This petition is a responses to the insult which threatens a Disney classic loved by generations. The Lion Guard, a Movie and TV series created by Disney to follow after the movie franchise, Lion King. Despite the hopes Disney has for it to increase awareness of the film and conservation with younger viewers it will inevitably bring this particular film to ruin. This series attacks the cornerstones of what made the Lion King story great. The integrity, the culture of the films, it creates inconsistencies and overall it ruins the overall tone that the Lion King has established for itself overall in the last 20 years. We hope the people in charge of their production will read this, see the fans outcry and prevent this possible damage to the very profitable franchise image.

 

This series does not attempt to acknowledge the inconsistencies that manifested around the film since it's creation and thus creates more inconsistencies which deters new viewers from purchasing the films, toys, and other associated merchandise. The major source of inconsistencies the series ignores the official Little Golden Books released by the Walt Disney Company, published by Grolier Enterprize that were later released in America in 1994, The Lion King: Six New Adventures. It’s a collection of stories that follow along within the movies universe. Within  these books, Simba’s and Nala’s son Kopa is taught life lessons through the stories of the past. Besides these stories not much is known about his character besides his other appearances in the books and could possible (If Disney chooses to do so) serve as a replacement to kion. For further information please read the books that are cited below.

 

This series though it follows after Simba's Pride, it does not follow the natural flow of the story. At the end of Simba's Pride, Kovu and Kiara were acknowledged as King and Queen and yet this story in the TV series follows a son of Simba and Nala like they are still King and Queen. Not only does this fight the flow that the story has (and tries to maintain according to director Darrell Rooney in the bonus feature called Proud of Simba’s Pride) but it is also another reference to the story series Six New Adventures. This is because Simba and Nala are still King and Queen when their son Kopa has all his adventures with his friends.If Kiara and Kovu were simply married or betrothed at the end of the film, that is something we wish for you to include.

 

This film and rightfully so holds a high integrity that must be protected. To this day it is the top grossing 2D animation movie of all time. It was largely promoted to be based off of the works of one of the greatest writers of all time Shakespeare while bringing in element of the true animal kingdom, but will get to that later. The first film is loosely based on Hamlet while Simba’s Pride on Romeo & Juliet along with The Manchurian Candidate which was expertly adjusted to fit the films needs aside from a few unanswered questions like why was Zira banished, who Kovu’s true father is, and what happened to Sarabi in her time with Simba after their reunion before her assumed passing but those are minor details as far as this larger story is concerned. Aside from the main film;  its soundtrack has succeeded to be compared to the little mermaid and Frozen with it winning the Grammy Award for Best Musical Album for Children, and American Music Award for Favorite Soundtrack all written/ produced by Elton John and score done by Hans Zimmer. These musics and stories are classic which is why it support spans generations. Putting a Mohawk and a tattoo on a lion cub is definitely going to give this film a shelf life and this is not going to help promote these children seeing it on broadway when they grow older if they lose respect for the film due to these mistakes.

 

Let me ask you this: what kind of tone did the story have from beginning to end? Was it cheery and upbeat like what this show The Lion Guard has where the characters have fun and few problems? NO! In the words of Martin Luther King, I Had a Dream, this dream I had for years ever since I watched Lion King for the first time. I had a life where things were truly exciting at times but they came and were gone either by my actions, but this film let me know that no matter how grim a situation I was in, their is always a bit of light, and hope for redemption for my mistakes. This film had a dark tone to it from the beginning as well.  This dark tone was what attracted older generations to this movie and this series' upbeat tone will ruin the experience of the movie for the younger generations as they grow older, seeing the characters faced no true dilemmas or developed at all; ultimately bring the movie into something that is no longer entertaining for the whole family.

To those of us who have watched Lion King for these last two decades, who fell in love with the films, the emotionally depth dynamic characters and life lessons of learning that range from learning from painful mistakes made in the past, taking on your responsibilities, stand up for what you believe in and that we should all respect one another because we are all connected in the great circle of life; we are one. Please reconsider this film and tv series before jeopardizing another good thing you had going.

Citations
Films

The Lion King

The Lion King 2; Simba’s Pride

Bonus disks on both of the previously stated films

Books
Tale of Two Brothers by Alex Simmons

 Perviously stated Author’s comments: http://s1215.photobucket.com/user/KieranTheWolf/media/ASimmons_email.png.html

 

Nala’s Dare by Joanne Barkan
Vulture Shock by Judy Katschke

A Snake in the Grass by Leslie Mc Guire
Follow the Leader by Page McBrier

How True Zazu by Leslie McGuire

The Brightest Star by Wendi Baker Vinisky