When the live-action The Lion King came out in 2019, the biggest complaint for the movie was the lack of emotion in the animals, but it appears that Mufasa: The Lion King has corrected the earlier movie’s mistake. Disney’s efforts to revive many Disney classics with live-action remakes has been hotly debated for years, but despite the box office success of their 2019 live-action The Lion King, it received a lot of backlash. The movie earned $1.65 billion at the box office (via Box Office Mojo), making it the most financially successful live-action remake from the studio, but the look and feel of the animals was criticized.
However, the trailer for the new original movie, which will serve as a prequel to The Lion King, Mufasa: The Lion King, looks like the criticism was taken on board. The popular YouTube channel, Corridor Crew even commented on the updates in their VFX Artists Reacts series, where Jordan Allan notes that “They’ve added the cartoony nature back.” While the team at Corridor clearly have the experience to spot the difference, the change is easily recognizable for anyone comparing the previous movie and Mufasa.
Mufasa’s Animals Have More Cartoonish Features Despite The Photorealism
Mufasa Has Improved On The CGI Style Since The Lion King
The creatives working on Mufasa have clearly made a conscious effort to alter the look and feel of the animals featured to strike a balance and deliver a better overall film. In the trailer, expressions, such as joy, happiness, sadness, fear, excitement, and more can be seen in the expressions of the animals, which is obviously not typical in any real life animals. However, since this is a movie, and based on an incredibly popular franchise that is so universally loved, it’s important to make compromises.
Related
Should Disney make more live-action Lion King movies?
Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King prequel could be a sign that there are more live-action Lion King movies on the way. After the huge success of the first Lion King movie, even though audiences had mixed feelings about how it was adapted, this isn’t that surprising. I am wary of Mufasa: The Lion King and how it could possibly ruin Mufasa’s character and legacy, so I’m currently not in favor of more live-action Lion King movies. However, I could be proven wrong when the movie comes out.
In the case of other live-action remakes, most have the ability to cast real people, and remake the project with live actors performing in specified roles. When it comes to adapting a movie where talking animals are the primary players, it’s less straightforward. Despite this, it does appear that Mufasa’s updates have made the characters easier to engage with and empathize with. And when it comes to making a movie that is likely going to be an emotional rollercoaster, judging by the themes of the original, emotion is a key aspect to get right.
Disney’s Lion King “Live-Action” Remake Couldn’t Capture The Magic Of The Original
The Live-Action Lion King Had A Clear Missing Piece
In the case of the 2019 live-action remake, the movie unfortunately did not deliver the same emotional charge as the original. Instead, The Lion King remake went for total photorealism, with the animals on screen appearing majestic and imposing, but ultimately, emotionless. Yes, the movie followed all the same beats as the original, it cast A-list celebrities and brought back iconic actors like James Earl Jones, but it lacked the emotional core that made the 1994 movie such a success. The original movie made the audience feel for young Simba, and cheer him on as he returned to take the throne.
The movie unfortunately did not deliver the same emotional charge as the original.
Yes, the remake managed to put together something that was technically and even visually stunning, but that doesn’t mean it carries any real weight. It ended up feeling more like an Animal Planet documentary, with some odd interactions between the animals, than the story-driven film that it was remaking. And when it comes to trying to capture Disney magic and getting fans old and new on board, a movie like The Lion King needs to have a soul, not just a beautiful exterior.
Mufasa May Have Found The Right Balance Between Photorealism And Character Expressions
Mufasa Captures Emotion And Majesty in The Lions
It may be a little early to say it, but if the trailer is anything to go by, it looks like Mufasa has made a genuine effort to bridge the gap, and create something that caters to both the visuals, and the emotion. From just the short clips and scenes on show, it’s a stark contrast to what appeared in the first movie, and it genuinely feels as though these lions have emotion, character, and a personality. And it also helps that the story is new and original, rather than simply putting out another remake.
With all of these elements combined, Mufasa may be able to carry the legacy of the series forward, and actually capture that Disney spark of magic once again. It’s certainly a worthwhile effort in terms of creating a prequel that goes into the history of Mufasa, the future king, and his adoptive brother, Taka, who would eventually turn on him and become Scar. This narrative, combined with the new emotive style for the live-action CGI characters could make Mufasa: The Lion King, Disney’s next billion dollar box office hit.