March 13

Communism and the Lion King

Posted at 2:34 PM

I didn’t quite believe it at first but if you watch Disney’s Lion King you find all sorts of Communist imagery. There’s the song “Be Prepared”, which is all about revolution and assassinating the Royal family (like the Russian tsar Nikolas II), includes hyenas marching the goosestep and ends with Scar the lion on a pedestal with the Soviet sickle directly behind his head (okay, it’s a crescent moon, but it’s pretty obvious). Then there’s Scar’s conversation with Simba, when he tells him to run away (then tries to kill him) – almost like Stalin and Trotsky. Oh, and of course Stalin/Scar oversees a time where food gets less and less yet still claims everyone is better off under him than the previous lot. Just watch it carefully.

(In case you hadn’t realised, I watched the Lion King last night for the first time since I was seven and it was first released.)

3 Comments

Comments

  1. And then the king (representing capitalism) returns and restores peace and justice to the land, through the help of Pumbaa (representing “fat capitalist pigs”) and Timon (representing individuality). There’s also Zazu, who represents the opressed, overworked Civil Servant – who under Simba’s reign, thanks to the small capitalist government, is free and happy. But under Scar’s rule, due to the large communist government, he was practically locked up – represented rather cunningly by the bone cage in which he was imprisoned.

    So it’s really a very pro-capitalism and anti-communist film.

    Oh yeah, and “Hakuna Matata”, Timon and Pumbaa’s attempt to remove the Red from Simba – don’t worry about it, don’t worry about anyone, as long as you’re watching your own back. Simple selfish capitalist philosophy. Their problem free philosophy? Just don’t worry about it. I’m sure the environment will be fine.

    The Wildebeest obviously represent the proles. Rafiki represents the role of religion in a libertarian society.

    Duh.

    Rory on

  2. Wow! I never realised that such a simple, childs film could hold such deep meaning. You have really inspired me to look out for more symbols in films and books…im amazed!

    I do agree with that last comment though, it is an anti-communist film if you carry on throughout the film.

    That one scene though, with the hyenas doing the goose-step is very clever and thankyou for pointing out all these clever comments!

    just_me on

  3. You’re welcome :)

    Matthew on