Frozen vs The Lion King- Which is Actually the Better Disney Animation Movie?

Allllllriiight folks. It’s time for the latest versus battle. The Lion King, the biggest Disney movie of the 90s vs Frozen, the biggest Disney movie of the 2010s as well as Frozen 2 since they are both theatrical and still in the 2010s since F2 came out in 2019. Without further ado let’s begin.

So first off, let me explain why these two particular films are going to head to head. As we all know (or actually may not know), Snow White is Disney’s first full-length theatrical animated feature. It was a huge hit for being a milestone (not just Disney’s first animated film but the first full-length animated movie ever). Over the years, more Disney movies released that audiences really wanted to see and became hits such as Dumbo, Cinderella, and 101 Dalmatians. Unfortunately because I wasn’t alive at the time, I can’t speak for how they truly shook the zeitgeist but I can imagine Snow White had a big impact. I’m sure that for anyone who watched Snow White as a child (they’d be anywhere from early 90s to mid 90s today) they’d still defend it as the best Disney movie they ever saw because of the revolutionary innovation mixed with nostalgia bias (for some, not all).

In the 90s, the game changed. If you have a Disney animated film marathon and watch up to Beauty and the Beast which was released in 1991, you’ll notice a jump in quality from Rescuers Down Under to Beauty and the Beast. The pacing changes and the animation quality improves, Apparently, and I guess it makes sense, Howard Ashman and Alan Menken changed the direction of music to be more Broadway-style focused. This certainly helped Disney achieve its peak era in the 90s from Beauty and the Beast to Tarzan. Sorry Little Mermaid- your music may be catchy but the pacing is par and the animation still leaves something to be desired. And then you have Rescuers Down Under which it and its prequel ended up being two of the most forgettable and unimpactful Disney animated films ever and serves as an awkward intermission film between Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast and by no means should be counted in the Disney Renaissance nor should Little Mermaid. Fight me. The quality animation and music enters with Beauty and the Beast and this streak lasted until the arrival of the new millenium where post-90s Disney movies did not quite meet the high bar again. Because Lion King came first, let`s talk about that.

It is summer 1994. I am 2 years old. I remember watching Lion King for the first time at home on VHS when I was 3. It made such a huge impact on me. I think the reason why this is is because its a father-son story. I remember thinking of my own dad after Mufasa died. It was emotional, I`m an emotional guy. Ok, so to be fair, Lion King has the unfair advantage of being experienced when I was a child whereas I was 21 when Frozen released. Childhood nostalgia already has an edge here but…..the question must be raised- would I have liked Frozen as a kid? Lion King is for general audiences, it can be for boys and girls but let’s be real it’s more of a boy movie because like I mentioned before, the father-son relationship. And since I was 3 I was already old enough to know what I was more into- cars, action figures, animals instead of princesses. That being said, I’m not saying LK is the better movie because boys can relate better with it. We have to do better, Senator. Lion King has great songs, great characters, a great story, and great voice actors. James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Rowan Atkinson are all great in it. But I feel that one actor who’s may not be appreciated enough in it is Matthew Broderick as Simba. Sure, we all know him as the lovable goof from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off but when you hear Simba get angry with Scar, man does Matthew own it. I never really paid much attention to it until my most recent watch. When he says Run, run away, and never return, that is some talent and you know they picked a the right voice actor for Simba. LK has so much going for it. The songs are written really well, very catchy, repeatable, The Circle of Life is one of Disney animation’s greatest songs of all time. Be Prepared, Hakuna Matata, CYFTLT, and JCWTBK, never get old unless you repeat it over and over and over in which case that’s your own damn fault you if you come to hate it after. The characters are all endearing and no one is annoying. Comic relief done right (Zazu, Timon and Pumbaa). Scar is a hell of villain. Absolute fucking evil. Jafar’s got nothing on this guy. At least Jafar wasn’t looking to murder the Sultan or Jasmine when he usurped power but I guess that’s because he wanted to humiliate them. Bro was not above attempted murder when trying to get Aladdin/Prince Ali out of the way. I digress. Scar is an evil son of a bitch lion. Resorting to killing his own brother and attempting to murder his nephew, all because he really wants the throne. I’d be scared if I were the hyenas. Scar would literally do anything to achieve his goals. Despite LK taking a leaf from Hamlet, it is inspired not an adaptation much like Dragonball and Journey to the West. LK has a great story, it’s an adventure, it contains themes of maturity, friendship and love, redemption, and responsibility. It contains mature themes that both children and adults can relate to. The story has drama and scenes where you really feel it, especially the stampede and the Mufasa cloud scenes. The fact that the movie has a score as well as scenes play helps it as well, case in point the hyenas chasing Simba and Nala in the elephant graveyard. The whole movie just has better moments man. Mufasa teaching Simba about the Pridelands, him giving him a lesson about the kings of the past, the freaking hyena march during Be Prepared. Simba is also just an all-around more rounded and better character than Elsa too. You can feel the angst and sadness in his voice when he blames himself that he’s alone and for his father not being there. The conflict at the end between Scar and Simba and the visuals of the red flames and red in Simba’s eyes are visually striking and vibrant. The score of King of Pride Rock playing as Simba ascends Pride Rock , roars, and then the animals celebrating Kiara is as epic as its intro. I’d like to Frozen top that.

Now onto Frozen and Frozen II. I don’t even have to involve Lion King 2 because that film alone trumps Frozen and Frozen 2. Now, I understand that Frozen caters to girls. Okay. Fair. And unfortunately, bias may play into this but I’m trying my best to not let it. I’ll be honest friends. Frozen is nowhere near the level of LK. I feel like the only reason why anyone remembers Frozen is because of Let It Go. It’s a good song but it’s replayability makes you want to throw a rock at whatever device is playing the song for the 100th time. I don’t know but to my ears, I can re-listen to songs from LK way more than Frozen’s Let it Go. The other songs from Frozen don’t compare and I wouldn’t call them Disney-song staples unlike all 5 songs from LK. Frozen is more for a younger audience than LK because LK deals with death and exile. Ok, Elsa is exiled but it doesn’t feel dramatic. Hans is no Scar. The first Frozen is cheesy as it deals with true love’s kiss and falling in love within 2 days yada yada yada. Unrealistic. The movie just doesn’t hit like Lion King does. It and its sequel are kind of boring honestly but before you hang me for saying that, I can dig a princess movie ok. The story just isn’t engaging and you kind of just want it to move along to the next part. Traditional Disney princess movies have never really been that exciting- those that have princess main characters anyway, except maybe for Pocahontas but she’s not really a princess and her love story felt rushed with John Smith. I guess Tangled and Princess and the Frog are decent, I haven’t seen Wish or Raya and the Last Dragon. I don’t even know if Raya is a princess. Oh I almost forgot Moana. Another decent one. The 3D princess movies are generally better than the 2D ones in my opinion. Frozen 2 is actually more boring than the first. While it has a story, it’s just not engaging. Elsa is the 5th guardian/spirit. Ok……woooo. Next. No need for a Frozen 3 methinks yet there will be. Lion King 2 is much better peeps, just trust me, I’m a doctor ok. In Upendi, Not One of Us, He Lives In You, We Are One, My Lullaby, Kovu, Zira, need I say more? Need I?

Well folks, there you have it. For those who think Frozen is superior, I question you. The reason why I put these two head to head is because everyone and their ant farms were making such a muss and fuss that Frozen was the shizzle when it came out and people were literally saying it was the best Disney movie since Lion King. I’m pretty sure some even said it was better. Them is fighting words, truly. Lion King is still considered to be one the best movies in general not just in animation. There are many things to remember it for. With Frozen it’s just Let it Go, which, yeah, we really have to. Adios.