CineTV Contest: "The Lion King" [Childhood Nostalgia]

The movie "Lion King" was released on June 15, 1994. That was just a day and six months after I was born. But it was the best movie that made my childhood amazing. As kids then, we were excited when it was time to watch Lion King, and we would always anticipate it every weekend until my Dad decided to get us a DVD player. That was when the real fun began, as we could rewatch it often until the cassette started cracking.

We were the only ones with a DVD player then, and so, other children from the neighbourhood would gather in our sitting room just to enjoy Lion King together. As young kids, seeing animals like lions was fascinating, and even the little ones among us wouldn't want to miss watching. It was also fun because I'd act bossy over the kids and make sure there was total silence and anyone found violating the rule would be sent out. No one wanted to be shown the way to the door, so they all cooperated.

Lion King was one of the legendary movies for kids then, and our parents approved of it, too, because it had lots of amazing lessons to learn while also keeping us entertained. Parents wouldn't want their kids watching movies or cartoons that didn't add value or that contained inappropriate content, so this particular movie was always a go-to choice for any parent who wanted their kids to watch something meaningful.

I remember when most parents would beg me to allow their kids to join in, as I would turn on the TV for them while I got busy with other things. But even then, the time we spent watching it wasn't wasted, it was pure enjoyment.

The movie had a strong impact on kids in the 2000s because of the values it taught — courage, responsibility, and resilience. My favourite character was Simba, who was the future King. Simba was the main character in 'The Lion King.' He was playful as a lion cub and always curious, wanting to know more about things he didn’t understand and eager to become king just like his father, Mufasa.

The movie was filled with emotions like fear, grief (especially when Mufasa died a tragic death), and even joy. Then, his uncle, Scar made him believe he was responsible for his father's death, and so, he ran away. Along the way, he met two friends who introduced him to a carefree life with the motto "Hakuna Matata."

The word "Hakuna Matata" stayed in my brain for a long time, even though I never knew what it meant back then. Many children, including myself, would sing the song Hakuna Matata, which quickly became a childhood anthem.

I got to know its true meaning later on in life as no worries or no trouble. Simba soon forgot his past and began enjoying his new life until he learnt a deeper lesson: never to avoid his problems but to face them. He returned home and took responsibility for his destiny.

As young as we were then, we connected with the movie so deeply that we couldn't help but feel pity for Simba while developing hatred for his uncle because of what he did. Perhaps I learnt the importance of kindness from movies like that because we knew that the villains' end was never good.

The death of Mufasa made us cry, while moments with Timon and Pumbaa (Simba's friends) made us laugh so hard that we could barely stop. Some scenes were so hilarious, and all we could do was laugh and enjoy it even more.

How about the animation and soundtrack? Absolutely stunning. It created a magical experience that we could enjoy while playing it on repeat just to memorize the songs so we could keep singing them anywhere and at any time.

I love that the movie had so many lessons to learn from, and as kids, we learnt to believe in ourselves, face our fears, and take responsibility. We learnt that when we run away from problems, we become weak and vulnerable, and problems don’t solve themselves, we must face them and emerge as conquerors.

I would say most kids then loved "The Lion King". It was a blend of adventure and humour, with an emotional storytelling style that captivated both children and even adults. The characters were relatable, and the music was something we could never forget.

The Lion King was more than just a movie from my childhood — it was a core memory, a source of inspiration, and a cultural masterpiece. The lessons from the movie stayed with many of us as we grew older, reminding us of the power of resilience, family bonds, and finding our place in the world.

I'm especially glad for this contest which can be found here because it brought back those memories, the childhood moments and how we all enjoyed them together.

_{All images are from Imdb}