Elements of Literature in Animation Theme

The elements of literature are the common structural elements that should be included in every story. The elements of literature are Characters, Setting, Narrator, Perspective/Point of view, Plot, Conflict/Problem, Mood, and Theme. Good writers make sure each element is included in the stories that they write to make them interesting and understandable. Good readers learn to recognize each of the elements to understand the meaning or the moral of the story. These elements create the foundation of good stories and if they are missing, the story will feel incomplete and unsatisfying. Also, it will not be very entertaining for the readers.

Theme

A literary theme is a central topic, subject, or message within a narrative. It is an idea or point that is central to a story, which can often be summed up in a single word (for example, love, death, betrayal). Typical examples of themes of this type are also coming-of-age, nostalgia, and the dangers of unchecked ambition. A story may have several themes and are usually implied rather than stated explicitly.

The Lion King is a 1994 American animated musical drama film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is a coming-of-age story that also incorporates themes of jealousy, death, friendship, and family ties. The story is inspired by William Shakespeare's stage play Hamlet with some elements from the Biblical stories of Joseph and Moses and Disney's 1942 animated feature film Bambi. It was directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff (in their feature directorial debuts) and produced by Don Hahn, from a screenplay written by Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts, and Linda Woolverton. The film features an ensemble voice cast that includes Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Rowan Atkinson, and Robert Guillaume. Its original songs were written by composer Elton John and lyricist Tim Rice, with a score by Hans Zimmer.

Set in a kingdom of lions in Africa, The Lion King tells the story of Simba (Swahili for lion), a lion cub who is to succeed his father, Mufasa, as King of the Pride Lands; however, after his paternal uncle Scar kills Mufasa to seize the throne, Simba is tricked into believing he was responsible for his father's death and flees into exile. After growing up in the company of the carefree outcasts Timon and Pumbaa, Simba receives valuable perspective from his childhood friend, Nala, and his shaman, Rafiki, before returning to challenge Scar to end his tyranny and take his place in the Circle of Life as the rightful king.

Released on June 15, 1994 to critical acclaim for its music, story, themes, and animation, the Lion King was a financial success as the highest-grossing film of 1994. It received two Academy Awards, as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. It is considered by many to be among the greatest animated films ever made. In 2016, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

The success of the film also launched a multibillion-dollar franchise. The Broadway adaptation of the film is a stage musical directed by Julie Taymor and produced by Disney Theatrical Productions. It features actors in animal costumes as well as giant, hollow puppets. The film’s sequel, The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (1998) is an animated direct-to-video musical romantic drama film. The prequel/parallel, The Lion King 1½ (2004) is also an animated direct-to-video musical comedy film. As the third and final installment released in the original Lion King trilogy, it is based on The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa and serves as an origin story for the meerkat/warthog duo Timon and Pumbaa while the film is also set within the events of The Lion King. In 2019, a photorealistically animated remake of the traditionally-animated 1994 film was directed by Jon Favreau, written by Jeff Nathanson, and produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Fairview Entertainment. A follow-up, Mufasa: The Lion King, a film which serves as both a prequel and a sequel, was directed by Barry Jenkins and released on December 20, 2024.

SPOILER ALERT! – This lesson will include information about the ending of the animated film The Lion King (1994). If you have not watched the film, you might want to complete this lesson after you have done so.

Coming of age

Rafiki talks to Simba about who he is and who his father was.