The Lion King

Sequels and spin-offs

The Lion King was so successful that Disney's television animation arm created a direct-to-video sequel called ' (1998), focusing on Simba's daughter Kiara. A spin-off television series called Timon and Pumbaa focused on the Meerkat and Warthog duo, and implied that the story took place during the mid Twentieth Century through the appearance of humans, human clothing and technology. A second direct-to-video sequel, The Lion King 1½ (also known as The Lion King 3: Hakuna Matata), was released on February 10, 2004, and takes place on a parallel time line that interweaves with the original Lion King, but from Timon and Pumbaa's perspective.

Related Topics:
Direct-to-video - 1998 - Timon and Pumbaa - The Lion King 1½ - February 10 - 2004

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The original movie was remastered and, on October 7, 2003, released as The Lion King: 2-Disc Special Edition, part of Disney's Platinum Edition line of DVDs. Among the extra features on the disc was an extended version of one scene, where a short conversation has been replaced with a complete song, "The Morning Report", which was originally written for the stage musical (see below). By means of seamless branching, the movie could be viewed either with or without the extra scene.

Related Topics:
October 7 - 2003 - Stage musical - Seamless branching

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' was re-released in a 2 disc Special Edition on August 31, 2004.

Related Topics:
August 31 - 2004

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A boxed set of the three films (in double-disc Special Edition formats) was released on December 6, 2004.

Related Topics:
December 6 - 2004

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Musical

The movie was also adapted into an award-winning Broadway stage musical with the same title, directed by Julie Taymor, featuring actors in animal costumes as well as giant, hollow puppets. The stage show first opened on July 31st, 1997 in Minneapolis at the Orpheum Theatre, and was an instant and tremendous success, moving permanently to the New Amsterdam Theater on Broadway in New York that October. A version later opened in London, and another in Toronto, playing there until January 2004.

Related Topics:
Broadway - Stage musical - Julie Taymor - Puppet - July 31st - 1997 - Minneapolis - New Amsterdam Theater - New York - London - Toronto

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There are currently two U.S. touring productions. The tour version is very similar to the original Broadway production; however, certain scenic elements which rise out of the stage floor (such as Pride Rock, the stampede, and the grasslands) were converted to less costly configurations for the touring productions.

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International productions of the show are now playing in London, England; Melbourne, Australia; Hamburg, Germany; Tokyo, Japan; and Scheveningen, Netherlands.

Related Topics:
London - England - Melbourne - Australia - Hamburg - Germany - Tokyo - Japan - Scheveningen - Netherlands

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The show is produced by Disney Theatrical.

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The Lion King was nominated for the following Tony Awards in 1997:

Related Topics:
Tony Awards - 1997

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• Tony Award for Best Musical WINNER
• Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical
• Tony Award for Best Original Score
• Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (Samuel E. Wright)
• Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical (Tsidii Le Loka)
• Tony Award for Best Scenic Design of a Musical WINNER
• Tony Award for Best Costume Design of a Musical (Julie Taymor) WINNER
• Tony Award for Best Lighting Design of a Musical WINNER
• Tony Award for Best Choreography WINNER (Garth Fagan)
• Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical (Julie Taymor) WINNER
• Tony Award for Best Orchestrations