A Strong Father and Son Relationship: The Lion King

If one Disney movie can be called the best and most recognizable, many would say it would be The Lion King.  When watching it, everybody starts singing/yelling noises to the opening sunrise scene, “The Circle of Life,” and at least a fifth of my class’ senior quotes were “Hakuna Matata.”  However, one of the most memorable and devastating moments for the viewer, as well as the protagonist Simba, was Mufasa’s death, because he and his father had such a powerful relationship.

The Lion King is a story about Simba’s coming of age and his journey into adulthood.  Simba, who “Just Can’t Wait to be King,” loses his father at the hand of his evil uncle, Scar, who chases him away from the Pride Lands.  Simba must then make a choice between the carefree lifestyle that he had adopted and the life his father wished for him.  He returns to defeat Scar and take his father’s place as King of Pride Rock.

Simba's relationship with Mufasa is one of the strongest relationships in any Disney movie.  Simba completely idolizes his father, Mufasa, and wants nothing more than to be a great king just like him.  Many children, especially sons, look up to their fathers in the same way.

Humorously, Simba’s childhood notions of leadership are completely backwards.  Mufasa spends most of his screen time trying to teach his son the true responsibilities of being king while Simba runs amok, just as any father figure would guide and his son to being a better person.

In this scene, Mufasa scolds Simba for disobeying his orders and putting himself and others in danger.  We see how Simba compares himself to his father at 0:09, with his paw print, and at 0:40, saying "I was just trying to be brave like you." Mufasa responds with another valuable two cents for Simba about bravery and then assures his son that he will always be there to watch over him.

Many viewers think the scenes between Simba and Mufasa are some of the most precious moments in the movie.  Simba clearly looks up to his dad and depends on him in every way.  Any father and son can relate to these moments.  Mufasa obviously adores his son, wants him to become the best king he can be, and would even die for him.

Simba distraught over his father's death

The heart wrenching scene of Simba finding Mufasa dead hits the audience, who has started relating Mufasa to their own father, just as hard as it hits Simba.  This is when we see just how important Mufasa is.  Simba casts away his desire to be king because of his mistaken guilt for his father's death.

Mufasa gives Simba the strength
to return home and take his place in
the "Circle of Life"

Later in the movie, Simba must choose either the "no worries" lifestyle of "Hakuna Matata" or going back to accept the responsibility that his father left him.  Simba finally has some sense knocked into him when his father's spirit appears before him, encourages him to go back and stops him from running away from his past.

Mufasa and Simba are an example of an extremely strong parent and child relationship.  Throughout the plot of the movie, many of Simba’s actions are taken based on his father’s lessons.   They spend a great deal of time together and obviously care for each other very much.  When that connection is taken away, Simba becomes depressed, but eventually rises to his father’s expectations.

Simba and Mufasa's relationship is strong from the get-go, but others may have to work a little harder and be a little bit braver to get to achieve that same bond.