The Lion King 1½

The Lion King 1½ is a 2004 American animated musical buddy comedy-adventure film produced by Walt Disney Pictures and DisneyToon Studios. It is the spin-off to the The Lion King franchise and the midquel to Disney's 1994 animated feature film, The Lion King. It focuses on Timon and Pumbaa's story showing how they met and what they did during the events of The Lion King. This film setup as the frame story, starts out playing the very beginning of the original movie, based on Timon & Pumbaa, created by Walt Disney Television Animation, and "Cliphangers" serves as the series finale. Timon and Pumbaa are shown in silhouette commenting on the movie being shown before them, in the style similar to that of Mystery Science Theater 3000.
It stars Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Robert Guillaume, Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin, Jim Cummings, Matthew Broderick, Moira Kelly and Edward Hibbert reprising their roles from the main movies and spin-off series with Julie Knaver and Jerry Stiller joining them voicing new characters. 
This film was positively welcomed from audience and film critics alike that praised its original story, irriverent humor, heart and soundtrack. Unlike the sequels, this film was released in theaters in some countries. 
This movie was released on February 10, 2004. 
==Plot==
This film is told through the perspective of Timon and Pumbaa through the literary device known as a frame story and starts out with the two watching the original film, The Lion King, being shown in silhouette commenting on the movie being shown before them, in a style nearly identical to that of Mystery Science Theater 3000.
They quickly stop the film and rewind it so they can show their side of the story, occasionally stopping the footage to talk with one another. Timon shows Pumbaa the meerkat's backstory, revealing him to be an outcast in his colony on the outskirts of the Pridelands. While supported by his mother Ma, Timon wished for more in life and left the colony after his Uncle Max is nearly eaten by hyenas Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed. He meets mandrill Rafiki who advises him to find his place in the world via Hakuna Matata. Timon wanders into some long grass upon deciding to venture to Pride Rock, meeting Pumbaa for the first time and they become friends very quickly.
The pair arrive at Pride Rock during Simba's presentation to the Pridelands' animals. However, Pumbaa informs Timon that he gets anxious in crowds and passes gas explosively that knocks some of the animals out, making the rest of them kneel. Mufasa sees this and is very puzzled, but Zazu tells him that they are bowing down to Simba. Timon and Pumbaa look for several other places to live, intercepting with other events in the film. They are eventually caught in the wildebeest stampede that takes the life of Mufasa, but survive, and find a vast jungle which they decide to make their home, Timon learning of Pumbaa's own philosophy of Hakuna Matata, embracing it to his fullest. However, the two find Simba and raise him as their own despite the negative effects of Hakuna Matata.
Years on, Nala appears after chasing Pumbaa and reunites with Simba. Timon and Pumbaa attempt to prevent the two lions from getting together, but ultimately fail in their plan. Timon spots Simba running away after his off-screen argument with Nala and laughs it off (Not explaining that Timon thought they were still together in the first film), Pumbaa feeling guilty. Later, Nala appears asking where Simba is, but Rafiki explains Simba has run off to challenge Scar. After Nala goes to follow Simba, Pumbaa argues with Timon, who is angry that Simba had left them and selfishly declares he has everything he wanted in the jungle, but when Pumbaa leaves, loneliness started to kick in. Rafiki appears to Timon and reminds him that his Hakuna Matata is not a home but friendship, prompting Timon to go after his friends.
At Pride Rock, Timon and Pumbaa evade the hyenas but run into Ma and Uncle Max who came looking for Timon. Wanting to help Simba, Timon proposes that they get rid of the hyenas by using tunnels. Whilst Simba fights Scar, Ma Zazu and Uncle Max construct a series of tunnels beneath them, Timon and Pumbaa use various tactics to distract the hyenas. When the tunnels are done, they quickly knock down the sticks keeping them from caving in; however, the last few do not fall and thus, the plan fails. Now cornered once again by the hyenas, Timon dives underground and quickly hurries and breaks the remaining sticks, saving his family and Pride Rock. Immediately afterwards, Scar is thrown off of Pride Rock by Simba and falls into the same location as the hyenas, who kill him for betraying them. Simba accepts his place as king of the Pride Lands, thanking Timon and Pumbaa for helping him. Timon takes Ma, Uncle Max and the meerkat colony to live in the jungle, realizing his true Hakuna Matata is family. The meerkats and Pumbaa celebrate with Simba, praising Timon as their hero for finding them a safe, beautiful haven and forever ridding them of the hyenas. In the final scene of the film, Ma, Uncle Max, Simba, Rafiki, and several silhouetted Disney characters (who don't belong in the movie) join Timon and Pumbaa to re-watch the movie in the cinema. Then Pumbaa informs Timon he still grows anxious in crowds, ending the movie.
==Cast==
*Nathan Lane as Timon
*Ernie Sabella as Pumbaa
*Julie Kavner as Ma
*Jerry Stiller as Uncle Max
*Matthew Broderick as Adult Simba
*Robert Guillaume as Rafiki
*Whoopi Goldberg as Shenzi
*Cheech Marin as Banzai
*Jim Cummings as Ed
*Matt Weinberg as Young Simba
*Moira Kelly as Nala
*Edward Hibbert as Zazu
*Jason Rudofsky as Flinchy
===Additional Voices===
*Tony Anselmo - Donald Duck
*Jeff Bennett - Bashful
*Corey Burton - Grumpy
*Cam Clarke
*Bill Farmer - Sleepy, Goofy Goof
*Shaun Fleming - Lost Boys
*Carolyn Gardner - Snow White
*Bob Joles - Sneezy
*Tress MacNeille
*Alex Manugian
*Del Roy - Doc
*Chris Sanders - Stitch
*Kevin Schon - Iron Joe, Happy
*Blayne Weaver - Peter Pan
*Andrea Wolfson
===Uncredited===
*Oliver King - Young Simba (Singing Voice)
*Frank Welker - Animal Vocal Effects
== Reception ==
The film received generally positive reviews from film critics.
Based on 15 reviews from review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 73% approval rating, with an average rating of 6.3.
Frank Lovece of TV Guide stated that "This retelling of THE LION KING (1994) from the point of view of comic sidekicks Timon (voice of Nathan Lane) and Pumbaa (Ernie Sabella) is one of the rare Disney direct-to-video sequels worthy of the original." He went on to say that "The only aspect of the film that feels forced is the revisionist positioning of Timon as young Simba's step-dad, which has no emotional echo in the first film. The quality of the animation is surprisingly impressive; some static backgrounds are the primary concession to a small-screen budget and the fluid character movements and expressions are vastly superior to those of, say, the Timon and Pumbaa TV cartoon series," and gave the film 3½ stars out of 4.http://movies.tvguide.com/lion-king-1/review/137367
== Soundtrack ==
The film soundtrack, The Lion King 1½: Songs From Timon and Pumbaa's Hilarious Adventure, was released to CD by Disney Records on February 10, 2004. It includes two songs from the original film, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" and "Hakuna Matata", re-performed by Nathan Lane who voiced the character Timon. The rest of the soundtrack includes various R&B tracks, including remakes of the Kool and the Gang classic "Jungle Boogie" by The French, and two instrumental pieces from film composer Don Harper. It features Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock's "Sunrise, Sunset" from "Fiddler on the Roof". Ennio Morricone was the original composer of "The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly". 
# "Nants Ingonyama"
# "Grazing In The Grass" (Raven-Symoné)
# "Digga Tunnah Dance" (Lebo M and [[Vinx)
# "That's All I Need" (Nathan Lane) (based on unused song from original film called "Warthog Rhapsody")
# "Hakuna Matata" (Lane, and Ernie Sabella)
# "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" (Lebo M)
# "Jungle Boogie"
# "Timon's Traveling Theme"
# "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" Theme
# "Sunrise, Sunset" (from "Fiddler on the Roof")
# "Peter Gunn" Theme
# "Digga Tunnah Dance (reprise)" (Lebo M and Vinx)
# "The Big Wrap-Up Theme"
==Awards==
* 2005 Annie Award for
** "Best Home Entertainment Production" (Won)
** "Music in an Animated Feature Production" (Nominated)
* 2005 DVD Exclusive Awards in the following categories:
** Best Animated Character Performance (Nathan Lane - voice, Alexis Stadermann - animator) for "Timon" (Won)
** Best Animated DVD Premiere Movie (Won)
** Best Director (of a DVD Premiere Movie) - Bradley Raymond (Won)
** Best Editing (of a DVD Premiere Movie) - Joyce Arrastia (Won)
** Best Screenplay (for a DVD Premiere Movie) - Tom Rogers (Won)
* 2005 Saturn Award
** "Best DVD Release" (Nominated)
==See Also==
* Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
==References==
==External links ==
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Category:2004 films
Category:2004 animated films
Category:2004 direct-to-video films
Category:American animated films
Category:Annie Award winners
Category:Animated comedy films
Category:Animated adventure films
Category:Buddy films
Category:DisneyToon Studios animated films
Category:Disney direct-to-video films
Category:Films featuring anthropomorphic characters
Category:The Lion King
Category:Direct-to-video prequel films
Category:Disney films
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Category:Musical films
Category:Comedy films
Category:Adventure films
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