The Lion King II: Simba's Pride
Encyclopedia
The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (later retitled The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride) is a 1998 American direct-to-video
animated film
released by Walt Disney Home Video on October 27, 1998. The film is the sequel to the 1994 Disney animated film The Lion King
. It was later re-released as a special edition DVD (which altered the original title's "II" into "2") on August 31, 2004. It is the first film produced by DisneyToon Studios using Toon Boom.
Based loosely on of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
, the film centers around Simba's daughter, Kiara, who falls in love with Kovu, a male lion who was raised in a pride of Scar's followers, the Outsiders. Desperate to be together, they must overcome the two obstacles that are keeping them apart: Kovu's mother, Zira, and Simba's prejudices against the Outlanders.
Discussion began about the possibility of a sequel to the Lion King before the first movie even hit theaters. Most of the original cast reprised their roles from the first film, with the notable exceptions of Rowan Atkinson
, who was replaced by Edward Hibbert
as the voice of Zazu the Hornbill in this film and its follow-up/predecessor The Lion King 1 1/2 and Jeremy Irons
, who was replaced by Scar's singing voice actor from the first film Jim Cummings
as the voice of Scar (speaking voice) in this film. Also Madge Sinclair
who was the voice of Simba's mother Sarabi died before this film was released and that is why Simba's mother Sarabi did not appear in this film.
) gathering the animals of the Pride Lands together for the presentation of Simba (Matthew Broderick
) and Nala’s (Moira Kelly
) new daughter Kiara. Mufasa's spirit (James Earl Jones
) watches over the ceremony. Later, Simba becomes very over-protective of an older Kiara (Michelle Horn
), and to her dismay, he assigns Timon and Pumbaa (Nathan Lane
and Ernie Sabella
) to be her babysitters. One day while they are arguing, Kiara sneaks into the "Outlands" where she meets Scar's heir, a young cub named Kovu (Ryan O'Donohue
). After escaping a river filled with crocodiles, the two become friendly, but Simba and, Kovu's mother, Zira (Suzanne Pleshette
), find them and quickly end their playing. During a tense face-off, Zira reminds Simba that he exiled the Outsiders, and notes that if he wants to punish them, Kovu is Scar's hand-chosen successor. Unwilling to harm the cub, Simba orders them to leave and later scolds Kiara for endangering herself. In the Outlands, Zira's elder son, Nuka (Andy Dick
), complains to his younger sister Vitani (Lacey Chabert
) about Kovu's status as "the Chosen One" — the cub chosen by Scar to lead the pride after he was gone. At that moment, Zira returns and scolds both of her sons, but then decides that she can use Kovu's new friendship with Kiara to get her revenge against Simba.
Now a young adult, Kiara (Neve Campbell
) heads out from home to do her first solo hunt; however, Nuka and Vitani set fire to the plains where Kiara is hunting, causing her to faint and giving Kovu (Jason Marsden
) the chance to rescue her. Drawn by the smoke, Simba finds them together and reluctantly accepts Kovu's request to come to Pride Rock, though he forces Kovu to sleep outside. Later, Simba goes outside to a watering hole where Kovu contemplates attacking him, but Kiara interrupts and they go off together so Kovu can help her learn to hunt. During the lesson, they run into Timon and Pumbaa struggling with some birds, so the two lions help them chase the birds off. Together, they have fun playing, something Kovu notes he has never experienced before. That night, Kovu tells Kiara that he is not Scar's real son, but "was a part of him". Meanwhile, Simba seeks guidance from the "Great Kings" and Nala advises him to give Kovu a chance because he is not Scar. Kovu decides to leave after trying to confess his real intentions, but Rafiki stops and invites the young lions to experience "Upendi" — love. After a musical journey through the jungle, the two fall in love.
In the morning, Kovu, feeling guilty for being in Zira's plot, decides to take responsibility by explaining the truth to Simba and Kiara, despite knowing that it will outrage them. Before he can tell the truth, Simba invites Kovu for a walk and tells him the true story of Scar, which Kovu had never heard. However, their walk is interrupted by an ambush by Zira and her pride. After a brief fight, Simba manages to escape by scaling a wall of logs in a gorge but is wounded. In chasing after him, Nuka slips and is killed by falling logs. Zira blames Kovu for Nuka's death, swiping a paw across his face and giving him a scar identical to Scar's. Fleeing from his mother, Kovu returns to the Pride Lands and begs forgiveness from Simba. Still believing Kovu knew about the ambush, Simba exiles him and the Pride Land animals begin to drive him out. Kiara tries to reach Kovu but the lionesses hold her back. She pleads with her father to reconsider, but he refuses, saying that Kovu only used her to get to him and that he knows that Kovu is following in Scar's pawprints. Angered, Kiara tells him that he will never be Mufasa, horrifying her father, she then goes into Pride Rock crying. She later sneaks away from Pride Rock and eventually finds Kovu and convinces him to come back. Meanwhile, at Pride Rock, Simba discovers that Kiara is gone just when Zazu warns him that the Outsiders are coming. Knowing that it meant war, Simba sends him to find Kiara while he prepares the pride for battle.
Meanwhile, Zira leads the Outsiders towards the Pride Lands, and a fierce fight breaks out. As Zira and Simba face off, Kovu and Kiara leap between them and Kiara tells Simba the fighting has to stop. Kiara reminds her father that, by his own words, "we are one". Zira ignores her, but the rest of the outsiders falter after Vitani takes Kiara's side. Surprised and outraged, Zira threatens to kill her, which only causes the rest of the Outlanders to desert her. Now alone, Zira attempts to attack Simba but Kiara jumps in the way, sending them both over a cliff. Kiara lands on a rock, but Zira is dangling off a rock face and is sliding towards a storm-swollen river. She refuses Kiara's offer of help, and slips and falls to her death. Simba allows the Outlanders, including Kovu, to return to the Pride Lands, and Kovu is allowed to stand with Kiara at the top of Pride Rock. Simba looks up into the sky and smiles as he hears the spirit of Mufasa say, "Well done, my son. We are one."
The film was first released on VHS
in the United States on October 27, 1998 and on DVD
as a limited issue on November 23, 1999. The DVD was placed into moratorium
on January 19, 2000. It was not released again on DVD until August 31, 2004, when it was a two-disc special edition. It went into moratorium in January 2005. The film has been rendered in high definition and, from October 4th, 2011, became available in a trilogy set with the other two films. A separate release is scheduled for 2012.
gave the film a "two-thumbs up" and said it was a "satisfactory sequel to one of the most popular films of all time, The Lion King
". However, they also said it was best that it went to video, citing that the music was lacking and not remotely equal to the original's soundtrack.
TV Guide
gave the film 2½ stars out of four, claiming that, despite being of slightly higher quality than Disney's previous direct-to-video animated sequels, "comes nowhere near the level of its big-screen predecessor", either musically or artistically. The review later went on to say that "Though most of the original characters and their voices are back, they all sound bored, apart from the zesty addition of Suzanne Pleshette as the scheming Zira. The overall result is OK for kids, who will enjoy the low humor provided by the comical meerkat Timon and the flatulent warthog Pumbaa, but it could have been so much better."
, Kevin Quinn, Randy Petersen, Mark Mancina
, Jay Rifkin
, Jack Feldman, Scott Warrender and Joss Whedon
.
. (Tina Turner
recorded a version of "He Lives in You" for the film, which is not included on this album). On August 31, 2004, Disney released an "enhanced soundtrack" to coincide with the release of the film's 2-Disc Special Edition DVD. However, the CD only contains the songs featured in the film, without any of the inspired songs in The Lion King.
Direct-to-video
Direct-to-video is a term used to describe a film that has been released to the public on home video formats without being released in film theaters or broadcast on television...
animated film
Animation
Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways...
released by Walt Disney Home Video on October 27, 1998. The film is the sequel to the 1994 Disney animated film The Lion King
The Lion King
The Lion King is a 1994 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is the 32nd feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series...
. It was later re-released as a special edition DVD (which altered the original title's "II" into "2") on August 31, 2004. It is the first film produced by DisneyToon Studios using Toon Boom.
Based loosely on of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the career of playwright William Shakespeare about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular archetypal stories of young, teenage lovers.Romeo and Juliet belongs to a...
, the film centers around Simba's daughter, Kiara, who falls in love with Kovu, a male lion who was raised in a pride of Scar's followers, the Outsiders. Desperate to be together, they must overcome the two obstacles that are keeping them apart: Kovu's mother, Zira, and Simba's prejudices against the Outlanders.
Discussion began about the possibility of a sequel to the Lion King before the first movie even hit theaters. Most of the original cast reprised their roles from the first film, with the notable exceptions of Rowan Atkinson
Rowan Atkinson
Rowan Sebastian Atkinson is a British actor, comedian, and screenwriter. He is most famous for his work on the satirical sketch comedy show Not The Nine O'Clock News, and the sitcoms Blackadder, Mr. Bean and The Thin Blue Line...
, who was replaced by Edward Hibbert
Edward Hibbert
Edward Hibbert is an American-born English actor and literary agent.-Biography:Hibbert was born in Long Island, New York, the son of Geoffrey Hibbert. He has one sister. He was raised in England, where he attended London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art...
as the voice of Zazu the Hornbill in this film and its follow-up/predecessor The Lion King 1 1/2 and Jeremy Irons
Jeremy Irons
Jeremy John Irons is an English actor. After receiving classical training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Irons began his acting career on stage in 1969, and has since appeared in many London theatre productions including The Winter's Tale, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, The Taming of the...
, who was replaced by Scar's singing voice actor from the first film Jim Cummings
Jim Cummings
James Jonah "Jim" Cummings is an American voice actor who has appeared in almost 100 roles. He has appeared in classic animated movies such as Aladdin and The Lion King, as well as taking on roles in more current films, such as Bee Movie, Princess and the Frog, and Winnie the Pooh.-Personal...
as the voice of Scar (speaking voice) in this film. Also Madge Sinclair
Madge Sinclair
Madge Dorita Sinclair was a Jamaican American character actress.-Early years:Sinclair was born Madge Dorita Walters in Kingston, Jamaica, to Herbert and Jemima Walters. She was a teacher in Jamaica until 1968 when she left for New York to pursue her career in acting.-Career:In 1978, she starred in...
who was the voice of Simba's mother Sarabi died before this film was released and that is why Simba's mother Sarabi did not appear in this film.
Plot
The film opens with Rafiki (Robert GuillaumeRobert Guillaume
Robert "Bob" Guillaume is an American stage and television actor, best known for his role as Benson Du Bois on the TV-series Soap and the spin-off Benson, voicing the mandrill Rafiki in The Lion King and as Isaac Jaffe on Sports Night...
) gathering the animals of the Pride Lands together for the presentation of Simba (Matthew Broderick
Matthew Broderick
Matthew Broderick is an American film and stage actor who, among other roles, played the title character in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Adult Simba in The Lion King film series, and Leo Bloom in the film and Broadway productions of The Producers.He has won two Tony Awards, one in 1983 for his...
) and Nala’s (Moira Kelly
Moira Kelly
Moira Kelly is an American actress. She is best known for playing single mother Karen Roe on the teen drama One Tree Hill. She also directed two episodes of the series: "Resolve" and "I Slept with Someone in Fall Out Boy and All I Got Was This Stupid Song Written About Me"...
) new daughter Kiara. Mufasa's spirit (James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones is an American actor. He is well-known for his distinctive bass voice and for his portrayal of characters of substance, gravitas and leadership...
) watches over the ceremony. Later, Simba becomes very over-protective of an older Kiara (Michelle Horn
Michelle Horn
Michelle Horn is an American actress known for her work in the TV shows Strong Medicine and Family Law. Horn is also known for her voiceover work in Disney's Lion King 2: Simba's Pride as the lion cub Kiara. Her voice can be heard in Lion King-related merchandise such as software, plushes, toys...
), and to her dismay, he assigns Timon and Pumbaa (Nathan Lane
Nathan Lane
Nathan Lane is an American actor of stage and screen. He is best known for his roles as Mendy in The Lisbon Traviata, Albert in The Birdcage, Max Bialystock in the musical The Producers, Ernie Smuntz in MouseHunt, Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls, Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to...
and Ernie Sabella
Ernie Sabella
Ernest "Ernie" Sabella is an American actor, who is best known for his role as the official voice of Pumbaa from the The Lion King.-Life and career:...
) to be her babysitters. One day while they are arguing, Kiara sneaks into the "Outlands" where she meets Scar's heir, a young cub named Kovu (Ryan O'Donohue
Ryan O'Donohue
Ryan Sean O'Donohue is an American voice actor, most notable for his performances in many Disney projects.O'Donohue began his acting career at the age of nine when he played Zeke Byrd on the 1994 ABC drama Byrds of Paradise, filmed in Hawaii. The show was cancelled after a 13-episode run despite...
). After escaping a river filled with crocodiles, the two become friendly, but Simba and, Kovu's mother, Zira (Suzanne Pleshette
Suzanne Pleshette
Suzanne Pleshette was an American actress, on stage, screen and television.After beginning her career in theatre, she began appearing in films in the early 1960s, such as Rome Adventure and Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds...
), find them and quickly end their playing. During a tense face-off, Zira reminds Simba that he exiled the Outsiders, and notes that if he wants to punish them, Kovu is Scar's hand-chosen successor. Unwilling to harm the cub, Simba orders them to leave and later scolds Kiara for endangering herself. In the Outlands, Zira's elder son, Nuka (Andy Dick
Andy Dick
Andrew R. "Andy" Dick is an American comedian, actor, musician and television/film producer. His first regular television role was on the short-lived but highly influential Ben Stiller Show. In the mid-1990s, he had a long-running stint on NBC's NewsRadio...
), complains to his younger sister Vitani (Lacey Chabert
Lacey Chabert
Lacey Nicole Chabert is an American actress and voice actress, known for her roles as Claudia Salinger in the television drama Party of Five and as Gretchen Wieners in the movie Mean Girls...
) about Kovu's status as "the Chosen One" — the cub chosen by Scar to lead the pride after he was gone. At that moment, Zira returns and scolds both of her sons, but then decides that she can use Kovu's new friendship with Kiara to get her revenge against Simba.
Now a young adult, Kiara (Neve Campbell
Neve Campbell
Neve Adrianne Campbell is a Canadian actress. After beginning her career on stage, and on numerous commercials, she starred on the Canadian television series Catwalk. She then rose to international fame on the Golden Globe-winning 1990s television series Party of Five, playing the role of teenager...
) heads out from home to do her first solo hunt; however, Nuka and Vitani set fire to the plains where Kiara is hunting, causing her to faint and giving Kovu (Jason Marsden
Jason Marsden
Jason Christopher Marsden is an American screen and voice actor who has done numerous voice roles in animated films, as well as various television series.-Early life:...
) the chance to rescue her. Drawn by the smoke, Simba finds them together and reluctantly accepts Kovu's request to come to Pride Rock, though he forces Kovu to sleep outside. Later, Simba goes outside to a watering hole where Kovu contemplates attacking him, but Kiara interrupts and they go off together so Kovu can help her learn to hunt. During the lesson, they run into Timon and Pumbaa struggling with some birds, so the two lions help them chase the birds off. Together, they have fun playing, something Kovu notes he has never experienced before. That night, Kovu tells Kiara that he is not Scar's real son, but "was a part of him". Meanwhile, Simba seeks guidance from the "Great Kings" and Nala advises him to give Kovu a chance because he is not Scar. Kovu decides to leave after trying to confess his real intentions, but Rafiki stops and invites the young lions to experience "Upendi" — love. After a musical journey through the jungle, the two fall in love.
In the morning, Kovu, feeling guilty for being in Zira's plot, decides to take responsibility by explaining the truth to Simba and Kiara, despite knowing that it will outrage them. Before he can tell the truth, Simba invites Kovu for a walk and tells him the true story of Scar, which Kovu had never heard. However, their walk is interrupted by an ambush by Zira and her pride. After a brief fight, Simba manages to escape by scaling a wall of logs in a gorge but is wounded. In chasing after him, Nuka slips and is killed by falling logs. Zira blames Kovu for Nuka's death, swiping a paw across his face and giving him a scar identical to Scar's. Fleeing from his mother, Kovu returns to the Pride Lands and begs forgiveness from Simba. Still believing Kovu knew about the ambush, Simba exiles him and the Pride Land animals begin to drive him out. Kiara tries to reach Kovu but the lionesses hold her back. She pleads with her father to reconsider, but he refuses, saying that Kovu only used her to get to him and that he knows that Kovu is following in Scar's pawprints. Angered, Kiara tells him that he will never be Mufasa, horrifying her father, she then goes into Pride Rock crying. She later sneaks away from Pride Rock and eventually finds Kovu and convinces him to come back. Meanwhile, at Pride Rock, Simba discovers that Kiara is gone just when Zazu warns him that the Outsiders are coming. Knowing that it meant war, Simba sends him to find Kiara while he prepares the pride for battle.
Meanwhile, Zira leads the Outsiders towards the Pride Lands, and a fierce fight breaks out. As Zira and Simba face off, Kovu and Kiara leap between them and Kiara tells Simba the fighting has to stop. Kiara reminds her father that, by his own words, "we are one". Zira ignores her, but the rest of the outsiders falter after Vitani takes Kiara's side. Surprised and outraged, Zira threatens to kill her, which only causes the rest of the Outlanders to desert her. Now alone, Zira attempts to attack Simba but Kiara jumps in the way, sending them both over a cliff. Kiara lands on a rock, but Zira is dangling off a rock face and is sliding towards a storm-swollen river. She refuses Kiara's offer of help, and slips and falls to her death. Simba allows the Outlanders, including Kovu, to return to the Pride Lands, and Kovu is allowed to stand with Kiara at the top of Pride Rock. Simba looks up into the sky and smiles as he hears the spirit of Mufasa say, "Well done, my son. We are one."
Voice cast
- Neve CampbellNeve CampbellNeve Adrianne Campbell is a Canadian actress. After beginning her career on stage, and on numerous commercials, she starred on the Canadian television series Catwalk. She then rose to international fame on the Golden Globe-winning 1990s television series Party of Five, playing the role of teenager...
as Kiara, Simba and Nala's daughter. As a cub, she is voiced by Jenna D. A. Ronzzio, with Charity Savoy providing her child singing voice as a cub and Liz CallawayLiz CallawayLiz Callaway is an American actress and singer, famous for providing the singing voices of many female characters in films, such as Anya in Anastasia, Odette in The Swan Princess, and Kiara in The Lion King II:Simba's Pride....
providing her adult singing voice. - Jason MarsdenJason MarsdenJason Christopher Marsden is an American screen and voice actor who has done numerous voice roles in animated films, as well as various television series.-Early life:...
as Kovu, Zira's son and Scar's heir. Gene Miller provides Kovu's singing voice. As a cub, he is voiced by Ryan O'DonohueRyan O'DonohueRyan Sean O'Donohue is an American voice actor, most notable for his performances in many Disney projects.O'Donohue began his acting career at the age of nine when he played Zeke Byrd on the 1994 ABC drama Byrds of Paradise, filmed in Hawaii. The show was cancelled after a 13-episode run despite...
. - Matthew BroderickMatthew BroderickMatthew Broderick is an American film and stage actor who, among other roles, played the title character in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Adult Simba in The Lion King film series, and Leo Bloom in the film and Broadway productions of The Producers.He has won two Tony Awards, one in 1983 for his...
as Simba, the reigning king of the Pride Lands. Cam ClarkeCam ClarkeCameron Arthur "Cam" Clarke is a prolific American voice actor and singer, well known for his work in animation and video games. Clarke is well known for providing the voices of Leonardo in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Shotaro Kaneda in the 1989 original English-dub of Akira. He often voices...
provides his singing voice. - Moira KellyMoira KellyMoira Kelly is an American actress. She is best known for playing single mother Karen Roe on the teen drama One Tree Hill. She also directed two episodes of the series: "Resolve" and "I Slept with Someone in Fall Out Boy and All I Got Was This Stupid Song Written About Me"...
as Nala, mate of Simba and mother of Kiara. - Suzanne PleshetteSuzanne PleshetteSuzanne Pleshette was an American actress, on stage, screen and television.After beginning her career in theatre, she began appearing in films in the early 1960s, such as Rome Adventure and Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds...
as Zira, leader of the Outsiders/landers, Simba's aunt and Scar's widow. She is the main antagonist. - Nathan LaneNathan LaneNathan Lane is an American actor of stage and screen. He is best known for his roles as Mendy in The Lisbon Traviata, Albert in The Birdcage, Max Bialystock in the musical The Producers, Ernie Smuntz in MouseHunt, Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls, Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to...
as Timon, Simba's meerkat friend. - Ernie SabellaErnie SabellaErnest "Ernie" Sabella is an American actor, who is best known for his role as the official voice of Pumbaa from the The Lion King.-Life and career:...
as Pumbaa, Simba's warthog friend. - Robert GuillaumeRobert GuillaumeRobert "Bob" Guillaume is an American stage and television actor, best known for his role as Benson Du Bois on the TV-series Soap and the spin-off Benson, voicing the mandrill Rafiki in The Lion King and as Isaac Jaffe on Sports Night...
as Rafiki, mandrill shaman of The Pride Lands. - Andy DickAndy DickAndrew R. "Andy" Dick is an American comedian, actor, musician and television/film producer. His first regular television role was on the short-lived but highly influential Ben Stiller Show. In the mid-1990s, he had a long-running stint on NBC's NewsRadio...
as Nuka, Zira's son, and Kovu's older brother. He is the secondary antagonist. - Jennifer LienJennifer LienJennifer Ann Lien is an American actress, known for playing the alien Kes on the television series Star Trek: Voyager.-Early life:...
as Vitani, Zira's daughter, and Kovu and Nuka's sister. As a cub, she is voiced by Lacey ChabertLacey ChabertLacey Nicole Chabert is an American actress and voice actress, known for her roles as Claudia Salinger in the television drama Party of Five and as Gretchen Wieners in the movie Mean Girls...
, with Anna Shaughnessy providing her singing voice. She is the tertiary antagonist. - Edward HibbertEdward HibbertEdward Hibbert is an American-born English actor and literary agent.-Biography:Hibbert was born in Long Island, New York, the son of Geoffrey Hibbert. He has one sister. He was raised in England, where he attended London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art...
as Zazu, Simba's hornbill adviser. - James Earl JonesJames Earl JonesJames Earl Jones is an American actor. He is well-known for his distinctive bass voice and for his portrayal of characters of substance, gravitas and leadership...
as Mufasa's Spirit - Jim CummingsJim CummingsJames Jonah "Jim" Cummings is an American voice actor who has appeared in almost 100 roles. He has appeared in classic animated movies such as Aladdin and The Lion King, as well as taking on roles in more current films, such as Bee Movie, Princess and the Frog, and Winnie the Pooh.-Personal...
as Scar's Spirit. He haunts Simba's dream.
Release
In 1998, Disney believed that The Lion King II: Simba's Pride would be so popular that it shipped 15 million copies to stores for the October 27 release date. Disney sold 3.5 million copies in three days. Thirteen million copies were sold while it was still in print in the late 90s.The film was first released on VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
in the United States on October 27, 1998 and on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
as a limited issue on November 23, 1999. The DVD was placed into moratorium
Moratorium (entertainment)
A moratorium in the home entertainment business refers to the practice of suspending the sales of DVD movies or DVD boxed sets after a certain period of time...
on January 19, 2000. It was not released again on DVD until August 31, 2004, when it was a two-disc special edition. It went into moratorium in January 2005. The film has been rendered in high definition and, from October 4th, 2011, became available in a trilogy set with the other two films. A separate release is scheduled for 2012.
Reception
The film had gained mixed to average reception. Walter Chaw of Film Freak Central stated that the film was "born of a desire to make money off of children who don't know any better and their indulgent parents who should." Siskel & EbertAt the Movies
At the Movies is an Australian television program on ABC1 hosted by film critics Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton, in which they discuss the films opening in theatres that week.-History:...
gave the film a "two-thumbs up" and said it was a "satisfactory sequel to one of the most popular films of all time, The Lion King
The Lion King
The Lion King is a 1994 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is the 32nd feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series...
". However, they also said it was best that it went to video, citing that the music was lacking and not remotely equal to the original's soundtrack.
TV Guide
TV Guide
TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
gave the film 2½ stars out of four, claiming that, despite being of slightly higher quality than Disney's previous direct-to-video animated sequels, "comes nowhere near the level of its big-screen predecessor", either musically or artistically. The review later went on to say that "Though most of the original characters and their voices are back, they all sound bored, apart from the zesty addition of Suzanne Pleshette as the scheming Zira. The overall result is OK for kids, who will enjoy the low humor provided by the comical meerkat Timon and the flatulent warthog Pumbaa, but it could have been so much better."
Songs
The songwriters were Marty Panzer, Tom SnowTom Snow (songwriter)
Thomas Righter Snow is an American songwriter.He wrote songs for Joe Cocker with , Selena , Olivia Newton-John , Melissa Manchester , The Pointer Sisters , Barbra Streisand, Rita Coolidge Thomas Righter Snow is an American songwriter.He wrote songs for Joe Cocker ("Even a Fool Would Let Go", "Love...
, Kevin Quinn, Randy Petersen, Mark Mancina
Mark Mancina
Mark Alan Mancina is a U.S. composer, primarily for Hollywood soundtracks, such as his collaboration with Trevor Rabin on the soundtrack for Con Air. He arranged many of the songs behind Disney's The Lion King including the Broadway musical...
, Jay Rifkin
Jay Rifkin
Jay Rifkin is a music and film producer.Rifkin created the company Media Ventures with Hans Zimmer, a childhood friend, whom he partnered with to produce and compose with. Media Ventures is a diverse entertainment group that includes music, new media, film and television...
, Jack Feldman, Scott Warrender and Joss Whedon
Joss Whedon
Joseph Hill "Joss" Whedon is an American screenwriter, executive producer, director, comic book writer, occasional composer and actor, founder of Mutant Enemy Productions and co-creator of Bellwether Pictures...
.
- "He Lives in YouHe Lives in You"He Lives in You" is a song written and performed by Lebo M and his South African Choir for the CD Rhythm of the Pride Lands. A shorter version of the song was used in the opening of The Lion King II. This song was co-written by Mark Mancina and Jay Rifkin...
" - This is an original song by Lebo MLebo MLebohang “Lebo M.” Morake, known professionally as Lebo M, is a South African composer most famous for arranging and performing music for the Lion King movies and stage productions. He was recommended to Disney by Hans Zimmer, the score composer of The Lion King, and was later hired to form and...
and his African choir. This song represents Kiara's birth and is also the equivalent of "Circle of LifeCircle of LifeThe song was re-recorded in 2003 by the Disney Channel Circle of Stars, a group of actors and actresses who have appeared in Disney Channel television series and original movies...
". The song can also be a reference to when Rafiki told Simba in the first film that Mufasa "lives" in him. Also appears in the Broadway versionThe Lion King (musical)The Lion King is a musical based on the 1994 Disney animated film of the same name with music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice along with the musical score created by Hans Zimmer with choral arrangements by Lebo M. Directed by Julie Taymor, the musical features actors in animal costumes as well...
of the first film. It was considered as the only song to be composed by Hans ZimmerHans ZimmerHans Florian Zimmer is a German film composer and music producer. He has composed music for over 100 films, including critically acclaimed film scores for The Lion King , Crimson Tide , The Thin Red Line , Gladiator , The Dark Knight and Inception .Zimmer spent the early part of his career in the...
, the man who composed the original film. - "We Are One" - Sung by Cam ClarkeCam ClarkeCameron Arthur "Cam" Clarke is a prolific American voice actor and singer, well known for his work in animation and video games. Clarke is well known for providing the voices of Leonardo in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Shotaro Kaneda in the 1989 original English-dub of Akira. He often voices...
and Charity Sanoy. Following Kiara's encounter with Kovu and Zira, which puts herself in danger, Simba explains how important she is to the pride and that the pride is one. The musical equivalent to the first film's talk about the Great Kings of the Past with Mufasa and Simba. - "My Lullaby" - Sung by Suzanne PleshetteSuzanne PleshetteSuzanne Pleshette was an American actress, on stage, screen and television.After beginning her career in theatre, she began appearing in films in the early 1960s, such as Rome Adventure and Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds...
, Andy DickAndy DickAndrew R. "Andy" Dick is an American comedian, actor, musician and television/film producer. His first regular television role was on the short-lived but highly influential Ben Stiller Show. In the mid-1990s, he had a long-running stint on NBC's NewsRadio...
, and Crysta Macalush. Zira's lullaby to Kovu, which outlines her plot for him to kill Simba and how proud it would make her. The equivalent to "Be Prepared" as the song is talking about how they plan to murder Simba just like how Scar's song talked about killing both him and Mufasa in the previous film. The song's ending is similar to the end of "Be Prepared" with Zira towering over the Outlanders mirrors Scar towering over the hyenas at the end. They are even standing on similar structures; For Scar, forms of rock that suddenly came out of the ground during the song, and, for Zira, a massive termite mound that is part of the group of termite mounds that the Outsiders live in. Zira's treatment of Nuka during the song also resembles Scar's abuse of Shenzi, Banzai and Ed. - "Upendi" (Swahili for "love") - Sung by Robert GuillaumeRobert GuillaumeRobert "Bob" Guillaume is an American stage and television actor, best known for his role as Benson Du Bois on the TV-series Soap and the spin-off Benson, voicing the mandrill Rafiki in The Lion King and as Isaac Jaffe on Sports Night...
, Liz CallawayLiz CallawayLiz Callaway is an American actress and singer, famous for providing the singing voices of many female characters in films, such as Anya in Anastasia, Odette in The Swan Princess, and Kiara in The Lion King II:Simba's Pride....
, Gene Miller, and Ladysmith Black MambazoLadysmith Black MambazoLadysmith Black Mambazo is a male choral group from South Africa that sings in the vocal styles of isicathamiya and mbube. They rose to worldwide prominence as a result of singing with Paul Simon on his album, Graceland and have won multiple awards, including three Grammy Awards...
. Rafiki's song to Kiara and Kovu about love and happiness. Sung by Rafiki and his animal friends. Also the equivalent to "Hakuna MatataHakuna MatataHakuna matata is a Swahili phrase that is literally translated as "There are no worries." It is sometimes translated as "no worries", although is more commonly used similarly to the American English phrase "no problem".-Jambo Bwana:...
," from the first film, as well as "I Just Can't Wait To Be KingI Just Can't Wait to Be King"I Just Can't Wait to Be King" is a stylistic musical number from Disney's popular 1994 animated film, The Lion King."I Just Can't Wait to Be King" is a large contrast from the film's non-musical segments, as emphasized by the number's usage of lively colors and sounds...
" visually. - "One of Us" - Sung following Kovu being banished by Simba for supposedly betraying Simba in an attempt to assassinate him. This was the first time the animals outside of the main characters (they talk in Lion King 1½) and the lions in both films (they congratulate Kiara when she hunts) have been seen talking. Only song to not have an equivalent to the first film, but lyrically, may reflect on Mufasa's death.
- "Love Will Find a Way" - Kiara and Kovu's first encounter following Kovu's banishment where they decide their love is too strong for their differences to keep them apart. Similar to "Can You Feel the Love TonightCan You Feel the Love Tonight250px|thumb|right|Simba and Nala embrace during the "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" sequence."Can You Feel the Love Tonight" is a song from Disney's 1994 animated film, The Lion King, composed by Elton John with lyrics by Tim Rice. It was described by Don Hahn , Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff as...
". Liz Callaway and Gene Miller provide the singing voices for Kiara and Kovu in the film. The end title is performed by R&B artists Kenny Lattimore and Heather HeadleyHeather HeadleyHeather Headley is a Trinidadian-American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. She has won one Tony Award and one Grammy Award.-Personal life:...
.
Return to Pride Rock
An audio CD entitled Return to Pride Rock: Songs Inspired by Disney's The Lion King II: Simba's Pride was released on September 8, 1998. Although not promoted as a soundtrack to the film, it contained all the songs from the film and some additional songs inspired by it by Lebo MLebo M
Lebohang “Lebo M.” Morake, known professionally as Lebo M, is a South African composer most famous for arranging and performing music for the Lion King movies and stage productions. He was recommended to Disney by Hans Zimmer, the score composer of The Lion King, and was later hired to form and...
. (Tina Turner
Tina Turner
Tina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
recorded a version of "He Lives in You" for the film, which is not included on this album). On August 31, 2004, Disney released an "enhanced soundtrack" to coincide with the release of the film's 2-Disc Special Edition DVD. However, the CD only contains the songs featured in the film, without any of the inspired songs in The Lion King.
- "He Lives in You"
- "We Are One"
- "Upendi"
- "One of Us"
- "My Lullaby"
- "Love Will Find a Way"
- "We Are One"
- "She Believes in You"
- "Song for the Children"
- "I Want to See the Moon"
- "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"
- "Love Will Find a Way" (End Title)