DYM homework 1

Analysis of opening sequence to "The Lion King"

The Walt Disney logo slowly reveals over sounds of the rain forest. Tension builds and is broken by the sun rising over the horizon to traditional African music. The wide open plans of Africa can be seen. Various animals begin to look up to the sky with a sense of purpose. The lack of knowledge of what they are looking at raises tensions further. After a flock of birds is seen to be taking off from a river we see various birds eye view shots of the various animals traveling across beautiful scenery. A giraffe and her child step over a grassy hill into the sunlight and as the shot pans across we can see a large herd of assorted animals traveling together. The giraffe run to join them and more tension rises as the audience now knows that something big is happening where all these animals are traveling to.

The next shot shows a tree of ants ECU then the focus changes to a flock of zebras running along. This still promotes the idea of travel but also shows the many layers of the animal kingdom working in close proximity. This is then shown again as we see a shot from the floor of running tiny birds followed by huge elephants, walking just behind. A shot image of comedy comes from one bird avoiding being stepped on as he trails behind the other birds.

We then start to see the animals really converging, birds riding on elephants through a river while antelope and zebra run by. The music begins to reach a climax and the audience suspects whatever they've been traveling to is close by now. The camera pans across a huge number of animals to see 'Pide rock' a large table-top mountain. The camera follows a bird to the mountain and lands by a lion standing regally at the edge. We know he is important from the respect given by the bird and his possition, solitary on the rock.

A baboon is seen to be separate from the large herd, being made a path by the others for him to walk through. He steps into a beam of light and holds a stick, connoting his spiritual importance and old age, making the audience see him as wise. The music begins to soffen as he climbs the mountain and is given a welcome hug from the important lion, then led to a cute young cub, held by a lioness who appears to be the cub's mother. The baboon plays with the young cub then blesses him with fruit juice and dust of the earth. This furthers his image as a holy man and puts the cub in a very important light.

The baboon takes the cub very caringly and carry's him slowly to the edge of the rock. The animals can be seen to stand to attention, pricking thier ears up at what must be the climax of their journey. The music once again builds as the cub is nearing the edge. The baboon hoists him up and the animals all erupt into applause. The audience see's the cub's importance, which is reassuered by the beam of light that falls from the sky onto the cub. The camera pans round to see the cub's face looking slightly confused by the attention causing more comedy. The camera pans away from the big event to the far distance and the words "The Lion King" appear in large red letters.