Conference koolit::disney

    I saw the trailer last night (first time seeing Aladdin, poor deprived
    me)... It looks SPECTACULAR!!!!!  Elton John does 6 songs for it, I
    think that's how many they said!  The animation is typical Disney, very
    real!  One scene they showed is zebra's running, and I had to look
    twice to be sure it wasn't real action, instead of animation.

    Can't wait!
    
    M-L

Does anyone know which actors will be doing the voices for this film?  When
I was in the animation building in August, the tour guide mentioned the
actors for both The Lion King and Pocohontas, but I don't remember them all,
and I don't remember who was in which film.  Some of the names I remember
are James Earl Jones, Whoopi Goldberg (both of whom I think were for 
Pocohontas) and John Goodman (who I think was for The Lion King).  Any help
out there?

                                                     Tracy

    Tracy,
    
    I think I heard somewhere that Lea Salonga (sp) would be doing the 
    singing (and acting?) voice for Pocahontas. The name of the actor doing
    the lead male voice escapes me right now. I know it's not Brad Kane and
    I also recall that this actor will be doing the singing which surprised
    me in the same way as I was surprised regarding the voice of the Beast
    in BatB. It's not Robbie Bensen.
    
    Mike

    Hmmmm...
    
    Well, I've heard James Earl Jones and Whoopi Goldberg associated with
    "The Lion King" (because they were creating a hyena character
    specifically for Whoopi).  I also heard Robert Guillame (sp?) and
    Jeremy Irons in regards to TLK.
    
    And that a love song with Lea Salonga and Matthew Broderick (which
    would leave you to believe that they're playing the leads) was cut
    from one of the films, and I thought that too was TLK.
    
    But none of this is confirmed... ony "I heard from someone who heard
    from someone..."
    
    - Skip

    Well, here's some further detail from Carol and Rich Koster and it
    looks like I was pretty close on what I had heard before.  But I still
    don't like having to wait 'til June...
    
    - Skip
    
Article 22596 of rec.arts.disney:
Path: ryn.mro4.dec.com!nntpd.lkg.dec.com!crl.dec.com!pa.dec.com!decwrl!ames!tulane!agwbbs!Rich_Koster
From: [email protected] (Rich Koster)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney
Subject: Pt.13-"The Lion King"
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Date: 3 Oct 93 09:39:58 CST
Organization: The Amiga GateWay BBS * New Orleans, La.
Lines: 99

(This is from Carol:)

Cross-posted to Fidonet's Disney Echo and Usenet's rec.arts.disney
newsgroup:

More from the 2nd Official Disneyana Convention held at the
Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim CA September 14-19, 1993.

Announcements made about "The Lion King" during the Saturday,
September 18, 1993 Animation Seminar, by someone representing
Disney Animation (his name is not in our notes, I regret to say,
and at this point Rich's tape recorder was running out of tape and
battery power...arrrrrrrgh!)

"The Lion King" will come out June 1994.  They wanted to create an
allegorical story of a lion cub coming of age with a dash of Moses
and the Bible story of Joseph, exile, some of the story of
Shakespeare's "Hamlet":  The lion cub growing up to "accept
responsibility" is considered to be a very important theme in the
"Hamlet" "to be (act) or not to be (act)" vein.  This animated film
will have no human characters in it, it's all animals.

Emphasis is on these four elements:  Music.  Story.  Characters.
Theme.

Sorry for spellings (phonetic) and some of the blanks:

Producer:  Don Hahn
Music:  Elton John and Tim Rice
Simba the lion cub:  Johnathan ?, currently one of the child actors on
    the TV show "Home Improvement"
Simba the adult lion:  Matthew Broderick
Mufasah, Simba's father:  James Earl Jones
Hornbill:  Rowan Atkinson (starred in "Black Adder")
Rafiki, a baboon filled with folk wisdom:  Robert Guillaume
Nala:  Myra Kelly
Simba's mother:  Madge Sinclair
Hyenas, sidekicks to the villain:  Whoopi Goldberg and Cheech Marin
Simba's uncle, Scar the Lion, the villain:  Jeremy Irons ("...a
   'Klaus von Bulow' lion...")
Animal consultant:  Jim Fowler, who many of us might remember from
   the old TV show "Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom" and who has
   appeared as a guest on many talk shows bringing exotic animals
   in tow.  Real lions were brought to Disney Animation Studios for
   the artists to observe and draw.

Fifty percent of the animation was completed and fifteen minutes of
the film was completed in color as of the date of this presentation
(see above).  Previews will start in December 1993.  The film "is
in a constant state of flux" creatively.

The trailer was shown to us, so we were among the first to see it.
Little did we know this trailer would appear on the "Aladdin" home
video cassette just a few days later!  (Last year, we were treated
to extensive sneak previews and background drawings of "Aladdin"
approximately two months prior to its premiere.  I guess since "The
Lion King" is so incomplete at this point the Disney Studios didn't
want to reveal much more than the trailer.)

The song on the trailer is called "Circle of Light".

Those of you who recall my post earlier this summer of the D-MGM
Animation Studio Tour will remember my descriptions of some of the
backgrounds to be used in "The Lion King".  Some of these same
backgrounds appear in "The Lion King" trailer:  That magnificent
sunset, rich in oranges and reds.  The aerial view of the river
delta:  In the trailer you see (computer rendered?) birds flying
over it.  The view of (I'm guessing) Mt. Kilimanjaro in the mist.
These scenic views are very outstanding.  The drawings of the
animal characters as they appear in the lobby waiting area of the
tour look OK to me, but the way they appear on the trailer is
outstanding!  But nothing can match those backgrounds, in my mind
at least.... That sunset, the rendered printout of it as seen at
D-MGM's Animation Studio Tour, impressed me very deeply.

At the time of our visit at the D-MGM Animation Studio Tour a
storyboard of one of the songs ("I Can't Wait to Be King", sung by
the lion cub, and others) was on public display for visitors to see
and understand how work progresses from the storyboard stage to the
drawing and animation they are witnessing the people doing through
the windows.

The trailer received a very warm reception among ConventionEARS.

--Carol Koster

 * "If this is where the monarch is headed, count me out!
 * "Out of service... Out of Africa..." -Disney's "The Lion King"

 * "I'm going to be a mighty king, so enemies beware.
 * "I've never been a king of beasts with quite so little hair.
 * "I'm gonna be the mane event, like no king was before!
 * "I'm brushing up on looking down.  I'm working on my ROAR!!
 * "Thus far a rather uninspiring thing.  Oh, I just can't wait to be king!"
 * -Disney's "The Lion King"

 * Q-Blue v0.7 *

-- Via DlgQWK v0.71a

    
    Doesn't it seem coincidental that both James Earl Jones and Madge
    Sinclair were the King and Queen of Zamunda in Eddie Murphy's
    Coming To America....
    
    George

    If you go into a Disney Store these days stroll down to the back of the
    store and watch the screen that is surrounded by all the stuffed Disney
    characters. You may see an extended promo for "The Lion King."
    
    Also, expect to see the film's soundtrack to be released in late Spring
    before the film hits the theaters.
    
    Finally, if you go to TMK sometime in late Spring you may find an
    attraction that is being revised to tie-in with "The Lion King." I
    think anyone who happens to be in Orlando in May will see this little
    change.
    
    I won't reveal the attraction here...I think it'd be a nice surprise.
    If you've frequented WDW over the last 10 years you'll notice the
    change.
    
    Mike 

    I guess The Lion King will debut at Radio City Music Hall June 15-23
    before it's released to theaters across the country.
    
    All MKC Gold Card members are being offerred first crack at this World
    Premiere plus a live Disney stage show called "Disney's Magical
    Moments."
    
    Ticket prices run from $21 to $30.
    
    Mike

    This looks to be a great movie! I love the song that they show with the
    promo! Again, another Disney Classic.
    
    Article From "The Disney Magazine"
    Entitled "The Lion King-Disney's 32 Animated Feature Gets Ready to
    Roar"
    Taken Without Permission.
    
    "Its the Circle of Life. And it moves us All. Through dispair and hope.
    Through Faith and Love. Till we find our place. On a path unwinding. In
    the Circle-The circle of Life."
    						--Tim Rice and Elton John
    A native voice calls out in the darkness. A brilliant sun peaks over
    the horizon. Night cirlces into day as Africa awakens.
    	A flock of Marabou storks take wing as elephants parade through the
    morning mist. Gazells leap across grassy plains and a zebra splashes
    though a tranquil stream.
    	The animals assemble at the foot of a towering rock, where high on
    the chimeny they see him. As they bow theiorn cub for all to see. The
    circle of life both ends and begins as a shaft of sunlight breaks
    through the clouds to reaveal...the Lion King.
    
    Simba's Story
    Simba is close to his beloved father, Mufasa, the highly respected lion
    king who teaches his son about love, responsibility, and his role in
    the "circle of life".
    One day, Simba's jealous uncle,Scar, sends Mufasa tumbling down a rocky
    hillside into the path of stampeding herd of wildebeests. Claiming his
    place as the new king,Scar convinces the young cub that Mufasa's death
    was Simba's doing, and that he can never show his face in the pride
    again.
    Senzi,Banzai, and Ed, Scar's hench-hyenas, chase the bewilderd Simba
    far from his home at pride rock and return to spread the word theat 
    flees into the sun-drenched African desert where he meets up with
    Pumbaa, as slow witted warthog, and Timon, a hyperactive merkat. The
    comedic duo take Simba to their home in the jungle and teach him the
    joys of a carefree lifestyle.
    Simba grows up and learns to put his past behind him-until the day that
    Nala appears. As she and Simba laugh aboutchildhood friendship, they
    discover new found feelings. Nala tlls Simba he must rid the land of
    Scar's evil ways. But despite his love for Nala, Simba is confused and
    afraid.
    Then one day the sage old Baboon, Rafiki, appeard and leads Simba to a
    clear pool.Gazing into the water, Simba sees his fathers refelction in
    his own. Mufasa speaks to his son and tells Simba he must remember who
    he is........The LION KING!!
    His fathers words awaken Simba's courage. Thunder roars across the
    African plains and through Simba's heart as the would-be kingmakes his
    Scar with a ferocious battle-To the death....
    THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY
    The concept for the Lion king originated in 1990 when disney Feature
    animation wizards decided they need a new challenge, beyond the
    tried-and-true-prince-and-pincess love story.
    Animators wanted to tell a coming of age tale, where the main charcter
    would jouney through the rites of passageto discover himself on the
    path to adulthood. They liked the idea of setting the film in
    Africa-one of the last remaing primal places on earth, and one they
    felt would be an emotional stage on which to play out their story.
    Selecting a lion to star was a natural choice.
    	"As Human Beings, we feel a link to lions,"says Don Hahn, the films
    producer. "Beacuse the regal "King of Beasts" quality, they seemed like
    the logical royal family for our story."
    Directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkhoff and written by Irene Mecchi
    and Jonathon Roberts,"The Lion King" is the first Disney animated film
    to feature no hun, an 18year veteran of Disney animation,who also
    produced the acadamy award winning "Beauty and the Beast",points out
    that the film is reallyand allegorical story about the realtionship
    between a father and his son.
    	"And its about that day when the mantle of responsibility is passed
    to us from our parents-That day when you have to grow up," Hahn says.
    "Its very touching in that way because we can all relate to that."
    	Just as Beauty and the Beast was a love story, and Aladdin was a
    comedy-adventure, "The Lion King" is an emotional dramatic peice-but it
    is also drop dead funny!"
    "THERE'S A LION IN MY OFFICE!"
    	To reasearch the breathtaking beauty of the films seting, art
    directors traveled to Kenya to soak up some of the local color.	
    	"Africa istruly the unspoken star of the show," says the films art
    dirctor, Andy Gaskill. "After seeing the movie, I think people will
    actually feel like they've just been there."
    	In the early days of production, animators were often visited by
    "Wild Kingdoms" Jim Frowler, who treated the artists to a clooection of
    Lions, warthogs, and mals anatomy and behaver taught the animators how
    to better bring theese charctors to life on the screen with their pens
    and paintbrushes.
    	"We practicy lived at the Los Angelas Zoo for Several months," adds
    co-director Minkhoff.
    KING OF THE BEASTS
    In a departure of Disney musicals, the songwriting duties were this
    time handed over to the unlikely paring of "Aladdin" and Broadway
    lyrisist Tim Rice, and the Definative songsmith of the late 20 century,
    Elton John.
    	"Elton is a great fan of Animation and was a great fan of the
    story," Says Hahn. "He rarely works with other lyracists, but he and
    Tim became a songwriting team and wrote five amazing tunes for the
    film.
    	Composer Hans Zimmer, known for his work on a number of major
    motion pictures, including "Rain Man" And "Driving Miss Daisy" arranged
    the songs and wrote the films orriginal score.
    ANIMAL TALK	
      "	The vocal cast of "The Lion King" is truely phenomonal," Boasts
    co-diector AllersWe've had the good fortune of attracting a reallyu
    extraordinary caliber of actor to this project."
    The distiguished cast includes Matther Broderickas the grown-up Simba,
    James Earl Jones as his father, Mufasa, Jeremy Irons as the evil scar,
    Robet Guillome as Rafiki, the wise baboon, and comedians Whoopi
    Goldberg and Cheech Marin as Shenzi and Banzai, two of scars sinister
    hyena's.
    	"You would probably never see Jeremy Irons and James Earl Jones
    Cast as Brothers in a live action film," Hahn points out, "But beacuse
    this is an animation, you can get that great eclectic mix and its
    really effective."
    THE COMPUTER AS A TOOL
    Just as the computer created the realistic ballroom in B+B, and gave
    the cave of wonders its power in Aladdin, the continuing development of
    computer animationtechniques played a key role in the production of
    "The Lion King"
    	"Like pens and paper," Allers notes, "The somputer is just another
    tool for the animator to utiize."
    The crucial stampede secane in "The Lion King", for exampleuter
    generated wildebeast and electronically "rubber stamped" it to create a
    image of thousands of stampedeing animals 
    	"For the first time ever, the feeling of thousands and thousands to
    characters  comes across the screen in a single animation sequence,"
    Minkoff says.
    	"As filmakers and artists, were always pusing ourselves in
    completly new directions," Hahn concludes. "The Lion King' attracted
    our interests beacuse it was an oppertunity to do a completely
    non-human, allegorical story about a fther and son, in a terrific, new,
    setting.
    	"I think 'The Lion King' takes you tsomeplace you've never been
    before."
    
    
    WHEW! I hope all you mice appreciate that! That was one long article! 
    

    The main title opening sequence features in the preview show at
    Disney/MGM animation tour. The backgrounds are superb and the animal
    anmimation excellent. 
    
    Richard

	I was in Walmart Last night... There is a new Kodak offer:

	"Let Kodak be your Guide to Disney's 'The Lion King' "

	Get a pre-paid movie ticket with proofs of purchase from
	Kodak film.

	Details on back, offer expires 10/31/94

     On back:

	Complete the certificate and mail in with the proper proofs of purchase
	from Kodak film. You'll receive a pre-paid movie ticket voucher
	good for admission to see Disney's the Lion King.

	You need to send in 6 POP's from Kodak Gold or Royal Gold
	(pop's from 3-packs count as three, etc).
	You can request upto 4 tickets, allow 6-8 weeks for delivery,
	Excess requests will not be accepted or acknowledged to same
	address,household, group, or organization.
	Film purchashe between 5/1/94 and 8/31/94, requests received
	by 10/31/94. Copies of certificates or pop's not accepted.


      Notes:

	It does not specify which movie theatres this is valid for.
	It does not specify if you will get separate vouchers for
	requesting more than 1 ticket (voucher). So I hope they send
	four separate, that way we can go twice or give two away,
	it is possible for them to send one voucher, requiring it
	to be redeemable all at once....     


	Also, I don;t remember when "The Lion King" is scheduled to
	hit the theaters, so if someone know, please post the expected time.
	It can take upto 2 months to get the tickets, so either Disney
	and Kodak expect it to remain in the theaters till late December
	(must receive by 10/31, 6-8 weeks for them to arrive makes end of year),
	or, if you order late, you could end up getting them after the movie
	is no longer int he theaters...


  :^) I thought about mailing mine in before posting it, so I'd beat the
	rush from the Disney notes file... But it does say purchased after
	5/1/94, so postmarking it 4/28... oh well...

   - Annie

    TLK is coming in June. 
    
    This is a great offer for anyone planning a trip and needing to buy
    film ;^).
    
    Mike

>>    This is a great offer for anyone planning a trip and needing to buy
>>    film ;^).
    
    Or for someone going to somewhere (Like Disneyland or WDW) where people
    frequently buy Kodak film and throw away the boxes.
    
    tom
    (Who got a free Disneyland-35-year watch from Kodak packages people in
    Hawaii threw away)

The premier of "The Lion King" will be at Radio City Music Hall in New York,
according to huge posters outside Radio City, which I saw when I was in NYC
last week. I can't remember the exact date(s), but it was in June (as Mike
said in .1).
						-- Nina

    The Lion King CD will be in The Disney Stores on Memorial Day Weekend.
    
    Also, the buzz going around is that Disney will have a trailer on TLK
    for the next animated feature coming from the Disney animators. Noone
    has said what it will be but my guess is that it's "Pocahontas."
    
    Mike

        Disney's `The Lion King' Sountrack Ships Double Platinum

        More Than 650,000 Read-Alongs Hit Retail Simultaneously

 BURBANK, Calif., May 23 /PRNewswire/ -- In the largest initial shipment
to retail in the company's history, Walt Disney Records roars into stores
on May 31 with more than 2 million soundtracks from "The Lion King," Walt
Disney Studios' 32nd animated feature, it was jointly announced today by
Mark Jaffe, vice president of Walt Disney Records, and Barry Hafft, the
label's national sales director.  Simultaneously reaching retail are
650,000 units of "The Lion King Read-Along," more than 250,000 copies of
"The Lion King Sing-Along" and nearly 100,000 of "The Lion King
Play-Along."
  The company credits this unprecedented retail event to the marriage of
another blockbuster Disney animated film property with the label's unique
distribution system and distinct sales capabilities.  Walt Disney Records
will bring "The Lion King" product line featuring soundtrack, read-along,
sing-along and play-along to traditional record retail outlets (Musicland,
Camelot, Wherehouse Entertainment), department stores (Sears, Montgomery
Ward), toy stores (Toys R Us, Kaybee Toys), mass merchants (Target,
Wal-Mart, Kmart), specialty stores (The Disney Stores and Disney theme
park outlets), as well as grocery, drug and book chains.
  The film, which premiers on June 14 in New York, June 15 in Los Angeles
and rolls out nationally on June 22, stars Jeremy Irons, James Earl Jones,
Whoopi Goldberg, Matthew Broderick and many other talented artists.  "The
Lion King" soundtrack was written by rock legend Elton John, Academy and
Grammy Award-winner Tim Rice with underscore provided by noted composer
Hans Zimmer.  In addition to the film's five songs and end-credit reprise
of "Can You Feel the Love Tonight,"  "The Lion King" soundtrack
exclusively features solo versions of the "Circle of Life" and "I Just
Can't Wait to be King" performed by Elton John.
  According to Hafft, "The total number of units shipped to retail is
phenomenal and has set a new record for the label.  The release of "The
Lion King" has been met with an unbelievable amount of excitement from the
retail community."
  "`The Lion King' has elevated Walt Disney Records to a new plateau in the
record industry," notes Jaffe.  "Hot on the heels of the success of the
Elton John/Hollywood Records single `Can You Feel the Love Tonight,' our
May 31 street date kicks off an unparalleled presence at retail that we
feel certain will continue throughout 1994," Jaffe continues.
  Walt Disney Records, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Co., is the
worldwide distributor of the Walt Disney Records family of labels which
includes Disney's Music Box Artist Series, Disney's Spotlight Artist
Series, Walt Disney Records' Storyteller Series and Walt Disney Records
CDs and audio cassettes.
  

    While at Sam's these weekend I found/bought TLK "noise" book.  My 3
    year old loves the book.  I have yet to read it to her...don't want to
    spoil the movie.  Glancing through the book....the pictures were a
    little dark.
    
    Kathi 

    I heard from a Disneyholic who was invited to a screening of TLK. Here
    are some comments:
    
     "The animated images in this film will make your mouth drop..."
    
     "The film has two very intense scenes involving Scar and the hyenas."
    
     "Scar makes Ursula look like Tinkerbell."
    
     "The comic characters of Pumbaa the warthog and Timon the meerkat are
      hilarious."
    
     "The relationship between Simba and his father provides some wonderful
      and heart-wrenching moments."
    
     "Many people had the idea that "The Lion King" was going to be a cross
      between "Bambi" and "The Jungle Book." This film is many things...but
      it ain't "Bambi"."

    Well the CD for TLK has been out for a few weeks. Has anyone heard it?
    Want to comment on it?
    
    I've been listening to it and found the music to be quite different
    than we have been exposed to with B&TB and Aladdin.
    
    First of "Circle of Life" has it's moments...I guess it depends on 
    who's singing it at the time.
    
    "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" is pretty cute.
    
    "Be prepared" is a typical villain song.
    
    "Hakuna Matata" is another cute song but again not memorable.
    
    "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" is the soundtrack's strongest song and
    both versions are enjoyable.
    
    The instrumentals on the CD give you an indication of the intensity of
    the film regarding crucial parts in the story...they are topnotch.
    
    I like "Under the Stars" because it sounds like a song from a classic 
    Disney animated feature.
    
    It will be a long time before the B&TB soundtrack is matched...TLK may
    not even be as strong as the Aladdin soundtrack.
    
    ---------------------------
    
    Remember that Tim Rice was part of the tandem that wrote "Jesus Christ
    Superstar" (Andrew LLoyd Webber) and I'll bet you'll recognize his
    influence in one of the tracks on the CD....no I'm not telling you
    which one.
    
    Mike
    

    it's definitely "just" as soundtrack. Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin,
    and the Little Mermaid are musical scores. To be honest, I was a 
    little disappointed with the soundtrack to the Lion King, but with
    a second listen, I liked it more.
    
    todd///

    I absolutely LOVE the Lion King music! I found the lyrics
    singable(word?) and the beat/music very contagious. (My 16 month old
    granddaughter bounces(dances) every time she hears it.) 
    
    Every time I listen to it, I count the days until it opens in the
    theaters.
    
    Can't wait to see the movie, 
    
    Marcie
    P.S. Only song I'm not crazy about is the Elton John version of
    "I can't wait to be king."

I caught the "Making of the Lion King" special on the Disney Channel
(1/2 hour, hosted by Robert Guillaume).  From the clips, it looks pretty
awesome....!

Jeremy Irons really seemed to get into his character (the evil Scar), too. :-)

					-- Nina

    Lion King Tickets.....
    
    Mailed my request off on 5/16, received tickets on 6/13!
    Took less than a month, the offer had said 6-8 weeks.
    
    Received individual tickets. They are red and yellow, and say
      "Disney's The Lion King ADMIT ONE" valid between 6/24 and 9/5
      
    On the back, says
        "redeem this coupon for one general admission to Disney's
            The Lion King
            
         Restrictions:
         
          Include, no reproducing, valid at theaters showing TLK
          between 6/24/94 and 9/5/94, only in US, not replaceable
          if lost.... etc
          
     If the show is not playing in your area there is a 1-800 #
     
     Under section for theater personnel it says this is subject to
     the resemption provisions if the license agreement between the
     theater and Buena Vista Pictures....."
     
     We'll be going to see it soon after it comes out! I'll let
     you know if there were any problems with the tickets...
     
  Also there were two offers in the envelope with the tickets.
  
  "Keep your eyes open for the upcoming The Lion King watch promotion
   in stores this fall"
   
  And the second:
  
  "See The Lion King Come Alive.
  
   Visit the "Legend of the Lion King" Attraction at the Walt Disney World
   Magic Kingdom.
   
   After you've seen The Lion King, the movie sensation of the summer, you;ll
   be hunting for ways to relive the experience. Of course you'll see the movie
   again and again. But for the Ultimate Lion King event, you have to come to
   beautiful Orlando, Florida and see the Legend of the Lion King
   Attraction at the Walk Disney Resort.
   
   Take a vacation thats fit for a king.
   
   For a limited time Disney is offering fans of the movie a Fall Fantasy
   vacation offer. It includes these deluxe features:
   
   * Three night accomodations at select Disney Resorts
   * Daily breakfast at a Disney Resort (per person)
   * Fall Fantasy coupon book with foo, beverage, recreation, and
      merchandise discount offers(upto a $500 value)
   * Transportation inside the Walt Disney World Resort(monorails,ferry
      boats, buses)
      
   Prices start at $149 per person based on adult double occupancy. The
   offer is good from 8/28/94 - 11/20/94. For further information or
   to book your Fall Fantasy vacation, call 1-407-030-7798. And get ready to
   see the Lion King come to life.
   
   (Offer is subject to availability and coannot be combined with any other
      discount. Prices listed include sales tax.)
     
     
  I have not called to get any furthur details on this package
  
  
    - Annie
    

                   

    My nephew doesn't get out of school until Friday, June 24.  They get
    out at noon.  As a class (fifth grade), they decided that they should
    end the school year by going to see The Lion King together!  Each child
    pays his/her own way, and many parents/chaperones are going, too.  The
    teacher (who is only 25!) is going, too, and they are so excited!!  I
    wish *I* was going with them!
    
    
    Susan

>     <<< Note 371.24 by HUMOR::EPPES "I'm not making this up, you know" >>>
>
>I caught the "Making of the Lion King" special on the Disney Channel
>(1/2 hour, hosted by Robert Guillaume).  From the clips, it looks pretty
>awesome....!
>
>Jeremy Irons really seemed to get into his character (the evil Scar), too. :-)
>
>					-- Nina

I saw this too! I was especially impressed by how they animated several hundred
wildebeasts running down a valley. I remember reading somewhere how the people
putting together Babylon 5 were bragging about having a scene with hundreds of
ships compared to Star Trek The Next Generations max of about 5. It doesn't
compare to hundreds of animals running down a valley and not crashing in to
each other or going through each other. DISNEY ANIMATION RULES!

geoff

    My fiances' sister went to a sneak prview last night. She said
    it's the best that Disney has put out thus far. No, I'm not too
    excited about going to see it now!!
    
    dan

I just read in today's Boston Globe that the Lion King is very violent.  The
Globe hired a panel of four to view the movie:

	Carolyn Newberger, an assistent professor of psychology at Harvard 
		Medical School and director of the Victim Recovery Study
		at Children's Hospital
	Dr. Alvin F. Poussaint, director of the Media Center for Children at
		Judge Baker Children's Center and professor of phychiatry at
		Harvard Medical School
	Diana Huss Green of Parents' Choice, a Newton group that reviews
		children's media
	Joyce Costello, a Cambridge school phychologist

Here's what they said (the stuff between the asterisks was copied without 
permission from the Boston Globe article "'Lion King': Too fierce for kids?" 
by Linda Matchan, 6/23/94)
			*      *      *      *
Newberger, who said she was "very troubled" by the movie, said that parents 
should not take children under 9 to see it, while Poussaint felt it was
inappropriate for children younger than 7.  Green and Costello did not 
recommend age guidelines for children.

"The problem for me is that...although the movie is a triumph of good over
evil... what is accomplished is done through violence," Poussaint said. "The
characters use violence to accomplish their aims, and that bothers me.  The
word 'murderer' is actually used. I don't know how this got a G rating.  This
is a very violent movie to me.  There is a lot of gratuitous violence put in 
for the entertainment factor."
			*      *      *      *
Apparently the scene where Simba's father is killed is "vivid" and the scene 
where Simba stumbles upon his body is "wretching" and may be "too traumatic for
children to handle", according to the Globe reporter.

I was planning on taking my sons (age 6 and 3) to see this sometime soon, but
now I am having second thoughts about taking my 3 year old.  If anyone has
seen it yet with young children, can you please comment on the violence, and
tell me how your children reacted to it? 

I will certainly prepare them in advance, as the Globe's panel suggested, for
the death scene.

Thanks.

� �ori �

    RE -.1
    
    
    	Joyce Kulhawik ( however the heck you spell her name :-) ) said
    pretty much the same thing last night on the news - not a movie for
    very young kids - she didn't give any age guidelines.  She did give it
    a fantastic review, however.
    
    	Considering the good chance that you might want to see it on the
    big screen more than once, maybe take the older child and then decide
    if you'd want to take your three year-old to see it?
    
    	Personally, I'm waiting until it double-bills at the drive-ins with
    The Flintstones :-)
    
    					- Jimbo

    I, too, would suggest waiting it out until you have seen it at least. 
    I had to go this route last summer with Jurassic Park.  My friend and I
    went to preview it, then sent our husbands, then we decided not to take
    our boys (ages 6 and 8 at the time).  My boys did see it this past
    winter in NH (after the hype was calmed and it was just antoher movie)
    and again at the drive-in this past spring.  They were just 6 months
    older, but I am glad I waited.  My friend and I were screaming at the
    original viewing, so we thought it might be too much for the kids
    considering hype is part of the excitement.
    
    I will tell my kids previous to the movie that there might be places
    that are difficult and sad, but they are sometimes how life in the wild
    jungle are.
    
    -sandy
    

    it's nice to know there are still parents around who take the
    time to make sure movies/tv etc are appropriate for their children.
    
    I think a lot of parents will take their young children to this
    film and find that it is rather violent for the children. Only
    then they'll complain later that it was rather intense for 
    the young ones.
    
    
    todd///

Bambi was even singled out for violence.  and Dumbo, and snow white,  and.....

and look at the cruity to animals in Cinderella!  think what the labor unions
would say!

sells papers, I suppose.

For my kids, I'd have to ask, what is the current exposure.  are they totally 
shut off from TV,  better turn off Discovery Channel and those animal films!

the 'critics' have to live up to their names.  look at what is said
about BTB on Broadway.

>             <<< Note 371.32 by VANRYN::STAATS "parts is parts" >>>
>
>    it's nice to know there are still parents around who take the
>    time to make sure movies/tv etc are appropriate for their children.
>    
>    I think a lot of parents will take their young children to this
>    film and find that it is rather violent for the children. Only
>    then they'll complain later that it was rather intense for 
>    the young ones.
>    
>    
>    todd///

I agree. A friend's aunt is a manager at one of the SHowcase cinemas and she
told us about kids running out of the theater screaming during Jurassic Park.
Also a little girl laying on the floor in a fetal position sucking her thumb.
Parents still took their kids to see it event though there were signs saying:
THIS MOVIE IS NOT FOR KIDS!!!!

geoff

    Well I passed by a theater complex that had TLK showing on two screens.
    The place had lines of kids ranging from I'd say four to fourteen as
    well as some adults. Looks like it will be a moneymaker. I wonder how
    long it will take before the film breaks even...I figure by tonight's
    9 P.M. showing ;*)
    
    Mike

    I thought the movie was fantastic! Disney just keeps on rolling
    with what, $42 million this weekend I think I heard? I'll be going
    again this week also! Don't miss it! There were a lot of kids at the
    movie and from what I could see/hear it was very positive. We're taking
    the kids this week. They're almost 5 and I don't think they'd have a
    problem at all. 
    
    Dan 

    My kids (9 year old twin daughters, 6 year old son) loved it (as did my
    wife and I!).  The only problem was that one of my daughters got very
    upset during the scene when Mufasa is killed, only because SHE READ THE
    BOSTON GLOBE ARTICLE telling her, in as many words, that she WOULD get
    upset, and it became a self fulfilling prophecy.  Had she NOT read
    someone else's EXPERT opinion, she probably would have been fine, like
    her twin sister who had not read the article...
    
    I thought that the musical score was much weaker than other Disney
    animation efforts in recent years, but that the story,
    characterizations, and animation were excellent.
    
    Cheers,
    Ken
    

    I took my 6 year old and he was fine. We talked before about the scene
    in which Mustafa was killed. He understood and was sad, but handled it
    well.
    
    I agree with the previous noter that the music wasn't as strong as the
    past few Disney hits. It was enjoyable though.
    
    The dialog was very good, and there were some extremely funny lines
    that really are targeted at an adult audience.
    
    The overall feeling I got from people around me in the theater was it was 
    very good, and they were looking forward to seeing it again.
     
    I'm be back again this week!
    
    Mark 

Well, I might be the dissenting opinion here.  I did like the movie very
much, and would recommend that everyone see it, but I didn't *love* it
like I wanted to.  It's hard to pinpoint exactly, but somehow I just didn't
care as much about these characters as I did the characters in "The Little
Mermaid", "Beauty and the Beast" and "Aladdin".

More behind the form-feed :


On the plus side, I loved Pumbah and Timon -- they were hilarious.  Their
rendition of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" cracked me up and they had some
great lines throughout.  I also love the idea of "Hankuna Matata" and
wish I could keep that philosphy a little more.

I also really liked Mufusa.  He was a great character and a great dad.
Strict but loving and gentle.  And little Simba was adorable.  I thought
that Nala beating him in their wrestling matches was a nice touch to put
his little ego in check.

But...

I was disappointed in the "I Just Can't Wait to be King" number.  First,
I thought they would have made more of the relationship between Simba and
(shoot -- what's his name?) the Dodo bird teacher.  I think they should have
had scenes with him teaching Simba some of the lessons that a future king
would need.  It would have been nice to hear him utter at least some of the
phrases that Simba complains about in the song -- "do this, be there, stop
that, see here!".

As for the number itself, I though it was way overdone.  I think it would
have worked much better with just the cocky little lion cub throwing his
weight around and "acting big", and having the bird react to him with a
mixture of exasperation and affection.  Instead, with all the flashing images
and dancing animals of the big production number, the song really got lost.

I also thought there were some shifts in action that just happened too 
quickly.  The biggest was when Simba and Nala found each other again.  First
they are immediately falling in love despite their long separation, next Nala 
is mad because Simba won't go back to Pride Rock, then he decides to go back 
and doesn't even think of telling her and taking her with him.  All this 
happened so quickly that it seemed really disjointed to me.

One other thing...  Rafiki's silly and hard-handed antics when he was trying 
to get Simba to understand that he should go back seemed really out of 
character for him.  What happened to the distinguished-spiritual-leader-type 
guy he'd been earlier?

Anyway, despite all this I really did like the movie and will definitely be
seeing it again with my nephews.  I went without them to check it out for
the 4 year old first.  Despite all the warnings, I didn't find it as scary
as I thought it might be.  Sad, yes, but not that scary.  I think he'll do
okay with it with a little fore-warning.

						Tracy

    Check out the Editorial on TLK in today's Boston Globe Op-Ed page.
    
    Someone should inform the author that after all....it's only a 
    cartoon.
    
    Mike

    My sister, who is highly over-protective, took her almost-4-year-old
    son to see TLK on Saturday.  She warned him that parts might be scary 
    and parts might be sad.  It was his first time in a movie theater, and
    he absolutely loved it!  My sister said that The Little Mermaid was
    scarier for him.  
    
    
    Susan

    Anybody know where I can get sheet music for the Lion King songs (especially
    I Just Can't Wait to be King and Hakuna Matata)?  Or do you know how long
    it typically takes for the music from new movies to get into a Disney
    songbook available in music stores?  My son the virtuoso violinist :)
    has fallen in love with this movie, and it's much easier to get him to
    practice if he has music he's fond of to play.

    Thanks,
	cheryl

There were song sheets in the Disney Store in Orlando airport last Saturday 
when I was there.

Check your local store or phone Disney.

    If any of you have not seen TLK you have until September 23rd or
    thereabouts before it is pulled from the theaters.
    
    It will be reinstated in the theaters around Thanksgiving.
    
    Rumors are that the film is being pulled so that they can add a
    Pocahontas trailer.
    
    I don't know if such a trailer will be on the Snow White video.
    
    By the way, so far noone (.i.e. the animators) has divulged any secrets
    regarding some hidden symbols in TLK (like the signpost in B&TB and the
    beast figure in Aladdin).
    
    I personally think that if they've hidden anything in the film it's 
    probably right around the introduction of Puumba and Timon and possibly
    during the "Hakuna Matata" number.
    
    We'll see.
    
    Mike

    What do you mean by hidden?  Can you give me specific examples from
    B&TB?  This sounds interesting!

    Check the signpost that Maurice comes across on his way to the fair.
    
    

    I've seen the sign post a hundred of times...it looks like "funny"
    writing pointing in a lot of different directions.  Am I missing
    something??
    
    kathi

    Kathi,
    
    Check out note 286.102.
    
    Mike

      TOKYO, Aug. 18 --
    Cartoonist Machiko Satonaka will send an open letter to Walt Disney Co. on
    Saturday alleging its animated film "Lion King" infringes on copyright 
    because of similarities to a film by the late Japanese animation master
    Osamu Tezuka.  
      Tezuka created "the Jungle Emperor" in the 1950s, inspiring the
    Japanese television series "Kimba, the White Lion," which aired in the 
    United States in 1966.
      In both stories, the father lion is killed, the son is sent into
    exile, struggles with responsibilities as heir and returns to overthrow the
    evil lion that has usurped the throne.
      The good lions are aided by a wise old baboon and a talkative bird
    and the evil lions have hyenas as their henchmen in both tales.
      In her letter, Satonaka says Tezuka's works are "a national legacy."
      "Therefore the respect and admiration we Japanese felt for Disney Co.
    is severely damaged," Satonaka says.  "It is not possible to explain the
    damage inflicted upon our love of this aspect of Japanese culture."
      Satonaka said the "conciliatory stance" taken by Tezuka Productions
    "is a typical Japanese response -- avoid an embarrassing confrontation at
    any cost."
      Satonaka's letter urges Disney to insert into the film "at least a
    subtitle to pay homage to Osamu Tezuka or a few lines paying respect to
    the origin of the story."
      At least 42 other cartoonists are among signatories to the letter.

    
      CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 24, 1994--Today Disney Software and Virgin
    Interactive Entertainment gave Summer Consumer Electronics Show attendees
    the industry's first look at "The Lion King" video game, based on The Walt
    Disney Co.'s newly released animated film.
      Scheduled to be in stores for the Christmas holiday buying season, "The
    Lion King" video game combines the emotional excitement of Disney's newest
    full-length, animated feature film with unique, original game play to
    offer a whole new experience.
      "Never before have game players been able to participate so fully in the
    emotional experience of a hit film," said Steve Mc Beth, executive vice
    president of Disney Consumer Products.  "In `The Lion King' game, players
    actually enter the world of the movie, which is brought to life with
    unparalleled animation, nonstop action, and dramatic confrontations."
      This partnership between Disney and Virgin to collaborate on the "The
    Lion King" game is the companies' second effort in two years. Disney and
    Virgin are building on last year's critically acclaimed creative and
    commercial success with "Aladdin," which continues to be one of the
    top-selling video game titles, with sales of more than 2 million units to
    date.
      "Virgin and Disney continue to lead the market in creating compelling
    video games," said Martin Alper, president and CEO of Virgin Interactive
    Entertainment.  "The incredible power of the `The Lion King' film allowed
    Virgin to focus on advancing the state-of-the-art in game play."
    
      "The Lion King" Sets New Standards in Video Games
    
      As in the movie, the video game takes place in the jungles of Africa,
    where Simba the lion cub learns to outgrow his carefree, royal lifestyle
    and accepts the responsibility, danger and challenges to reclaim his
    rightful place in the "circle of life."  A team of 15 Disney animators
    created 2,000 new cels of animation for the game. The story unfolds
    visually, with backdrop silhouettes within the levels so that the
    characters can interact.  All of the film's musical score, including the
    five original songs by Elton John and Academy Award-winning lyricist Tim
    Rice plus two new musical sequences inspired by the original film score,
    have been adapted for the game to capture the moods and emotions of the
    story along with the flavor of the exotic settings.
      "The Lion King" cartridge packs 24 megabytes of fast action, animation,
    and music into a game divided into two sections.  The first encompasses
    the life of young Simba, the cub; the second is about Simba the lion
    prince on his way back to reclaim the Pride Lands.  The scrolling platform
    game progresses through 10 levels, plus two bonus rounds, changing from a
    lighthearted to a more serious action-adventure game.  The player learns
    new techniques at each level.  Ultimately, each level is a training ground
    for Simba's final confrontation with his evil Uncle Scar.  Unique in many
    ways, "The Lion King" video game is the first based entirely on the
    adventures of four-legged creatures.  Simba scrambles up outcroppings in
    the game's lush landscapes.  He runs, jumps, roars, swipes and flips his
    opponents.  As Simba matures through each level of the game, he gains
    power, wisdom and abilities. Simba even ages within the game from cub to
    adult.
      "The game creates such a realistic and engaging environment that players
    really feel they become Simba, heir to the Pride Lands," said Patrick
    Gilmore, producer for "The Lion King" game at Disney. "A whole new  style
    of game play has taken shape with `The Lion King'."
      "The Lion King" game's unique style includes presenting the action from
    unusual points of view.  In one level of play, Simba races to stay out of
    the way of a stampede that -- as in the film -- is viewed from the front,
    with the stampeding characters dashing toward the players. Interaction
    between the characters in the game is dynamic.  The first time Simba
    approaches a gorilla "obstacle"  in the game, the gorilla responds one
    way.  But with each interaction with Simba, the gorilla becomes visibly
    more and more irritated.
      The precisely curved shapes of surfaces, the depth of the visual imagery,
    and the distinct changes in scene and mood with each level of play also
    distinguish "The Lion King" game."We've been part of `The Lion King'
    phenomenon from its inception and we've worked to create a game that lets
     players experience the beauty of `The Lion King' firsthand through stunning
     graphics, animation and intense interaction," said Louis Castle, project
     producer at Virgin's subsidiary,  Westwood Studios.
    
      Availability and Platforms
    
      "The Lion King" game will be available in stores this fall for both the
    Sega Genesis and Nintendo Super NES platforms.  Virgin Interactive
    Entertainment is an associate company of The Virgin Group, a privately
    held, worldwide entertainment organization with businesses ranging from
    travel (Virgin Atlantic Airways) to retail (Virgin Megastore).  Virgin
    Interactive Entertainment is a worldwide publisher and developer of
    entertainment software with offices in Irvine, Calif., London, Paris,
    Hamburg, Tokyo, and Las Vegas.
      Disney Software is an operating unit of Disney Consumer Products, the
    merchandising and specialty retail group of The Walt Disney Co. Formed in
    1988, Disney Software is a developer, publisher and licensor of
    interactive entertainment software.
                                                                          

    
      "Lion King" surpasses studio's previous record holder "Aladdin"
    
    
      BURBANK, Calif.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Aug. 1, 1994--Higher than a flying 
    carpet and more powerful than the Genie of the Lamp, Walt Disney Pictures'
    animated phenomenon, "The Lion King," surpassed the studio's previous
    record holder "Aladdin" over the weekend (July 29-31) to become the
    highest grossing feature in Disney's domestic history, it was announced
    Monday by Richard Cook, president of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution.
      With its unprecedented cumulative gross of $218,645,104, "The Lion King"
    has made box-office history and now reigns supreme as the top-grossing
    "domestic animal" in the studio's 71-year existence, besting the
    $217,350,219 conjured up by "Aladdin" during its record-setting 1992-93
    run.
      Grossing a sensational $9,946,473 (in 2,577 theaters) in its sixth
    weekend of wide release, "The Lion King" continues to be this season's
    "mane" attraction as it outperforms all other summer blockbusters. With
    its "lion's share" of the season's box office, Buena Vista's combined
    summer gross to date of $335.1 million already surpasses the company's
    previous summer high of $319.3 million set in 1990.
      Also adding to Buena Vista's sensational summer returns over the latest
    three-day period was Walt Disney Pictures' family-fantasy, "Angels in the
    Outfield," which earned an additional $4,842,706 (in 1,879 theaters) in
    its third weekend of national release.  With a cumulative gross to date
    of $31,156,406, the film has established itself as a solid hit with
    moviegoers of all ages.
      Commenting on the announcement, Cook said:  "Buena Vista now has a
    new all-time box-office champ with `The Lion King' and its amazing success
    is a tribute to the 600 artists, animators and technicians who
    collaborated to make it so special.  Only a handful of blockbusters in the
    industry's history have reached the level of success that this film has
    and there is still plenty of life left in its domestic theatrical run.
      "The film's popularity continues to grow with each passing day and
    has already boosted Buena Vista to its best summer on record."
                                                            

            Cartoonists petition Disney over 'Lion King' likeness
    
      TOKYO, Aug. 5 --
      Cartoonist Machiko Satonaka said Friday she and 42 of her colleagues
    will tell Walt Disney Co. they are dissatisfied with its animated film "Lion
    King" because of similarities to a film by the late Japanese animation
    master Osamu Tezuka.
      Satonaka said the 42 other cartoonists, including Shinji Mizushima,
    Tetsuya Chiba, Go Nagai and Eiko Hanamura, are among 158 signatories so
    far to an itemized list of the similarities she plans to send to Disney
    in the United States.
      Officials in both Disney and Tezuka Productions in Tokyo maintain
    that the two films are separate, original works, but many fans of Tezuka's
    work say they cannot turn a blind eye to the similarities to his work "the
    Jungle Emperor."
      Tezuka created "the Jungle Emperor" in the 1950s, inspiring Japan's
    postwar comic book boom and the Japanese television series that
    evolved, "Kimba, the White Lion," which was aired in the U.S. in 1966.
      In both stories, the father lion is killed, the young son is sent
    into exile, struggles with responsibilities as heir and returns to overthrow
    the evil lion that has usurped the throne.
      The good lions are aided by a wise old baboon and a talkative bird and
    the evil lions have hyenas as their henchmen in both tales.
      The young lion in Tezuka's story, Leo, became "Kimba" in the U.S.
    version and in the Disney version, he is "Simba."
      In Japan, the film has so far grossed some 830 million yen since its
    release in late July.
      Satonaka said she was taken aback by the similarities after seeing
    the Disney film on its first day of release in Japan.  She immediately sent
    fax messages to her colleagues and was surprised by the ready response
    to her request for signatures.
      "I don't want the value of an important work by Osamu Tetsuka, which
    is something Japan can be proud of, to be damaged," Satonaka said.
      Satonaka said the design of the lions and hyenas and other animals as
    well as the setting in the Disney version are so similar to the Tezuka
    version that it is difficult to imagine it is a coincidence.
      Takayuki Matsutani, president of Tezuka Productions, said that while
    he "appreciates" Satonaka's actions, the company has no intention to sue
    Disney.
      "But for the sake of mutual understanding and cultural development,
    we are taking another look at whether there might be some appropriate
    measures," Matsutani said.
      

          HAKUNA MATATA AND EAT YOUR BROCCOLI, CHILDREN


By MARIAN BURROS
c.1994 N.Y. Times News Service
   If the Lion King can move burgers and fries, can a wart hog sell broccoli?
   Walt Disney Co. is covering all its bases. Last summer
characters from its smash movie ``The Lion King'' were used to sell hamburgers
for Burger King and chocolate bars for Nestle. Now, characters from the film
are going to be used to persuade children to eat healthfully.
   Thursday in Epcot City in Florida, Disney and the U.S. Department of
Agriculture are scheduled to announce a joint two-year nutrition
education campaign.
   Using information supplied by the government, Disney will
create and produce animated television messages and will show them on the
Disney Channel. The messages, which have yet to be produced, will also
be available free to all television stations and will be included in
two Disney home video releases this year.
   The ``spokestoons'' from the movie, the characters Pumbaa, the
good-hearted wart hog, and Timon, the wisecracking meerkat, will
make public appearances.
   Disney will also help to produce and distribute nutrition
education materials for children. It has yet to be decided whether the
actors who provided those voices in the movie - Nathan Lane was Timon and
Ernie Sabella was Pumbaa - will be used, or whether other voices will
be brought in.
   The Department of Agriculture will pay Disney $200,000 to
develop the program. Licensing agreements with for-profit companies that want
to use Disney characters to promote their products can cost millions of
dollars.
Disney officials could not explain how that figure was reached.
   ``There is never going to be a right figure,'' said Richard
Frank, chairman of Walt Disney television and telecommunications. ``It's
sort of an accommodation figure. I can't answer why.'' He also said he
did not know how much Disney would be spending on the program. ``We are
going to put in an awful lot,'' Frank said.
   As for the seeming contradiction in Disney's various Lion King
promotions - chocolate bars vs. broccoli - Frank said: ``It's all
a matter of mix and match. You can find conflicts in almost anything if
you are as big a company as Disney. It's not a perfect world out there.''
   The project with Disney is the most visible effort so far by
the USDA, which earlier this year undertook an effort to update and improve
school lunches, and to do more nutrition education for children.
   Ellen Haas, assistant secretary of agriculture for food and
nutrition services, said she was delighted with the Disney participation.
   ``The `Lion King' and its characters are tremendous
communicators to children,'' she said. ``They have reached one in three kids
already. Disney's contribution is incalculable. They are the most powerful
communicator to children, which assures that the messages will be
taken to heart by the kids.''
   But Ms. Haas said that most of the food messages children hear
foster poor eating habits. ``I am troubled by all the messages in
today's marketplace that work against children,'' she said. ``We can't
control what Disney is doing with their licenses but the government has a
responsibility to do nutrition education in a lively, fun manner.''

Now at last we in the UK can see what everybody has been talking about.  TLK was 
given is premier here on 8th October, went to see it with my 15yr old and my 5yr 
old.  Both enjoyed it imensley, little one did get upset at one point (when simba 
was being chased by the herd) but soon came round and enjoyed the rest of the film. 
 It was excellent and I will deffinately go and see it again.(might take my husband 
this time).  It will go out on general release here on the 14th October.  Why are we 
always so far behind.

Jean

              The Return of Simba and Friends - Nov. 18
    
  BURBANK, Calif.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Oct. 24, 1994--
    
Hollywood's classic movie palace, The El Capitan, is planning a royal welcome
fit fora "king" this holiday season as Walt Disney Pictures' animated
sensation, "The Lion King," makes its triumphant return to theaters on Nov.
18, it was announced on Monday by Richard Cook, president of Buena Vista
Pictures Distribution.
    
  To celebrate the "king's" momentous return, the landmark
Hollywood Boulevard theater is bringing back its song-and-dance- filled
live stage show, "Disney's Magical Moments" during the prime holiday
playdates (Nov. 24-27 and Dec. 23-Jan. 1) and at all weekend performances
throughout the month of December.
    
  A special advance ticket phone "lion" -- 800/LION-KNG is now
available to accommodate those wishing to ensure seats for select
performances.
    
  Appearing on the same bill with "The Lion King" at the El Capitan and all
    other theaters offering the return engagement will be the world
premiere of a new 4-1/2 minute featurette which will provide moviegoers
with their first peek at Disney's 1995 animated release, "Pocahontas."
  The latter, featuring the voice talents of Mel Gibson, Irene
Bedard, David Ogden Stiers and Linda Hunt and songs by Academy
Award-winning composer Alan Menken and lyricist Stephen Schwartz, is due for
release next June.
  To further celebrate the return of "The Lion King," all
theaters showing the film will distribute special commemorative posters to the
first 100 ticket buyers at every show during the Friday, Saturday and
Sunday (Nov. 18-20) period.
  Commenting on the announcement, Cook said, "Special live stage
shows have become a holiday tradition at the El Capitan and we are proud to
be offering this delightful entertainment extravaganza once again
this year  in connection with the return of `The Lion King.'
  "Based on the overwhelming response we received for `Disney's
Magical Moments' this summer, this spectacular show is bound to bring
lots of good cheer to holiday moviegoers and provide an entertaining bonus for
El Capitan patrons.  `The Lion King' has already earned its crown as
this studio's most popular motion picture and this holiday re-release
is sure to add to its fame and fortune."
  Show times for the El Capitan engagement of "The Lion King" are
scheduled daily for 11:30 a.m., 2:10 p.m., 4:50 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 10:10
p.m.  In addition to the advance ticket phone line, a special group sales
program is also being offered.

    There are rumors on a new Lion King soundtrack appearing sometime
    in the next month or so. 
    
    Look for something entitled "Rythym of the Pride Lands."
    
    Mike

    Out in Home Video in February.

A friend of mine mentioned that Disney changed _The Lion King_
when it was re-released to remove offensive dialog between the
hyenas.

Any clues? Anybody sense that this happened?

					- Jeff

    I saw the movie about 7 times before it was pulled...
    
    I then saw it on Dec. 23 after it was re-released...
    
    No noticable changes here...
    
    
    Unfortunately, I was 10 mins late and missed the Pokie trailer and that
    gorgeous sunrise.   *sight*
    
    Guess I'll just have to see it again. :D

      THE GOLDEN GLOBE AWARD-WINNING NO. 1 FILM OF 1994, 
                    DISNEY'S `THE LION KING,' 
                  ROARS TO HOME VIDEO MARCH 3 


         Tie-ins With Pillsbury, Mattel(R), Burger King(R)
     and Ralston Foods(TM) Offer Consumers Up To $10 In Savings
 
     BURBANK, Calif., Jan. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Disney's breathtaking animated
masterpiece, the biggest box office hit of 1994 and fourth-largest of all
time, "The Lion King," will make its limited-time only, home video debut
on March 3, 1995.  Winner of three Golden Globe Awards (Best Picture: 
Musical or Comedy, Original Song and Original Score), "The Lion King"
features 1994's top-selling motion picture soundtrack and licensed
merchandise sales that have topped the $1 billion mark.  With the shortest
theatrical-to-video window ever for a full-length Disney animated feature,
"The Lion King," a breathtaking and timeless story of courage and
responsibility, appeals to both adults and children and is the most
eagerly anticipated video release in history.  Available for a limited
time only, it will be collectably priced at $26.99 (SRP).
  Disney's 32nd full-length animated feature, "The Lion King's" home video
premiere includes consumer tie-in promotions with Pillsbury, Mattel(R),
Burger King(R) and Ralston Foods(TM) that will alert Disney video shoppers
to the title's availability and offer up to $l0 in consumer savings, with
additional purchases.  Debuting as part of Disney's Masterpiece
Collection, "The Lion King" features magnificent animation, an inspired
all-star vocal cast and five enormously popular new songs by legendary
singer/songwriter Elton John and Academy Award-winning lyricist Tim Rice
("Aladdin").
  In addition, "The Lion King's" home video debut is accompanied by the
ultimate "Lion King" keepsake -- a limited edition deluxe collectors
edition.  Priced at $79.99 (SRP), it is a fantastic souvenir package that
features the debut video and collector's items including a special bonus
video titled "The Making of `The Lion King,'" available for sale only in
the exclusive set.
  Adding value to the debut video release of "The Lion King" are two $5
consumer rebate offers ($10 total) available when consumers buy "The Lion
King," any other title in the studio's Masterpiece Collection, selected
titles in Walt Disney's Family Film Collection or "The Return of Jafar" or
"The Brave Little Toaster."  To qualify for either of the refunds,
consumers simply buy one of the qualifying videocassettes and selected
Pillsbury and/or Mattel Toys products.  Full details are available in all
"The Lion King" videocassettes and at participating retail locations.
  Helping the animators bring "The Lion King's" colorful cast of characters
to life is the greatest cast of voice talent ever assembled. "Home
Improvement's" Jonathan Taylor Thomas roars as the voice of young Simba,
while Simba's adult voice belongs to Matthew Broderick.  The unmistakable
roar of King Mufasa comes from renowned actor James Earl Jones.  Academy
Award-winner Jeremy Irons gives a deliciously nasty delivery as Scar, the
tyrannical uncle.  Ready to help Scar in every evil deed are the laughable
trio of hyena henchmen voiced by Academy Award-winner Whoopi Goldberg and
the unmistakable Cheech Marin. Broadway veterans Nathan Lane and Ernie
Sabella lend voices to the roles of the carefree meerkat named Timon and
his pungent warthog pal, Pumbaa, while multi-talented Robert Guillaume
adds heart as the voice of Rafiki. Rounding out the vocal cast are Rowan
Atkinson as ZaZu, Niketa Calame as young Nala, Moira Kelly as older Nala
and Madge Sinclair as Simba's mother Queen Sarabi.
  Set amid the majestic beauty of the Serengeti, Disney's epic
coming-of-age saga tells of the love between a proud lion ruler, Mufasa,
and his son Simba -- a naive and curious cub.  However, out from the
shadows prowls Simba's envious Uncle Scar and his hyena henchmen whose
scheming for the throne soon leads to tragedy. Convinced by Scar that he
is responsible, Simba flees into exile, leaving the kingdom he should
rightfully rule.  Befriended by the warmhearted warthog Pumbaa and his
manic meerkat companion, Timon, Simba forgets his regal responsibilities
and adopts the carefree lifestyle of "Hakuna Matata."  It is only when
Simba stumbles upon his childhood friend Nala that he realizes, through
the wisdom of Rafiki, a wise mystic baboon, that he must reclaim his true
destiny in the "circle of life."
  The Masterpiece Collection is Walt Disney Home Video's best-selling line
that includes limited-time and regularly-available full-length animated
features.  In conjunction with the video debut of "The Lion King," all
Masterpiece Collection titles are eligible for the same $5 mail-in rebates
($10 total) from Pillsbury and Mattel.  Also in tandem with the debut of
"The Lion King," beginning March 3, the 12 top titles in Disney's popular
live-action Family Film Collection will be re-packaged in collectable
plastic "clamshells" and are eligible for the same dual $5 rebates ($10
total) from Pillsbury and Mattel.
  "The Lion King" has a running time of 88 minutes and was rated "G" by the
Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).  Available on VHS, the
feature is presented in digitally mastered stereo sound and is
closed-captioned for the hearing impaired.  "The Lion King" will be
available in both English and French-language versions.
  Walt Disney Home Video is distributed by Buena Vista Home Video Inc., the
recognized industry leader for six consecutive years.  A subsidiary of the
Walt Disney Co., Buena Vista Home Video Inc. is the marketing, sales and
distribution company for all Walt Disney, Touchstone, Hollywood Pictures,
Miramax, Jim Henson, DIC Toon-Time and Buena Vista videocassettes.
    

     
    I still have not seen the film but managed to see the stage show
    at the Magic Kingdom. It was very well done and just really tells
    the story in a twenty minute show.
    
    Andy..B

    We ordered the video from Disney. It arrived today. So if you ordered
    it you might be able to watch it tonight.
    
    Doug

    Hi,
    
    Is anyone planning to come to Reading UK in the near future?
    
    If so could you possibly bring me a copy of the Lion King video. It
    won't be released in UK until the end of the year at least!
    
    I have a NTSC compliant player so there's no problem there. I'll pay in
    sterling and I'll even buy you a pint!
    
    Ta, Paul - DTN 830 3980

    RE 371.64
    
    Hello,
    
    Well uh,
    
    I've got the same kind of request. But I want the laserdisc version.
    Mine also plays NTSC Discs. I'm located in Nijmegen The Netherlands.
    
    Thanks
    
    Marc Veuger, 889-9904

    We got our copy Friday.   In a rush to see it, we viewed it on normal 
    TV setup.  It was OK.  Sunday I set it up on our home theater setup
    and It's a different movie.  Much the same way B&TB used sound, LK was
    fantasic.  They did not repeat the same mistakes of Aladdin.
    
    ed
    

    Has anyone else grabbed the Rhythm of the Pride Lands CD?
    
    The CD contains music inspired by "The Lion King." There are
    11 songs on the CD including a very different version of "Hakuna
    Matata" and a version of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."
    
    You'll also hear "Warthog Rhapsody" which was pulled from the 
    original movie plans.
    
    The rest of the CD contains some music you may recall from the
    film but with words.
    
    There is also a song called "He Lives in You."
    
    All in all the CD has haunting melodies throughout and the S. African
    Choir does an outstanding job.
    
    Most of the songs are performed by Lebo M, Jimmy Cliff, Nathan Lane and
    Ernie Sabella.
    
    While listening to the songs with the S. African Choir you can't help
    but picture these people having a celebration of while singing. 
    
    My favorites are:
    
            Lea Halalela (Holy Land) - Everyone will recognize this 
            from the movie. The vocal solo is by Khululiwe Sithole. This
            music reminds everyone of Simba's troubled times.
    
            Lala - This is a haunting song. Again, you'll recognize it
            from the movie. We now hear the rest of the words. Listen to
            this song and tell me if you hear a singer with a speech 
            impediment or a word that makes you think that. 
    
            Busa (le lizwe) - I think this was the music that was playing
            when Simba headed back to face Scar and his problems. Dick Clark 
            would love it...strong beat.
    
            Noyana - More than any other song on the CD this one gives you
            the feeling that everyone is having a great time. The chorus
            does a great job. Try singing the English words....it doesn't
            work...you need to sing the original African version. It's a
            great song...makes you want to dance. Now if they played this
            at the MGM NY Street Party everyone would be dancing. It's
            probably a great song to play at the end of a movie with
            credits rolling and people dancing.

    I'll be taking my son to WDW in October for his 5th birthday.
    
    Does anyone know of a Character Breakfast that features Lion King
    characters?
    
    If not, where in all of WDW would we most likely find Lion King
    attractions?
    
    
    Thanks in advance

    The Magic Kingdom has an attraction named "The Lion King Adventure."
    
    It's a good show but you need to hit it first thing in the morning.
    
    You may see Timon or Rafiki walking around in MGM.
    
    Also, if they are still there, you can view the animated Lion King
    windows at the Emporium in TMK.
    
    I don't believe there is a CB with Lion King characters. Remember that
    in the movie only Timon and Rafiki walked upright. Everyone else walked
    on all fours.
    
    Mike

    Thanks for the info, Mike!
    
    
  Good point. Never thought of that! :-)
        
>>    I don't believe there is a CB with Lion King characters. Remember that
>>    in the movie only Timon and Rafiki walked upright. Everyone else walked
>>    on all fours.
    

    Norma
    

    We saw Timon and Rifiki in the Magic Kingdom just before the bridge
    that went to Adventureland.  I don't know how often they appear there.
    We didn't see them in MGM, but of course that doesn't mean that they
    weren't there!
    
    The windows of the Emporium have already changed to Pocahontas. 
    
    There is a Circle of Life film in the Land at Epcot.  It has Simba,
    Pumbaa, and Timon a little in the beginning and at the end.  The best
    Lion King attraction is the show at the Magic Kingdom.
    

    For those of you in the Saugus, MA area - a cast member at the Disney
    Store in the Square One Mall gave me a flyer over the weekend
    regarding a musical stage show at the Mall on September 30 and August
    1.  The show features Rafiki and Timon as well Pocahontas and Meeko. 
    The characters will also be around between performances to "meet" kids.
    
    I'll post the performance schedule as soon as I find the flyer...
    
    Steve

    Here's what the flyer from the Disney Store at Square One Mall says...
    
    
    
    			The Disney Store 
                            presents
    
    			Walt Disney World 
                              LIVE
    
    		        Please join us at
                           SQUARE ONE
    
                Saturday, September 30 & Sunday, October 1
    
    
        	      Enjoy a musical stage show
    
                  with your favorite Disney characters!
    
                 Saturday: 12:00, 1:00, 2:45, 3:45, 4:45
                  Sunday:  12:30, 1:30, 3:15, 4:15, 5:15
    
    
    			   Meet and Greet
    
    			 Pocahontas & Meeko
                          
                           Rafiki & Timon
    
    		       Saturday: 11:30 - 4:00
                        Sunday: 12:00 - 4:00
    
    		    Remember to bring your camera!