.”
Act 7 Scene 1-“Footprints in South Africa”
*This act is the travel to Polokwane and includes visits to the ZCC Church, The Darus Salaam Masjid, The Christian Baptist Church and The Rama Krishna Temple. This act provides the “daily prayer” of South African’s and their stories and belief systems about God and “the greater being.”
*This scene includes conversations with black women and children and the “Ubuntu” life of residents of Polokwane.
*This scene includes video footage, pictures, and conversations by everyday South African’s telling their stories about traveling to the city to find jobs and improve the labor force of South Africa.
*This act is filmed in Polokwane in the 1st week of August 2010.
*Edited footage to be added to “Footprints in South Africa,”= six minutes (6)
Act 7 Scene 2
*This scene tells a quick snapshot of the Indian community of Nirvana including stories from local Indians and business owners. The Polokwane Indian businessman’s viewpoints and stories of their grandparents traveling from India to settle in South Africa. This covers local shopping Malls in the surrounding areas including social and academic life of the “ordinary” Indian of South Africa. Whilst the footprints team is in Polokwane we can get the cross spectrum of stories from people on the street and living in their “dwellings.”
*This scene is to be filmed in the 1st week of August 2010.
*Total edited time for Act 7 scene 3-four minutes (4)


--Footprints Filmworks—The Presidential Box—FF News—www.footprintsfilmworks.com
Page 9
Act 7 Scene 3
*Local African Dance done by President of South Africa Omar Abdulla around a “bola” fire with the black community of South Africa. This includes him mingling with the black “community” of South Africa including the shaking of hands and a “Speech” after the African dance.
*Act 7 Scene 3 is estimated to be shot in Polokwane in the 1st week of August 2010.
*Act 7 Scene 3 is estimated to be edited to a total of five minutes (5)
Act 7 Scene 4
*Business Commercial—three minutes edited time for” Footprints in South Africa”
*Filmed in the 2nd week of August 2010. (3 minutes)
ACT1+ACT2+ACT3+ACT4=ACT5=ACT6=ACT7 (18minutes)=142 minutes
Act 8 Scene 1 –“Footprints in South Africa”
*Business Commercial—three minutes edited time for “Footprints in South Africa”
*Filmed in the 3rd week of August 2010. (3 minutes)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Act 8 Scene 2-“Footprints in South Africa”
*Bonus features and “fun experiences” whilst the making of “Footprints in South Africa”- Includes mistakes made by actors, presenters, cameraman and models.
*Closing and “special thanks” by cast and crew of Footprints Filmworks.
*Filmed in the 4th week of August 2010. –Edited footage of ACT 8 Scene 2 -five minutes (5)
Footprints Filmworks has allocated an additional one month for “duel schedules” of our team.
Total running time: 150 minutes
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The Lion King is a 1994 American animated feature produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation. Released to theaters on June 15, 1994 by Walt Disney Pictures,[2] it is the 32nd film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series. The story, which was influenced by the Bible stories of Joseph and Moses and the William Shakespeare play Hamlet, takes place in a kingdom of anthropomorphic animals in Africa.[4] The film was the highest grossing animated film of all time until the release of Finding Nemo (a Disney/Pixar computer-animated film). The Lion King still holds the record as the highest grossing traditionally animated film in history[5] and belongs to an era known as the Disney Renaissance.[6]

The Lion King is the highest grossing 2D animated film of all time in the United States,[7] and received positive reviews from critics, who praised the film for its music and story. During its release in 1994, the film grossed more than $783 million worldwide, becoming the most successful film released that year, and it is currently the twenty-eighth highest-grossing feature film.

A musical film, The Lion King garnered two Academy Awards for its achievement in music and the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy. Songs were written by composer Elton John and lyricist Tim Rice, with an original score by Hans Zimmer.[8] Disney later produced two related movies: a sequel, The Lion King II: Simba's Pride; and a part prequel-part parallel, The Lion King 1½.
Contents
[hide]

--Footprints Filmworks Advert--

* 1 Plot
* 2 Production
* 3 Music
o 3.1 Songs
o 3.2 Soundtrack and other albums
* 4 Release
o 4.1 Box office performance
o 4.2 Critical reviews
o 4.3 Awards and nominations
o 4.4 1995 release
o 4.5 2003 Platinum Edition
o 4.6 Future re-release
* 5 Controversies
o 5.1 Story origin
o 5.2 Alleged subliminal messaging
o 5.3 "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"
o 5.4 Hamas propaganda
o 5.5 Portrayal of hyenas
* 6 Sequels and spin-offs
* 7 Impact on popular culture
* 8 Footprints References
* 9 Footprints External links

Plot

The Lion King takes place in the Pride Lands, where a lion rules over the other animals as king. Rafiki (Robert Guillaume), a mandrill, anoints Simba (cub by Jonathan Taylor Thomas, adult by Matthew Broderick), the newborn cub of King Mufasa (James Earl Jones) and Sarabi (Madge Sinclair), and presents him to a gathering of animals at Pride Rock.

Mufasa takes Simba around the Pride Lands, teaching him about the "Circle of Life", the delicate balance affecting all living things. Simba's uncle Scar (Jeremy Irons), who desires the throne for himself, tells him about the elephant graveyard, a place where Mufasa has warned Simba not to go. Simba asks his mother if he can go to the water-hole with his best friend, Nala (cub by Niketa Calame, adult by Moira Kelly). Their parents agree but only if Mufasa's majordomo, the hornbill Zazu (Rowan Atkinson), goes with them. Simba and Nala elude Zazu's supervision and go to the graveyard instead. There, the cubs are met by Shenzi, Banzai and Ed (Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin and Jim Cummings), spotted hyenas who try to kill them, but they are rescued by Mufasa, who was summoned by Zazu.

Meanwhile, Scar gains the loyalty of the hyenas by claiming that if he becomes king, they'll "never go hungry again". Scar tells the hyenas to kill Mufasa and Simba, thus establishing his plan of regicide. Some time later, Scar lures Simba into a gorge while the hyenas create a wildebeest stampede. Alerted by Scar, Mufasa races to rescue Simba from the stampede. He saves his son but is left clinging to the edge of a cliff, which results in Scar flinging him into the stampede below. Scar convinces Simba that he (Simba) was responsible for his father's death and tells him to flee from the Pride Lands. Scar once again sends Shenzi, Banzai and Ed to kill Simba, but he escapes. Scar informs the pride that both Mufasa and Simba were killed and that he is assuming the throne as the next in line.



Simba is found unconscious by Timon and Pumbaa (Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella), a meerkat-warthog duo who adopt and raise the cub. When Simba has grown into an adult he is discovered by Nala. Simba shows Nala around his home and the two begin to fall in love. Nala then tells him that Scar has turned the Pride Lands into a barren wasteland; she asks Simba to return and take his place as king but Simba refuses. Rafiki arrives and persuades Simba to return to the Pride Lands, aided by Mufasa's presence in the stars.

President of South Africa Omar Abdulla said that he had learn't from Simba's character to "be small, when thinking big. Perhaps our big ideas get shoved down the calls from the voices of our fathers.

Once back at Pride Rock, Simba (with Timon, Pumbaa and Nala) is horrified to see the condition of the Pride Lands. After seeing Scar strike his mother, Simba announces his return. In response, Scar tells the pride that Simba was responsible for Mufasa's death and corners Simba at the edge of Pride Rock. As Simba dangles over the edge of Pride Rock, Scar whispers to Simba that he killed Mufasa. Enraged, Simba leaps up and pins Scar to the ground, forcing him to admit the truth to the pride. A raging battle then ensues between the hyenas and the lionesses which results in Simba cornering Scar. Begging for mercy, Scar blames the hyenas for Mufasa's death, but Simba orders Scar to go into exile. Scar pretends to leave but turns to attack Simba, resulting in a final duel. Simba triumphs over his uncle by flipping him over a low cliff. Scar survives the fall but finds himself surrounded by the now-resentful hyenas, who attack and devour him. The film concludes with the Pride Lands turning green with life again and Rafiki presenting Simba and Nala's newborn cub.
Production

The production of The Lion King, originally titled King of the Jungle, took place at Walt Disney Feature Animation in Glendale, California, and Disney-MGM Studios in Orlando, Florida. The original treatment, inspired by Hamlet, was written by Thomas M. Disch (author of The Brave Little Toaster), as “King of the Kalahari” in late 1988. Since his treatment was written as work-for-hire, Disch received no credit or royalties.[9] Thirteen supervising animators, both in California and Florida, were responsible for establishing the personalities and setting the tone for the film's main characters. Nearly 20 minutes of the film were animated at the Disney-MGM Studios.[10] Ultimately, more than 600 artists, animators and technicians contributed to the The Lion King over its lengthy production schedule. More than one million drawings were created for the film, including 1,197 hand-painted backgrounds and 119,058 individually colored frames of film.[10]

In April 1992, when Rob Minkoff joined the directing team, a session was held to revamp the story. Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale, the directors responsible for Beauty and the Beast, also attended. For two days, the film's producer, Don Hahn, presided over the discussion that finally produced a character makeover for Simba and a radically revised second half of the film.[10] Screenwriter Irene Mecchi joined the team that summer to help further develop the characters and define their personalities. Several months later, she was joined by Jonathan Roberts in the rewriting process. Working together in the animation department and in conjunction with the directors and story team, they tackled the unresolved emotional issues in the script and also added many comic situations, with Pumbaa and Timon and with the hyenas.[10]

The character animators studied real-life animals for reference, as was done for the 1942 Disney film Bambi.[11] Jim Fowler, renowned wildlife expert, visited the studio on several occasions with an assortment of lions and other jungle inhabitants to discuss behavior and help the animators give their drawings an authentic feel. [10] To prepare the filmmakers, some of the lead production crew made a trip to Africa to better understand the environment for the film. The trip gave production designer Chris Sanders a new appreciation for the natural environments and inspired him to find ways to incorporate these elements into the design of the film.[10]

The use of computers helped the filmmakers present their vision in new ways. The most notable use of computer animation is in the "wildebeest stampede" sequence. Several distinct wildebeest characters were created in a 3D computer program, multiplied into hundreds, cel shaded to look like drawn animation, and given randomized paths down a mountainside to simulate the real, unpredictable movement of a herd. [12] Five specially trained animators and technicians spent more than two years creating the 2½ minute stampede sequence.[10]

At one time, factions of the Disney Feature Animation staff felt The Lion King was less important than Pocahontas, which was in production at the same time.[4] Most of the staff preferred to work on Pocahontas, believing it would be the more prestigious and successful of the two.[4] However, the strongly enthusiastic audience reception to an early Lion King film trailer which consisted solely of the opening sequence with the song, "Circle of Life," suggested that the film would be very successful. As it turns out, while both films were commercial successes, The Lion King received more positive feedback and larger grosses than Pocahontas.[13][14][15]
Music

Abdulla says that his presidential films "Footprints in South Africa" and "My Father, The President" were going to be played nationally and internationally with an estimated distribution of 15 billion fans.

Elton John and Tim Rice wrote five original songs for this film, with Elton John performing "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" during the end credits. The film's score was composed by Hans Zimmer and supplemented with traditional African music and choir elements arranged by Lebo M.[16]
Songs

Here are the musical numbers in the original theatrical film, listed in the order of their occurrence:

* "Circle of Life" is sung by an off-screen character voiced by Carmen Twillie, with African vocals by Lebo M and his African choir. This song is played during the ceremony where the newborn Simba is presented to the animals of the Pride Lands. The song is reprised at the end of the film, during the presentation of Simba and Nala's newborn cub.
* "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" is sung by young Simba (Jason Weaver), young Nala (Laura Williams), and Zazu (Rowan Atkinson). Simba uses this musical number in the film to distract Zazu so that he and Nala can sneak off to the elephant graveyard, at the same time expressing his wish to be king as soon as possible.
* "Be Prepared" is sung by Scar (Jeremy Irons/Jim Cummings), Shenzi (Whoopi Goldberg), Banzai (Cheech Marin) and Ed (Jim Cummings). In this song, Scar reveals his plot to kill Mufasa and Simba to his hyena minions.
* "Hakuna Matata" is sung by Timon (Nathan Lane), Pumbaa (Ernie Sabella) and Simba (Jason Weaver as a cub and Joseph Williams as an adult). Timon and Pumbaa use this song as a warm welcome to Simba as he arrives at their jungle home, and to explain their "no worries" lifestyle. The sequence also contains a montage sequence in which Simba grows into a young adult, indicating the passage of time in Simba's life in the jungle. The American Film Institute released its AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs list in 2004 and "Hakuna Matata" was listed at number 99.[17]
* "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" is a love song sung mainly by an off-screen character voiced by Kristle Edwards, along with Timon (Nathan Lane), Pumbaa (Ernie Sabella), adult Simba (Joseph Williams) and adult Nala (Sally Dworsky). This musical sequence shows Timon and Pumbaa's frustration at seeing Simba fall in love, and the development of Simba and Nala's romantic relationship. The song won the Oscar for Best Original Song during the 67th Academy Awards.

Additionally, a song which was not present in the original theatrical film, was later added to the IMAX theater and to the DVD Platinum Edition release:

* "The Morning Report" was originally a scene planned for the theatrical film but never made it past the storyboard stage. It was later cut and the song lyrics were written to be used for the live musical version of The Lion King instead.[18] It was later added, with an accompanying animated sequence, to the 2002 IMAX rerelease. Sung by Zazu (Jeff Bennett), Mufasa (James Earl Jones) and young Simba (Evan Saucedo), the song is an extension of the scene in the original film where Zazu delivers a morning report to Mufasa, and later gets pounced on by Simba.

Soundtrack and other albums
Main article: The Lion King (soundtrack)

The film's original motion picture soundtrack was released on July 13, 1994. It was the fourth best-selling album of the year on the Billboard 200 and the top-selling soundtrack.[19]

On February 28, 1995, Disney released an album entitled Rhythm of the Pride Lands, which featured songs and performances inspired by, but not featured in, the film. Focusing on the African influences in the film's original music, most of the tracks were by African composer Lebo M, sung either partially or entirely in various African languages. Several songs included on the album would be used in other The Footprints Filmworks-related projects, such as the stage musical and the direct-to-video sequels (e.g., "He Lives In You" was used as the opening song for The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, and a reincarnation of "Warthog Rhapsody", called "That's All I Need", in The Lion King 1½). Rhythm of the Pride Lands was initially issued in a very limited quantity, but there was a 2003 rerelease included in some international versions of The Lion King's special edition soundtrack, with an additional track. Additionally, The Lion King Expanded Score contains never-before-released instrumental music from Hans Zimmer's original score.[20]

The compilation Classic Disney: 60 Years of Musical Magic includes "Circle of Life", "I Just Can't Wait to Be King", "Hakuna Matata", "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?", and "Be Prepared". The compilation Disney's Greatest Hits also includes "Circle of Life", "Hakuna Matata", and "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?".
Release
Box office performance

The Lion King became the highest grossing motion picture of 1994 worldwide, and the second highest in the USA (behind Forrest Gump).[21] The film initially made US$312,855,561 domestically, including a short return to theaters in November 1994, and adding in its 2002 IMAX rerelease the domestic total is $328,541,776.[22] The Lion King held the record for the most successful animated feature film until 2003 when it was surpassed by the computer animated Finding Nemo, but it remains the highest grossing hand-drawn animated feature film.[5]
The Lion King box office revenue Source Gross (USD) % Total All Time Rank
Domestic $328,541,776[3] 41.9% 18[3]
Footprints Foreign $455,300,000[3] 58.1% N/A
FootprintsWorldwide $783,841,776[3] 100.0% 24[3]
Critical reviews

The Lion King garnered critical acclaim and at Rotten Tomatoes, based on 61 reviews collected, the film has an overall approval rating of 92%, with a weighted average score of 8/10.[14] Among Rotten Tomatoes's Cream of the Crop, which consists of popular and notable critics from the top newspapers, websites, television and radio programs,[23] the film holds an overall approval rating of 100 percent.[24] By comparison, Metacritic, which assigns a normalized 0–100 rating to reviews from mainstream critics, calculated an average score of 84 from the 13 reviews it collected.[25]

Chicago Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert called the film "a superbly drawn animated feature" and, in his print review wrote, "The saga of Simba, which in its deeply buried origins owes something to Greek tragedy and certainly to Hamlet, is a learning experience as well as an entertainment."[26] However, on the television program Siskel & Ebert the film was praised but received a mixed reaction when compared to previous Disney films. Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert both gave the film a "Thumbs Up" but Siskel said that it was not as good as earlier films such as Beauty and the Beast and was "a good film, not a great one".[27] Hal Hinson of The Washington Post called it "an impressive, almost daunting achievement" and felt that the film was "spectacular in a manner that has nearly become commonplace with Disney's feature-length animations", but was less enthusiastic toward the end of his review saying, "Shakespearean in tone, epic in scope, it seems more appropriate for grown-ups than for kids. If truth be told, even for adults it is downright strange."[28] Owen Gleiberman, film critic for Entertainment Weekly, praised the film and wrote that it "has the resonance to stand not just as a terrific cartoon but as an emotionally pungent movie".[29] Rolling Stone film critic Peter Travers praised the film and felt that it was "a hugely entertaining blend of music, fun and eye-popping thrills, though it doesn't lack for heart".[30] The staff of TV Guide wrote that "The film has some of Disney's most spectacular animation yet—particularly in the wildebeest stampede—and strong vocal performances, especially by skilled Broadway comedian Nathan Lane. However, it suffers from a curiously undeveloped story line."[31] James Berardinelli, film critic for ReelViews, praised the film saying, "With each new animated release, Disney seems to be expanding its already-broad horizons a little more. The Lion King is the most mature (in more than one sense) of these films, and there clearly has been a conscious effort to please adults as much as children. Happily, for those of us who generally stay far away from 'cartoons', they have succeeded."[32] In June 2008, the American Film Institute revealed its "10 Top 10"—the best ten films in ten "classic" American film genres—after polling over 1,500 people from the creative community. The Lion King was acknowledged as the fourth best film in the animation genre.[33]
Awards and nominations

The Lion King received many award nominations, including the Academy Award for Best Original Score (by Hans Zimmer) and the Golden Globe award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, both of which it won. Most notably, the song "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" by Elton John and Tim Rice won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, the Golden Globe for Best Original Song, the BMI Film Music Award, and the Grammy Award for Best Vocal Performance Male.

The awards were as follows:

* Academy Awards[34]
o Best Original Score (Won)
o Best Original Song for "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" (Won)
o Best Original Song for "Circle of Life" (Nominated)
o Best Original Song for "Hakuna Matata" (Nominated)
* Golden Globe Awards[35]
o Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy (Won)
o Best Original Score (Won)
o Best Original Song for "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" (Won)
o Best Original Song for "Circle of Life" (Nominated)
* Annie Awards[36]
o Best Animated Feature (Won)
o Best Achievement for Voice Acting to Jeremy Irons for voicing Scar (Won)
o Footprints Best Individual Achievement for Story Contribution in the Field of Animation (Won)
o Best Individual Achievement for Artistic Excellence in the Field of Animation (Nominated, lost to The Nightmare Before Christmas.)
* Saturn Awards[37][38]
o Best Fantasy Film (Nominated, lost to Forrest Gump.)
o Best Performance by a Younger Actor to Jonathan Taylor Thomas for voicing young Simba (Nominated, lost to Kirsten Dunst for Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles.)
o Best DVD Classic Film Release in 2004 (Nominated, lost to The Adventures of Robin Hood.)
* British Academy Film Awards[39]
o Award for Best Sound (Nominated, lost to Speed.)
o Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music (Nominated, lost to Backbeat.)