Hakuna Matata! Join us as we revisit the most iconic moments from Disney's beloved Lion King franchise. From heart-wrenching scenes to uplifting musical numbers, we'll explore the unforgettable sequences that have captivated audiences for generations. Get ready to feel the love tonight as we journey through the Pride Lands!
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00:00Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today, we're counting down our picks for the best and most iconic
00:15moments from one of Disney's most beloved film franchises, The Lion King.
00:19Heads up for minor spoilers.
00:30Number 10.
00:31Hakuna Matata, The Lion King.
00:46What a wonderful phrase.
00:47Written by Timon and Pumbaa, Simba's friends in exile, it's a perfect and entertaining
00:52encapsulation of their fancy free lifestyle.
00:55It also provides a comic backstory to Pumbaa.
00:58Hakuna Matata is actually a genuine Swahili phrase that means no worries.
01:03The animators had in fact picked up the term from a tour guide in Kenya, incorporating
01:07it into the film.
01:14Composed by Elton John with lyrics by Tim Rice, this theme became one of Disney's best
01:18and most iconic hits.
01:20With its simple and easy charm, it's easy to see why this song has permeated pop culture.
01:36Number 9.
01:38The Lion King One and a Half.
01:46Quick before the hyenas come.
01:48This film, obviously inspired by Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, follows
01:53Timon and Pumbaa's perspective of the events of The Lion King, hence the half portion of
01:58the title.
01:59Written by Seth Friedman and Martin Erskine, the song introduces Timon's meerkat colony
02:03and sums up their way of life in the catchiest way possible.
02:12This earworm is undoubtedly one of the highlights of this midquel, which has the advantage of
02:16better than usual animation.
02:18Either way, it's going to be stuck in our heads for a while, and for a direct-to-video
02:22sequel, the music is not half bad.
02:34Number 8.
02:35Remember Who You Are.
02:37The Lion King.
02:42The original film always wore its Hamlet inspiration on its sleeve, or at least it did when Disney
02:47CEO Michael Eisner felt the story could use some Shakespearean gravitas, and the production
02:52team realized their story did resemble Hamlet a great deal.
02:55Hence we get this powerful scene, where the traumatized layabout Simba is visited by the
02:59ghost of his father.
03:12The animation of Mufasa's apparition in the clouds is no less than stunning.
03:16James Earl Jones' sonorous voice gives solemnity to this unforgettable dialogue.
03:21It makes it all the more satisfying when Simba finally does confront his past and return
03:25to Pride Rock.
03:35Number 7.
03:36Not One of Us.
03:37The Lion King 2 Simba's Pride.
03:46Speaking of Shakespeare, we turn now to Romeo and Juliet.
03:50This sequel takes its story from that timeless tale of star-crossed lovers, with Simba's
03:54daughter Kiara falling in love with Kovu, a lion from Scar's Pride, the Outsiders.
03:59When the Outsiders try to kill Simba, immediate suspicion lands on Kovu, and an angry Simba
04:04orders Kovu's exile.
04:06This number, written by Jack Feldman and Tom Snow, is one of the strongest in the sequel,
04:21expressing the animal's sense of betrayal and Kovu's ostracization.
04:24The animation is even inspired.
04:26Kovu seeing Scar's face in the water's reflection was a stroke of genius that recalls the first
04:32movie.
04:33And that deception lives rent-free in our heads.
04:44Number 6.
04:45Can You Feel the Love Tonight?
04:46The Lion King.
04:58The most successful banger from this franchise, however, has to be this romantic ballad.
05:04Written by Elton John with lyrics by Tim Rice, childhood friends Simba and Nala reunite and
05:08fall in love.
05:09It's a lovely sequence, with dreamy vocals and brilliant color.
05:13It's also surprisingly sensual for a kids' movie.
05:16The song itself was a huge hit, winning the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
05:21Elton John also released his own piano ballad version, which reached number four on the
05:26Billboard Hot 100.
05:37Both sets of lyrics by Rice are an eloquent, poignant love song.
05:40It has since become one of Disney's treasured love songs.
05:43It's enough to make kings and vagabonds believe the very best.
05:57Number 5.
05:58He Lives in You.
06:00The Lion King 2 Simba's Pride.
06:11It's always great when a sequel ties back to the original film.
06:14Rafiki's poignant words to Simba became the title of the opening song in the sequel.
06:19In this sequence, Simba and Nala present their daughter, Kiara, while the spirit of Mufasa
06:23watches from above.
06:24The opening may not be as epic as the first film, but the song's lyrical sweetness is
06:29winning and refreshing.
06:38Written by Lebo M, Mark Mancina and Jay Rifkin, the song even went on to feature in The Lion
06:43King musical, first sung by Mufasa, then reprised by Rafiki.
06:47It's always nice for a song to come back around, almost like a circle of life.
07:00Number 4.
07:01Simba Ascends.
07:03The Lion King We're not crying, there's just something
07:13in our eye.
07:14After Simba's defeat of Scar and his death by Hyena, Simba finally becomes king of Pride
07:19Rock.
07:20This scene best exemplifies the power of not only stunning animation, with its transition
07:25from rain to brilliant summer, but of terrific music.
07:35Hans Zimmer's poignant score begins with mournful strings, a reprise of Mufasa's death
07:40theme, before the triumphant chorus greets Simba's ascent.
07:43With European classical gravitas combined with African power and harmony, the score
07:48segues seamlessly into a reprise of Circle of Life.
07:51And all without barely a word or two spoken, it's definitely one of Disney's best and
07:56most epic endings.
08:09Number 3.
08:10Be Prepared.
08:11The Lion King
08:20What is it about Disney villain songs that makes them not only consistently good, but
08:24a highlight of the whole film?
08:26In this case, there is only one answer.
08:28Tim Rice.
08:29Just kidding.
08:30Jeremy Irons' performance is no less than powerful.
08:33Before his voice gave out and Jim Cummings took over, that is.
08:36But it's Rice's slyly urbane style that really sells Scar's opportunism.
08:48punchy rhymes and sophisticated vocabulary.
08:51With eye-catching animation, lurid green smoke, and goose-stepping hyenas, Scar's villainous
08:57showcase is a winner on all levels.
08:59We're always prepared to listen to this number.
09:15Number 2.
09:16Mufasa's Death.
09:17The Lion King
09:18Ah, children's movies.
09:27What's not to like?
09:28They're fun, exciting, lovely at times, and sometimes absolutely traumatic.
09:33If you were lucky and unfortunate to have been a kid watching The Lion King for the
09:37first time, it's absolutely guaranteed that Mufasa's death has left some permanent marks
09:42in your psyche.
09:43It's not so much Scar's cold-blooded murder of him, although that was heartbreaking enough
09:47as it is.
09:59But it's Simba's attempts to revive him, first in denial and then in grief, that really bring
10:04out the waterworks.
10:05Hans Zimmer's theme during this sequence is one of the most poignant in the film.
10:20Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
10:24My Lullaby.
10:25The Lion King 2 Simba's Pride.
10:28Because while this song may be bloody, it kind of works for us.
10:41Simba vs. Scar.
10:42The Lion King.
10:43Because this epic fight is fire.
10:55I Just Can't Wait To Be King.
10:57The Lion King.
10:59Because if this is where the monarchy is headed, count us in.
11:14Love Will Find A Way.
11:15The Lion King 2 Simba's Pride.
11:18Because Kovu and Kiara are couple goals.
11:31Everything The Light Touches.
11:32The Lion King.
11:34Because James Earl Jones' performance cannot be bested.
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11:59Circle Of Life.
12:00The Lion King.
12:12The scene that truly makes The Lion King, well, The Lion King has to be this beloved
12:17opening.
12:18A sequence deeply ingrained in our cultural consciousness, and definitely one of the best
12:22openings to a Disney film, there is not a moment that isn't iconic.
12:26From the beautiful sunrise, to Leboem's Zulu chant, to the procession of the animals,
12:31to Zazu's arrival, it's breathtaking.
12:39But the climax of the song, with the presentation of Simba by Rafiki, truly elevates this opening.
12:45It's a tour de force on all levels, animation, music, and performance.
13:02Which other moment from The Lion King makes your heart soar?
13:05Let us know in the comments below.