R.I.P. James Earl Jones, this review is a homage to you… -the Darth Vader spoiler icon is intentional- :)

“Simba, let me tell you something that my father told me. Look at the stars. The great kings of the past look down on us from those stars.” “So whenever you feel alone, just remember that those kings will always be there to guide you. And so will I."

I was going to watch The Lion King yesterday after watching Mulan, and when I heard about the passing of Mufasa's voice I decided to do this in his honor. This event is a shame, but he more than fulfilled his purpose and may this serve to ensure that his legacy is carried high. I have never seen Star Wars, and because of this I will give him respect for his work as the voice of Darth Vader, so there is always something positive you know. 

I cried, I admit it. What a beautiful film, with a simple plot but total complexity in its themes and development. The perfect representation of what Disney was in those years. An allegory to the journey of life and everything that it entails, without a doubt a special work. Everything about this movie smells like history... so many characters to remember and with their own function in the plot. The perfect story, it just speaks for itself. The animation shines with set pieces and a total fluidity in the sequences, totally immortal. A quality in songs and musical score, that only this film can boast. Suffice it to say how entertaining it is, with the script and characters it has. I have to say, it is a masterpiece.

Mufasa has always been my favorite character of the movie, and his death is one of my only cinematic traumas. Demonstrating in such a short time what a great father and king he was is simply wonderful. Imagine how sad it must be that your last memory is being betrayed and murdered by your own blood brother. Even sadder, poor Simba can't even say goodbye to his father. To take it even further, his uncle and murderer of his father makes him feel all the guilt and therefore flees full of shame. If we continue talking about sadness, the day before, Simba sings “I Just Can't Wait to Be King”, without knowing what would happen the next day and we do, just pure tragedies. Same day, where Scar hatches his plot accompanied by hyenas, forming the cruelest combination possible.

The Lion King has pure tragedy at the core of its story, but equally beautiful. It shows us from the birth of a lion to his real birth as king. The opening sequence is beautiful with all the animals paying homage to the birth of the future king, Mufasa's son. The animation in conjunction with “Circle of Life” is simply iconic everywhere. Basically, a representation of what all the animation and music is in this work. The first act shows Simba's first steps and his relationship with his father, cut off from his wings by his death. Simba little by little learns his life lessons, thus growing his soul. His father teaches him the responsibilities of the kingdom and the beautiful cycle of life which connects us all. Still, he is rebellious and arrogant but equally innocent, which leads him to a whole host of problems. His relationship with Nala is beautiful and well represented since the lioness is the one who really rules haha. With this said, his journey leads him to discover the causes of disobedience, the loss of his parental figure, the occurrence of life's misfortunes, and finally the imminent call of destiny and having to confront his fears. The root of his fear, his uncle Scar.

What a villain we have with Scar... hungry for power and overshadowed by his brother, inferior in every way. He believes he deserves to be king, and ends up corrupting his soul to achieve it. Cruel in words and actions, a presence of evil like few others and also mysterious, since we never know the origin of his scar or why so much hatred. He achieves his goal, and only brings ruin to the kingdom. Being a king not only takes ambition and will, but it takes heart and good will. Respect is earned, not sought. Simply a hyena in the body of a lion. A case of Abel and Cain taken in reverse, but with the same meaning of two brothers who one is more appreciated than the other. Here it is much more complicated for the Cain of our story, since by the law of life he is second place and has no possibility of his desire. A heart corrupted by simple nature... Simply one of the best Disney villains, both in iconicity and characterization.

The “Hakuna Matata” is one of the most iconic moments. Beyond that, the message of the song is beautiful and valid. Live without worries or problems. It comes at the most difficult time for Simba, and although it distances him from the reality of life and his destiny just as Scar did, he was just a child. A child should not have those kinds of worries, and Timon and Pumbaa help him overcome that difficult moment for him with this philosophy. When he grows up, life (Nala) arrives and gives him a blow of reality where he has to take responsibility as an adult. All the songs here are very good, and during this encounter there’s the last one. Each one represents something perfectly and all the sequences are very colorful. The magnitude of the birth of the new king, the desires and mischief of Simba's childhood, the desires and corruption of Scar, the occurrence of a tragedy and the return of love to his life. How nice right?

The third act leads Simba to confront his fears. It’s his transition from boy to man, his transition from lion to king, fighting his past and future, recognizing that he is like his father. The only hope for his kingdom after its disintegration after Scar's regime. Scar himself blames him, and tries to play the same trick as to his father. Simba here is the GOAT, because he does something inexplicable to free himself and dominate him. Here Scar confesses, and is finished off by what were supposed to be his allies, the hyenas you can never trust. A counterfeit kingdom, a worthy end. Simba is finally crowned king, as someone completely worthy of his legacy.

Simply, the embodiment of greatness in animation. I love Mulan, but The Lion King is just the pinnacle of animation. A very long review, and I hope you like it guys :) 
-@uzhiel