The Lion King II: Simba's Pride

Now we come to one of my personal favorites, if not my favorite, direct-to-video sequel, “The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride,” released in 1998. Disney must have set a new record for sales of a direct-to-video title when this one came to retail stores. Don’t be surprised if some buyers aren’t parents of small children. Completely opposite to most of the studio’s direct-to-video sequels to the animated hits released in theaters, this one isn’t simply kids stuff. Joe Leydon mentioned that, “Not unlike its predecessor, “Lion King II” has enough across-the-board appeal to entertain viewers of all ages.”

The sequel starts where the first one ended, with Simba, reprised by Matthew Broderick, became the king of Pride Rock in the African Pridelands after his uncle Scar was torn by the hyenas. With his childhood sweetheart Nala (Moira Kelly) with him, Simba celebrates at the ceremonial birth of his newborn, Kiara (Michelle Horn as a cub and Neve Campbell as an adult). Leydon said, “The curtain-raiser owes a lot to the opening “Circle of Life” sequence from the first “Lion King,” to the point of being underscored by a similarly rousing song (“He Lives in You”).” Once that’s done, however, the new movie (directed by Darrell Rooney, co-directed by Rob LaDuca and written by Flip Kobler and Cindy Marcus) begins to develop its own version.

Much to the panic of the overly protective Simba, Kiara is an interested and energetic free spirit who likes to wander off on disasters. While walking through the forbidden Outlands, where Scar’s followers have been exiled, Kiara becomes friends with another rambunctious cub, Kovu, voiced by Ryan O’Donohue as a cub and Jason Marsden as an adult.

Unfortunately, Kovu is the son of Zira, voiced by Suzanne Pleshette, the lioness who leads the ones who have been exiled. Even more unfortunate is that Zira – a close friend of Scar’s – wants to kill Simba. At first, Kovu is in with his mother’s plans for revenge. However, as he gets older and falls in love with Kiara, things get considerably more complicated. I know what you're thinking and yes, this film is just like Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

Most of the original characters – and, what’s better, the original voices – are back for “The Lion King II.” Once again, Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella steal every scene that isn’t nailed down as, respectively, Timon, the mischievous meerkat, and Pumbaa, the farting warthog. Robert Guillaume gets a chance in the spotlight as Rafiki when the clever baboon mainly sings in “Upendi,” a playfully romantic song that echoes the cheerfulness of the previous movie’s “Hakuna Matata.” Edward Hibbert replaces Rowan Atkinson as Zazu, but at least he’s still in the movie.

Leydon credited, “Among the newcomers, Campbell makes a winning impression as Kiara, while Pleshette is so effectively evil that she almost, but not quite, compensates for the absence of Jeremy Irons as Scar.” Though there is a nightmare scene with Scar, that Jim Cummings voices, but it’s just the laugh. Comedian, musician, TV and film producer Andy Dick is in here as Kovu’s brother, Nuka, and Jennifer Lien voices Kovu’s and Nuka’s sister, Vitani, but as a cub, she is voiced by Lacey Chabert.

Animation, while hardly as abundant and detailed as in the original, is clearly better than average for a direct-to-video movie. Leydon mentioned that, “Among the six new songs, the standouts include “We Are One,” an anthem-like showstopper, and the aforementioned “He Lives in You.” Latter, it’s worth noting, comes from a concept album (“Rhythm of the Pridelands”) inspired by the original 1994 pic.” Afterward, the song was put into the Broadway production of “The Lion King.”

Ironically, the same way I found out about “Pocahontas II,” I found out about “Lion King II.” One day, the movie was on TV, but I didn’t watch it since we owned the first one on VHS, but I did see the preview of “Lion King II” with the “We Are One” song playing. My brother said that they were coming out with the second movie, and when it was released, we bought it. I saw the movie a lot as a child, and last year after I was done with the first movie, I believe the next day I re-watched the second movie after so many years. When I was a kid, I liked this one better than the first, but now as an adult, I think both are just as good, since I can’t decide anymore. You can’t beat the original, but this one is also a nice one to see, especially if you liked the first one. Definitely check this one out, it’s actually a good one compared to the other direct-to-video sequels and you’ll love it.

There is another "The Lion King" movie that they made, but that won't come until later on. Check in tomorrow when I talk about the last of the “Beauty and the Beast” sequels.