The Lion King is roaring in cinemas and if you haven’t realized yet, it holds a lot of similarity with another iconic Disney release- The Jungle Book.
The stunning visuals of the wild, the anthropomorphic animal kingdom, the journey of the protagonist and even the comic elements very well connect the two movies. Don’t believe us? Keep reading!
Terror of the Big Bad Cat
Both the movies are haunted by brilliant villains- Scar in The Lion King and Shere Khan in The Jungle Book.
Strong, impressive and ambitious, both the big cats are feared by other creatures of the jungle. Interestingly, both have some sort of physical deformities. While Scar bears a mark over an eye, Shere Khan’s face is partially burnt. If that weren’t all, both the iconic villains want the protagonist out of the picture.
In order to achieve their goals, they are ready to remove whoever comes in their way. The poignant scene of Khan killing Akela is very similar to Scar murdering Mufasa. The idea remains the same- kill the benevolent leader and take ownership of the kingdom. And of course, we can’t deny that we love the menacing tiger and the evil lion at least a little bit!
The Monkey Effect
Rafiki, the baboon deserves credit for convincing Simba to return and fight for his kingdom. On the other hand, it was King Louie, the orangutan/Gigantopithecus who revealed Akela’s death to Mowgli. That, in turn, made him return to his pack and fight Shere Khan once and for all. Technically, if these bandar log hadn’t intervened, none of the protagonists would have gone at war with the big bad cats.
Pride Vs. Pack
The similarities between Mufasa’s pride and Akela’s pack are hiding in plain sight! Sarabi is the strong mother in one while Raksha in the other. Nala is Simba’s best friend and Grey is Mowgli’s. The way the wolf pack sticks together as a family is mirrored in the way the lion’s pride stands up against their evil king.
Also, while the lions trust Zazu to look after the cubs, the wolves entrust Bagheera with the training of their young ones.
Hakuna Matata Vs. The Bare Necessities
The former means “no worries” while the latter celebrates the good things in life. Interestingly, it is not just the iconic songs that complement each other but the characters introducing the songs seem to be cast out of the same mold-funny and eccentric.
In The Lion King, a lost and heartbroken Simba finds friends and confidantes in Timon and Pumbaa. They introduce him to a new way of life, carefree and joyous. In The Jungle Book, a lost and heartbroken Mowgli finds a friend and mentor in Balloo who cheers him up and appreciates his skills. Timon, Pumbaa, and Balloo are all very happy characters who lighten up our spirits every time they are on screen.
The Jungles
The imagery in both movies is strikingly similar. Even though The Jungle Book is set in India and The Lion King in Africa, the overall aura seems to be overlapping in more ways than one. In Mowgli’s jungle, there are unexplored places full of danger and the man-village on one corner. In Simba’s Pride Rock, the kingdom’s boundaries expand into scary hunting grounds inhabited by hyenas and the vast Sahara desert on the other side where you could easily be lost and dead!
The Jungle Book and The Lion King are two of the most iconic animated classics to have ever been made in history. Keeping all of their essences intact, Disney’s recent live-action/CGI remakes have done full justice to the unforgettable originals. While watching The Lion King, one can’t help but wonder how the two could very well be the same movie made in two different styles!
What do you think about The Lion King’s new version? Did you feel its connection with The Jungle Book?