Heartwarming / The Lion King (1994)

Good friends.

• At the end, as Rafiki beckons Simba towards Pride Rock. He bows to him and Simba grabs him in a tight hug, effectively thanking him for all that he's done for him.
  • This also mirrors Mufasa's hug of Rafiki (pictured at the top of the page) right before the presentation of Simba at the beginning. They even both hug him with the same paw.
• Simba as a newborn cub in the beginning is just adorable.
  • The DVD Commentary even mentions that the moment where baby Simba turns around always got an "Awwwww..." during test screenings.
  • There's a brief shot of Mufasa and Sarabi snuggling and looking at their son with pride.
• After saving Simba from the hyenas and scolding him for endangering both himself and Nala, Mufasa and Simba have a heartwarming father/son moment:
  Simba: Dad? We're pals, right?
  Mufasa: Right.
  Simba: And we'll always be together, right?
  Mufasa: Simba, let me tell you something my father told me. Look at the stars. The great kings of the past look down on us from those stars.
  Simba: Really?
  Mufasa: Yes. So whenever you feel alone, just remember that those kings will always be there to guide you... and so will I.
  • What makes it even better is that Mufasa diverts Simba's question a little, whilst answering it at the same time. He's effectively telling Simba that he won't always be around, but that he will always be with him.
  • Simba is afraid to get the stern disciplinary lecture that no kid wants, which he does at first...but it turns into a intimate, honest father/son moment between the two.
    Simba: I was just trying to be brave like you.
    Mufasa: I'm only brave when I have to be. Simba, being brave doesn't mean you go looking for trouble.
    Simba: But you're not scared of anything.
    Mufasa: I was today.
    Simba: You were?
    Mufasa: Yes. I thought I might lose you.
    Simba: Oh. I guess even kings get scared, huh?
    Mufasa: Mmm-hmmm.
    Simba: But you know what?
    Mufasa: What?
    Simba: I bet those hyenas were even scared-er.
    Mufasa: (laughs heartedly) 'Cause nobody messes with your dad! COME HERE, YOU! (Mufasa gives Simba a noogie)
    • What makes this even better is that Mufasa is willing to be honest about his fear, rather than lashing out at Simba for not trusting in him, and it's one of the many reasons why he's considered one of the best parents to ever exist in media.
    • The stage version subtly emphasizes this; before his talk with Simba, Mufasa removes his lion mask from his head and places it and his two machetes on the stage. Essentially removing his royal regalia so he could speak to Simba, not as king to prince but as father to son.
  • James Earl Jones's performance during the scene, hearing his deep, dignified voice when Mufasa laughs while roughhousing with Simba somehow makes the whole scene even more adorable.
  • Before taking Nala home, Zazu wishes Simba luck in the upcoming conversation with his father. Keep in mind, he had a pretty good right to be annoyed with the two after they ditched him (underneath another animal no less) and making his job harder, but he remains empathetic to them. Like Mufasa, Zazu understands they simply didn't know any better.
• When Simba finally returns to the Pride Lands and sees the damage Scar has done, he reflects on his lessons he's learned to Nala and declares his intention to fight for his kingdom, as terrible of a state as it is. He's so quiet and resolute about it, suggesting maybe he knows he's walking right into what could be his death, but he knows it's what he has to do.
  Simba: I finally got some sense knocked into me, and I've got the bump to prove it. Besides, this is my home. If I don't fight for it, who will?
  • Nala counters by stating she will fight for it as well. Cue Timon and Pumbaa arriving, with Timon more annoyed by how crappy the Pride Lands look than afraid of the danger they all know they're walking into. The pair have lived safe lives in the jungle for years specifically to get away from this kind of situation, but there's no question in their minds about what they have to do. Timon says "Well, Simba, if it's that important to you, we're with you to the end!", because Simba's his friend, and they're in this together no matter what.
  • And the look Simba gives him afterwards is worthy of happy tears since Timon and Pumbaa didn't have to do what they did.
  • After Simba takes the throne and marries Nala, Timon, and Pumbaa are still two of his best friends — to the point that they stand by his side (as if they were family) on the day of his daughter's presentation. Not only do they have Simba's friendship and gratitude, but they also have the respect and gratitude of the entire kingdom. Not too shabby for a pair of former outcasts who once didn't have a friend in the world.
    • Another valid interpretation is that they literally are his parents. For most of his life, they were all he had - they are his surrogate mother and father and stand exactly where he and Nala, the parents, do at the end of Simba's Pride; they're not just standing with their friend - Simba is honoring them as his parents.
• The end, with the "Circle of Life" reprise playing as Rafiki presents Simba and Nala's new baby to the world, just as he did with Simba himself at the beginning of the movie.
• That moment when Simba feels most alone, then suddenly Rafiki appears, chanting his rhyme, to help him.
  • Which has the payoff in what he shows Simba in the jungle pool. Here we have Simba, once he finally realizes the "creepy little monkey" isn't completely yanking his chain, but actually did know Mufasa. He tries to break the news of his death to him gently, only to be told, "He's alive, and I'll show him to you!" Despite his misgivings, he follows Rafiki (one of the novelizations even had him think that he'd actually get to meet his father again —he's so lonely, desperate, and guilt-stricken that he naively believes his father is literally still alive!) until they reach the pool. There, he realizes it's not true and says, "That's not my father, that's just my reflection," to which Rafiki replies, "No...look harder"; then, as Simba looks, his reflection changes to Mufasa.
    You see? He lives in you.
  • Then there's Mufasa's appearance to his son. Bittersweet as it is, one can only dream of the chance to talk to someone dear that they've lost long after they have left us. Mufasa professes his love for his son and urges him to realize his true destiny and reclaim his rightful place back home. Their time together is short, but Mufasa's words do just enough to help Simba overcome the shame that drove him into exile.
  • And a bit later, after he teaches him a lesson with his stick:
    Simba: OW! Jeez, what was that for?!?!?
    Rafiki: It doesn't matter; it's in the past! Ha ha ha!
    Simba: Yeah, but it still hurts!
    Rafiki: Ah yes, the past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it, or learn from it.
  • The fact that Rafiki is probably being literal when he says "Correction: I know your father" since we see in Lion King 2 that Mufasa and Simba still interact. Did Rafiki just happen to find Simba? Or did Mufasa point him in the right direction?
• Rafiki when he discovers Simba's alive. He starts laughing hysterically as he takes red paint and paints a mane on the picture of Simba he smudged when he thought he was dead. The score for that scene seals the deal.
• Crossed with Moment of Awesome, Simba ascending Pride Rock in the rain and roaring - how proud everyone is of him, seeing him nuzzle his mother and Nala, and Zazu bowing to him.
  • When Zazu bows, you can see his beak moving but no sound. This is because the script initially called for him to say "Your Majesty" when Simba walked by, but it was scrapped because they decided it would be more poignant if there was no dialogue. (Although Rafiki has a line and Mufasa's ghost says "remember"). This is kept in the theatre production and later brought back for the 2019 remake: the intention of the line is that Zazu now recognizes this young cub who once nearly got him killed as nothing but his sovereign ruler he's now ready to serve just like he served his father.
  • The brief smile of confidence on Simba's face just before his roar when he hears his father's voice in the clouds is just the icing on top.
• The entirety of "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" certainly qualifies to some, but special mention goes to Simba and Nala's reunion prior to the song. These two are in the middle of an epic beatdown, and all it takes is for Nala to pin Simba for him to remember her. Even though he's been away from the Pride Lands for years, he never forgot his best friend. Then Nala realizes that the lion she's been fighting is her friend she thought was gone forever, and they both start gushing and frolicking like they're cubs again.
  • Leading to Timon's perplexed Jaw Drop.
  • Later on, Simba finally pins Nala. It wasn't intentional, but they just smile at each other, as if they know what it means. What makes it even cuter is the small lick Nala gives him afterward, as if it was her reward to him for finally "beating" her, and the loving nuzzle that they share afterward, the animal equivalent of kissing. It is also implied that this moment leads to the two of them conceiving their first child together.
  • The fact that Simba takes on Nala in order to save Pumbaa, despite likely not having any real combat experience since he was a cub. Timon and Pumbaa were right: he did come in handy.
  • The fact that Timon doesn't leave Pumbaa, even while he's literally staring down the barrel of Death incarnate.
  • The end of "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" in the theatre production gets changed up from Timon and Pumbaa's sad thoughts to these final lines between Nala and Simba:
    Nala: And if he feels the love tonight
    In the way I do...
    Simba: It's enough for this restless wanderer
    Simba and Nala: Just to be with you.
  • The original lyrics of the song in the movie suggested a more intimate tone for the scene, having Simba and Nala sing their feelings in their minds as they played in the jungle.
• A subtle one: In the scene following Simba's encounter with Rafiki and Mufasa's spirit, Nala is looking for Simba. Even though their last interaction was a bitter argument that ended with Nala shouting "Fine!" as Simba stormed away from her, it turns out that she hasn't given up on her lifelong friend and future mate after all.
• When Scar and Sarabi are arguing, Sarabi starts to tell Scar that he is not even half the king Mufasa was. Scar knocks her down in a rage. This angers Simba, but he goes over to check on his mother first and then nuzzle her. Doubles as a Moment of Awesome since Scar is scared for his life.
• When Sarabi sees a grown-up Simba for the first time, it's subverted as it's amid a moment of drama and sadness, and Scar quickly interrupts.
  • Both Scar and Sarabi mistake Simba for Mufasa. Meaning he looks exactly like his father did in his youth.
    Sarabi: Simba... you're alive! How can that be?
    Simba: It doesn't matter. I'm home.
• Combination this and Moment of Awesome when Simba and Nala are being chased by the hyenas in the Elephant Graveyard. When Nala falls behind and Shenzi is almost upon her, Simba immediately turns around and rushes to his friend's defense, giving the hyena a taste of his claws and giving Nala time to climb away. When they are cornered, he places himself between Nala and the hyenas and tries to roar at them in a desperate attempt to intimidate them. He's just a kid against full-grown predators (who, admittedly, aren't quite paragons for their species), but he intends to go down fighting them to defend his friend.
• Another scene in the Elephant Graveyard that has both this and Moment of Awesome except this time with Zazu. Simba and Nala have been nothing but a thorn in his side for the entire day, and when he has finally caught up to them after they ditched him, he is understandably furious and irritated at the disrespect and disobedience of his charges. But the moment the hyenas reveal themselves, he immediately raises his wings and shields the cubs. He is on the ground the entire exchange and makes no move to fly away until the hyenas are thoroughly distracted and the children are running.
  • When Shenzi stops them from leaving and hints at "having them for dinner", there's a quick blink and you'll miss it the moment when Zazu, who is only half the height of the cubs, places himself in front of the children with his wings outstretched and closes his eyes, fully prepared to die for his prince. Zazu is truly selfless, and heroic, and would do everything in his power to serve and protect the royal family.
  • When this clearly fails, Simba, despite all of the crap he has put Zazu through, attempts to defend him.
  • Crossed with Tear Jerker, but in the gorge scene, Simba cries out for Zazu to help him. Zazu reassures him that his father is coming and tells him to hold on. Simba has caused Zazu plenty of irritation in the past, but Rowan Atkinson's excellent voice acting definitely gives the impression that right now Zazu would give anything to be able to pull Simba out of harm's way.
• Crossed with the midquel, Timon & Pumbaa saving Simba and raising him pretty well, even if their philosophy is not the best and against the main moral of the story.
  • Really, the fact that two prey animals can raise an apex predator is Heartwarming in itself. While in real life, a lion can't survive on the protein from just bugs, Simba grows up into a strong, proud lion alpha with just his two adoptive fathers, who manage to teach him not just to survive, but to grow into what he's supposed to be, is extraordinary. Not to mention the fact that, when they met him, he was a traumatized, lonely, and borderline suicidal child, so at least when helping him psychologically heal as much as possible, despite it being against the moral of the story, growing up through "Hakuna Matata" was probably what Simba at that point and for a long time actually needed before he could properly face his past and destiny. This carries over into the TV series, where Simba makes a few guest appearances.
  • And then they manage to do it again in The Lion Guard, albeit with a honey badger this time.
• Pumbaa erupts at anyone who calls him "fat" or "a pig"... except Timon ("if you're hungry for a hunk of fat and juicy meat" and "he's a big pig") and Simba ("Pumbaa, you are a pig") because he knows that, unlike everyone else, they are not using it offensively.
• After the scene with Mufasa and Simba's father/son speech, Banzai complains and grumbles about his humiliating defeat by Mufasa, not helped by Ed's perpetual laugh at seemingly nothing- resulting in him attacking him out of frustration. Shenzai then chides them for their behavior and complains about their situation with the lions being on top slowly getting him back into a better mood by agreeing on their mutual dislike of the lions. They may be the evil minions who helped Scar overthrow the kingdom through the deaths of the latter's own brother and nephew, but they are genuine comrades who support each other in their shared misery, showing them to be much more than the mean-spirited bullies who'd eat children that they're introduced as.
  Shenzi: Look at you guys! No wonder we're dangling at the bottom of the food chain.
  Banzai: Man I hate dangling.
  Shenzi: Yeah? You know, if it weren't for those lions, we'd be running the joint.
  Banzai: Man I hate lions!
  Shenzi: They're so pushy.
  Banzai: And hairy!
  Shenzi: (smiling) And stinky!
  Banzai: (smiling) And man are they...
  Both: Ugly!
  (all hyenas laugh their heads off)
• Two out-of-film examples, proving just how much the film touched audiences around the world:
  • In a program that aired in the UK back in 2005, detailing the top 100 family movies of all time (The Lion King was number 6), one of the producers revealed that they received a letter from a young boy who had been devastated at the loss of his father. Unsure what else to do, his mother took him to see the film as a way of cheering him up, completely unaware of what happened in it... But rather than make things worse, the film actually helped him come to terms with what happened.
  • Concept and background artist Lisa Keene recounted a similar story in a retrospective for the Platinum Edition DVD: A man had lost his wife, but had no idea how to explain it to his young child, who was too young to understand what death was. So he showed his child the film and then explained that while their mother was gone, she was always watching over them. Keene was nearly in tears by the end of the story.
    "When your films do that, it makes it all worthwhile."
• Real life example: after Peter Rangmar, the Swedish voice actor for Timon in the original movie, died of cancer at the age of 40 on the 24th of May, 1997, Jan Rippe, the Swedish voice actor for Pumbaa, who was a close friend of Rangmar due to them both being in the same comedy group together, did not reprise the role in the sequel or the Timon & Pumbaa TV series out of respect for his late friend, but did reprise the role in the third movie when Timon was voiced by Per Fritzell, another member of the aforementioned comedy group.

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