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But there was one direct to DVD sequel that really took fans by surprise thanks to just how great it was. Not only was it better than the sequel released before, but it just really highlighted one of the core aspects of the original as well. The Lion King 1 1/2 first released on DVD 22 years ago today, on February 10, 2004, and took the world by surprise as it was both a hilarious sequel, but helped to remind fans of why the original was so great in a very cool way.
Disney’s The Lion King 1 1/2 Sequel Released 22 Years Ago Today
First releasing on February 10, 2004, The Lion King 1 1/2 had a much different kind of production chain than the original. It was directed by Bradley Raymond for Disneytoon Studios, and was not really going to compare to the scope of the original. But rather than it being a deterrent like seen with the first sequel that failed, The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride, the lack of scope ended up elevating this sequel to a whole new level. In fact, Timon and Pumbaa just fully broke the fourth wall.
One of the major criticisms of the original The Lion King feature film was the fact that many of its bigger plot elements had been directly inspired by William Shakespeare’s famous Hamlet play. Taking this even further and really diving into this side of the original film, The Lion King 1 1/2 then focuses on Timon and Pumbaa during the events of that first film. Much like Tom Stoppard’s famous side novel based on that same play, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, where it follows these side characters during the events of Hamlet, The Lion King 1 1/2 shined more of a light on Timon and Pumbaa.
The Lion King 1 1/2 in that sense isn’t a traditional sequel, but instead is an official prequel/side story where it reveals how Timon and Pumbaa’s own lives ended up being so wrapped up in Simba’s. Because while they weren’t the main characters before, being the main characters of their official movie helped to highlight just how much they were putting at risk by helping Simba take back his kingdom. Thankfully, unlike their Rosencrantz and Guildenstern counterparts, they weren’t killed off on some side note off-screen and were allowed to flourish in their universe.
