A pity that in the attempt to give the definitive untold history of “The Lion King,” the film’s actual creator, the man who wrote the treatment for $5,000 as “work for hire,” gets no mention.
Writer and poet Tom Disch had sold a property, “The Brave Little Toaster,” to Disney at John Lassiter’s instigation. The story of Toaster was to be Disney’s big entry into computer animation, but the film company balked at the cost until Lassiter convinced them otherwise. By that time “Toaster” had been subcontracted to be produced at a Korean animation studio as a normal cel animation. Lassiter changed the story of “Toaster” slightly, substituting toys for office accessories, and so, “Toy Story,” was born.
Essentially, both “Toy Story” (and it’s sequels), along with “The Lion King,” came from the mind of one man. Mr. Disch did grow bitter at seeing his work without even attribution making billions of dollars, while his career and personal life were growing increasingly difficult.
Tom committed suicide on Independence Day, 2008.
Ny Times, Letters, 2019-07-18
Of all the complaints, for god’s sake, did nobody notice how it promotes an entitled ruling class, inheriting power and position through primogeniture? Here is your “rightful” king. Are you kidding me? Just who appointed this “rightful” king? What makes a predator’s assumption of dictatorial power “rightful”? And why the apparently unquestioning obedience from his potential dinners?
Simba, of course, can answer: God did. And if you don’t respect God’s appointment, you will burn in hell. Isn’t that right, Father Hyena and Brother Jackal?
And as for those reverent creatures of forest– delighted to be killed and eaten by your “rightful” king, are they?
Some say children found the first film too scary? It wasn’t scary enough: we really needed to see a scene of the rightful king having dinner to make people understand exactly what it is about royalty– kings, and princes, and Disney princesses– they admire so much. And what it is about Disney that consistently glamorizes kings and princesses and other dictatorial forms of government.
What they did to “Robin Hood” and “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”.