Let's bring back 2D animation: A "Mufasa the Lion King" review.
Be prepared for spoilers, of course.
Before I begin, why was Mufasa and Sarabi's love story strikingly similar to Kanthony from Bridgerton Season 2; the mild enemies-to-lovers banter, the bees popping out in pivotal moments of their relationship, Mufasa/Anthony saving Sarabi/Kate after she was knocked out by an animal, a sibling stuck in the middle of their relationship, the head strong female lead + duty bound male lead combo (tbh they were, all four, stubborn af). This wasn’t the Kanthony revival I was expecting in 2025 but I welcome it.
I saw Mufasa: The Lion King last week. I really didn’t want to because photo realistic adaptations of animated cartoon animals just feel wrong and unnatural. Seriously, nothing can replicate the amount of cute aggression I got from seeing baby Simba be presented at the top of Pride Rock for the very first time- it will never not make me sad that I cannot physically squish his cheeks. But I was bombarded with bits and pieces of information about this movie and I got really curious; who the heck is Taka? which cub was singing the “brothaaa” song? and what do you mean Mufasa doesn’t have royal blood? (Side note: can we talk about how Disney has completely bastardized how prides of lions actually work? Because what do you mean Mufasa is the only lion in the pride lands but he’s not Nala’s father? Not that I want him to be but come on. And who tf is Kovu’s father if it wasn’t Scar? I love that Sarabi and Mufasa were in love but what did that mean for the other lionesses?)
Anyway, I went to see this movie and I have some thoughts.
Here’s my point-by-point reaction (yes, I had my phone out in the theatre. In my defense, it was my second time seeing it and there was no one on my row), I don’t go into explicit detail but its definitely not spoiler free:
Timon and pumba… just no. Pumba isn’t plump enough and is way too ugly. I miss their 2D animated versions.
Baby Mufasa cuddling up against his parents is so precious, like he’s a babyyy :(
That big ass elephant, you will pay for your crimes.
Afia and Masego… I would have saved youuu.
Taka was lowkey a psycho for being so cheery about Mufasa almost being eaten.
Eshe you queen, newest member of the lion king baddies roster.
Obasi is lowkey the funniest character in this movie. He was actually so disgusted by Mufasa, why??? He’s not even malicious about it, just dumb as hell. On an unrelated note, that’s definitely an Igbo name… right?
Every time baby Mufasa and Taka show up on screen, I wish this was a 2D movie, especially during their brother song. They look way too similar as cubs.
I heard someone say baby Taka and baby Simba were very similar personality wise… so true. Really good case of nature vs nurture.
“What did you say about my brothaaaa”
Lowkey tearing up here (side note: I had a mental break down two weeks ago bc I kept watching the animated lion king movies… Scar, when I catch you 🥲)
“Pay attention, study every move I make” as he lays down to sleep… just like me fr.
I want a movie with the lion king baddies: Nala, Sarabi, Eshe, Afia, and baby girl Kiara.
Ugh get Timon and Pumba off my screen. Rafiki and Kiara can stay.
I really want to see what the animated version of the white lions would look like, imagine the slay.
You know, Taka had good intentions in the beginning. Even when he ran away from his mum being attacked, he wanted to help at first but my guy has no animal instincts thanks to his father. He had a good heart though thanks to his mum.
Mufasa is just sooo… that’s a man right there.
Oooh I hear a Nigerian accent among the white lions, hey auntyyy.
Mads Mikkelsen, even his voice has charisma. He went to Jeremy Irons’ school of evil voice acting.
Obasi is really just a misguided fool. Someone just needed to knock some sense in him. Plus he had a such a majestic mane, unrelated, I know.
Eshe nooo I’ll miss you queen! Lowkey don’t know how you stayed with Obasi for so long, your man was so unserious.
🙄 Timon and pumba get outtt.
Kiros is so fine though likeee.
This bye bye song would have been amazing in 2D animation!! Imagine the choreography and visuals. I mean, Be Prepared pt. 2 anyone??? Disney???
Ugh these f*ck ass vultures always circling when someone is about to die, f*ck you.
He did the thing! (Scratching the walls with his claws)
Evil as hell to just surround them and take them out, they didn’t even do anything wrong 😭 it was Mufasa that took out your son (sorry to betray you my king).
Also, how fast are these white lions? They took out a whole pride of lions and then caught up to Mufasa and taka… wth.
My 9ja sister returns (please get the Kerry Washington reference)
In the middle of the WOTAAH (Sidenote: very interesting casting decision to have Mufasa be voiced by a British actor who has a striking resemblance to the physical embodiment of what a human Scar might look like, and then have Taka/Scar be voiced by an American actor with a very boyish charm who honestly would have made for a great adult Simba).
These lions are actually super powered bc there ain’t no way.
Why is Pumba actually so ugly??
THE lion king baddie is here, Sarabi my queennn.
Not the baboons bullying Rafiki 🥺🫤 they don’t deserve you. He’s not even bothering anybody fr.
Wait, was that his babe? They sent him away from his babe?? Evil.
They weren’t hungry fr. I would have taken a huge chunk of Rafiki’s ass before he even said a word. No offense.
Awww the found family is complete.
Kiara is a little cutie but we could do with less cuts to the present.
Sorry, not baboon, mandril.
Masego and Afia 🥹🥲.
Morning reports!
Oooh the banter. Sarabi and Mufasa would loveee Kanthony.
Lin Manuel Miranda please never put down your pen.
Please, Taka is so much like his father. Everyone else is worried about the life and death situation they’re in and he’s crushing on a girl. She’s a baddie so I get it but let’s focus.
*sigh* Taka, your cowardice is actually getting pathetic.
Not the bee showing up. This is literally Bridgerton s2 lmaoo.
Not The Lion King 1 stampede flashbacks 🥲 Mufasa saving the loves of his life from stampedes oh you king (another Kanthony parallel).
“I got you, I got you” why are we getting sensual, this is a kids movie!! (replay please)
Mufasa giving Taka credit and Taka taking it… oh you idiots.
Mufasa is literally Lion Jesus “the lion who can do anything.”
Sarabi having flashbacks because of Mufasa’s voice 😬😬
This being the moment that Taka fully cracked… I think they could have done a better job of showing the tiny cracks leading up to this moment. There were some moments here and there but they were too subtle and Taka never seemed too bothered in those moments but this one really set him off so it seems like he became evil just because Sarabi swerved him. She wasn’t even your babe! You had no sauce!
Sarabi’s voice is so sweet and clear (Tiffany Boone you’re amazing!). Although, I think Tiffany would have made for a great Nala. I’m just so attached to OG Sarabi’s deep voice and Tiffany’s voice is very light and soothing, which gives off Nala vibes imo.
Lion king love songs are actually unmatched. This might be my favorite love song of the three. If I were to rank them, it would be: 1) Tell Me It’s You. 2) Love Will Find a Way (TLK 2 has the best songs in this franchise). 3) Can You Feel The Love Tonight (a classic tbh).
Oooh the melody at beginning of Taka’s “I want moment” was the same melody in baby Mufasa’s “I want moment” in the brother song.
Taka actually went from mildly self centered to viciously evil in one second like it wasn’t that deep, you will find another babe, I promise!
Taka is a loser fr. You don’t think the white lions will be colorist against you when they take out Mufasa?? You think they’ll accept you and your scanty ass mane?? Dumbass.
Avengers (Animals) assemble! (Mufasa, Captain America, and Optimus Prime walk into a bar and give a rousing speech, who do you walk out with?)
Lowkey want these animals to break out into “deceptionnn disgraceee.”
Not Mufasa fighting women *gasp.*
That tiny cub running away 🥺
Mufasa *still* can’t swim?? Come on now.
Sorry were they throwing punches? lol.
Taka Taka Taka, why are you so impulsive?
Kiros is actually so big like dang.
So did an earthquake form pride rock or was that Rafiki’s magic? Does he even have magic like that? A bit confusing but eh.
Seriously Mufasa, take some swimming lessons.
Wait nvm, I think he can swim, he’s just drained from the fight.
Okay is it just me or was Taka going to kill him if Sarabi didn’t show up?
His mother is alive 🥹 but where is his father?!! What happened to Masego?!
Taka choosing the name Scar was very… idk, simple? It felt a bit shoe horned in and rushed bc we know he becomes scar but they didn’t do a good job of connecting the Scar we know and the Taka they introduced in this movie. Scar is a heartless sociopath but Taka is a misguided lion. The defining moment that turns him into Scar needed to be more impactful or traumatic.
He did the walk! He did the roar! Crying in the theatre rn.
Baby Kion is so cuteee. Also, Beyonce is so Beyonce lol. I would know that woman’s voice anywhere.
I ended up liking this more than I thought I would. Truthfully, I had low expectations because the 2019 version was very disappointing to me as a fan of the franchise. But the story here was good, the songs were amazing, and the actors did amazing jobs.
The big let downs are the visual medium they chose to make this movie in, and the last act of the movie. I touched on the last act a little bit, but to expand on that; the moment Taka chooses to betray Mufasa happens when he witnesses Mufasa and Sarabi confess their feelings to each other. As Taka sings Brother Betrayed, it’s a bit jarring because the song is all about how Mufasa stole Sarabi from him, except… Sarabi was never his to begin with. In fact, she barely showed any interest in him at all, much less romantic interest. The most she showed interest in him was when Mufasa gave Taka the credit for saving her life, and all she shows is gratitude, not affection or interest, gratitude. Taka was entitled to be hurt that the girl he wanted didn’t want him but for THAT to be the thing that makes him want Mufasa dead? How did we get here? I understand that Taka was supposed to have budding resentment towards Mufasa but it never really felt like he actually resented Mufasa until this very moment. And there were those scenes that mirrored that scene in the original movie, foreshadowing Mufasa’s death, but they just felt like cheap callbacks to what we know will happen later down the line.
Same thing goes for the moment Taka becomes Scar. It didn’t feel… earned? sufficient? It was so abrupt. He led Mufasa to his death, then asked Kiros not to kill him, then contemplated pulling him out of the water. I wouldn’t expect Mufasa to brush that off or completely forgive him, all the animals wanted Taka exiled but Mufasa let him stay… on the condition that he never calls him Taka again. Which just feels weird because what type of punishment is that? And then Taka chooses the name Scar… because he just got his iconic scar on his face. And now this relatively good hearted character becomes the psychopathic villain we know. Hmm, doesn’t really pack that much of a punch.
And when it comes to the visual medium, there were several moments of the movie that I think would have greatly benefitted from being in 2D. One of them being during the villain song, Bye Bye, which was extremely catchy and lyrically insidious but lacked a matching visual scene. I can’t help but compare it to Be Prepared from the first animated movie and how that song was accompanied by some of the most haunting visuals in the entire franchise, with Scar and his army of marching hyenas. Or when Zira and her pride were villainously flying over each other during My Lullaby, with the termite’s nest they resided in animated to look like a mini castle. What we see in Mufasa: the Lion King pales in comparison because there’s only so much you can do when you don’t have unrealistically malleable animals who can move like humans to work with. 2D animation isn’t bound by the laws of nature the way live action movies are. They have to make the animals move and “talk” like animals would in real life and that’s just not… fun.
The other musical numbers suffer from this as well: I Always Wanted A Brother vs I Just Can't Wait to Be King or Upendi, Tell Me It’s You vs Can You Feel The Love Tonight or Love Will Find A Way, We Go Together vs Hakuna Matata or We Are One. The songs are amazing but the visuals really pull the storytelling together. And I think Barry Jenkins is a great director with great vision, what he did with this movie was good, but what he could have done with an animated version would have been amazing.
I don’t know why Disney abandoned the 2D animation style they did so well. It is a medium of art that has a lot of value and can create such unique, compelling stories. It cannot, and should not, be replaced with 3D animation or live action- and this is coming from someone who actually enjoys most live action adaptations, or book to screen adaptions. The more the merrier! It doesn’t have to be one or the other. Maybe in a couple of years, Disney will pull a reverse uno card and release a 2D animated version of Mufasa: the Lion King. I will be waiting, and I will be seated. In fact, I’m seated right now, release the 2D cut!
My ratings:
As a standalone story/movie- 8.5/10.
As a part of the franchise- 6.5/10.