The Lion King Makes Simba’s Ascension To The Throne Much less Significant

January 24, 2025

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Warning: this text accommodates spoilers for Mufasa: The Lion King

Mufasa: The Lion King‘s enlargement of the beloved Disney basic makes Simba’s ascension to the throne much less significant. The movie tells the origin story of Scar and Mufasa earlier than the Satisfaction Lands have been even shaped and serves as a prequel to the 2019 Lion King reboot. Mufasa‘s evaluations have been blended, but it surely has nonetheless been in a position so as to add some new context to the franchise, even when it may well paint beloved characters in considerably of a unfavourable gentle.

Mufasa‘s ending reveals how its titular character got here to energy within the Satisfaction Lands, and it is extremely fascinating to have a look at his ascension in comparison with how his son, Simba, additionally finally turns into king. Understandably, the film focuses totally on Mufasa and the characters surrounding him when he was younger, giving every of them some new and fascinating character improvement. Nevertheless, it has the unlucky aspect impact of making Simba’s journey within the unique movie appear a lot much less impactful, along with his rise to energy a lot much less significant than his father’s.

Mufasa Was Chosen To Be King Of The Satisfaction Lands By The Different Animals

Mufasa Was Not Merely Handed The Throne

Mufasa, Rafiki, Sarabi, and Taka face away from the camera as they look at a gorgeous mountain landscape in Mufasa The Lion King

One of many largest reveals in Mufasa comes when it’s proven that Mufasa is chosen to be king by the animals of the Satisfaction Lands, versus being given his title because of the circumstances of his delivery. He saved everybody in Milele, which finally grew to become the Satisfaction Lands, from the Outsiders, and in doing so, earned the respect and admiration of all of the animals dwelling there. Mufasas was not merely handed the throne as a result of his dad and mom have been rulers, he earned that place.

This makes his appearances within the unique movie extra partaking and tragic, as we now have a a lot better thought of his character.

This can be a nice method to present precisely what sort of king Mufasa was within the unique Lion King, as, regardless of his standing as an iconic Disney character, the films did not present him really doing all that a lot. He principally used it to additional Simba’s character improvement. Apart from establishing why he was so beloved, Mufasa additionally reveals why a predator can be chosen to steer the animals of the Satisfaction Lands. This makes his appearances within the unique movie extra partaking and tragic, as we now have a a lot better thought of his character.

Simba Solely Turns into King By means of His Bloodline & Satisfaction’s Assist

The Motive Simba Turned King Was As a result of Of His Father

Simba and Mufasa look out to the Pride Lands in The Lion King 2019

Then again, Simba’s rise to management was not earned with the assist of everybody within the Satisfaction Lands, as his foremost declare to the throne was solely based mostly on the truth that his father was additionally king. The purpose of the unique film was clearly to point out how he finally grew to become worthy of the title, however he solely did so within the first place due to his father, versus him really being the most effective one for the job.

Young Mufasa nestling into older lions in Mufasa The Lion King

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Mufasa: The Lion King Hints At A New Heartbreaking Element For His Dying

Mufasa: The Lion King tells the origin of SImba’s dad earlier than changing into king, however one element makes Mufasa’s loss of life in The Lion King much more tragic.

Whereas Simba didn’t acquire the assist of the pleasure by the top of The Lion King, the movie was centrally targeted on the lions themselves, and the remainder of the animals within the Satisfaction Lands had little or no say within the matter. As a substitute, defeating Scar felt like the ultimate check for him to meet his future and birthright to steer Satisfaction Lands. With out his bloodline, nonetheless, it is curious if he would even be concerned within the disaster then. Simba and Mufasa are very totally different kings, and their totally different origins mirror that.

Simba’s Path To The Throne Is Not As Significant As Mufasa’s

Mufasa Had To Earn His Place A lot Extra Than His Son

Mufasa’s rise to the throne may be very satisfying, largely due to how he did not need to be king all through the movie. He finally accepted the place as a result of he knew it was the appropriate factor to do, versus any kind of need for energy. As a toddler, Simba needed the throne, principally for the perks and advantages to him. Whereas he finally matured and discovered the load of accountability, it solely occurred as a result of he needed to endure a traumatic loss when his dad died. In the end, Simba wasn’t chosen in the identical means that Mufasa was.

The animals of the Satisfaction Lands do bow right down to Simba on the very finish of The Lion King, however that principally appears to come back right down to the truth that he has already been given the title of king, versus them actively selecting him to steer them.

The Lion King has lengthy been criticized for seemingly claiming {that a} monarchical line of succession is a vital and acceptable means of operating a civilization. Sadly, in making an attempt to treatment that considerably by exhibiting how Mufasa earned his place as ruler, it simply makes Simba’s rise to energy appear much less impactful. It’s particularly odd that the Satisfaction Lands are so invested on this line of succession, when Mufasa: The Lion King reveals that there has solely been a single ruler that got here from this royal household, who was elected by the populace to steer.