Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King is a visually stunning movie with amazing animation, but it struggles to make us feel anything deep. It tells the backstory of Mufasa, the beloved king from The Lion King, but the story feels unnecessary and lacks the magic of the original.
Theatre vs. Movie: Why Realism Isn’t Always Better
One of the most interesting things about The Lion King is how different it is on stage compared to the movies. In the famous Broadway play, actors wear masks and costumes to represent animals. Even though they don’t look like real lions, their performances make us believe in the characters. The emotion comes through their voices and movements, not just their appearance.
But in Mufasa, Disney uses hyper-realistic CGI to make the animals look as lifelike as possible. The problem? The more real they look, the harder it is to connect with them. There’s a funny moment in the movie where Timon (Billy Eichner) makes fun of the stage play for using sock puppets. The joke is ironic because, in many ways, the sock puppet version has more personality than the ultra-realistic CGI meerkat in this film.
Stunning Animation, But Where’s the Heart?
There’s no denying that Mufasa is a technical masterpiece. The animation is better than in the 2019 remake—every hair on the lions’ bodies moves realistically, their muscles flex when they run, and the landscapes look like real African savannas. When the lions fight, you can feel the weight of their movements.
Director Barry Jenkins (Moonlight, If Beale Street Could Talk) tries to bring his signature style to the film with lots of close-up shots of the lions’ faces. But unlike his other movies, where close-ups make us feel closer to the characters, here they just remind us that we’re watching CGI animals trying to act human. The most beautiful moments are actually the wide shots—when the camera pulls back and lets us see the vast, sunlit plains.
Still, no matter how good the animation is, it can’t make up for a weak story.
A Prequel Nobody Asked For
The biggest issue with Mufasa is that it feels unnecessary. The original Lion King (1994) was a perfect, self-contained story. The 2019 remake was already pushing it, but at least it was a faithful retelling. Mufasa, however, tries to rewrite the past in ways that don’t add much to the original tale.
The movie starts years after the events of The Lion King, with Rafiki telling Simba and Nala’s cub about Mufasa’s early life. We learn that Mufasa and Scar (here called Taka) weren’t actually brothers—Mufasa was an orphan taken in by Taka’s family. This change doesn’t make the story better; it just makes it more complicated.
The plot follows young Mufasa as he gets separated from his parents, survives dangers, and grows into the wise king we know. Along the way, he meets Taka (future Scar), and they form a bond that will eventually turn into rivalry. There are some action scenes, a few new characters (like a villainous white lion voiced by Mads Mikkelsen), and a journey to a mythical land called Milele. But none of it feels as epic or emotional as the original Lion King.
Humor Falls Flat
One of the best parts of the original Lion King was its humor. Timon and Pumbaa were hilarious, and even small characters like Zazu had funny moments. In Mufasa, the comedy feels forced. Seth Rogen and Billy Eichner return as Pumbaa and Timon, but their jokes don’t land as well as Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella’s performances in the 1994 version.
There are a few attempts at humor, like Timon complaining about being stuck babysitting Simba’s cub, but most of the jokes feel like they’re trying too hard. The movie takes itself very seriously, which makes the few funny moments feel out of place.
Music Can’t Save It
A great Lion King movie needs great music. The original had unforgettable songs like Circle of Life, Hakuna Matata, and Can You Feel the Love Tonight. The 2019 remake kept most of these but didn’t add much new.
Mufasa brings in Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton, Moana) to write new songs, but none of them stand out. The only memorable one is I Always Wanted a Brother, which has a nice melody but doesn’t come close to the classics. The rest of the soundtrack is forgettable, which is a huge disappointment for a Lion King film.
Does It Work as a Standalone Movie?
If you’ve never seen The Lion King, Mufasa might still be an okay movie—just a very long, slow one. But for fans of the original, it doesn’t add much. The new backstory for Mufasa and Scar doesn’t make their relationship more interesting—if anything, it makes it less tragic. In the original, Scar’s jealousy was powerful because he was Mufasa’s own brother. Now, their bond feels weaker.
The movie also doesn’t explain why Scar becomes evil in a satisfying way. His transformation from Taka to Scar happens too fast, and his motivations aren’t as strong as before.
Final Verdict: Beautiful to Look At, But Missing the Magic
Mufasa: The Lion King is a visually impressive movie with some breathtaking animation. If you love CGI and realistic animal movements, you might enjoy watching it just for the visuals. But if you’re looking for a story with heart, humor, and emotion like the original, you’ll be disappointed.
The film tries to expand the Lion King universe, but it doesn’t add anything necessary or memorable. The songs are forgettable, the humor falls flat, and the emotional moments don’t hit as hard as they should.
Rating: 2.5/5
✅ Pros:
- Incredible animation
- Some beautiful landscape shots
- A few strong voice performances
❌ Cons:
- Unnecessary story
- Weak new songs
- Not as funny or emotional as the original
Should You Watch It?
If you’re a die-hard Lion King fan, you might still want to see it for the visuals. But if you’re hoping for a movie as good as the 1994 classic, you’ll probably be let down. Mufasa is a decent-looking film that sadly doesn’t live up to its legacy.