Although many critics have negative comments on Disney movies, Disney has arguably been one of the most successful companies in the film industry. It is hard to think of another company that has achieved anything near the massive success Disney has seen. Disney has been a powerhouse in the film industry since the 1930s and hasn’t looked back since. People will always line up outside the theaters to see whatever new film Disney has to offer the cinema world.
I love Disney movies. I grew up with them and presently watch them with my 5-year-old brothers. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen the movies “Cars,” “Toy Story 3,” “Brother Bear” and so many more. However, no matter how many times I hear the two bicker over which movie they want to watch or their need to feed me a play-by-play of their favorite movies, I’ll always drop anything I am doing to watch a movie with them. That’s what I believe Disney is the best at. Their movies bring family, and even generations, together where memories are formed and stay with people forever. I was born in 1994, and for the first six years of my life, I was entrenched in Disney movies. I can specifically recall VHS tapes ranging from "Aladdin" to "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" to "Toy Story" scattered across my little play pin. I loved all of these movies; however, there is one movie that captivated me as a toddler and dominated my childhood: "The Lion King."
"The Lion King" was released on June 15, 1994, less than five months before I was born. My mom was pregnant with me at the time and refused to go see the movie. She and my father were planning on seeing the movie one weekend, but just before she left, she decided to not go. She had read a review a few minutes before they were about to leave, and the review said that the movie was extremely emotional and sad at some parts. She decided that, since she was pregnant, it wasn’t a good idea to see it. They ended up not seeing "The Lion King" until a year later with my grandparents and a 1-year-old baby in his high chair.
I don’t know how many times I’ve seen "The Lion King" since I have been alive or when exactly my infatuation with the movie began. All I know is that I love "The Lion King" more than any other movie from my childhood. From a young age, I recognized how sophisticated the story was for an animated movie. I believe the plot and the characters are the factors that greatly influenced my interest in the movie. Another reason why I loved "The Lion King" was the music. Yes, I did love the songs that the characters sang during the movie, but that isn’t necessarily what I am referring to. To this day, I still get goosebumps when I listen to the original score of "The Lion King." I think it’s so powerful and goes along great with all the important scenes of the movie. I also, apparently, was an actor when I was a toddler. I would reenact the first and final scene of the movie. In the beginning of the movie, Rafiki lifts up Simba and shows the future king to the animal kingdom. I would take my little Simba beanie bag, walk up the stairs the same time as Rafiki, and lift my beanie bag the same time as Rafiki. At the very end of the movie when Simba walks up Pride Rock in the rain; I would reenact that scene as well and give my best lion roar rendition.
Many movies influenced my early childhood, and I have many memories from them. However, "The Lion King" is by far and away my favorite movie from my childhood. The combination of music, story, and characters really meshed together to form one of the greatest animated movies ever made. Unfortunately, my little brothers do not love "The Lion King" as much as I do, but I can only hope that a movie captures their imagination like "The Lion King" captured mine.
