List of Lion King Easter Eggs:
“Circle of Life” Opening: The opening scene where Simba is presented to the animals is an homage to the beginning of the film “2001: A Space Odyssey.”
Scar’s Roar: Scar’s voice actor, Jeremy Irons, used his actual roaring lion in a recording booth to create the menacing roar of Scar.
Hidden Mickeys: In various scenes, you can spot hidden Mickey Mouse shapes in the clouds, rocks, and other environmental elements.
Rafiki’s Tree: Rafiki’s tree resembles the baobab tree, which is known for its distinct shape and is often referred to as the “upside-down tree” due to its branches resembling roots.
Scar’s Scar: Scar’s iconic scar on his face is reminiscent of a real-life lion named Scar, who lived in Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve.
Timon and Pumbaa as Hidden Animals: When Simba lies down on the edge of a cliff, the dust that floats up spells the word “SFX” in homage to the special effects team. Within the dust, you can also spot the shape of Timon and Pumbaa.
Zazu as Mickey Mouse: During the “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” sequence, Zazu briefly appears as a Mickey Mouse-shaped silhouette.
Nala’s Name: Nala’s name means “gift” in Swahili.
“Be Prepared” Nazi Reference: The marching sequence in “Be Prepared” resembles Nazi propaganda films, adding to the villainous nature of Scar’s plan.
Elephant Graveyard Hyenas: The hyenas that live in the Elephant Graveyard are named Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed, which are puns on the Swahili words for “savage,” “skulk,” and “madness,” respectively.
Pumbaa’s Name: Pumbaa means “simpleton” or “fool” in Swahili.
Zazu’s References: Zazu makes references to popular songs like “It’s a Small World” and “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”
Mufasa’s Stars: During the “Remember” sequence, Mufasa points out to Simba that he will always be watching over him from the stars. The constellation shown is Leo, symbolizing a lion.
Scar’s Villainy: Scar’s design was inspired by iconic villains like Dr. Facilier from “The Princess and the Frog” and Hans from “Frozen.”
“Hakuna Matata” Hidden Messages: In the “Hakuna Matata” sequence, hidden messages in the waterfall include the words “SEX” (allegedly due to a disgruntled animator) and “SFX” to pay homage to the special effects team.
Hyenas’ Stand-up Comedy: The hyenas’ comedic style and banter were inspired by the famous comedy duo Abbott and Costello.
Mufasa’s Voice Cameo: The voice of Mufasa, James Earl Jones, reprised his role in the 2019 live-action adaptation of The Lion King.
Rafiki’s Staff: Rafiki’s staff is adorned with various objects, including a gourd, shells, and a porcupine quill, symbolizing his wisdom and connection to nature.
Mufasa’s Wisdom: Many of Mufasa’s lines are inspired by William Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet,” upon which The Lion King is loosely based.
The Vulture in “Be Prepared”: In the “Be Prepared” sequence, a vulture perched on a skull briefly resembles Mickey Mouse.
Sarabi’s Voice: Sarabi, Simba’s mother, is voiced by Madge Sinclair, who also voiced another queen, Queen Elinor, in Disney’s “Brave.”
Rafiki’s “Asante Sana”: When Rafiki says “Asante sana, squash banana, wewe nugu, mimi hapana,” it translates to “Thank you very much, squash banana, you’re a baboon, and I’m not” in Swahili.
Elephant Graveyard Skeletons: The elephant skulls in the Elephant Graveyard have tusks shaped like the letter “E,” representing the first letter of “elephant.”
“Can You Feel the Love Tonight” Cameos: Elton John and Tim Rice, who composed and wrote the music for “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” respectively, make cameo appearances as background animals during the love song sequence.
Simba’s Growth: The colors of Simba’s mane change throughout the film to reflect his growth and maturation.
The Wildebeest Stampede: The wildebeest stampede scene draws inspiration from the iconic buffalo stampede sequence in the 1955 film “The African Queen.”
Scar’s Green Eyes: Scar has green eyes, signifying his envy and jealousy, contrasting with the golden eyes of other lions.
Timon and Pumbaa’s Hula Dance: During the “Hakuna Matata” sequence, Timon and Pumbaa briefly perform a hula dance, paying homage to the Disney film “Lilo & Stitch.”
“A Whole New World” Reference: In the “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” sequence, Simba stands on top of various animals, including a rhino, which resembles Aladdin’s magic carpet ride with Jasmine in “A Whole New World.”
Sunset Silhouette: The film’s final shot with Simba and Nala overlooking their kingdom is a nod to the iconic “Gone with the Wind” poster featuring Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler.
Mufasa and Scar’s Names: The names Mufasa and Scar are derived from the Swahili words “Mufasa” meaning “king” and “Taka” meaning “dirt” or “trash,” which later becomes “Scar.”
Pumbaa’s Belching Contest: In the scene where Pumbaa and Timon have a belching contest, one of the bubbles that rises spells out “SEX,” which was a controversial hidden message.
Scar’s Mane: Scar’s dark mane is unusual for a male lion, as typically, male lions have lighter-colored manes. This further emphasizes his distinctiveness as a villain.
The Moon in “Can You Feel the Love Tonight”: During the “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” sequence, the moon appears in the shape of a lion’s face for a brief moment.
“Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba”: The opening chant of “Circle of Life,” “Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba,” translates to “Here comes a lion, Father” in Zulu.
Hakuna Matata Pumbaas: In the “Hakuna Matata” scene, when Timon and Pumbaa are running through a line of animals, the animals briefly morph into Pumbaa’s face.
Simba’s Transformation: Simba’s transformation from a carefree cub to a mature lion is symbolized by the transition from vibrant, playful colors to more muted, earth-toned colors.
A113 Hidden Reference: The code “A113,” which refers to a classroom number at the California Institute of the Arts, appears as a hidden reference on a bug’s back during the “Hakuna Matata” sequence.
Mufasa’s Ghost Voice: When Mufasa’s ghost speaks to Simba in the clouds, the voice is not James Earl Jones but instead is provided by actor Frank Welker, who is known for his voice work.
Scar’s Voice Change: Scar’s voice deepens and becomes raspier after he becomes king, reflecting his transformation into a more sinister character.
Hidden Lion King Poster: In the film “Hercules,” a poster of The Lion King can be seen in the background during the song “Zero to Hero.”
The Lion King on Broadway: The Broadway musical adaptation of The Lion King premiered in 1997 and has become one of the longest-running shows in Broadway history.
Scar’s Throne: Scar’s throne resembles the shape of a lion’s face when seen from the front, with the armrests resembling the lion’s ears.
Scar’s Name: Scar’s real name, Taka, means “dirt” or “trash” in Swahili.
“Dig a Tunnel” Reference: When Timon is digging a tunnel, he sings a brief line from the song “Dig a Tunnel” from the film “The Rescuers Down Under.”
Zazu’s Shakespearean Quotes: Zazu often quotes lines from William Shakespeare’s plays, including “What a piece of work is man” from “Hamlet” and “It’s the circle of life” from “Macbeth.”
“The Lion Sleeps Tonight” Cameo: During the scene where Timon and Pumbaa sing “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” a Hidden Mickey can be seen in the water.
Rafiki’s Art: Rafiki’s drawings on the tree trunk depict various Disney characters, including Mickey Mouse and Tinker Bell.
Hidden Toy Story Reference: In the scene where Simba is chased by a wildebeest, one of the wildebeests briefly morphs into a rock formation resembling Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story.
Scar’s Original Song: Scar was originally meant to have a song called “The Madness of King Scar,” which was cut from the final film but later included in the Broadway musical.
Mufasa’s Voice Legacy: James Earl Jones, who voiced Mufasa in the original film, also provided the voice for Mufasa in the 2019 live-action adaptation.
Simba’s “Pinocchio” Reference: When Simba first encounters Timon and Pumbaa, he refers to them as “weirdos” and mentions Pinocchio as a comparison.
Rafiki’s Stick as a Weapon: In early versions of the film, Rafiki was originally going to use his staff as a weapon against the hyenas.
“The Bare Necessities” Reference: During the “Hakuna Matata” sequence, the opening notes of “The Bare Necessities” from “The Jungle Book” can be heard.
Mufasa’s Advice to Simba: When Mufasa tells Simba about the great kings of the past, he mentions that they are “watching over” him, foreshadowing his return as a guiding spirit.
“Be Prepared” Lyrics: The lyrics of “Be Prepared” were inspired by Adolf Hitler’s speeches and were meant to convey the power-hungry and manipulative nature of Scar.
Simba’s Eye Color: Simba’s eye color changes from blue as a cub to golden as an adult, representing his growth and maturity.
Hidden Planet of the Apes Reference: When Simba lies down on a cliff and stirs up dust, the dust briefly forms the shape of the Statue of Liberty, referencing the iconic ending of the film “Planet of the Apes.”
The Rafiki Mandela Effect: Many people misremember Rafiki saying “It is time” instead of the actual line, “It is time…,” leading to a Mandela Effect misconception.
Timon’s Beetle: During the “Hakuna Matata” sequence, Timon wears a beetle as a hat, which is a reference to the Egyptian god Khepri, who was often depicted with a beetle on his head.
