Simba Lion Prince (1985 film)

Simba Lion Prince is a 1985 Cowellan-American animated musical drama film directed by Michael Patrick Hanks and distributed by Metro Astro Pictures & Metro Astro Pictures Animation.

## Production

In September 1978, Arnold Winchell‘s daughter, Millie Winchell likes her favourite animals, Lions. So she asks her father if he could make a story about a young cub named Simba, who became the Prince of the Jungle. Winchell agrees.

Simba Lion Prince was first written by Arnold Winchell in June 1979 to February 1980. Sam Gael should be Simba's role, and William Windom to be Scar's role. The storyboard took place on July 21, 1980 to December 26, 1980 on Boxing Day.

On December 13, 1982, William Windom recorded the song "Be Prepared", and on May 6, 1984, Sam Gael recorded the song "I Just Can’t Wait To Be King" on his 9th birthday.

## Release

Simba Lion Prince was release on May 30, 1985 at the Emerald City Film Festival. On June 30, 1985, the film was released in cinemas in Cowell.

By the end of September 1985, when its cinema run finished, it had made a total of $2.5 million at the box office.

## Reception

The film was the highest-grossing locally produced film during 1985 with a gross of $2.7 million.

## Marketing

Coinciding with the film's release in 1985, McDonalds released eleven toys in their Happy Meals. Hungry Jack's has also released eleven toys in their kids meals.

## Cast

* Thomas Harris as Mufasa; a protagonist and Simba's father, King of the Pride Lands.
* Sam Gael as Simba; a secondary protagonist, son of Mufasa and Sarabi and the little hero of Pride Rock.
* Emily Gibson as Nala; Simba's best friend.
* Jennifer Morgan as Sarabi; Mufasa's mate, Simba's mother, and the leader of the lioness hunting party. She is also the hero when she saves Simba from the Stampede.
* Chris Wattings as Rafiki; an old mandrill who serves as a shaman and Royal Mjuzi of the Pride Lands.
* Rachel Ticotin as Sarafina; Nala's mother, who is shown briefly talking to Simba's mother, Sarabi.
* William Windom as Scar; the antagonist and the uncle of Simba who wants to be king instead of Simba.
* Joe B. Brown as Zazu; an uptight, red-billed hornbill that served as King Mufasa's majordomo and royal advisor, and the begrudged caretaker of Simba.
* Dorothy Field as Shenzi; the sassy and short-tempered female leader of the trio.
* Anthony Kimura as Banzai; an aggressive and hot-headed hyena prone to complaining and acting on impulse.
* Mark Ramsey as Ed; a dimwitted hyena who does not talk, only communicating through laughter.

## Plot

In the Pride Lands of African Savanna back in 825 BCE, a pride of lions rule over the animal kingdom from Pride Rock. King Mufasa's and Queen Sarabi's newborn son, Simba, is presented to the gathering animals by Rafiki the mandrill, the kingdom's shaman and advisor. Simba's uncle; Scar isn't invented to his ceremony and stays in his den.

Anyway, that is 9 years later in 834 BCE. At sunrise at Pride Rock, Mufusa is teaching his daughter, Nala how to be Queen, when his son Simba interrupts them. After apologising, the cub takes their game elsewhere: the Savannah. Suddenly, their ball is knocked into the Outlands. Simba doesn't want to go in because his father said not to, but Nala goes in anyway. Unfortunately, she bumps into two hyenas named Banzai and Ed, who attempt to capture Nala in order to fed her to their leader Shenzi. Simba saves Nala with a very powerful roar.

Back at Pride Rock, it's revealed that Mufasa, his mate Sarabi, and Rafiki heard the roar. Despite Simba's reservations, Rafiki declares Simba ready for his destiny. Rafiki tells Simba his roar is the Roar of the Elders and Mufasa tells him it means he's destined to be the leader of the new Lion Prince. He takes Simba to the Lair of the Lion Prince and gives him the history of the Lion Prince: It's composed of the bravest, strongest, fastest, fiercest, and keenest of sight in the Pride Lands to protect the Pride Lands.

Meanwhile, Simba and Nala help their friend Zazu get unstuck and meet up with Nala's aunt Sarafina. Simba tells them about the hornbill. Nala tells them it's gonna live by the philosophy of Pride Rock. She gives a musical explanation of what that is. Simba then leaves to assemble the rest of the Lion Prince. A jealous Nala heads back to Pride Rock to inform Mufasa of this.

As Mufasa's son, Simba, becomes more and more curious of the human world, Simba continues to protect the animals of the jungle from whatever may threaten them, including Scar's sinister actions, dissent amongst the animals, and deadly disease that is affecting the animals.

Meanwhile, one year later, Mufasa introduces Simba to his younger brother, Scar. Scar covets the throne and is angered by the birth of the new prince. This is the subject of an argument with first Mufasa's majordomo, the hornbill Zazu, then Mufasa himself.

So Mufasa shows a young Simba the Pride Lands and explains to him the responsibilities of kingship and the "circle of life", which connects all living things. Meanwhile, Scar plots to eliminate Mufasa and Simba, so he may become king. He tricks Simba and his best friend Nala (to whom Simba is betrothed) into exploring a forbidden elephants' graveyard by tricking Zazu. However, the cubs are soon attacked by three spotted hyenas, Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed, who are in league with Scar. Mufasa intervenes and rescues the cubs. Though upset with Simba, Mufasa forgives him and explains that the great kings of the past watch over them from the night sky, from which he will one day watch over Simba.

Scar sets a trap for his brother and nephew, luring Simba into a gorge and having the hyenas drive a large herd of wildebeest into a stampede that will trample him. Sarabi and Sarafina were resting nearby and Nala is playing on her own when they saw the herd bursting, on arriving at the place Sarabi sees Simba, and doesn’t think twice. Within seconds, Sarabi rushes to save Simba. Then at last, she has got Simba to safety. Mufasa and Scar see Sarabi saving Simba, everything works out fine.

In the Pride Rock, Mufasa and Sarabi look how Simba has to stop there, Simba says it's his Uncle Scar who told him to stay there because he had a surprise! Mufasa leaves for Scar, and Scar confesses that he wants to kill Simba and Mufasa! Sarabi and Mufasa exile Scar forever from the pride lands.

With his villain Scar gone and the Pride Lands restored, Everybody cheers happily, and Sarabi tells Simba not to tell everyone about Scar, cause it’s Sarabi and Simba’s secret. Simba is becoming king till 30 years and is still a prince. So he gives a big roar.

## Soundtrack

***Simba Lion Prince: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack*** is the soundtrack album for the 1985 animated film, *Simba Lion Prince*. It contains songs from the film written by Arnold Winchell, and a score composed by Anthony Douglass. Makato Wong & USA For Africa has a dual role of performer for several tracks. Additional performers include Thomas Harris, Sam Gael, Emily Gibson, Jennifer Morgan, Chris Wattings, Rachel Ticotin, William Windom and Joe B. Brown. The album was released on February 14, 1985, on Vinyl, CD and audio cassette. The soundtrack was recorded in four different countries: Cowell, the U.S., the U.K. and South Africa. It is the best-selling soundtrack album to an animated film in the United States with over 7 million copies sold, with 4,934,000 copies sold in 1985.

1. Circle of Life
2. The Journey Begins
3. Call of the Prince
4. A Beautiful Day
5. Zuka Zama (Nala)
6. Tonight We Strike (Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed)
7. Simba's Lament (Simba)
8. We're the Same (Simba & Nala)
9. Outta the Way (Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed)
10. I Just Can't Wait to Be King (Simba & Zazu)
11. Elephant Graveyard
12. Kings of the Past
13. Be Prepared (Scar)
14. Waiting for the Signal
15. Sarabi Saves Simba (Stampede)/Scar's Banishment/Happy Ending (Cowellan International Orchestra)
16. We Are The World (USA For Africa) (Closing Credits)