Animated FilmAnimated Film

The Lion King

Animated (or Children’s) FilmsAnimated (or Children’s) Films

Animated Films are ones in which individual drawings are photographed frame by frame. Usually, each frame differs slightly from the one preceding it, giving the illusion of movement when frames are projected in rapid succession.

Animated films are often directed to, or appeal most to children, but can be enjoyed by all. Animation, fairy tales, stop-motion films, and adventures that appeal to children are included in this genre category.

The earliest animated films that most people remember seeing are Disney films which contain exquisite [ 'ekskwizit ]    精致的 , 细腻的 , 敏锐的details, flowing movements, gorgeous and rich color, enchanting characters, lovely musical songs and tunes, and stories drawn with magical or mythological plots.

Classic Animated FilmsClassic Animated Films

The Lion King 《狮子王》（ 1994 ） Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 《白雪

公主》（ 1937 ） Sleeping Beauty 《睡美人》（ 1938 ） Toy Story 《玩具总动员》（ 1995 ） Beauty and the Beast 《美女与野兽》

（ 1991 ） Tom and Jerry 《汤姆与杰瑞》（ 1991 ） Aladdin 《阿拉丁》（ 1996 ） Steamboat Willie “《 威利”号轮船》（ 192

8 ） The Hunchback of Notre-Dame 《钟楼怪

客》（ 1996 ）

NameName AnimalAnimal

Mufasa Lion Scar Lion Nala Lioness Zazu Hornbill Rafiki Baboon Timon Meerkat Pumbaa Warthog

Cultural Background of Cultural Background of The Lion KingThe Lion King

released by Walt Disney Picture in 1994

one of the top blockbusters [ 'blɔk.bʌstə ]    轰动 , 巨型炸弹 in the past ten years in the US

Shakespeare’s theme: Hamlet, the attraction of African scenery

won the Oscar for the Best Music the Oscar for the Best Song: Can You

Feel the Love Tonight song “Hakuna Matata” was nominated

Oscar Best Music.

Q: Why Lion king is so popular in Q: Why Lion king is so popular in America? America?

The African setting: the plot, the names, the music, the philosophies all have an African flavor and Americans like things that are new and different.

The Broadway style music and songs: done by some famous pop singers.

The voices: played by some actors whose voices are familiar and distinctive to American ears.

The animation: new, special and excellent.

In what way is the film itself circular?In what way is the film itself circular?

The film begins and ends at the same place and with the same title screen words; Simba is King after Mufasa and the son of Simba is held up high at the end and will assume the position of king after Simba.

What does the interviewee say about the What does the interviewee say about the American cultural identity? What’s the American cultural identity? What’s the

new trend? new trend?

Culturally, America doesn’t have its own identity. America is made up of many different identities. A great majority of American culture is still European culture, but more and more America is picking up, assimilating other cultures.

In what way is In what way is The Lion KingThe Lion King similar to similar to and at the same time different from other and at the same time different from other

Disney animated movies — Disney animated movies — The Little The Little MermaidMermaid, , Beauty and The BeastBeauty and The Beast and and

AladdinAladdin??

Similarities: They are all true “family films” because they entertain adults as well as children. Difference: The Lion King is a little more subdued and its theme is grimmer.

What is the central theme of the movie? What is the central theme of the movie? What can children learn from this movie? What can children learn from this movie?

The central theme is guilt and redemption. Children can learn how to prepare themselves for more difficult lessons later on.

Reflection of the MovieReflection of the Movie

It has an African plot, and the names are African, even some of the philosophy, some of the religious philosophy is sort of African, sort of having spirituality [ .spiritju'æliti ]  精神性 , 灵性 , come from nature, and looking at nature — the Circle of Life.

What makes What makes The Lion KingThe Lion King different different or maybe just special?or maybe just special?

We all understand revenge, we all understand the family members are dying at least, maybe not so much as children, but some of us do. But certainly by the time we have matured, we understand, the grief of family members dying.

Q:What are the themes Q:What are the themes of the movie?of the movie?

The Circle of Life the identity of the self

The theme ---The Circle of LifeThe theme ---The Circle of Life

It’s very interesting that the sort of film begins and ends at the same place. So almost the film is a circle. It’s circular because at the end, Simba is King, and Nala is Queen and there is a new lion king who is held up at the end and so will then assume the position of king after Simba even. So this is very new, modern way of thinking especially in America.

Life is circular, life shall continue and move forward. That’s very typical philosophy in America and increasingly in other countries. Life shall progress, life shall move forward and that man himself is at the heart of that moving forward, that man is sort of in charge of his own destiny. That’s probably a very strong philosophy in America.

Another theme in the movie is the Another theme in the movie is the identity of the self identity of the self

This is also very new to Americans who have a somewhat different religious background ,it worked in the movie and it definitely appealed to the American sense of something new and different.

And some have said it’s similar to Shakespeare’s Hamlet where Hamlet in his monologues 独白 strives to understand himself, strives to understand what it’s to be or not to be. He struggles with that. That’s similar.

But again, what’s most struck about the theme of the monkey probably is the natural spiritualism of ancestors and of mythical experience that is tied in with nature. This is mot normally brought out in American literature and American thinking or at least not in children’s movies or children’s philosophy.

Q:To what extent, The Lion King Q:To what extent, The Lion King reflects American culture? reflects American culture?

The Lion King is very African in its music, in its origin. The Lion King, originally is an African legend, old African legend. And there many African Americans in this country in America. So this film really appealed to many of them.

And again, America as before America likes things different. America is very fascinated with being on the edge and new and different things. The American spirit is of course very proud.

Culturally, America has made up of many different identities, since it was a country that was founded to be open and to allow all sorts of people to stay and live there. So there are many different types of cultures in America. So it is very common for an American to want to know more about these cultures.

The movie tried to make African culture a little bit more accessible to the person who wants to watch films. So that’s a summarization ------one aspect of the American culture, that being its diversity, America has a great diversity of cultures that combine to be, the American people.

Now even though a great majority of that culture is still, European culture, the first settlers in America were, Spanish, and English. So there’s still strong if not very, very, very strong in European history in America, But more and more America is picking up and assimilating 同化 , 同化作用 , 消化 , assimilating means absorbed, assimilating other cultures which is very interesting.

And it’s not something perhaps that the original Founding Fathers of America would have foreseen — this is absorbing of other cultures, and this combining of other cultures.

It’s useful to watch The Lion King as a cross-section of American culture, though it is important to realize that many people in America do not necessarily abide or agree with all the philosophy in it.