[1. Select a full-length film and identify the title, writer, director, major actors and the year it was released.]
Title: The Lion King
Writer: Irene Mecchi & Jonathan Roberts
Director: Roger Allers & Rob Minkoff
Year: 1994
Actors:
Jonathan Taylor-Thomas (Voice of Young Simba)
Matthew Broderick (Voice of Adult Simba)
James Earl Jones (Voice of Mufasa)
Jeremy Irons (Voice of Scar)
Moira Kelly (Voice of Adult Nala)
Ernie Sabella (Voice of Pumbaa)
Nathan Lane (Voice of Timon)
Robert Guillaume (Voice of Rafiki)
[2. Summarize the story and plot of your chosen movie.]
The Lion King is a classic from my childhood, this is the reason I chose this film as my topic.
Story: A life of a Cub (Simba) as he goes through many trials and tribulations to reach his rightful place as King (Protagonist) . While the aggressor Scar tries by every means to take that away from (Antagonist).
Plot: A young cub Simba is small and care free, he is fathered by a wise and noble King, Mufasa. His father is fair and trying to teach his son leadership qualities, so one day he can pass down the responsibilities as king.
Scar’s (antagonist) Simba’s evil uncle is trying his best to take that away from Simba by destroying his family the best he can. He manages to start a stampede, by doing this Simba’s Father Mufasa ends up protecting his son and having no regard for his own safety. Mufasa is dead and Scar knowing that Simba is young and naïve, he manages to convince him that his father’s death is his own fault and he should leave his pride.
While alone and saddened by his past Simba makes strange friends Timon and Pumbaa, these friends strange but wise, teach Simba to forget about his past. Around this time, Adult Simba bumps into an old friend Nala, who tells him of the difficult and horrid times the kingdom is facing due to Scar’s reign.
Simba rises up to occasion with the help of his friends and a wise mentor Rafiki. Rafiki teaches Simba to not be so hard on himself and that his father’s spirit lives inside of him. With this newfound knowledge, Simba uses it to take back his rightful place as king.
[3. Discuss whether your film is presented chronologically or non-linearly. In your discussion, address the following:]
a. Was the film presented chronologically or non-linearly? How did this aesthetic choice contribute to the general effect on the audience?]
Chronology: The Lion King was presented chronologically, by doing this it helped the audience get a better understanding of the characters and storyline.
[ b. How are elements like character development or foreshadowing impacted by the choice of storytelling methods?]
The story being told chronologically, helped the audience to view Simba’s progression as a cub to an adult and learning valuable morals along the way.
[4. If the film had followed a different presentation style, how would the general effect on the audience have been different?]
If the film would of been presented non-linearly, the audience would not have experienced Simba’s upbringing, and with that the many trials he experienced and overcame. Also, I believe it would of left the audience confused and uninterested.
Resources:
TWCfilmevoultion. (2009, November 11). The Lion King (1994) Trailer. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0fReuRs890.
The Lion King. Dir. Roger Allers. Perf. Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones. Disney, 1994. DVD.
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