King of Disney's Jungle, The Lion King is a Classic Tale Spun to Perfection

Rating: 9/10 (4 May 2015)

Pretty much the king of the '90s Disney resurgence, and a great example of the studio's strengths. It's a very familiar story - basically Hamlet with singing animals - but they really make it their own through charm, whimsey and simple, effective characterization. The animation is excellent, too, silky smooth and grounded in reality but also expressive, colorful and often downright stunning. Musicals aren't usually my thing, though, and once or twice it felt like the tunes were being crammed into a scene when they really weren't necessary. Still, it's a vibrant, attention-demanding classic that held my kids' hearts from start to finish and authentically embraces an under-appreciated culture. Deservedly one of animation's upper tier titles, it was really cool to share it with a new generation.