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Note: I do not want to start a huge flame-war, argument or debate. Everyone is entitled to their own honest opinion and I just want to see what others think.

I really do not see what makes The Lion King such a masterpiece. Maybe I'm too cynical Sure, it has beautiful animation and music, but for me that's it. The characters are memorable, but no more than any other Disney movie.
There are also a few things that bother me:

1. Disney 'borrowed' heavily from an old Japanese TV series called 'Kimba the White Lion.' Whilst the name (Simba/Kimba) I believe is a coincidence, there are so many examples that you can find here that are not. One not mentioned is that both Kimba and Simba have wise baboon/mandrills as mentors.
Not mentioned is the fact that the villains look so similar:
Scar.
Claw
Also, both have hyenas as comic relief sidekicks.
I wouldn't say Disney ripped off the story, since both do have their numerous differences and their source of inspiration were one and the same - Bambi. But there are so many striking similarities that it's quite obvious that Disney took a lot of elements from Kimba. There's nothing wrong with that. But then Disney denies any knowledge of the old TV show. That, I feel is wrong for I think Disney should give credit when it is deserved. This has been brought up before, so I'll stop here.

2. I don't like Mufasa one bit. I know that he's supposed to be a wise and likable character but I'm with Scar here - I felt he was a real bully. I find myself feeling more sorry for the villains then I did for Mufasa. I know that there's nothing wrong with liking a villain but I find it concerning that I feel sorry for a cruel dictator.
Also, I think Disney went so OTT with 'I'm a big wise lion who is part of the stars' (another Kimba element). Puh-leeze!
And also, it seems that the lionesses can't fight Scar unless one male lion joins them.

3. What really makes my teeth grind, however, is the portrayal of hyenas. I know that one should not look into a Disney film for realism, but read this quote from the IUCN Hyaena Specialist Group website:

The stereotype was bad enough already yet Disney made it worse. They made them stupid and are portrayed as vermin that kill for the fun of it. And how the heck could they 'destroy' the Pridelands. Hyenas naturally live on the savannah and yet they're treated like scum. Mufasa himself told Simba to 'respect all creatures,' but then we get news - "Hyenas! In the Pridelands!' Then Mufasa goes off to obviously bully them out of the Serengeti.
In actual fact, hyenas are intelligent and bold hunters which are a valuble part of the ecosystem. 80% of the time they kill their own prey. They eat the sick, old and weak animals so therefore they keep prey populations healthy. Hyenas are not the criminals that they're often seen as. Thanks to Disney's hideous stereotype, hyenas do not get much support as say, lions, wolves or polar bears.
I apologise to all those who were captivated by The Lion King, but I have to confess that it doesn't cut the mustard for me. Compared to CGI trash such as 'Barnyard,' Lion King is a masterpiece, but compared to what I think are true works of art, such as Bambi, The Secret of NIMH or Balto, than I'm afraid it falls flat on its face.
Lion King II however, is fantastic!

That's very true. The Lion King does take elements from other films too. (nothing wrong with that either). For example, the 'Circle of Life' is from The Land Before Time.

ok... Simba means "lion' in african...i think that people are allowed to have an opinion, yes...but i think that this post was a very huge mistake..maybe you shpuld have put it somewhere else..but this, is hurtful, and sad..i would like it if this was..oh..i don't know...locked?

Hey, I don't want to hurt anyone. I just want to see what others think. Don't be upset about anything. I do find some good points in TLK, and I don't hate it.

You know why The Lion King is a classic masterpiece?


That, right there. Nothing more.

Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy the movie. Yet, it's no more a masterpiece than An American Tail, All Dogs go to Heaven, or Rock-a-Doodle.

Um, the image doesn't show up, but you have an interesting point there.

Agreed. Although if Balto is overrated, then I do not know where the heck Finding Nemo stands.

I've seen some LK fans do that already. And I'm not asking for people to complain or have a flame war. I just want to have an interesting discussion. Everyone's entitled to their own opinions and I'm not going to question that.