Megacon 2024: The Lion King 30th Anniversary
Cinema Aficiona Live in Orlando Again!
About a year ago I think I said something like “It’ll be tough to do a full live Cinema Aficiona,” while discussing panel ideas with some friends. And while I still believe that’s an accurate assessment, now seems to be the time to give it a shot! And why not use a relatively well known title now reaching it’s 30 year anniversary?
Y’know, I say “well known” but I am consistently shocked at just how many people tell me they haven’t seen films nor read stories that I would say with certainty are well known.
When I was a kid, everyone knew The Lion King. I remember going to see it on opening weekend and WOW! It was a cultural phenomenon! And no wonder: A retelling of timeless royal succession, family betrayal, and personal redemption all wrapped up in a sweet love story with a soundtrack that’ll blow your tits clean off.
Cut to many years later, I remember in school being one of those weebs that crowed incessantly about how Disney just ripped off Kimba the White Lion. Of course I realized eventually that every story is pulling from other stories, and execution is the important thing. Looking back, Kimba is a snooze-fest compared to even Disney’s most mediocre films. We all know stories, at least ones that convey the reality of the human condition and the truth of the world.
They’re embedded in our consciousness from time immemorial, and it’s why when we watch or read or listen to a good one, we just know it. It hits. It’s why we might cheer and laugh and cry at entertaining, or even bad stories, but forget them after a short while, while the good ones are stuck with our thoughts forever onward.
Sorry Osamu Tezuka, you may have had the idea, but Disney did it better. And considering Tezuka was inspired by watching Walt Disney’s Bambi theatrical release approximately 80 times (that we know about), which is quite literally a young animal prince taking his place as the new king of his realm, turnabout is fair play.
So as I continue to put the finishing touches on this Cinema Aficiona presentation, here’s a little something for you sweeping cinematic soundtrack lovers out there, a special cut of a few of my favorite tracks, edited together for the convention panel pre-gamers who arrive early: