• The Lion King was originally released on June 24, 1994.
• Nominated for four Academy Awards: Best Score (Hans Zimmer) and three Best Song nominees (only the second time in Oscar history): “Circle of Life”, “Hakuna Matata” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” (Music by Elton John, Lyrics by Tim Rice). The film won two, for Score and Song (“Can You Feel the Love Tonight”).
• Lion King was also nominated for four Golden Globe Awards: Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy, Best Score and two Best Songs: “Circle of Life” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight”. It won all but Best Song for “Circle of Life”.
• The best-selling Lion King soundtrack also won Grammys for Best Children’s Album and Best Male Pop Vocal for John’s version of “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” …
• … The soundtrack was so popular, in fact, that a spin-off album, titled Rhythm of the Pride Lands, featuring music ‘from and inspired by’ the film, was released the following year. Songs from this album were added to the existing score when …
• … The Lion King made its debut on Broadway on November 13, 1997. A huge success that is still packing them in at the New Amsterdam Theatre, the show won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Director - Musical (Julie Taymor) and Best Choreographer (Garth Fagan).
• Lion King was also nominated for five other Tonys, including Best Featured Actor - Musical (The Little Mermaid’s Samuel E. Wright as Mufasa) and Best Featured Actress - Musical (Tsidii Le Loka as the sex-changed Rafiki) …
• … And to complete the ‘circle of life’, the cast recording of the musical won the Grammy for Best Cast Album.
• Various spin-offs from The Lion King include the direct to video sequel, The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride in 1998 …
• … The animated television series The Lion King’s Timon and Pumbaa, which ran from 1995 to 1998 …
• … Several theme park attractions and shows, including The Lion King Celebration parade at Disneyland, The Legend of the Lion King show at the Magic Kingdom, the Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable film at Epcot and The Festival of the Lion King show at Disney’s Animal Kingdom …
• … And yet another video sequel, oddly titled The Lion King 1 ½: Hakuna Matata and starring Timon and Pumbaa, which may be released theatrically.

Coming Soon in Toon Talk:

• Murder, mayhem and “All That Jazz” … Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Richard Gere star in Miramax’s Oscar-baiting film version of the Tony Award-winning Kander and Ebb musical Chicago, opening in limited release December 27^th and nationally January 17^th.
• Toon in for the Toon Talk Top 10 - The Best of 2002.
• Pongo, Perdita and all the pups (oh, … and Cruella too) return for the direct to video 101 Dalmatians II: Patch’s London Adventure, available January 21^st.

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-- Kirby C. Holt

Kirby, a former Walt Disney World Resort Cast Member (and Trivia Champ), is a lifelong Disney fan and film buff. He is also an avid list maker and chronic ellipsis user ...

Took Talk: Disney Film & Video Reviews by Kirby C. Holt is posted whenever there's something new to review.

The opinions expressed by our Kirby C. Holt, and all of our columnists, do not necessarily represent the feelings of LaughingPlace.com or any of its employees or advertisers. All speculation and rumors about the future plans of the Walt Disney Company are just that - speculation and rumors - and should be treated as such.

-- Posted December 24, 2002