The Lion King II: Simba's Pride

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The Lion King II: Simba's Pride
The original VHS cover of the film
Directed by	Darrell Rooney
Produced by	Jeannine Roussel
Written by	Flip Kobler Cindy Marcus
Starring	Matthew Broderick Neve Campbell Jason Marsden Suzanne Pleshette Nathan Lane Ernie Sabella Moira Kelly Robert Guillaume Andy Dick Jennifer Lien
Music by	Nick Glennie-Smith
Editing by	Peter Lonsdale
Distributed by	Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Release date(s)	October 27, 1998
Running time	81 minutes
Country	USA
Language	English
Preceded by	The Lion King (1994)
Followed by	The Lion King 1½ (2004)

The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (later retitled The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride) is an American direct-to-video film released by the Walt Disney Company on October 27, 1998, as a sequel to the 1994 film The Lion King. It was later re-released as a special edition DVD (which altered the original title's "II" into "2") on August 31, 2004.

The film centers around Simba's daughter, Kiara, who falls in love with Kovu, a male lion who was raised in a pride of Scar's followers, who are Simba's enemies. Desperate to be together, they must overcome the two obstacles that are keeping them apart: Simba and Kovu's mother, Zira.

This film was not rated until the two-disc Special Edition was released. It was then given a G rating by the MPAA.

While the original film's plot seems to have been inspired on the Shakespeare play Hamlet, this sequel's plot is similar to another Shakespeare play, Romeo and Juliet.^[1]

Plot

The film starts with the presentation of Simba and Nala's new cub Kiara. When Kiara is older, she runs from her suffocating babysitters Timon and Pumbaa and sneaks across the borders of her father's kingdom to the 'Outlands', where she encounters an "outsider" cub named Kovu. The two soon get into trouble when they find themselves in a river surrounded by crocodiles. Luckily, Kovu "bravely" distracts them long enough for the two to escape. The cubs become friends, and Kiara attempts to initiate a game of tag, only to find Kovu has no idea how to play. In a bid to relax him, she playfully growls, but when Kovu retaliates, out of nowhere Simba appears. Kovu's mother Zira, who had been watching from the bushes, also emerges.

The two face off as Simba's pride appears, and Zira reveals that the Outsiders were exiled by Simba for remaining loyal to Scar, and that Kovu was Scar's heir to the throne – and therefore a threat to Simba. However, Simba is unwilling to hurt a cub and orders the duo to leave, much to Kiara and Kovu's dismay. As they journey home, Simba scolds his daughter for breaking the rules and endangering herself, reminding her that one day she will be a queen.

Meanwhile in the Outlands, Zira's adult cub Nuka complains to his younger sister Vitani about Kovu being "The Chosen One", when as the eldest the honor should be his. At that moment, Zira returns and scolds her two sons. She mocks Kovu's claim that he and Kiara are friends. She then realizes that, by using Kiara, Kovu can get close enough to Simba to murder him and take the throne. Thus, he can avenge Scar's death. Alone in his tree, Rafiki communicates with Mufasa's spirit, and voices his fear of Zira and mistrust of Kovu, brought up with hate in his heart. Mufasa however, has his own plan – Kovu and Kiara will be together, and unite the two prides.

Time passes and Kovu grows into an adult. He is molded by Zira into the perfect assassin, with only one goal in mind: kill Simba. Kiara has also grown, and, keen to go on her first solo hunt, makes Simba promise he will let her do it alone. However, Simba sends Timon and Pumbaa after her to ensure her safety. Kiara is unable to catch anything, but is furious at her father when she finds he has lied and sent the duo to track her. Nuka and Vitani watch the events before lighting a series of fires around Kiara, trapping her. Kiara faints from the smoke as Kovu appears, as part of Zira's plan, and carries her back to the Pride Lands. Though angry at first that he has interfered, Kiara soon recognizes her old friend. However Simba, drawn by the sight of smoke, appears. Kovu lies and claims that he has left the Outsiders to become a rogue, and asks to join Simba's pride.

Simba is suspicious of Kovu's story and motives. However, he is forced by law to acknowledge that he owes Kovu a debt which must be paid. He allows Kovu to stay at Pride Rock, but makes him sleep outside, separate from the lionesses. Despite this, Kiara thanks him for saving her and the two arrange for him to give her a hunting lesson the next morning. That night, Simba dreams of the day his father died. In it, Scar holds Simba back to prevent him from reaching Mufasa, telling him 'trust me'. As Mufasa falls to his death, a laughing Scar morphs into Kovu, who throws Simba from the cliff.

The next morning Kovu attempts to teach Kiara to hunt properly, but the two stumble on Timon and Pumbaa, whose favorite feeding ground has been taken over by birds. They enlist the help of the lions to scare the birds off, but it soon turns into a game. Kovu, who has never played or had any real fun in his life, is confused by this new "training", but quickly starts to enjoy himself.

That night, as Kovu and Kiara stargaze, he questions whether Scar is considered one of the "Great Kings", and Kiara is visibly startled. He confesses that although Scar was not his real father, he was still a part of who Kovu is, but fears that part may be the darkness that made Scar evil. As Kiara and Kovu embrace, Simba watches unseen, and asks the skies for guidance. Nala tells him that although Simba wants to walk the path expected of him, Kovu may not, and should be given a chance. As Simba leaves to ponder this, Kovu tries to pull away from Kiara, almost confessing his part in the plot against her father. Despite Kiara's pleas, he attempts to leave, but Rafiki stops him. Kovu and Kiara fall in love, and after returning home that night, Simba invites Kovu to sleep inside with the rest of the pride. Vitani watches Kovu give up a prime opportunity to murder Simba and reports back to Zira.

Kovu eventually resolves to confess his true intentions to Kiara, but before he can do so Simba takes him aside for a private conversation. The two walk into the area that had been burned in the earlier bushfire, and Simba tells Kovu the true story of Scar. Kovu finally realizes he has been lied to, but Simba reassures him that, like the green roots springing through the ash, what is 'left behind can grow better than the generation before – if given the chance'. However, Zira decides to take matters into her own hands and organizes an ambush. The Outlanders chase Simba into a gorge, where he begins to scale a wall of logs to escape. Nuka, in an attempt to prove himself, tries to follow, but slips and is crushed. Kovu, who had watched the scene from above, tries to dig him out, but is shoved roughly aside by his mother. Zira lifts up a log to see her eldest son barely alive. He apologizes for failing her before dying. Zira blames Nuka's death on Kovu and slashes him across the face, scarring Kovu in an identical manner to Scar. Kovu defies his mother for the first time and runs back to the Pride Lands. Zira tells the other Outlanders that Simba has turned Kovu against them and declares war.

Meanwhile, Simba has escaped but is badly injured. Luckily, Kiara, Timon, and Pumbaa find him and take him back to Pride Rock. Kiara refuses to believe that Kovu could be behind the attack, but she is the only one. Kovu returns and begs forgiveness. Simba refuses and exiles him, and the other animals drive him out. Kiara, confined to Pride Rock, breaks out and goes searching for Kovu. As she is about to give up, Kovu appears and the two are reunited. Kiara realizes they have to go back and stop the fighting, telling a dismayed Kovu that if they run away, the two prides will be divided forever.

Meanwhile, the Outlanders march on the Pride Lands. Simba leads his lionesses to meet them, and the two clans fight. The Outlanders gain the upper hand, and Zira steps in to finish Simba off herself. However, before the two can strike, Kovu and Kiara leap in between them. Kiara pleads with her father to stop the feud and tells him that a wise king once told her 'we are one', and that there is no 'they' or 'us', but 'they are us'. Zira orders Vitani to attack, but she refuses, to which Zira furiously replies that she will die along with the Pridelanders. In disgust, the other Outsiders change sides. While Simba is momentarily distracted by the sound of the river dam cracking, Zira tries to attack, but Kiara interferes, sending them both over the cliff. Kiara lands on a jutting rock but Zira continues to slide down towards the raging river. Kiara extends her paw to try and pull Zira up, but the bitter lioness, like Scar, is unable to let go of her hate, and falls to her death. Simba announces he was wrong about Kovu and invites the Outsiders back home. All the animals in the kingdom gather as Simba, Nala, Kovu and Kiara roar proudly on top of Pride Rock.

Zira's "Suicide"

Zira's original death, which is a special feature in the DVD version, features the same dialogue as the scene which ended up in the film until Kiara says "I'll help you." Kiara lands on a rock where she is safe and tries to help Zira, who is in danger of falling in to the flooded canyon, but Zira, with a twisted grin, replies "No. Never." and releases her claws from the cliff, falling into the swollen river below and committing suicide.

This was considered too dark for a Disney film and was changed, though even in the final version Zira can still be seen smiling as she falls.She is smiling because she believes that she is going to be with Scar again.^[2]

Characters

• Simba (voiced by Matthew Broderick) is the reigning king of the Pride Lands and Kiara's father. He is highly concerned for his daughter's welfare to the point of being highly overprotective. His singing voice is provided by Cam Clarke.
• Kiara (voiced by Mary Gibbs and Michelle Horn as a cub with Neve Campbell as an adult) is princess of the Pride Lands and Simba and Nala's daughter. Headstrong and determined, she often ignores her father's advice. Kiara is very feisty as a lion cub and an adult. As a child, she evades her babysitters and becomes friends with future rival, Kovu. The two meet later, when they are grown, and fall in love despite their families' hatred. Her singing voices are Charity Sanoy (as a cub) and Liz Callaway (as an adult).
• Kovu (voiced by Ryan O'Donohue as a cub and Jason Marsden as an adult) is Zira's son and the lion chosen by Scar to be king after Scar's death, but after Scar is killed in the first movie, Zira trains him to avenge Scar's death as his son and take back the throne of the Pride Lands. Falling in love with Kiara, Kovu disobeys his family to follow his heart and joins Simba's pride. His singing voice is provided by Gene Miller (as an adult).
• Zira (voiced by Suzanne Pleshette) is the antagonist of the film. Both she and a small pride of lionesses were exiled by Simba as they still followed Scar. Her loyalty being the fiercest to Scar, she is obessessed with revenge on Simba and trains Kovu in the hope that he will one day kill Simba and take back the throne in Scar's honour.
• Timon and Pumbaa (voiced by Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella respectively) are Simba's best friends. They serve as babysitters for Kiara, and are dismayed at how she repeatedly evades them.
• Nala (voiced by Moira Kelly) is the queen of the Pride Lands as Simba's mate and is the mother of Kiara.
• Rafiki (voiced by Robert Guillaume) is the wise shaman mandrill of the Pride Lands. He attempts to rekindle Kovu and Kiara's love after instructions from Mufasa.
• Nuka (voiced by Andy Dick) is Zira and Scar's somewhat neurotic son. He feels wholly inadequate compared to Kovu and feels that he should be "the chosen one," since, unlike Kovu, he's "actually Scar's son."
• Vitani (voiced by Lacey Chabert as a cub and Jennifer Lien as an adult) is Zira's daughter. There is debate on whether she is Scar's birth daughter or merely adopted like Kovu. There is also hint that there is an old conflict between Nala and Vitani, despite the fact Vitani is closest to Kiara in age.
• Zazu (voiced by Edward Hibbert) is the king's advisor and majordomo.
• Mufasa (voiced by James Earl Jones) is Simba's father who was killed by Scar in the first film. However, he still appears in the film as a ghost in the sky and in Simba's nightmare. In Simba's nightmare, Mufasa slipped while Simba tries to help him. He also communicates non-verbally with his old friend, Rafiki.
• Scar (voiced by Jim Cummings) was the main antagonist of the first movie, who was defeated by Simba and killed by the Hyenas. He makes a brief appearance in Simba's nightmare, where he transforms into Kovu.

Release

Screenshots showing the differences between the two DVD releases. Top: Original limited issue release. Bottom: Special Edition release.

In 1998, Disney believed that Simba's Pride would be so popular that it shipped 15 million copies to stores for the October 27 release date.^[3] Disney sold 3.5 million copies in three days. Thirteen million copies were sold while it was still in print in the late 90s.^[4] The film was first released on VHS in the United States on October 27, 1998 and on June 8, 1999 on Laserdisc. It was first released on DVD as a limited issue on November 23, 1999, and placed into moratorium on January 19, 2000. It was not released again on DVD until August 31, 2004, when it was a two-disc special edition. It went into moratorium in January 2005.

Differences between DVD releases

On its initial release, The Lion King II: Simba's Pride was released in 1:33:1. For the special edition, this was changed to 1:66:1. Another major change to the special edition release was the quality of the image. It was lightened considerably and colors appeared brighter and slightly less saturated. Also, a small change in animation was present. As Kovu attempts to distract the crocodiles attacking both him and Kiara, he falls into the water and submerges a short time later. In the original release of the film, he yells open-mouthed as a crocodile swims towards him. In the special edition, he does not open his mouth as wide and turns his head sharply to face Kiara.^[5]

Reception

Ebert & Roeper gave this sequel a "two-thumbs up" and said it was a "satisfactory sequel to one of the most popular films of all time, The Lion King. However, they also said it was best that it went to video, citing that the music was lacking and not remotely equal to the original's soundtrack.^[6]

Music

Songs

• "He Lives in You" - This is an original song by Lebo M and his African choir. This song represents Kiara's birth. It is also the equivalent of "Circle of Life" It also can be taken as a reference to Rafiki's words about Mufasa "You see he lives in you." Also appears in the Broadway version of the first film.
• "We Are One" - Following Kiara's encounter with Kovu and the Outsiders, which puts herself in danger, Simba explains how important she is to the pride. The musical equivalent to the first film's talk about the Great Kings of the Past with Mufasa and Simba.
• "My Lullaby" - Zira's lullaby to Kovu, which outlines her plot for him to kill Simba and how proud it would make her. The equivalent to "Be Prepared", as the song's ending of Zira towering over the Outlanders mirrors Scar towering over the hyenas at the end of "Be Prepared" and her treatment of Nuka during the song resembles Scar's abuse of Shenzi, Banzai and Ed.
• "Upendi" (Swahili for "love") - Rafiki's song to Kiara and Kovu about love and happiness. Sung by Rafiki and his safari friends. Also the equivalent to "Hakuna Matata," from the first film.
• "Not One of Us" - Sung following Kovu being permanently banished by Simba for supposed betrayal in an attempt to kill him. This was the first time the animals outside of the main characters (they talk in Lion King 1½) and the lions in both movies (they congratulate Kiara when she hunts) have been seen talking. Only song to not have an equivalent to the first film.
• "Love Will Find a Way" - Kiara and Kovu's first encounter following Kovu's banishment, where they both realize that they are in love with each other. Guest starring Kenny Lattimore as Kovu and Heather Headley as Kiara. Similar to "Can You Feel the Love Tonight".

Return to Pride Rock

The CD cover for Return to Pride Rock: Songs Inspired by Disney's The Lion King II: Simba's Pride.

The CD cover for the re-released soundtrack, without the songs inspired by the film.

An audio CD entitled Return to Pride Rock: Songs Inspired by Disney's The Lion King II: Simba's Pride was released on September 8, 1998. Although not promoted as a soundtrack to the film, it contained all the songs from the film and some additional songs inspired by it by Lebo M. Tina Turner recorded a version of "He Lives in You" for the film. On August 31, 2004, Disney released an "enhanced soundtrack" to coincide with the release of the film's 2-Disc Special Edition DVD. However, the CD only contains the songs featured in the film, without any of the inspired songs in The Lion King.

1. "He Lives in You"
2. "We Are One"
3. "Upendi" sample (help·info)
4. "Not One of Us"
5. "My Lullaby"
6. "Love Will Find a Way"
7. "We Are One" (alternate vocalist version) sample (help·info)
8. "She Believes in You"
9. "Song for the Children"
10. "I Want to See the Moon"
11. "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"
12. "Love Will Find a Way" (End Title)

References

External links

• The Lion King II: Simba's Pride at the Big Cartoon DataBase
• The Lion King II: Simba's Pride at Allmovie
• The Lion King II: Simba's Pride at the Internet Movie Database