Warning: This post contains spoilers for Mufasa: The Lion King.Mufasa: The Lion King’s villain stands out as a reminder of a long-standing controversy regarding the classic 1994 movie. Though the Disney prequel was largely considered an unnecessary addition to the franchise,Mufasa: The Lion King’s reviewshighlight its enhanced animation, affecting soundtrack, and, most importantly, a clever story that changesThe Lion Kingcanon in the best way. LikeSimba’s Pride,Mufasa’s origin story builds Kiara’s family treeand expands on their generational history, this time, focusing on the troubling relationship between Mufasa (Aaron Pierre) and Taka (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) — later, Scar.
However, the movie’s main villain is not Scar but a merciless outsider who seeks to kill all lion kings to gain sole power over all creatures. Notably, inMufasa: The Lion King’s ending, Simba’s father fights Kiros (Mads Mikkelsen) and earns the title of king of the Pride Lands, having defended and saved the animals of Milele against the vicious tyrant. Since the trailer introduced the all-white pack of violent Outsiders, Kiros has been a topic of debate, astheMufasa: The Lion Kingvillain’s design recalls the protagonist of Osamu Tezuka’s popular anime.
The Lion King’s Kimba Controversy Explained
The Arguments Comparing The Lion King To Kimba Have Been Debunked
The Lion Kingcame out #1 at the 1994 box office and cemented the studio’s esteemed reputationas a producer of fresh animated stories. However, theories regarding its similarities to Osamu Tezuka’sKimba the White LionchallengeThe Lion King’s pride as Disney’s first originalmovie. Though Tezuka died in 1989, his devoted fans have taken it upon themselves to expose Disney for copying the Japanese author, giving way to a now 31-year-old controversy.
Kimba the White Lion, based on Osamu Tezuka’s eponymous manga, was Japan’s first color-animated TV series and ran from 1965 to 1967.
Artist Machiko Satonaka even penned an open letter to Disney, requesting they acknowledge taking inspiration from Tezuka (viaTheHollywood Reporter). These claims have since been debunked, asarguments were based on Kimba visuals that either came out afterThe Lion Kingor were not correctly contextualizedwithin their source material. For example, even if both Kimba and Simba befriend some of the same animals, the characters are strikingly different, not to mention Tezuko’s protagonist meets a wide variety of animals and even humans.
In speaking with several outlets upon the movie’s release,The Lion Kingcreators claimed to have never heard of Tezuko’s work or seenKimba the White Lionbefore.
Some also observed that Simba, like Kimba, seeks to dethrone a black-haired usurper with a scar on his left eye, has a romantic interest in a lioness from his childhood, and talks to his dead father whose face appears in the sky. Even if these do sound more than coincidental, they become minor beats againstKimba the White Lion’s extensive and unique narrative and end up being representative of common story tropes. Additionally, the likeness of their names was explained to be a translation coincidence as, in Japan, Kimba is known as Leo, while Simba means lion in Swahili.
Mufasa’s Villain Kiros Is Visually Similar To Kimba
Kimba & Kiros Are Completely Different Characters
Mufasa’s Kiros is similar to Kimba, if anything, because they’re both white lions featured in popular stories. Yet Kiros' color is the only resemblance he has to Tezuko’s character. While Kimba is a heroic figure with traits such as courage, kindness, and solidarity, Kiros is a ruthless oppressor who would never befriend other animals, let alone those he considers prey. Thesongs inMufasaexplain that white lions were banished by their prides and came together to take revenge on yellow-furred kings and claim a place in the circle of life.
How Scar Got His Scar In The Lion King & What It Means
Scar is an iconic Disney villain who now has a new origin story that reveals how he got his scar and his name in Mufasa: The Lion King.
The marginalized status of white lions inMufasa: The Lion Kingis the opposite inKimba, as the protagonist is told his color makes him superior. Disney animators may have taken some slight character design inspiration fromKimba the White Lionfor the 1994 movie, butits connections toThe Lion Kingprequel are close to none, and the controversy seems long buried.
Mufasa: The Lion King
Cast
Mufasa: The Lion King explores the origins of the beloved character Mufasa, focusing on his youth as a lost cub who encounters Taka, a royal heir. Their meeting initiates an epic journey of self-discovery and destiny, featuring a group of misfit companions navigating the challenges of their world.
