Mufasa Explained

Mufasa is a fictional character in Disney's The Lion King franchise. A wise and benevolent lion, he first appears in the 1994 animated film as the King of the Pride Lands and devoted father to Simba, who he is raising to inherit the kingdom. Mufasa is killed by his younger brother, Scar, who murders him to usurp the throne. His death forces Simba into exile, but Mufasa's ghost later appears to an adult Simba, urging him to return home and confront his responsibilities as rightful heir. Mufasa was voiced by actor James Earl Jones, who portrayed him as an authoritative yet doting father, rather than a purely regal figure.

Created by screenwriters Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts, and Linda Woolverton, Mufasa underwent several changes during production of The Lion King. Notably, the decision to make Mufasa and Scar brothers was made to enhance the plot, and Mufasa was reintroduced as a ghost to give Simba a compelling reason to return to Pride Rock. The filmmakers extensively debated whether showing Mufasa's death on-screen was suitable for a children's film. Some writers suggested it should occur off-screen, but director Rob Minkoff insisted on depicting it explicitly, an unprecedented choice for an animated film. Mufasa's animation, supervised by Tony Fucile, drew inspiration from Jones's mannerisms and smile.

Jones received widespread acclaim for his performance. While some critics and audiences initially debated whether Mufasa's death was too frightening for children—many comparing it to the death of Bambi's mother in Bambi (1942)—the scene is retrospectively regarded as one of the most memorable deaths in film history, particularly resonating with millennials. Several publications have also celebrated Mufasa as one of the greatest fictional fathers in popular culture.

Mufasa's likeness has appeared in various tie-in media and merchandise. Jones reprised his role in the 2019 remake of The Lion King, the only main cast member from the original film to return. Actor Samuel E. Wright received a Tony Award nomination for originating the role on Broadway in the film's 1997 stage adaptation. A prequel to the 2019 remake, , is scheduled for release in 2024 and will explore Mufasa's childhood.

Role

In The Lion King (1994), King Mufasa rules over the Pride Lands alongside his mate, Queen Sarabi.^[1] Their young son, Simba, is destined to inherit the throne. Mufasa teaches Simba about the "Circle of Life" and the delicate balance required to maintain harmony in the Pride Lands.^[2] He advises Simba to prepare for the day when he will succeed him as king.^[3] However, Mufasa’s envious younger brother, Scar, covets the throne and devises a scheme to eliminate both Mufasa and Simba. Scar lures Simba into a gorge and orchestrates a wildebeest stampede, knowing Mufasa will risk his life to save his son.^[4] After rescuing Simba, Mufasa is swept into the stampede and struggles to escape. Reaching for Scar’s help at the gorge’s edge, Mufasa is betrayed as Scar claws his paws and pushes him to his death.^{[5] [6] [7]} Scar manipulates Simba into believing he is responsible for Mufasa's death,^[8] prompting the guilt-ridden cub to flee the Pride Lands.^[9] Lost and alone, Simba finds refuge in the jungle, where he is raised by the carefree Timon and Pumbaa, a meerkat and a warthog. Despite his relaxed new lifestyle, Simba remains haunted by guilt over his father’s death. Years later, Simba encounters Rafiki, a wise mandrill who reveals that Mufasa’s spirit endures within him. Mufasa appears to Simba as a ghostly vision in the sky, urging him to accept his responsibilities and reclaim his place as king.^{[10] [11]} Inspired, Simba returns to the Pride Lands, defeats Scar, and fulfills his destiny as Mufasa’s successor. In The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride (1998), Mufasa has a smaller role, appearing in the sky to offer guidance to Simba and communicating with Rafiki through the wind.^[12]

Development

Creation

The Lion King was the first film released during the Disney Renaissance to focus on a father-son relationship, rather than a romantic one.^[13] Producer Don Hahn described the film as "essentially a love story between a father and a son ... It’s about that moment in life when you realise that your father is going to pass on to you his wisdom and knowledge". In early drafts of the film, Mufasa was not related to Scar, but the producers decided that making these characters brothers would provide a more interesting story. However, the characters' physical appearances had already been finalized, leaving little family resemblance between the pair.^[14] According to director Rob Minkoff, they had always imagined that Mufasa accidentally gave Scar his eponymous scar when they were children.^[15] Although Mufasa and Scar refer to each other as "brothers" as members of the same pride,^{[16] [17]} Hahn retrospectively suggested that it would have been unlikely for Mufasa and Scar to share the same parents because lion prides typically have only one adult male,^[18] with younger rogue lions often killing a pride's original leader and his offspring to assert dominance.^{[19] [20]}

Screenwriter Linda Woolverton described writing Mufasa's death as realizing they would need to make him "the greatest father that ever lived" for his death to feel particularly impactful.^[21] By the time Minkoff became involved, they had already decided Mufasa would die from a stampede, albeit in a less brutal manner. Death via stampede was one of the few ideas that remained unchanged during the film's production, which was chosen because lions lack natural predators. Minkoff lobbied in favor of exploring his death in more detail, which was unusual for an animated film at the time. The director also understood the risk of killing a character as important as Mufasa so late into the film, after viewers had already become attached.^[22] Although they drew inspiration from the implied off-screen death of Bambi's mother in Bambi (1942),^{[23] [24] [25]} Minkoff argued that The Lion King should confront Mufasa's death in a more direct manner by having Simba interact with his dead body on-screen.^[26] According to art director Andy Gaskill, the decision to slowly reveal Mufasa's corpse as the dust clears from the scene heightens its realism by allowing audiences and Simba to realize what has occurred simultaneously. The creative team was initially divided on whether showing Mufasa's death was appropriate for the film's target audience,^{[27] [28]} and carefully re-wrote the scene to straddle "'the sweet spot of emotion,' pushing just far enough without making the scene too overwhelming for its young audience". One crew member suggested that his death occur in the distance or shadows, which Minkoff vetoed. Despite its short length, Mufasa's death required approximately 30 filmmakers and over two years to complete;^[29] it was the last scene finished, despite being the first storyboarded. Even as the sequence progressed through different stages of production, inbetweener Rachel Bibb still expected it to be edited out, but it was ultimately retained because Disney understood its importance to the final film.

Mufasa's death prompted the filmmakers to conceive ways to lighten the film's mood afterward.^[30] Minkoff suggested sending Simba into exile immediately, which allowed the emotional impact of Mufasa's death to be alleviated by Timon and Pumbaa's humor.^[31] Originally, they had not planned for Mufasa to reappear after dying,^[32] but they wanted Simba to have a concrete reason to return to Pride Rock, and decided his father's ghost should convince him.^[33] Mufasa's death and return as a ghost are among several thematic similarities The Lion King shares with William Shakespeare's play Hamlet,^[34] from which screenwriters Irene Mecchi and Jonathan Roberts drew inspiration.^[35] However, they removed a version of Mufasa's death that included the line "good night, sweet prince" to avoid sounding "too self-conscious". Animator Chris Sanders and story artist Brenda Chapman were responsible for the scene where Mufasa's spirit tells Simba to return home.^{[36] [37] [38]} Since it was one of the first scenes written for the film, Chapman wrote Mufasa's dialogue repeating "remember" to call back to an earlier moment when Mufasa scolds Simba for visiting the elephant graveyard, although that scene had not yet been written. She had intended for the dialogue to merely serve as a placeholder but it was ultimately retained. From the dialogue, Sanders determined that the character would manifest as either "a lifelike ghost, a series of stars, or just a dark presence" in the scene. He drew inspiration from a musical excerpt from the film The Mission (1986), and used pastels "to fully encapsulate a vision of Mufasa emerging from the clouds".

Voice

Actor Sean Connery was Disney's initial choice to voice Mufasa.^{[39] [40] [41] [42]} Liam Neeson was also considered.^[43] Mufasa was voiced by American actor James Earl Jones. Disney claims that, once the character was realized, it was difficult to envision anyone other than Jones voicing Mufasa.^[44] Jones was drawn to the role because he was impressed by drawings he had seen of Mufasa and relished the opportunity to create a character using only his voice, claiming the process reminded him of his early work performing on radio. As a prolific thespian, he was also attracted to the film's Shakespearean elements. He described voice acting as the "purest form" of acting, likening it to performing in ancient Greek theatre "where the actors would wear masks. In our case, the masks are the animators’ drawings and we just simply supply all the behaviors, emotions, and feelings behind that mask”.^[45]

According to Jones, he originally made the mistake of forcing his character to sound regal before receiving direction to voice Mufasa as himself, who the actor described as more akin to "a dopey dad".^[46] Jones explained that "Fathers are not always grand, certainly not with their sons. When you accommodate being a father, you are often dopey and goofy. You are just Dad".^[47] Inspired by his revised tone of voice, the animators proceeded to incorporate Jones's own facial expressions into Mufasa's.^[48] Minkoff and co-director Roger Allers praised Jones's work on the film,^[49] recalling that his vocal exercises alone "sometimes sounded like a real lion with a rumbling growl".^[50] Allers claims his voice would echo throughout the studio, without the aid of a microphone. Nonetheless, they strategically placed six microphones around his head to give the illusion that his voice was "coming from everywhere". Jones worked on the film sporadically for over two years until Disney was satisfied.^[51] A song had originally been written for the character,^[52] which was not used in the final film once Disney realized Jones was unable to perform it. Entitled "To Be King",^[53] it was ultimately reworked into "I Just Can’t Wait To Be King", performed by Simba. Jones and actress Madge Sinclair, who voiced Sarabi, had previously played a king and queen couple in Coming to America (1988).^{[54] [55] [56]} The actor voiced the character again in The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride (1998) and (2015).

In 2011, Jones said he would often prove to younger children that he was the voice of Mufasa by saying "Simba. You have deliberately disobeyed me" in his character's voice.^[57] Jones was the only original cast member to reprise his role in the 2019 remake of The Lion King.^{[58] [59] [60]} The remake's director, Jon Favreau, was surprised that Jones agreed to return for the project.^[61] Out of respect and admiration for the actor, Favreau refused to give Jones direction regarding his performance, reassuring him that he already embodied the character.^[62] While most of the cast recorded together in a black box theater in California, Jones worked solo in a New York recording studio. Much of the character's dialogue from the original film was also retained. The remake was one of his final film credits before his death on September 9, 2024.^[63] Actor Aaron Pierre will voice the character in 2024's , a prequel to the 2019 film.^[64] Pierre cited Jones as one of his greatest inspirations.

Personality and design

Jones described Mufasa as an authoritative but ultimately gentle father. Jones's staunch demeanor during recording sessions served as inspiration for supervising animator Tony Fucile. Fucile said Jones provided both the regal quality and "fatherly warmth" the animators needed to create the character, explaining, "it was up to us to visually come up to that standard that he set with his voice". Specifically, the animators borrowed Jones's "dopey smile" he would wear during recording sessions, and incorporated it into Mufasa's face. Fucile found watching Jones's performance in the film Matewan (1987) to be particularly helpful because the actor "used a lot of facial expressions and eye movements to communicate", mirroring Mufasa's tendency to be subtle and convey a lot of emotion with little movement.^[65] The animators borrowed some design elements from Mufasa for adult Simba to make the latter look more heroic.^[66] Under Fucile, Phillip Young was another animator who worked on Mufasa, which Young referred to as his "best character assignment".^[67] Prior to The Lion King, Young had mostly animated action scenes, some of which he also did for Mufasa, but he considers the character the first time "in which I could exercise some acting chops".^[68] He also animated Mufasa's stampede scenes, as well as some of his interactions with Simba.

Animator Chris Wahl specifically requested to work on Mufasa because he admired Fucile and Jones's vocal performance. Despite the character's lack of footage due to his smaller role and having already assembled an animation team, the filmmakers allowed Wahl to help animate the character.^[69] Maquettes of the character were created by animation sculptor Kent Melton.^[70]

Reception

Critics and audiences initially expressed varying opinions about Mufasa's death.^{[71] [72]} According to Jessica Wang of Entertainment Weekly, no viewer was left "emotionally unaffected" in 1994.^[73] Dan Webster of The Spokesman-Review called the moment "a plot twist unfamiliar to this era of family-values emphasis".^[74] Film critic Hal Hinson predicted that Mufasa's death would be as widely debated as Bambi's mother's.^[75] At the time of the film's release, news outlets reported that several parents complained that the scene was inappropriate for a film marketed towards younger viewers,^[76] voicing concerns about children potentially experiencing nightmares, worrying about their own parents, and regressing. In return, some commentators accused said parents of being overprotective.^[77] According to Darryl E. Owens of Tampa Bay Times, child-development experts warned that the death could be traumatizing and anxiety-inducing should parents fail to prepare their children before viewing,^[78] but child therapist Mercedes Ojeda-Castro encouraged parents to use the opportunity to discuss death.^[79] Several critics cited Mufasa's death as potentially frightening for younger viewers.^{[80] [81] [82] [83]} Journalist Janet Maslin questioned the film's G rating,^[84] and the Ottawa Citizen's Jay Stone said the film "could have done without" Simba's attempt to awaken his dead father. Ranking it among the most traumatic Disney film moments, Paolo Ragusa of Consequence said, "It may be cruel, but with years of reflection, it’s a profoundly important detail in the scope of The Lion King, and though it’s difficult to not feel the pangs of loss after all this time, it’s animated with palpable emotion and cinematic elegance".^[85] Several reviewers, such as Roger Ebert,^[86] compared Mufasa's death to that of Bambi's mother,^{[87] [88] [89] [90] [91]} with Hugh Armitage of Digital Spy describing it as "Bambi's mother's death for a new generation - just much more visceral and violent".^[92] Variety's Jeremy Gerard suggested that parents who remember being traumatized by Bambi should use it to gauge "who goes to "The Lion King"—and who stays home with the babysitter".^[93] However, Animation World Network's Rick DeMott suggested that public's reaction was muted compared to the impact of Bambi's mother.^[94]

Rob Humanick of Slant Magazine called Mufasa a "badass father figure",^[95] but Stone found him one-dimensional. Jones received critical acclaim for his performance,^{[96] [97] [98]} which Kaushal S. of Soap Central dubbed one of the most celebrated voice-acting performances from recent decades.^[99] Digital Spy's Simon Reynolds said Jones brought the character to life "brilliantly".^[100] Film critic David Sterritt called him a standout among the film's cast,^[101] while Kate Erbland of Film School Rejects called his casting "both strikingly great and thuddingly obvious".^[102] Turner Classic Movies said the actor's "distinct baritone was put to excellent use".^[103] According to Daniel Carter of Beliefnet, Jones's efforts resulted in "a beloved character that resonated with audiences worldwide".^[104] Rebecca Kivak of The Scranton Times-Tribune said she immediately respected Mufasa "as I would any parent" due to Jones's delivery of his character's meaningful lines.^[105] According to Elizabeth Gregory of the Evening Standard, Jones's voice stood out amidst a cast of great actors.^[106] João Gabriel de Lima of Veja also called Jones the film's standout performance, writing that Mufasa would have been less majestic without Jones' contribution.^[107] Lex Pryor of The Ringer said Jones outshone his co-stars in the remake, despite his limited screentime and dialogue.^[108] In a rare negative review, The Independent's Anthony Quinn found Jones's performance "insufferable" and "portentous".^[109]

Several publications consider Mufasa to be one of Jones's greatest performances of his career.^{[110] [111] [112] [113] [114] [115] [116]} Calling Mufasa one of "pop culture’s most imposing dads", Noel Murray of The New York Times said that "Few other performers of Jones’s era could have made characters so vivid while sitting in front of a microphone",^[117] while P. Ragusa of Consequence said the actor elevated the film's material, with his line delivery remaining "as poignant all these years later as it is necessary for the plot". Game Rant and Esquire Australia ranked The Lion King his best performance.^{[118] [119]} Mary Kate Carr of The A.V. Club said the actor "imbued the character with such dignity and distinction", to the point where he speaks the film's most iconic lines. Wilson Chapman of IndieWire said "Few actors have ever been better suited for a voice role than Jones was for Mufasa", calling the actor equally effective during his quieter moments parenting Simba. According to Paste, The Lion King is the actor's six-best movie.^[120] Pinkvilla's Suhasini Oswal wrote that his "performance defined the character's regal and compassionate nature, cementing his place in the hearts of generations".

Cultural impact

Legacy and commendations

In 2014, Camille Dautrich of the Springfield News-Leader described Mufasa as one "of the world's most beloved animated characters".^[121] Reporting for Good Morning America, Nicole Pelletiere said his wisdom and legacy endeared him to Disney fans.^[122] The A.V. Club ranked him the 30th "best Disney animated character of all time",^[123] and GamesRadar+ ranked him 25th.^[124] Mufasa has been described by several publications as one of the greatest fathers to have appeared on film,^{[125] [126] [127] [128] [129]} with Zach Seemayer of Entertainment Tonight ranking him among "the 13 greatest fictional fathers in movie history",^[130] and Business Insider calling him one of the 19 "the best fictional dads of all time".^[131] Jeff Peterson of the Deseret News said the character "demonstrates the qualities of a good father, which, incidentally, are the same qualities needed for Simba to become a good ruler later on".^[132] In 2022, Indy100 recognized Mufasa as one of the 100 greatest on-screen fathers,^[133] and Euronews included him among "The 12 best on-screen dads of all time".^[134] Ranking him the best movie dad, Ryan Christian of MovieWeb described Mufasa as "the standard against which all movie dads are judged".^[135] GamesRadar+ named the character the fifth greatest movie father figure.^[136] The Daily Beast ranked him the sixth "coolest movie dad",^[137] and Brian Tallerico of Vulture declared Mufasa Disney's most iconic father.^[138] America writer John Dougherty described Mufasa as "graceful and dignified, but also warm and playful—the ideal father".^[139] Sandra Gonzalez of Entertainment Weekly selected The Lion King as the "one movie I’m going to watch on Father’s Day" due to Mufasa's love for Simba.^[140] Meanwhile, Maddie Garfinkle of People declared him "one of the greatest kings" in "the history of animated cinema".^[141] Mufasa is "one of the most famous lions of all time", according to Jenna Mullins of E!.^[142]

Mufasa was Jones's most famous animated performance, and one of the most popular roles of his career. The character is credited with introducing Jones to a younger generation of filmgoers.^[143] According to Emma Saunders of BBC Online, he was "loved by millions for voicing Mufasa".^[144] Carlos Morales of IGN called Mufasa "his second most famous role", after Darth Vader from the Star Wars franchise.^[145] Comparing the two roles, Kofi Outlaw of ComicBook.com said that, with Mufasa, Jones successfully transitioned "from being a nightmare bad dad in Star Wars, to being the dad every young cub (human or lion) wishes they had". Peter Debruge of Variety observed that which character Jones's voice reminds fans of depends on whether the viewer was born before or after 1990.^[146] According to Morales, Jones's voiceover work also "brought credibility to a type of acting that still struggles to be respected to this day". In 2019, The Walt Disney Company inducted Jones as a Disney Legend in the "voice" category,^[147] for his "remarkable contributions to the Disney legacy".^[148] Many celebrities shared tributes to Jones following the actor's death on September 9, 2024, several of whom referenced The Lion King.^[149] Crystal Kung Minkoff, a television personality and Minkoff's wife, posted a photo of Jones holding a Mufasa maquette with the caption "Rest in Power, Mr Jones. You made a young animator’s dream come true when you accepted the role of Mufasa".^[150]

Death

Described by Isaac Williams of Comic Book Resources as "one of the most impactful moments of any Disney film",^[151] Mufasa's murder at the hands of Scar is widely regarded as one of the most memorable on-screen deaths in film history,^{[152] [153] [154]} with Radheyan Simonpillai of The Guardian writing in 2024 that it "still hurts 30 years later". The scene comprising Mufasa's death and Simba's gradual realization have been described as inseparable from The Lion King franchise.^[155] Vanity Fair's Laura Bradley said his death "became the benchmark against which all future film tragedies would be measured", comparing its legacy to that of Bambi's mother.^[156] Although death and violence had already been depicted in children's entertainment, Alex Spencer of The Escapist reported that nothing released before 1994 rivaled Mufasa's impact.^[157] Prior to Mufasa, deceased parents in Disney films had typically died or been killed off-screen.^{[158] [159]} Josh Spiegel of /Film heralded The Lion King as the only Disney film that rivaled Bambi's depiction of coming of age through tragedy. Joseph Heindl of Game Rant described it as "the other defining parental death in the Disney pantheon", after Bambi's mother,^[160] and writers for Legacy.com said both murders "affected the children of their generations and the generations to follow".^[161] Jonathan Allford of The Guardian theorized that few preceding or subsequent parental deaths in Disney films have been as emotionally devastating as Mufasa's, which he attributed to the character's benevolence and audience connection.^[162] Pediatrician and writer Perri Klass said Mufasa's death subverted the absent or dead mother trope in Disney films and embraced the "90's-style celebration of the involved dad", in contrast to Bambi's "archetypically distant" father. Collider's Diego Pineda Pacheco ranked it the second most heartbreaking death from a children's film, observing that any conversation regarding death in children's media is guaranteed to mention The Lion King,^[163] and Gem Seddon of GamesRadar+ ranked it the 20th saddest movie tearjerker.^[164] Nadira Goffe of Slate said, as "one of the first and most visceral main-character deaths we would experience", Mufasa "traumatized an entire age group".

Several commentators have documented that Mufasa's death was particularly impactful on millennials who grew up in the 1990s,^{[165] [166] [167] [168] [169] [170]} with Rachel Paige of HelloGiggles saying that, to them, it stands above all other cinematic moments.^[171] Dougherty and Tyler Dane Wingco of Esquire Australia compared the phenomenon to the effect Bambi's mother had on baby boomers.^[172] Rebecca Hawkes of The Daily Telegraph observed that while previous generations had been impacted by deaths in Bambi and Watership Down (1978), to millennials, The Lion King was "the defining cinematic shock of their youth".^[173] Writer Aisha Harris said "millennials ha[ve] never forgotten Mufasa, whose death served as their earliest encounter with the notion of losing a parent".^[174] According to Hollywood.com, Mufasa's death was the aforementioned group's "first traumatizing cinematic event", and arguably many of their first times witnessing death.^[175] The website also considers Mufasa the first time children confronted the reality that "the hero doesn’t always triumph", prior to whom cartoon heroes were typically spared at the last minute,^[176] whereas villains were often "punished" with death.^[177] Dougherty, Hollywood.com, Marisa Mirabal of /Film, and Elena Merenda of The Conversation each credited the death with teaching 1990s children how to reconcile complicated emotions resulting from the death of a loved one,^[178] while /Film's Hoai-Tran Bui said "death, loss, and grief was a foreign concept to kids until Mufasa".^[179] For Consequence, Dominick Mayer said the scene taught this generation "about death and mortality and the responsibilities that the living have to the dead they once loved", and declared it the most iconic part of the film.^[180] Spiegel suggested that modern Disney films return to Mufasa's formula to abolish the "Disney Death" trope. Meanwhile, Panama Jackson of The Root called Mufasa's death "one of the most significant deaths in the black community of all time".^[181]

Scott Campbell of Far Out said that while Jones's performance "had already elevated Mufasa to iconic status", the character's death cemented him in "the minds of viewers everywhere", ranking him the eighth "saddest deaths in movie history".^[182] Readers of The Independent voted Mufasa "the most iconic death scene".^[183] IGN ranked Mufasa's death "Disney's Most Traumatic Movie Moment", with author Lucy O'Brien writing that "a little bit of innocence in every child watching withered away forever".^[184] Despite ranking it the third most powerful animated death, Entertainment Weekly's Jonathan W. Gray called it arguably "the most impactful death on this list".^[185] Best Life ranked it the 16th all-time saddest movie death.^[186]

In June 2015, the morning show Good Morning America tweeted a GIF of the scene depicting Simba lying beside his father's corpse after failing to nudge him awake.^[187] The tweet was intended to joke about the common struggle readers face attempting to rise out of their beds on Monday mornings; Good Morning America deleted the tweet two hours later, after receiving complaints that using the GIF in this context was inappropriate. Some online publications speculated that whomever tweeted the GIF might not have seen The Lion King or realized that Mufasa is actually dead in the image.^[188] After the African lion Cecil was killed by an American hunter in 2015, Aaron Blaise, young Nala's supervising animator for The Lion King, shared a digital painting of Cecil's face in the clouds and borrows one of Mufasa's quotes from the film.^{[189] [190]}

In other media

To promote the release of The Lion King in 1994, Mufasa began appearing in a plethora of merchandise licensed by Disney Consumer Products.^[191] Mufasa's likeness has been used in several The Lion King tie-in products and media, including the PC game (1994) and console game (2000).^{[192] [193] [194]} From 1995 to 2018, Mufasa provided the opening narration for the Epcot documentary .^{[195] [196]} In 2019, a Funko Pop! figurine was released to commemorate the remake, which Screen Rant ranked among "The 10 Best Disney Funko Pops".^[197] In 1997, actor Samuel E. Wright originated the role of Mufasa on Broadway in the stage adaptation of the film.^[198] Prior to The Lion King, he had voiced Sebastian in Disney's The Little Mermaid (1989).^{[199] [200]} Mufasa's role in the show was expanded with the addition of the songs "The Morning Report" and "They Live in You".^[201] He was initially reluctant to audition, fearing it would be too similar to playing the Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz (1939) or the Beast from Beauty and the Beast (1994), but relented once he was shown director Julie Taymor's plans for the character's design and costume.^[202] He based his performance on Masai warriors who hunted lions, and learned to growl by researching lions at the Bronx Zoo. He also received physiotherapy regularly due to the physical demands of the role. Wright's performance received positive reviews from The New York Times and Variety theater critics.^{[203] [204] [205]} In 1998, he was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.^[206]

Outside of The Lion King franchise, the character has appeared in the television series Disney's House of Mouse (2001) and the video game Kingdom Hearts II (2006).^{[207] [208]} In The Simpsons episode '"Round Springfield" (1995), Mufasa appears in the clouds to Lisa Simpson, alongside Darth Vader and Jones.^{[209] [210]} All three characters are voiced by Simpsons cast member Harry Shearer,^[211] despite Jones himself having guest starred on three earlier Simpsons episodes.^[212] In "Round Springfield", Mufasa mistakenly says the name “Kimba” before correcting himself to “Simba”, which parodies allegations that The Lion King was inspired by the anime Kimba the White Lion.^{[213] [214] [215]} Chance the Rapper has referenced Mufasa in several of his songs, including "I Am Very Very Lonely" (2014),^[216] "Blessings" (2016), and "How Great" (2016).^[217] The rapper said he has always likened the character to his own father, and claims Mufasa "was a lot of young black boys’ depiction of growing into manhood". He found himself identifying with Mufasa once he became a father himself. The character has also been name-dropped in songs by hip hop artists Wu-Tang Clan, Nicki Minaj, Smino, and Waka Flocka Flame.

, a prequel to the 2019 remake, is scheduled to be released in 2024,^[218] and will focus on Mufasa's childhood, relationships, and major events that ultimately result in him becoming King of the Pride Lands.^[219] In this version, Mufasa is revealed to be an orphan born outside of the royal family,^[220] and explores his relationship with Taka, the character who adopts him as a brother and ultimately becomes "Scar".^[221]

Notes and References

1. News: Peterson . Deborah . June 24, 1994 . Latest Jewel in Disney Crown Not the Shinest . registration . https://web.archive.org/web/20240125161835/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-the-lion-king/90968906/?locale=en-CA . January 25, 2024 . September 17, 2024 . . .
2. News: October 1994 . The 'mane' event is sure to be a roaring success . https://web.archive.org/web/20230227025924/https://issuu.com/swindonlink6/docs/october1994 . February 27, 2023 . September 19, 2024 . Swindon Link . Issuu.
3. News: August 13, 2023 . The Lion King . https://web.archive.org/web/20240912130106/https://bfidatadigipres.github.io/making%20magic%3Cbr%3E100%20years%20of%20disney/2023/08/13/lion-king/ . September 12, 2024 . September 12, 2024 . BFI Southbank Programme Notes.
4. News: Frank . Priscilla . July 19, 2019 . It Took a Disney Kingdom to Kill Cartoon Mufasa . subscription . https://web.archive.org/web/20230201133213/https://www.vulture.com/2019/07/mufasa-death-scene-the-original-lion-king-animators-discuss.html . February 1, 2023 . September 13, 2024 . . The effect was chilling, for children and New York Times reviewers alike..
5. News: Greatest Movie Death Scenes . https://web.archive.org/web/20210801165255/https://www.filmsite.org/bestdeaths41.html . August 1, 2021 . September 16, 2024 . Filmsite.
6. News: July 29, 2019 . Inside Mufasa's Lion King Death Scene, A Tearjerker For The Ages . https://web.archive.org/web/20240916161220/https://www.gqmiddleeast.com/culture/inside-mufasas-lion-king-death-scene-a-tearjerker-for-the-ages . September 16, 2024 . September 16, 2024 . . much like the Bambi mother murder that traumatized another generation of children decades before.
7. News: Witiw . John . November 3, 2023 . 10 Coming-of-Age Movies from the 1990s That Made Us Bawl Our Eyes Out . https://web.archive.org/web/20240919003804/https://movieweb.com/coming-of-age-movies-1990s-made-us-cry/ . September 19, 2024 . September 17, 2024 . . Mufasa's death is one of the most infamous death sequences in animation history..
8. News: August 1, 2015 . The Most Tragic Animal Deaths in Film . October 22, 2024 . The Hollywood Reporter.
9. Web site: Lion King, The (film) . https://web.archive.org/web/20240222042846/https://d23.com/a-to-z/lion-king-the-film/ . February 22, 2024 . September 13, 2024 . D23.
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13. News: December 10, 2022 . The Lion King Mufasa Production Maquette (Walt Disney, 1994).... . https://web.archive.org/web/20240912122449/https://comics.ha.com/itm/animation-art/maquette/the-lion-king-mufasa-production-maquette-walt-disney-1994-/a/7295-17172.s#auction-description . September 12, 2024 . September 12, 2024 . Heritage Auctions.
14. News: Nilles . Billy . June 19, 2019 . The Lion King Turns 25: Everything You Need to Know About Disney's Original Trip to Pride Rock . https://web.archive.org/web/20230505231418/https://www.eonline.com/ca/news/1049788/the-lion-king-turns-25-everything-you-need-to-know-about-disney-s-original-trip-to-pride-rock . May 5, 2023 . September 11, 2024 . E!.
15. Romano . Nick . August 29, 2017 . The Lion King director reacts to film's Honest Trailer . https://web.archive.org/web/20240914031602/https://ew.com/movies/2017/08/29/the-lion-king-honest-trailer-director-commentary/ . September 14, 2024 . September 13, 2024 . Entertainment Weekly.
16. News: Hanley . Cecelia . August 17, 2017 . Lion King makers reveal Scar, Mufasa aren't brothers . https://web.archive.org/web/20220928213132/https://www.wtxl.com/syndication/lion-king-makers-reveal-scar-mufasa-aren-t-brothers/article_2aa4abde-eafd-5d96-b2bb-594904722bf9.html . September 28, 2022 . September 13, 2024 . WTXL ABC 27.
17. News: Whitehead . Mat . August 17, 2017 . Hold Up, It Turns Out Scar And Mufasa Aren't Even Brothers . https://web.archive.org/web/20240917193537/https://www.huffpost.com/archive/au/entry/hold-up-it-turns-out-scar-and-mufasa-arent-even-brothers_au_5cd36a0ce4b0acea950069e6 . September 17, 2024 . September 14, 2024 . HuffPost.
18. News: August 21, 2017 . 'Lion King' director reveals shocking truth about Mufasa and Scar . https://web.archive.org/web/20240914064612/https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/lion-king-director-reveals-shocking-truth-about-mufasa-and-scar-117082100470_1.html . September 14, 2024 . September 14, 2024 . Business Standard.
19. Lang . Cady . August 29, 2017 . The Lion King Director Confirms That Mufasa and Scar Are Totally Brothers . https://web.archive.org/web/20240913014604/https://time.com/4920182/the-lion-king-mufasa-scar-brothers/ . September 13, 2024 . September 12, 2024 . Time.
20. News: Ani . August 21, 2017 . 'The Lion King' director reveals truth about Mufasa and Scar . https://web.archive.org/web/20240914063329/https://www.theweek.in/news/entertainment/lion-king-director-reveals-truth-mufasa-scar.html . September 14, 2024 . September 14, 2024 . The Week.
21. News: Fallon . Kevin . July 12, 2017 . The 'Maleficent' Screenwriter Also Wrote 'The Lion King' and 'Beauty and the Beast' . https://web.archive.org/web/20240414114344/https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-maleficent-screenwriter-also-wrote-the-lion-king-and-beauty-and-the-beast . April 14, 2024 . September 13, 2024 . The Daily Beast.
22. News: Foutch . Haleigh . August 29, 2017 . 'The Lion King' Co-Director Explains Why the Animated Classic Was a Bold Move for Disney . https://web.archive.org/web/20230730070902/https://collider.com/lion-king-blu-ray-interview-rob-minkoff/ . July 30, 2023 . September 14, 2024 . Collider.
23. News: Polowy . Kevin . August 31, 2017 . 'The Lion King' director explains how death of Bambi's mom influenced the death of Simba's dad . https://web.archive.org/web/20240420015422/https://www.yahoo.com/web/20240420015422/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/lion-king-director-explains-death-bambis-mom-influenced-death-simbas-dad-233203927.html . April 20, 2024 . September 24, 2024 . Yahoo! Entertainment.
24. News: Bankhurst . Adam . June 24, 2024 . The Lion King at 30: The Disney Movie 'No One Was Supposed to Care About' . https://web.archive.org/web/20240811042051/https://www.ign.com/articles/the-lion-king-at-30-the-disney-movie-no-one-was-supposed-to-care-about . August 11, 2024 . September 19, 2024 . . Some crew members such as inbetweener Rachel Bibb referred to it as "our Bambi moment"..
25. News: Stone . Jay . June 24, 1994 . Film roars with glorious creativity . registration . https://web.archive.org/web/20240920190053/https://www.newspapers.com/image/464913433/?clipping_id=90967673&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjQ2NDkxMzQzMywiaWF0IjoxNzI2ODU3NzI2LCJleHAiOjE3MjY5NDQxMjZ9.UAaCwbRj7hf7b1F9cHgs1k7Sa8ASvXt_2iYcBeMgz-Q&terms=mufasa&match=1 . September 20, 2024 . September 20, 2024 . . Newspapers.com.
26. News: Conaboy . Kelly . December 28, 2023 . The Bizarre Tragedy of Children's Movies . subscription . https://web.archive.org/web/20240227003615/https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2023/12/kids-movies-sadness-tragedy-emotional-reaction/675599/ . February 27, 2024 . September 16, 2024 . The Atlantic.
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28. Holub . Christian . April 2, 2018 . The Lion King stars look back on the making of the animated hit . https://web.archive.org/web/20240526025241/https://ew.com/movies/2018/04/02/disney-lion-king-timon-pumbaa-simba/ . May 26, 2024 . September 28, 2024 . Entertainment Weekly.
29. News: Singh . Anvita . July 22, 2019 . The Lion King: why legacy endures, what is different in reimagined version . subscription . https://web.archive.org/web/20240811053905/https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/the-lion-king-why-legacy-endures-what-is-different-in-reimagined-version-5840839/ . August 11, 2024 . September 30, 2024 . The Indian Express.
30. Web site: Bonanno . Luke . September 30, 2011 . Interview: Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff, The Directors of The Lion King - Page 2 of 2 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240914063812/https://dvdizzy.com/lionking-directors-interview2.html . September 14, 2024 . September 14, 2024 . DVDizzy.com.
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32. News: Baxter-Wright . Dusty . July 26, 2016 . 21 things you didn't know about The Lion King . https://web.archive.org/web/20240720134937/https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/entertainment/a44918/things-you-didnt-know-lion-king/ . July 20, 2024 . September 14, 2024 . Cosmopolitan.
33. News: Armstrong . Josh . October 8, 2011 . Allers & Minkoff: The Legacy of The Lion King . https://web.archive.org/web/20240917164849/https://animatedviews.com/2011/allers-and-minkoff-egacy-of-the-lion-king/ . September 17, 2024 . September 13, 2024 . Animated Views.
34. News: Vincenty . Samantha . July 12, 2019 . The Lion King's Surprising Connections to Hamlet . https://web.archive.org/web/20240906214547/https://www.oprahdaily.com/entertainment/tv-movies/a28376309/the-lion-king-hamlet-comparison/ . September 6, 2024 . October 4, 2024 . Oprah Daily.
35. News: Fischer . William . June 22, 2022 . Just How Deep Is 'The Lion King's' Debt To 'Hamlet?' . https://web.archive.org/web/20230926013703/https://collider.com/the-lion-king-hamlet-connection-explained/ . September 26, 2023 . October 17, 2024 . Collider.
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37. News: Kring-schreifels . Jake . July 19, 2019 . How the Original 'Lion King' Came to Life . https://web.archive.org/web/20240911183051/https://www.theringer.com/movies/2019/7/19/20699678/the-lion-king-original-animation-1994 . September 11, 2024 . September 11, 2024 . The Ringer.
38. Web site: A Conversation with Brenda Chapman – Transcript . https://web.archive.org/web/20240918162444/https://www.pbs.org/video/a-conversation-with-brenda-chapman-qeaaye/ . September 18, 2024 . September 18, 2024 . PBS.
39. News: September 28, 2011 . Roundtable Interview: The Lion King . https://web.archive.org/web/20240525133703/https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=7433 . May 25, 2024 . September 13, 2024 . Blu-ray.com.
40. News: McKiddy . July 23, 2019 . Interesting Facts About the Original "The Lion King" . https://web.archive.org/web/20240912015952/https://thebig98.iheart.com/featured/mckiddy/content/2019-07-23-interesting-facts-about-the-original-the-lion-king/ . September 12, 2024 . September 11, 2024 . The Big 98.
41. News: Fallon . Kevin . March 1, 2024 . Every Crazy, Weird Fact About Disney's 'The Lion King' . https://web.archive.org/web/20240815194458/https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-lion-king-turns-20-every-crazy-weird-fact-about-the-disney-classic . August 15, 2024 . September 11, 2022 . The Daily Beast.
42. News: Brown . Greg . July 23, 2019 . 10 interesting facts about the original "The Lion King" . https://web.archive.org/web/20240912022417/https://www.947wls.com/2019/07/23/10-interesting-facts-about-the-original-the-lion-king/ . September 12, 2024 . September 11, 2024 . 94.7 WLS.
43. News: Ryan . Keeley . July 19, 2019 . 13 things about The Lion King that you (probably) didn't know . https://web.archive.org/web/20240912023926/https://her.ie/entertainment/13-things-lion-king-probably-didnt-know-473186 . September 12, 2024 . September 11, 2024 . Her.ie.
44. News: July 4, 1994 . Whoopi Goldberg and James Earl Jones Lend Voices to Disney's Movie 'Lion King' . https://web.archive.org/web/20240918134034/https://books.google.com/books?id=8LoDAAAAMBAJ&dq=tony+fucile+mufasa&pg=PA35 . September 18, 2024 . September 12, 2024 . . 33, 35 . . 0021-5996.
45. Web site: September 9, 2024 . Remembering Disney Legend James Earl Jones . https://web.archive.org/web/20240914183811/https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/james-earl-jones-remembering-disney-legend/ . September 14, 2024 . September 12, 2024 . The Walt Disney Company.
46. News: Griggs . Brandon . Rosenbloom . Alli . September 9, 2024 . James Earl Jones, iconic actor and memorable voice of Darth Vader and Mufasa, dead at 93 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240914111530/https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/09/entertainment/james-earl-jones-death/index.html . September 14, 2024 . September 11, 2024 . CNN.
47. News: Belcher . Sara . September 9, 2024 . Actor James Earl Jones Is Survived By His Lookalike Son, Flynn . https://web.archive.org/web/20240917045535/https://www.distractify.com/p/james-earl-jones-kids . September 17, 2024 . September 17, 2024 . Distractify.
48. News: Cudd . Shannon . September 10, 2024 . 10 Things Most People Probably Didn't Know About the Late James Earl Jones . https://web.archive.org/web/20240912152558/https://cafemom.com/entertainment/10-things-late-james-earl-jones/he-struggled-to-find-mufasas-voice . September 12, 2024 . September 12, 2024 . CafeMom.
49. News: Callaway . Timothy . October 10, 2011 . The Making of 'The Lion King' . https://web.archive.org/web/20240912045754/http://www.themousecastle.com/2011/10/lion-king-don-hahn-roger-allers-rob.html . September 12, 2024 . September 12, 2024 . The Mouse Castle.
50. Web site: Bonanno . Luke . September 30, 2011 . Interview: Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff, The Directors of The Lion King . https://web.archive.org/web/20240819011203/https://dvdizzy.com/lionking-directors-interview.html . August 19, 2024 . September 12, 2024 . DVDizzy.com.
51. News: Verini . Bob . November 11, 2011 . After 50 years, Jones is still the Man . https://web.archive.org/web/20240914185556/https://variety.com/2011/film/news/after-50-years-jones-is-still-the-man-1118045473/ . September 14, 2024 . September 14, 2024 . Variety.
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53. News: Grossbart . Sarah . June 24, 2024 . Secrets About The Lion King That Will Make You Feel the Love Tonight . https://web.archive.org/web/20240912024923/https://www.eonline.com/ca/news/1403934/secrets-about-the-lion-king-that-will-make-you-feel-the-love-tonight . September 12, 2024 . September 11, 2024 . E!.
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59. News: Carr . Mary Kate . September 10, 2024 . 8 of our favorite James Earl Jones performances . https://web.archive.org/web/20240920173121/https://www.avclub.com/our-favorite-james-earl-jones-performances . September 20, 2024 . September 11, 2024 . The A.V. Club.
60. News: Chapman . Wilson . September 9, 2024 . James Earl Jones' 12 Greatest Roles, from 'Star Wars' to 'The Hunt for Red October' and 'The Great White Hope' . https://web.archive.org/web/20240911192227/https://www.indiewire.com/gallery/best-james-earl-jones-movies/m8dliki-wd001/ . September 11, 2024 . September 11, 2024 . IndieWire.
61. Snetiker . Marc . April 26, 2019 . The Lion King director recalls James Earl Jones' 'powerful' return as Mufasa . https://web.archive.org/web/20240912042351/https://ew.com/movies/2019/04/26/the-lion-king-james-earl-jones-mufasa/ . September 12, 2024 . October 8, 2024 . Entertainment Weekly.
62. Kreps . Daniel . September 9, 2024 . James Earl Jones, Storied Actor Who Voiced Darth Vader and Mufasa in 'Lion King,' Dead at 93 . subscription . https://web.archive.org/web/20240909221618/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/james-earl-jones-dead-obituary-1234768096/ . September 9, 2024 . September 13, 2024 . Rolling Stone.
63. Sepinwall . Alan . Alan Sepinwall . September 9, 2024 . James Earl Jones Was So Much More Than His Golden Voice . subscription . https://web.archive.org/web/20240910030113/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/james-earl-jones-dies-remembering-legacy-1235098257/ . September 10, 2024 . September 12, 2024 . Rolling Stone.
64. News: Adams . Char . September 10, 2024 . 'Master of our craft': James Earl Jones' influence went far beyond voiceovers . https://web.archive.org/web/20240923162948/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/james-earl-jones-death-legacy-influence-racial-barriers-rcna170319 . September 23, 2024 . September 12, 2024 . NBCNews.com.
65. Web site: Mouroux . Olivier . The Lion King (1994) . https://web.archive.org/web/20240918132857/https://am.animatedviews.com/TheLionKing.html . September 18, 2024 . September 18, 2024 . Animated Movies Animation Database.
66. News: Giardina . Carolyn . March 11, 2022 . 'Lion King' Animator Ruben Aquino Looks Back at the Inspirations Behind His Design of Simba . https://web.archive.org/web/20240115055119/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/lion-king-animator-interview-simba-design-1235106624/ . January 15, 2024 . September 11, 2024 . The Hollywood Reporter.
67. News: Miller . Caroline . June 4, 2021 . Phillip Young Dies, Legendary Disney Animator Was 79 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230623170253/https://movieweb.com/phillip-young-dead-disney-animator/ . June 23, 2023 . September 13, 2024 . MovieWeb.
68. News: Zahed . Ramin . June 2, 2021 . Longtime Disney Animator Phil Young Has Died at Age 79 . September 13, 2024 . Animation Magazine.
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70. News: Stracener . Layne . November 12, 2018 . From Aladdin to Mufasa, local artist sculpts characters for big-name Hollywood studios . https://web.archive.org/web/20240223130019/https://www.the-standard.org/life/from-aladdin-to-mufasa-local-artist-sculpts-characters-for-big-name-hollywood-studios/article_77a06f10-e6f1-11e8-b865-57a49d3efed6.html . February 23, 2024 . September 12, 2024 . The Standard.
71. News: Mirabal . Marisa . August 21, 2022 . How Mufasa's Death In The Lion King Broke The Rules Of Disney . https://web.archive.org/web/20240615150832/https://www.slashfilm.com/964725/how-mufasas-death-in-the-lion-king-broke-the-rules-of-disney/ . June 15, 2024 . September 16, 2024 . . This scene devastated audiences, both kids and adults alike.
72. News: Muiruri . Peter . September 11, 2024 . James Earl Jones, the actor behind Lion King's Mufasa is dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20240917044404/https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/health/entertainment/article/2001502420/james-earl-jones-the-actor-behind-lion-kings-mufasa-is-dead . September 17, 2024 . September 17, 2024 . . Mufasa was killed by his ambitious brother Scar, much to the consternation of young viewers who had forged an emotional attachment with Mufasa..
73. Wang . Jessica . September 9, 2024 . James Earl Jones' most memorable roles: Field of Dreams, The Lion King, Star Wars, more . https://web.archive.org/web/20240911021639/https://ew.com/james-earl-jones-most-memorable-roles-8709253 . September 11, 2024 . September 12, 2024 . Entertainment Weekly.
74. News: Webster . Dan . March 3, 1995 . 'The Lion King' Is Another Crowning Achievement For Disney . https://web.archive.org/web/20240125161429/https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1995/mar/03/the-lion-king-is-another-crowning-achievement-for/ . January 25, 2024 . September 20, 2024 . The Spokesman-Review.
75. News: Hinson . Hal . Hal Hinson . June 24, 1994 . 'The Lion King' . https://web.archive.org/web/20230227152856/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/review96/lionkinghin.htm . February 27, 2023 . September 23, 2024 . . Mufasa will be the most widely debated aspect of "The Lion King," with people taking sides as to whether such things are good or bad for kids.
76. News: Simonpillai . Radheyan . June 15, 2024 . 'It always destroys me': our writers on their saddest movie deaths . https://web.archive.org/web/20240802012830/https://www.theguardian.com/film/article/2024/jun/15/saddest-movie-deaths . August 2, 2024 . September 13, 2024 . . news coverage at the time reporting on parents reacting to its intensity.
77. News: Rubenstein . Carin . July 14, 1994 . Parent & Child; Debating the Violence in 'Lion King' . subscription . https://web.archive.org/web/20230213093241/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/14/garden/parent-child-debating-the-violence-in-lion-king.html . February 13, 2023 . September 13, 2024 . . critics continue to square off over the violence of several scenes in the movie, including the famous wildebeest stampede, in which a lion cub watches as his father is trampled to death ... Some commentators have scolded the baby-boom parents who complain about these scenes for being overprotective..
78. News: Owens . Darryl E. . July 1, 1994 . Lion King' has jarring scene . https://web.archive.org/web/20240916161545/https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1994/07/01/lion-king-has-jarring-scene/ . September 16, 2024 . September 16, 2024 . Tampa Bay Times.
79. News: June 26, 1994 . Remember Bambi . https://web.archive.org/web/20240916154800/https://www.chicagotribune.com/1994/06/26/remember-bambi/ . September 16, 2024 . September 16, 2024 . Chicago Tribune.
80. News: August 4, 1994 . The Lion King': a fictional story, to entertain . subscription . September 17, 2024 . . The intensity of the scene in which Mufasa ... can be frightening for very young children.
81. News: Klass . Perri . Perri Klass . June 19, 1994 . Film View; A Bambi For the 90's, Via Shakespeare . subscription . https://web.archive.org/web/20190326185155/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/19/movies/film-view-a-bambi-for-the-90-s-via-shakespeare.html . March 26, 2019 . September 13, 2024 . . Many reviewers have specifically noted the potentially frightening aspects of the movie..
82. News: Davenport . Hugo . October 7, 1994 . Mane Event's Hollow Roar . registration . https://web.archive.org/web/20240920185022/https://www.newspapers.com/image/751802853/?clipping_id=139920950 . September 20, 2024 . September 20, 2024 . . Newspapers.com.
83. News: Turan . Kenneth . Kenneth Turan . June 15, 1994 . MOVIE REVIEW : 'The Lion King' and His Court Jesters : The Sidekicks Steal the Show in Disney's Animated Opus . subscription . https://web.archive.org/web/20240626173805/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-06-15-ca-4277-story.html . June 26, 2024 . September 23, 2024 . Los Angeles Times.
84. News: Maslin . Janet . Janet Maslin . June 15, 1994 . Review/Film; The Hero Within The Child Within . registration . https://web.archive.org/web/20240910003110/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/15/movies/review-film-the-hero-within-the-child-within.html . September 10, 2024 . September 13, 2023 . The New York Times.
85. News: Ragusa . Paolo . May 16, 2023 . The Disney Scenes That Traumatized Us . https://web.archive.org/web/20240916182420/https://consequence.net/2023/05/most-traumatic-disney-scenes/3/ . September 16, 2024 . September 16, 2024 . Consequence.
86. News: Ebert . Roger . June 24, 1994 . The Lion King . https://web.archive.org/web/20240606025535/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-lion-king-1994 . June 6, 2024 . September 23, 2024 . RogerEbert.com.
87. News: Paul . Beau . November 9, 2023 . What happened to Mufasa's body in 'The Lion King?' (Did Scar eat Mufasa?) . https://web.archive.org/web/20240916191426/https://www.dailydot.com/news/did-scar-eat-mufasa-lion-king/ . September 16, 2024 . September 16, 2024 . The Daily Dot.
88. News: King . Dennis . Jun 24, 1994 . 'The Lion King' . subscription . https://web.archive.org/web/20171129070308/https://tulsaworld.com/archives/the-lion-king/article_7d12e06f-071c-53da-814e-2665368d0bb2.html . November 29, 2017 . September 20, 2024 . Tulsa World.
89. Rafferty . Terrence . Terrence Rafferty . 1994 . The Lion King . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131019091903/http://www.newyorker.com/arts/reviews/film/the_lion_king_minkoff . October 19, 2013 . September 20, 2024 . The New Yorker.
90. News: Berardinelli . James . James Berardinelli . 1994 . Lion King, The (United States, 1994) . https://web.archive.org/web/20240421181819/https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/lion-king-the . April 21, 2024 . September 23, 2024 . ReelViews.
91. News: Goldwasser . Dan . October 8, 2011 . Review: Lion King (Diamond Edition Blu-ray), The . https://web.archive.org/web/20241008190651/https://www.soundtrack.net/movie/the-lion-king/ . October 8, 2024 . October 7, 2024 . Soundtrack.Net.
92. News: Armitage . Hugh . May 5, 2016 . 11 times Disney traumatised us as children: From Mufasa's death to the things under Sid's bed . https://web.archive.org/web/20240916163309/https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a793026/disney-traumatised-us-as-children/ . September 16, 2024 . September 16, 2024 . Digital Spy.
93. News: Gerard . Jeremy . June 12, 1994 . The Lion King . https://web.archive.org/web/20240821042828/https://variety.com/1994/film/reviews/the-lion-king-disney-1200437594/ . August 21, 2024 . September 23, 2024 . Variety.
94. News: DeMott . Rick . September 30, 2011 . The Lion King (1994) . https://web.archive.org/web/20241007123702/https://www.awn.com/blog/lion-king-1994 . October 7, 2024 . October 4, 2024 . Animation World Network.
95. News: Humanick . Rob . September 12, 2011 . Review: The Lion King . https://web.archive.org/web/20240923134312/https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-lion-king-5750/ . September 23, 2024 . September 23, 2024 . Slant Magazine.
96. News: Ayres . Tom . December 12, 2010 . Neeson 'ignored Lion King for Narnia' . https://web.archive.org/web/20240912030736/https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a292820/neeson-ignored-lion-king-for-narnia/ . September 12, 2024 . September 11, 2024 . . the actor's acclaimed role as Mufasa in the 1994 animation The Lion King..
97. News: Gupta . Manas Sen . September 10, 2024 . Forever Darth Vader: The best James Earl Jones movies according to IMDb . https://web.archive.org/web/20240923150644/https://www.lifestyleasia.com/kl/entertainment/movies/best-movies-of-james-earl-jones-star-wars-field-of-dreams-lion-king/ . September 23, 2024 . September 18, 2024 . . Jones’ portrayal as the wise Mufasa in this Disney animated classic was very well-received..
98. News: Watkins . Matt . August 18, 2022 . Best Voice Performances in Disney Animated Movies, Ranked . https://web.archive.org/web/20230829185124/https://movieweb.com/disney-animated-movies-voice-performances/ . August 29, 2023 . September 24, 2024 . . his role as Simba’s wise father Mufasa in 1994’s The Lion King that remains one of his most applauded to this day..
99. News: S. . Kaushal . September 10, 2024 . From Mufasa to Darth Vader: 7 most iconic James Earl Jones roles . https://web.archive.org/web/20240913135713/https://www.soapcentral.com/entertainment/from-mufasa-darth-vader-7-iconic-james-earl-jones-roles . September 13, 2024 . September 13, 2024 . Soap Central.
100. News: Reynolds . Simon . June 15, 2014 . Some words of wisdom from The Lion King's Mufasa for Father's Day . https://web.archive.org/web/20240919192755/https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a577697/some-words-of-wisdom-from-the-lion-kings-mufasa-for-fathers-day/ . September 19, 2024 . September 19, 2024 . Digital Spy.
101. News: Sterritt . David . David Sterritt . June 15, 1994 . Disney studio roars with 'The Lion King' . https://web.archive.org/web/20240821021050/https://www.csmonitor.com/1994/0615/15121.html . August 21, 2024 . September 23, 2024 . The Christian Science Monitor.
102. News: Erbland . Kate . September 15, 2011 . Review: 'The Lion King' Makes Me Cry All Over Again in 3D . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304050828/https://filmschoolrejects.com/reviews/review-the-lion-king-makes-me-cry-all-over-again-in-3d.php . March 4, 2016 . September 23, 2024 . Film School Rejects.
103. Web site: James Earl Jones – Biography . https://web.archive.org/web/20230110052024/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/96469%7C78522/James-Earl-Jones#biography . January 10, 2023 . September 12, 2024 . Turner Classic Movies.
104. News: Carter . Daniel . September 9, 2024 . A Voice That Resonated Through Generations: Remembering James Earl Jones . https://web.archive.org/web/20240920170902/https://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/foreverinourhearts/2024/09/a-voice-that-resonated-through-generations-remembering-james-earl-jones.html . September 20, 2024 . September 12, 2024 . Beliefnet.
105. News: Baress . Joe . Kivak . Rebecca . September 16, 2024 . James Earl Jones leaves lasting legacy . https://web.archive.org/web/20240917015551/https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/blogs/james-earl-jones-leaves-lasting-legacy/article_91c79728-7157-11ef-8939-2bca546277e8.html . September 17, 2024 . October 9, 2024 . The Scranton Times-Tribune.
106. News: Gregory . Elizabeth . September 11, 2019 . James Earl Jones: the American actor's best films, from The Lion King to Star Wars . https://web.archive.org/web/20240920173623/https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/james-earl-jones-death-darth-vader-lion-king-b1181136.html . September 20, 2024 . September 12, 2024 . Evening Standard.
107. News: Gabriel de Lima . João . July 6, 1994 . Drama na selva . October 2, 2024 . . Portuguese.
108. News: Pryor . Lex . September 11, 2024 . The Vast Universes of James Earl Jones's Voice . https://web.archive.org/web/20240917142651/https://www.theringer.com/pop-culture/2024/9/11/24241820/james-earl-jones-darth-vader-mufasa-cnn-voice-sandlot-field-of-dreams-death-obituary . September 17, 2024 . September 13, 2024 . The Ringer.
109. News: Quinn . Anthony . October 6, 2011 . The Lion King 3D (U) . https://web.archive.org/web/20231011023146/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/the-lion-king-3d-u-2366567.html . October 11, 2023 . September 23, 2024 . The Independent.
110. News: Outlaw . Kofi . September 9, 2024 . James Earl Jones: Remembering His Best Roles . https://web.archive.org/web/20240919040654/https://comicbook.com/irl/news/james-earl-jones-obituary-remembering-best-roles-star-wars-lion-king/#1 . September 19, 2024 . September 12, 2024 . ComicBook.com.
111. News: Murrian . Samuel R. . September 10, 2024 . The 10 Best James Earl Jones Movies, Ranked . https://web.archive.org/web/20240915122848/https://collider.com/james-earl-jones-movies-best-ranked/ . September 15, 2024 . September 18, 2024 . . The murder of Mufasa at the claws of Scar (Jeremy Irons), like the death of Bambi's mother many decades prior, is among the most upsetting moments in any family film (in any film, perhaps).
112. News: Ragusa . P. . September 9, 2024 . James Earl Jones' 10 Best Movie Roles . https://web.archive.org/web/20240913131732/https://consequence.net/list/james-earl-jones-best-roles-list/the-lion-king/ . September 13, 2024 . September 13, 2024 . Consequence.
113. News: O'Brien . Tom . Holland . Misty . Beachum . Chris . September 9, 2024 . James Earl Jones movies: 10 greatest films ranked worst to best . https://web.archive.org/web/20240911194235/https://www.goldderby.com/gallery/best-james-earl-jones-movies-ranked/james-earl-jones-movies-ranked-the-great-white-hope/ . September 11, 2024 . September 11, 2024 . GoldDerby.
114. News: Salerno . Lauren . September 10, 2024 . 'Legends never die': The James Earl Jones performances that shaped our lives . https://web.archive.org/web/20240911003845/https://www.themarysue.com/best-james-earl-jones-movies-and-performances/ . September 11, 2024 . September 11, 2024 . The Mary Sue.
115. News: Oswal . Suhasini . September 10, 2024 . From Darth Vader to Mufasa: Remembering James Earl Jones' Top 10 Roles Amid His Death at 93 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240913141051/https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/hollywood/from-darth-vader-to-mufasa-remembering-james-earl-jones-top-10-roles-amid-his-death-at-93-1346996 . September 13, 2024 . September 13, 2024 . Pinkvilla.
116. News: Weisholtz . Drew . September 10, 2024 . Remembering James Earl Jones' most memorable roles, from 'Star Wars' to 'The Lion King' . https://web.archive.org/web/20240922233004/https://www.today.com/popculture/movies/james-earl-jones-filmography-rcna170362 . September 22, 2024 . September 12, 2024 . Today.
117. News: Murray . Noel . September 9, 2024 . 12 Great Films of James Earl Jones . subscription . https://web.archive.org/web/20240909223007/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/09/movies/james-earl-jones-streaming.html . September 9, 2024 . September 12, 2024 . The New York Times.
118. News: Heath . David . September 11, 2024 . 8 Most Iconic Performances by James Earl Jones . https://web.archive.org/web/20240912001030/https://gamerant.com/most-iconic-performances-james-earl-jones/ . September 12, 2024 . September 11, 2024 . Game Rant.
119. News: Wingco . Tyler Dane . September 10, 2024 . Remembering James Earl Jones's best performances, from 'Star Wars' to 'The Lion King' . https://web.archive.org/web/20240919010547/https://www.esquire.com.au/culture/james-earl-jones-darth-vader-voice/ . September 19, 2024 . September 18, 2024 . . a death ... that traumatised baby Millennials the world over the same way the death of Bambi’s mother did for Boomers..
120. News: Dunaway . Michael . September 10, 2024 . The Best James Earl Jones Movies . https://web.archive.org/web/20240913185253/https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/james-earl-jones/best-james-earl-jones-movies . September 13, 2024 . September 18, 2024 . Paste.
121. News: Dautrich . Camille . March 26, 2014 . Ozarks sculptor shapes Hollywood animated characters . https://web.archive.org/web/20240223164224/https://www.news-leader.com/story/entertainment/weekend/2014/03/27/ozarks-sculptor-shapes-hollywood-animated-characters/6882409/ . February 23, 2024 . September 12, 2024 . Springfield News-Leader.
122. News: Pelletiere . Nicole . June 12, 2018 . 10 fictional dads who will forever have our hearts . https://web.archive.org/web/20240920125057/https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/family/story/10-fictional-dads-forever-hearts-55804855 . September 20, 2024 . September 20, 2024 . Good Morning America.
123. News: Pirrello . Phil . January 25, 2023 . The 50 best Disney animated characters of all time . https://web.archive.org/web/20240722004928/https://www.avclub.com/best-disney-animated-characters-ranked-1850020180 . July 22, 2024 . October 9, 2024 . The A.V. Club.
124. News: Francisco . Eric . November 22, 2023 . The 32 greatest Disney characters . October 10, 2024 . GamesRadar+.
125. News: A Tribute to the Greatest Movie Dads of All Time . https://web.archive.org/web/20240917161306/https://qat.voxcinemas.com/ar/vox-voice/fathers-day . September 17, 2024 . September 17, 2024 . VOX Cinemas.
126. News: Bui . Hoai-Tran . June 21, 2015 . The 5 best and worst TV and movie dads . https://web.archive.org/web/20210308064624/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2015/06/21/the-5-best-and-worst-tv-and-movie-dads-fathers-day/77521594/ . March 8, 2021 . September 17, 2024 . USA Today.
127. News: 7 Greatest Dads in Cinema . https://web.archive.org/web/20240416233134/https://www.filmcompanion.in/ampstories/web-stories/7-greatest-dads-in-cinema . April 16, 2024 . September 19, 2024 . Film Companion.
128. News: Cannon . Dylan . June 11, 2014 . 4 uplifting movie fathers . https://web.archive.org/web/20240919155742/https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/news/2014/06/12/4-uplifting-movie-fathers/47932015/ . September 19, 2024 . September 19, 2024 . The Herald-Times.
129. News: Cannon . Dylan . June 11, 2014 . Great movie dads for Father's Day . https://web.archive.org/web/20240919161113/https://www.ksl.com/article/30254800/great-movie-dads-for-fathers-day . September 19, 2024 . September 19, 2024 . KSL News.
130. News: Seemayer . Zach . June 21, 2015 . 13 Fantastic Fictional Fathers From Film . https://web.archive.org/web/20240920125046/https://www.etonline.com/movies/166559_13_fantastic_fictional_fathers_from_film . September 20, 2024 . September 20, 2024 . Entertainment Tonight.
131. News: Shaw . Gabbi . June 18, 2023 . 19 of the best fictional dads of all time — and 10 of the worst . https://web.archive.org/web/20240920172414/https://www.businessinsider.com/best-and-worst-fictional-dads-movies-tv-2021-6 . September 20, 2024 . September 20, 2024 . Business Insider.
132. News: Peterson . Jeff . June 12, 2013 . 10 of the best fathers from movie history . https://web.archive.org/web/20240919162042/https://www.deseret.com/entertainment/2013/6/13/20799463/best-movie-fictional-fathers/ . September 19, 2024 . September 19, 2024 . Deseret News.
133. News: Robinson . Breanna . Baio . Ariana . Evans . Greg . June 19, 2022 . The top 100 TV and movie Dads ever . https://web.archive.org/web/20230528042043/https://www.indy100.com/showbiz/best-dads-fathers-tv-movies . May 28, 2023 . September 17, 2024 . Indy100.
134. News: Carbonaro . Giulia . June 19, 2022 . Euroviews. Fathers Day: The 12 best on-screen dads of all time . https://web.archive.org/web/20240919200053/https://www.euronews.com/culture/2022/06/19/fathers-day-the-12-best-on-screen-dads-of-all-time . September 19, 2024 . September 19, 2024 . Euronews.
135. News: Christian . Ryan . June 18, 2023 . Yet Another List of Great Dads in Movies . https://web.archive.org/web/20240917175559/https://movieweb.com/great-dads-in-movies/ . September 17, 2024 . September 17, 2024 . MovieWeb.
136. News: O'Callaghan . Lauren . June 6, 2017 . The 25 best movie dads who became great father figures . https://web.archive.org/web/20240919165737/https://www.gamesradar.com/50-greatest-movie-dads/3/ . September 19, 2024 . September 19, 2024 . GamesRadar+.
137. News: Stern . Marlow . April 21, 2017 . The 13 Coolest Movie Dads: 'Taken,' 'Star Wars,' 'Die Hard' and More . https://web.archive.org/web/20240415010642/https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-13-coolest-movie-dads-taken-star-wars-die-hard-and-more . April 15, 2024 . September 17, 2024 . The Daily Beast.
138. News: Tallerico . Brian . June 14, 2024 . The 15 Best Movies to Stream This Father's Day . subscription . https://web.archive.org/web/20240715165317/https://www.vulture.com/article/best-fathers-day-movies-streaming.html . July 15, 2024 . September 14, 2024 . Vulture.
139. News: Dougherty . John . September 11, 2024 . Remembering James Earl Jones: the voice of God, a father and a compelling villain . https://web.archive.org/web/20240914200450/https://www.americamagazine.org/arts-culture/2024/09/11/james-earl-jones-obituary-248773 . September 14, 2024 . September 14, 2024 . America.
140. Gonzalez . Sandra . June 17, 2012 . Father's Day: Which movie best honors YOUR dad? . https://web.archive.org/web/20240917195601/https://ew.com/article/2012/06/17/fathers-day-movies/ . September 17, 2024 . September 17, 2024 . Entertainment Weekly.
141. News: Garfinkle . Maddie . August 12, 2024 . The Lion King Is Getting a Prequel 30 Years Later! Everything to Know About Mufasa: The Lion King . https://web.archive.org/web/20240812230859/https://people.com/mufasa-the-lion-king-everything-to-know-8668368 . August 12, 2024 . October 4, 2024 . People.
142. News: Mullins . Jenna . August 5, 2015 . A Lion King Animator Created the Most Breathtaking Tribute to Cecil the Lion . October 30, 2024 . E!.
143. News: Goffe . Nadira . September 10, 2024 . James Earl Jones, Our On-Screen Father . https://web.archive.org/web/20240913213951/https://slate.com/culture/2024/09/james-earl-jones-death-filmography-darth-vader-voice-mufasa-father.html . September 13, 2024 . September 14, 2024 . . Many of us will never forget watching Mufasa fall into that gorge amid a wildebeest stampede.
144. News: Saunders . Emma . September 9, 2024 . Tributes paid to acting 'giant' James Earl Jones . https://web.archive.org/web/20240923153049/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c17g4g5ve5xo . September 23, 2024 . September 13, 2024 . BBC Online.
145. News: Morales . Carlos . September 10, 2024 . James Earl Jones' Voice Is the Only Reason the Most Iconic Villain in Movie History Exists . https://web.archive.org/web/20240922030303/https://www.ign.com/articles/james-earl-jones-voice-acting-darth-vader-mufasa . September 22, 2024 . September 11, 2024 . IGN.
146. News: Debruge . Peter . September 10, 2024 . How 'Star Wars' and 'The Lion King' Made James Earl Jones the Voice of Generations . https://web.archive.org/web/20240920184646/https://variety.com/2024/film/columns/james-earl-jones-career-appreciation-darth-vader-mufasa-star-wars-lion-king-1236139223/ . September 20, 2024 . September 13, 2024 . Variety.
147. Web site: James Earl Jones . https://web.archive.org/web/20240223205132/https://d23.com/walt-disney-legend/james-earl-jones/ . February 23, 2024 . September 12, 2024 . D23.
148. News: May 16, 2019 . Meet the 2019 Disney Legends to Be Honored at D23 Expo . https://web.archive.org/web/20240319021110/https://d23.com/2019-disney-legends/ . March 19, 2024 . September 12, 2024 . D23.
149. Mier . Tomás . September 9, 2024 . Mark Hamill, Octavia Spencer, More Remember 'Legendary' James Earl Jones . subscription . https://web.archive.org/web/20240909224110/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/james-earl-jones-celebrity-tributes-mark-hamill-octavia-spencer-1235098205/ . September 9, 2024 . September 13, 2024 . Rolling Stone.
150. News: September 10, 2024 . Legendary actor James Earl Jones, memorable voice behind Darth Vader and Mufasa, passes away . https://web.archive.org/web/20240913140558/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/english/news/2024/Sep/10/legendary-actor-james-earl-jones-memorable-voice-of-darth-vader-and-mufasa-passes-away . September 13, 2024 . September 13, 2024 . Cinema Express.
151. News: Williams . Isaac . May 23, 2022 . 10 Best Death Scenes In Movies . https://web.archive.org/web/20230117121513/https://www.cbr.com/best-death-scenes-movies/ . January 17, 2023 . September 19, 2024 . Comic Book Resources.
152. Various sources describing Mufasa's death as one of the most memorable on film:
     • Web site: Best Film Deaths Scenes – 1994 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210801165255/https://www.filmsite.org/bestdeaths41.html . August 1, 2021 . September 19, 2019 . . mufasadeathfilmsite.
     • Web site: Witiw . John . November 3, 2023 . 10 Coming-of-Age Movies from the 1990s That Made Us Bawl Our Eyes Out . https://web.archive.org/web/20240919003804/https://movieweb.com/coming-of-age-movies-1990s-made-us-cry/ . September 19, 2024 . September 19, 2024 . . crymovieweb.
     • Web site: Murrian . Samuel R. . September 11, 2024 . The 10 Best James Earl Jones Movies, Ranked . https://web.archive.org/web/20240915122848/https://collider.com/james-earl-jones-movies-best-ranked/ . September 15, 2024 . September 19, 2024 . . colliderbestjamesearljonesmovies.
     • Web site: December 22, 2020 . Mufasa's death in The Lion King voted the most heartbreaking film moment . https://web.archive.org/web/20240914013759/https://www.heart.co.uk/showbiz/tv-movies/mufasa-death-the-lion-king-heartbreaking-film-scene/ . September 14, 2024 . September 19, 2024 . . heartukmufasadeath.
     • Web site: Beauchamp . Sarah . August 17, 2017 . Mufasa and Scar From 'The Lion King' Aren't Actually Brothers . https://web.archive.org/web/20240914065049/https://www.nylon.com/articles/the-lion-king-mufasa-scar-not-brothers . September 14, 2024 . September 19, 2024 . . mufasascarbrothersnylon.
     • News: Goffe . Nadira . September 10, 2024 . James Earl Jones, Our On-Screen Father . https://web.archive.org/web/20240913213951/https://slate.com/culture/2024/09/james-earl-jones-death-filmography-darth-vader-voice-mufasa-father.html . September 13, 2024 . September 19, 2024 . . jejdeathslate.
     • News: Spencer . Hayley . October 5, 2020 . 21 of the saddest movie deaths ever . https://web.archive.org/web/20240118161108/https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/gallery/saddest-movie-death-scenes . January 18, 2024 . September 19, 2024 . . glamourmoviedeaths.
     • News: Clyde . John . March 5, 2013 . 5 movie deaths we'll never get over . https://web.archive.org/web/20240916153503/https://www.ksl.com/article/24292172/5-movie-deaths-well-never-get-over . September 16, 2024 . September 19, 2024 . . moviedeathsKSLNews.
     • News: Deen . Sarah . March 4, 2015 . Mufasa's death in The Lion King has been named the most iconic film death scene . https://web.archive.org/web/20231206042642/https://metro.co.uk/2015/03/04/mufasas-death-in-the-lion-king-has-been-named-the-most-iconic-film-death-scene-5088118/ . December 6, 2023 . September 19, 2024 . . mufasadeathmetro.
     • News: Conley . Nicholas . January 12, 2022 . The Saddest On-Screen Deaths That Shook Us to the Core . September 19, 2024 . . grungemoviedeaths.
     • News: Martinez . Matthew . February 22, 2019 . Luna the dog just can't get over Mufasa's death in 'The Lion King,' video shows . https://web.archive.org/web/20201207080903/https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article226625759.html . December 7, 2020 . September 19, 2024 . . miamiheraldmemorabledeaths.
     • News: Brandt . Whitney . October 31, 2016 . 100 of the Most Memorable Movie Deaths . https://web.archive.org/web/20220117043250/https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/movie-deaths/the-100-best-deaths-in-movies-1/ . January 17, 2022 . September 20, 2024 . . pastemoviedeaths.
     • News: Wood . Matt . September 2, 2017 . How Bambi Influenced The Lion King, According To The Director . https://web.archive.org/web/20240519021641/https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1699080/how-bambi-influenced-the-lion-king-according-to-the-director . May 19, 2024 . September 24, 2024 . . The Lion King ... produced one of the most unforgettable deaths in cinematic history..
153. News: Mullins . Jenna . June 8, 2015 . Good Morning America Tweeted a GIF of the Most Depressing Disney Moment Ever and Ruined Everyone's Week . https://web.archive.org/web/20161005083603/https://www.eonline.com/ca/news/664237/good-morning-america-tweeted-a-gif-of-the-most-depressing-disney-moment-ever-and-ruined-everyone-s-week . October 5, 2016 . November 4, 2024 . . one of the most depressing moments in movie history.
154. News: Lu . Alicia . June 9, 2015 . These GIFs Should Never Be Tweeted On A Monday . https://web.archive.org/web/20200809233751/https://www.bustle.com/articles/88954-11-disney-gifs-good-morning-america-should-also-never-tweet-on-a-monday-morning-because-they . August 9, 2020 . November 5, 2024 . . one of the most traumatizing movie deaths of all time.
155. News: Conley . Nicholas . January 12, 2022 . The Saddest On-Screen Deaths That Shook Us To The Core . https://web.archive.org/web/20240919132149/https://www.grunge.com/132373/the-saddest-on-screen-deaths-that-shook-us-to-the-core/?utm_source=google.com&utm_campaign=googlestory_fullstory . September 19, 2024 . September 19, 2024 . . These days, this sequence is so imprinted on society's collective memory that some have called it the most iconic death in film history.
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162. News: Allford . Jonathan . March 6, 2015 . The film that makes me cry: The Lion King . https://web.archive.org/web/20240917020117/https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2015/mar/06/the-film-that-makes-me-cry-the-lion-king . September 17, 2024 . September 16, 2024 . The Guardian.
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164. News: Seddon . Gem . September 21, 2015 . 25 greatest movie tearjerkers . https://web.archive.org/web/20240805195111/https://www.gamesradar.com/25-best-sad-movies/ . August 5, 2024 . October 7, 2024 . GamesRadar+.
165. News: May 31, 2021 . 'Diabolically Adorable': 3-Year-Old's 'Lion King' Death Cake Goes Viral . https://web.archive.org/web/20240418024704/https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/diabolically-adorable-3-year-olds-mufasa-death-cake-goes-viral/ . April 18, 2024 . September 24, 2024 . CBS News.
166. News: Lord . Emma . April 14, 2015 . Toddler Crying For Mufasa Is All Of Us In The '90s . https://web.archive.org/web/20230601213313/https://www.bustle.com/articles/76267-this-little-girl-crying-over-mufasas-death-in-the-lion-king-is-all-of-us-in . June 1, 2023 . September 16, 2024 . Bustle.
167. News: Thompson . Eliza . June 8, 2015 . "Good Morning America" Ruins Mornings Everywhere With Dead Mufasa Tweet . https://web.archive.org/web/20240916191425/https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/movies/news/a41617/good-morning-america-dead-mufasa-tweet/ . September 16, 2024 . September 16, 2024 . . the deep trauma that scene caused for millions of '90s children..
168. News: Guha . Toonika . August 31, 2019 . Thoughts A Millennial Who Grew Up On 'The Lion King' Had While Watching The Live-Action Remake . https://web.archive.org/web/20240917024013/https://silverscreenindia.com/movies/features/thoughts-a-millennial-who-grew-up-on-the-lion-king-had-while-watching-the-live-action-remake/ . September 17, 2024 . September 16, 2024 . Silverscreen India . It has been a tear-jerker (especially for millennials) for over two decades..
169. News: Rennex . Michelle . January 14, 2021 . Did Scar Actually Eat Mufasa In 'The Lion King'? An Investigation . https://web.archive.org/web/20240917025511/https://archive.junkee.com/scar-mufasa-lion-king-theory-tiktok/284984 . September 17, 2024 . September 16, 2024 . . For a lot of millennials, the stampede scene from the 1994 classic was the first truly horrifying thing any of us saw at a young age.
170. News: Fuster . Jeremy . Eady . Ashley . August 19, 2021 . 'Bambi' and 13 Other Soul-Crushing Kid Movie Moments (Photos) . https://web.archive.org/web/20230606180033/https://www.thewrap.com/bambi-soul-crushing-sad-kid-movie-moments/ . June 6, 2023 . September 24, 2024 . . Cue the sound of every ’90s kid’s heart breaking all over again.
171. News: Paige . Rachel . August 29, 2017 . Mufasa's death in a stampede was the only thing that never changed during the making of "The Lion King" . https://web.archive.org/web/20240916181735/https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/mufasa-death-stampede-only-thing-181000936.html . September 16, 2024 . September 16, 2024 . . Yahoo! Life.
172. News: Dougherty . John . July 14, 2023 . Catholic Movie Club: How 'The Lion King' challenges us to accept the circle of life, death and loss . https://web.archive.org/web/20240914200450/https://www.americamagazine.org/arts-culture/2023/07/14/lion-king-catholic-movie-245674 . September 14, 2024 . September 16, 2024 . America.
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178. News: Merenda . Elena . August 8, 2019 . What 'The Lion King' teaches us about children's grief . https://web.archive.org/web/20230201071304/https://theconversation.com/what-the-lion-king-teaches-us-about-childrens-grief-121544 . February 1, 2023 . September 19, 2024 . The Conversation.
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187. News: Murphy . Sara . June 8, 2015 . Good Morning America Accidentally Tweets Saddest Disney GIF Of All Time . https://web.archive.org/web/20201128234751/https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2015/06/88830/gma-sad-lion-king-gif . November 28, 2020 . November 4, 2024 . Refinery29.
188. News: Plante . Chris . June 8, 2015 . Good Morning America guarantees bad morning, tweets GIF of dead Mufasa . https://web.archive.org/web/20221127033556/https://www.theverge.com/2015/6/8/8745559/good-morning-america-lion-king-tweet-gaffe . November 27, 2022 . November 4, 2024 . The Verge.
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213. News: Woodrow . Ryan . July 28, 2023 . 8 Times The Simpsons Referenced Anime . https://web.archive.org/web/20240925125642/https://www.mensjournal.com/streaming/the-simpsons-anime-references#gid=ci02dd788bc0062554&pid=kimba-the-white-lion--round-springfield . September 25, 2024 . September 24, 2024 . Men's Journal.
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216. News: Brown . Preezy . July 13, 2019 . From The Big Screen To Hip-Hop: 25 Rap Lyrics Referencing 'The Lion King' . https://web.archive.org/web/20240508020732/https://www.vibe.com/features/editorial/lion-king-references-rap-lyrics-list-657531/ . May 8, 2024 . October 2, 2024 . Vibe.
217. News: Florio . Angelica . July 18, 2019 . Chance The Rapper Plays A Few 'Lion King' Characters, So Keep Your Ears Peeled . https://web.archive.org/web/20221209145621/https://www.bustle.com/p/who-does-chance-the-rapper-play-in-the-lion-king-keep-your-ears-peeled-for-simbas-1-fan-18209485 . December 9, 2022 . October 1, 2024 . Bustle.
218. News: April 30, 2024 . Mufasa: The Lion King - five things we've learned from the trailer . https://web.archive.org/web/20240502034701/https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/68929787 . May 2, 2024 . October 4, 2024 . BBC Online.
219. News: Mundhada . Tejas . September 11, 2024 . 'One Of My Greatest...': This Will Change The Way You See Aaron Pierre Taking Over the Mufasa Role from Late James Earl Jones . https://web.archive.org/web/20240927145153/https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/hollywood/one-of-my-greatest-this-will-change-the-way-you-see-aaron-pierre-taking-over-the-mufasa-role-from-late-james-earl-jones-1347293 . September 27, 2024 . September 13, 2024 . Pinkvilla.
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