Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King takes us back to the Pride Lands to explore the origin story of the mighty lion king, Mufasa. The prequel to The Lion King [1994] dives into the humble beginnings of Simba’s father, tracing his journey from an orphaned cub – an outsider – to his rise as the beloved leader of Pride Rock.
Mufasa: The Lion King opens with Rafiki (John Kani) recounting the story of Mufasa (voiced by Aaron Pierre) to Kiara [Simba’s daughter], Timon and Pumbaa, sharing how the once-ordinary cub overcame his vulnerabilities and status as an outsider to become a king. During a flood, Mufasa gets separated from his parents to find himself in new surroundings where he meets Taka [Kelvin Harrison Jr], who eventually becomes Scar. The bond between young Mufasa and Taka starts as brotherly love but spirals into rivalry during their escapade to Milele. Despite meeting familiar characters, the lacklustre screenplay by Jeff Nathanson undercuts the story’s emotional depth, leaving potentially poignant moments feeling hollow. On the brighter side, the visuals are fantastic. Disney once again delivers photo-realistic animation that brings the Pride Lands to life with stunning detail.