The 1994 Disney classic. The music, the story, the animation are about as close to perfect as Disney ever got. The opening with “Circle of Life” still gives me chills, and that’s before any dialogue has even happened.
I watched this as a kid, and it hits differently now. As a parent, Mufasa’s death lands much harder than it used to. It’s a simple story about guilt, running away, and finally facing who you are, and it never feels heavy-handed. Hans Zimmer’s score does half the emotional work.
A movie I’m glad to share with my own kids. 5/5 stars.