Remembrance of a Great Circle of Life: Looking back
at the film's history in my life
By: Pedro Hernandez
As we are celebrating the re-release of The Lion King
in Digital 3D, I can't help but think about the film's
legacy in my life. It all started in 1994. I was with my
friends at camp, and it was certainly a summer to remember.
This was the summer that The Lion King was released
to theaters. While I was familiar with the Disney Animated
Classics, I had never seen any of them in theaters. I had
seen the trailers for The Lion King on Disney videos,
and always said to myself, 'A movie about lions? How
BORING!'
Upon the film's release in theaters, all I could hear at
summer camp was how great it was. The Lion King was
the hot topic of the playground. After hearing so much about
it, I begged my parents to take me to see it in theaters
too, especially after I had heard that my sister and her
husband already did. And so, on one hot day in July, we went
to the movie theater. I still remember the screening room
quite clearly: packed with many kids and adults, an old-time
feel to the room, and me - jumping up and down in my seat in
excitement.

The theater then got dark, and the Walt Disney Pictures logo
appeared on screen. As soon as the iconic sunset appeared
on-screen, I was hooked. In record time I had fallen in love
with a movie. I laughed, I nearly cried, I even cheered when
it ended. Everyone who left the theater was happy. Adults
were lavishing the film with endless praise, and the kids
were talking about the characters and the music.
Weeks after I had seen the movie, I couldn't stop thinking
about it. For my birthday, I received several The Lion
King presents, including a coloring book. Back at summer
camp I kept talking to my friends about the story and
characters. I even did an arts and craft project with Simba
as the main subject! When it came time to go back to school,
my mother bought me everything related to The Lion King:
notebooks, pencils and stickers. I played the Super NES
The Lion King game (recently covered in my 'Gamer
Tuesday' column) all the time. I collected nearly all of the
Burger King toys and cups. It was the first movie I had
become obsessed with, and it didn't end there.

In 1995, the film's VHS release was quickly approaching. I
was excited, because for the first time, I wanted to OWN a
movie on VHS. While I was initially settled with renting it,
it was the Christmas present I most desired. I would watch
the Sing-Along Songs video of The Lion King
endlessly, just to hear the music until I could officially
own the film. On Christmas, my wish was finally made a
reality. I finally had my own copy of The Lion King.
I played that tape all the
time, often listening to my favorite song and reliving my
favorite scenes. It was a movie me and my cousins would
watch whenever they came to visit. It also became my nephew
and niece's favorite tape growing up!
For years, The Lion King would be my all-time
favorite Disney Animated Classic until 2003, when the film
was released on Platinum DVD. I rented the movie (I had
since lost my VHS tape), and something odd happened. I was
apathetic towards the whole movie. All the emotion I
normally felt whenever I loaded the tape was gone. It didn't
move me, it didn't make me laugh, it did nothing. This was
weird, as other Disney films usually won me over in their
respective DVD releases. The Lion King was no longer
my all-time favorite Disney Animated Classic. I was
devastated by this sudden realization. It was like my
childhood was now over. I had changed, but the movie
certainly didn't.

Years later, a discussion about the film in an online Disney
forum inspired me to go back to the movie and give it a
second chance. I watched more closely this time, paying
attention to every line said and every detail revealed. When
it was over, I was head over heels in love with it once
again, but now for different reasons.
As a kid, I
was infatuated not just with the movie but the experience as
a whole. It created so many wonderful memories that I wasn't
really paying attention to the movie, but rather the events
that occurred around it. When I revisited the film in 2003,
I saw it without any emotions clouding my judgment, and thus
the film didn't live up to my expectations. After seeing it
as an adult with a better sense of film analysis, I realize
that the movie is more than just a childhood treasure. It is
one I can easily identify with. A friend of mine once said
that I remind her of
The Lion
King. My life's journey was filled with many obstacles,
but I overcame them all with the love and support of
crazy-but-loyal friends. I went through many of the phases
Simba did on his journey. I started as a kid enthusiastic
about the possibilities of the future, then an apathetic
teenager who couldn't care less, and finally became an adult
that understands life's many challenges can be overcome if
you open your heart to others.
The Lion
King
may no longer be my all-time favorite Disney Animated
Classic, but it is still in my top five. It has become an
amazing reminder of my childhood as well as a film that
touches upon my own views on life. I want to thank all the
creative talent involved in this picture for giving me and
many children and adults a film we can all love and identify
with. I look forward to experiencing the magic once more
when
The Lion
King is re-released on Disney Blu-Ray and DVD.
