Simba and Hamlet

Walt Disney Animation company, in co-operation with Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff,in 1994, made a cartoon and called it The Lion King. Probably all people have watched and know the story of little prince and his father king Mufasa.  Simba must become the next king as Hamlet should in the Shakespeare’s play-writing and they both should continue father’s works. Interestingly there are lots of similarities in these stories, despite having different angles, different point of view and finally differences of audience. Mufasa dies because of circumstances (who watched knows), but the main cause is hatred and envy of his brother Scar. As in Shakespeare’s tragedy in this cartoon as well main negative characters and villains are native brothers, who are very close to the kings. Traitors, in both artworks do or don’t do something that changes the storyline. Particularly the Claudius kills his brother by draining poison in Hamlet’s ear and Scar does not help Mufasa in hard situation.

Simba blames himself for father’s death, and runs away from the kingdom. This way was made to reveal the identity of prince. He passes some strange ways, discovers lots of new phenomena, travels through different places and finally realises that he is the king and the future of kingdom depends on him. This finding-ways gives audience chance to get familiar with Simba’s personality.

I tend to believe that Hamlet (in Shakespeare’s masterpiece) has such way of self-knowledge. It appears when you read the internal monologs of hero.  In comparison to The Lion King cartoon, in this tragedy Hamlet has straight question that needs an answer. Famous monologue To be, or not to be, fundamentally explains the issue that should be solved by hero.

If you want, you can find lots of similarities and differences between this two artworks,  though we should take into consideration the fact that the story of prince Hamlet has true basis, and was written by Shakespeare for specific audience, those who will dive inside the tragedy, will touch the blood of heroes and finally find the truth. As opposed to Simba, which has been drawn for children. Certainly, so much blood and violence that are in Hamlet must not be in cartoon with happy end.

Hamlet dies at the end of tragedy, and proves that truth requires sacrifice. In The Lion King’s version Simba wins the traitor and becomes new king.