I am absolutely floored by Disney’s final entrant for 2024. Can Barry Jenkins restore the magic to both Walt Disney Studios and a beloved classic with Mufasa: The Lion King? As advertised, Mufasa: The Lion King is the story of Simba’s dad, Mufasa (Aaron Pierre). When Mufasa was a cub, his parents promised they would one day arrive at the promised land known as Milele, known only in legend. While walking along a river, the valley is flooded, and Mufasa is carried away by the current and separated from his parents forever.
While floating helplessly far downstream, Mufasa is rescued by Taka (Kelvin Harrison Jr.), who takes Mufasa as a stray to his pride as his “brother.” Time passes, and Mufasa and Taka are now teens. While out foraging, Mufasa and Taka are attacked by a group of white lions, one of which is the son of their king Kiros (Mads Mikkelsen). In self-defense, Mufasa kills Kiros’ son, and Taka runs away. When Taka’s parents discover that Kiros will seek revenge, he sends Mufasa and Taka away to find Milele. Taka’s parents remain behind to be murdered, thus giving Taka time to escape.
Mufasa (voiced by Braelyn Rankins) in Disney’s MUFASA: THE LION KING. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2024 Disney Enterprises Inc. All Rights Reserved.
“…Mufasa is carried away by the current and separated from his parents forever.”
Alone on the journey, Mufasa and Taka are joined by a mandrill, Rafiki (Kagiso Lediga), who believes he knows the way to Milele. They are also joined by a lioness, Sarabi (Tiffany Boone), and her scout bird, Zazu (Preston Nyman). As our heroes look for Milele, Kiros and his pride track and hunt them down.
Mufasa: The Lion King is a profoundly awful movie. I say this as someone who loved the “live-action” Lion King. I wish I could say it was just bad and awful, but it’s hard not to sit there in the dark, cringing at almost every moment and wishing for the credits to roll as soon as possible.
First, animation is a different beast from actual live-action movies. Acclaimed director Barry Jenkins, who directed several films I love, is ill-suited as an animation director. Directing a scene with actors on an actual set is one thing. It’s another to direct computer models on a virtual set reciting lines recorded in a studio. Lines are rushed and poorly edited together. One scene transitions to another in a split second. Some shots that work well in live-action feel less impactful when animated. I’ll point to the moments when the camera is “strapped” to the character’s head for effect. It simply doesn’t work in animation.
"…a profoundly awful movie."
