The Lion King II: Simba's Pride
The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (later retitled The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride) is a direct-to-video movie released by the Walt Disney Company on October 27, 1998 as a sequel to The Lion King and was re-released as a special-edition DVD (which altered the original title's "II" into "2") on August 31, 2004. As of September 30, 2005, it is the highest grossing direct-to-video animated feature release of all time, with gross sales exceeding $300 million USD. [citation needed]
In 1998, Disney believed that Simba's Pride would be so popular that it shipped 15 million copies to stores for the October 27 release date. [1] Disney sold 3.5 million copies in three days. Thirteen million copies were sold while it was still in print in the late 90s. [2]
While the original film's plot was based on the Shakespearean play Hamlet, this sequel's plot is similar to another Shakespearean play, Romeo and Juliet. [3]
Plot
In this movie, King Simba and Queen Nala have a daughter named Kiara. Kiara meets Kovu after she wanders away from Pride Rock. She falls in love with Kovu who happens to be raised by the Outlanders, a group of lionesses who were former followers of Scar, and the lion chosen to be the heir of the deceased villain (although he is actually not his son). Zira, Kovu's adopted mother and Scar's widow, is desperate to avenge Scar's death, and so she trains Kovu to be a killer. Zira then hatches an elaborate plan involving setting the Pride Lands ablaze while Kiara is out on her first hunt. Kovu saves Kiara from the ensuing fire and asks to join the Pridelanders, stating that he is a rogue, separate from the other Outsiders. Simba allows him to join the pride as Mufasa's law means that he is in debt to Kovu. Meanwhile, Rafiki receives a sign from Mufasa's spirit that could help prevent war between the two prides by bringing Kovu and Kiara together. Rafiki's matchmaking plans take effect and Kovu and Kiara start to fall for each other. It is Kovu's love for Kiara that makes him abandon his killer instincts and keeps him from assasinating Simba as he was sent to the Pride Lands to do.
Eventually, Kovu resolves to confess to Kiara the truth about his presence in the Pride Lands. However, before Kovu can explain himself, Simba takes him aside for a private conversation; Simba is beginning to trust him. During the conversation, they are suddenly surrounded by Zira and the Outlanders while Kovu realizes, to his horror, that he inadvertently fulfilled the assassination plot he had abandoned. In the ensuing chase, Nuka, Kovu's older brother, tries to impress his mother by attempting to kill Simba when Kovu refuses to cooperate. Unfortunately, Nuka is crushed underneath some logs and dies trying while Simba barely escapes. In the aftermath, Zira strikes and scars Kovu for causing Nuka's death and for betraying the Outlanders, leaving him with a crescent-shaped wound just like Scar's. Even though Zira browbeats him about causing his brother's death, Kovu realizes he is being unjustly accused, defies his mother for the first time, and returns to the Pride Lands. Unfortunately, Simba believes that Kovu was part of Zira's plot, refuses to listen to his explanation and banishes him from the Pride Lands. Upset and distraught at her father's decision, Kiara flees from the Pride Lands and is reunited with Kovu. She convinces him that they need to go back together to make peace with their warring prides, and not just run away from their problems, as Kovu proposed they do.
The tensions between the Outlanders and Simba's pride escalate into a fierce battle which is interrupted by Kovu and Kiara. Both Simba and Vitani agree to make peace after seeing that fighting is not the way to solve the prides' issues. When Zira threatens Vitani for her defiance, the remaining Outlanders realize in disgust how self destructive Zira's vendetta has been and abandon the feud as well. Zira becomes gripped by a burning rage and leaps at Simba. When Kiara knocks Zira out of the way, they both tumble off the cliff into the gorge. While Kiara lands safely on the ledge, Zira is left dangling by her claws. Kiara tries to help Zira but Zira swats at Kiara and refuses aid. Zira's grip eventually loosens and the lioness falls from the ledge into the rushing river below, where she drowns to her death. The Outlanders, now freed of Zira's rule, are welcomed back into Simba's pride and they become one again. In the final scene of the movie Kiara, Kovu, Simba and Nala roar out to the kingdom to commemorate the reunion of the two prides.
More about the film
Based on the behavior of actual lion infanticide when prides are taken over, some more science-minded viewers presumed Nala had been one of Scar's cubs in the first movie. Although the movie makes no reference to this "real life" situation, some fans thought Kovu had originally been designed to be Scar's son, but that the idea was dismissed to avoid a possible suggestion of incestual dilemma, as it would mean that Kiara would be falling in love with her father's cousin. A line was given to Nuka to make this clear; however, his delivery suggests that he might in fact be Scar's son by Zira (The Lion King II)Zira and was simply dismissed for leadership due to his ineptitude.
In the original version of the film, Zira did not just fall to her death, but let go of the ledge deliberately. Whilst Kiara offered Zira her paw, Zira growled "Never." and let go of the rock. This was edited, as suicide was considered too dark for a Disney movie.
The movie was criticized for a lack of originality, of following the same theme of a lion trying to take over a kingdom, and of having a boring and highly predictable plot. There were also a few glaring mistakes with the characters, such as the fact that Queen Nala's eye color was changed (in the first movie, her eyes were a soft pale green; in the sequel, they became bright blue). The movie was also criticized for having songs were of a lower quality than the award-winning and nominated songs from The Lion King.
Voice cast
Singing voices
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Cam Clarke | Simba |
| Liz Callaway | Kiara |
| Gene Miller | Kovu |
| Charity Sanoy | Young Kiara |
| Crysta Macalush | Young Vitani |
Soundtrack
An audio CD entitled Return to Pride Rock: Songs Inspired by Disney's The Lion King II: Simba's Pride was released in September 8, 1998. Although not promoted as a soundtrack to the film, it contained all the songs from the film and some additional songs inspired by it by Lebo M. The complete track list of the CD:
- "He Lives in You" - Lebo M
- "We Are One" - Cam Clarke, Charity Sanoy, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Chorus
- "Upendi" - Robert Guillaume, Liz Callaway, Gene Miller, Ladysmith Black Mambazo
- "One of Us" - Chorus
- "My Lullaby" - Suzanne Pleshette, Crysta Macalush, Andy Dick, Chorus
- "Love Will Find a Way" - Liz Callaway, Gene Miller, Chorus
- "We Are One" - Angelique Kidjo
- "She Believes in You"* - Lebo M
- "Song for the Children"* - Lebo M
- "I Want to See the Moon"* - Lebo M featuring Sharon Dee
- "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"* - Lebo M
- "Love Will Find a Way (End Title)" - Kenny Lattimore, Heather Headley
(A * indicates songs inspired by the film)
In August 31, 2004, Disney released an "enhanced soundtrack" to coincide with the film's 2-Disc Special Edition DVD. This CD contains everything from the Return to Pride Rock CD except the "inspired songs".
References
- "The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride" by Scott Chitwood, "ComingSoon.net," n.d., retrieved August 27, 2006.
- "Second Tramp cruises past Mermaid sequel" by By Chris Gennusa, "Video Business Online", March 6, 2001, retrieved August 26, 2006.
- "Lion King II: Simba's Pride" "Lion King II: Simba's Pride" by Bhob Stewart, "All Movie Guide", retrieved August 26, 2006.
- "Movie Details" Lion King II: Simba's Pride by Bhob Stewart, "The New York Times", retrieved August 25, 2006.