Mufasa: The Lion King pounces into theaters as a mane attraction

Cowardly Lions are “Popular” these days and Mufasa: The Lion King is no scaredy cat. This new King in Town is a prequel and a sequel at the same time. This Walt Disney Studio endeavor expands the story of the 2019 remake of The Lion King and several of the cast members from that film have returned.

The tale takes place in Tanzania where a mandrill named Rafiki tells Kiara her family history as the granddaughter of Mufasa. The future king of the Pride Lands experiences choppy waters and is separated from his family. The plot evolves into an adoption story where Mufasa eventually finds his chosen family while fending off troublesome white lions. There are bits of bravery, redemption and love interwoven into the eye-popping animation.

The animation is astounding and some of the scenic sections are breathtaking in scope. At times the computer facial animation veers toward exaggeration when the characters smile and grin, but the goal of humanizing animals was deftly accomplished by the creators.

The voices were wisely cast with British actor hitting the right notes as Mufasa and American actor Kelvin Harrison Jr. conveying Taka with an English accent.

Zazu the hornbill, Timon the meerkat and Pumbaa the warthog sprinkle in a few memorable jokes and exciting moments to break up the storyline. There are easter eggs and surprises for longtime fans of the franchise along the way.

The original Lion King was not imagined as a musical but submitted to the pressure of Disney hit cartoons at the time. Lin-Manuel Miranda continues that tradition here and while the songs lean into a Hamilton cadence, the tracks don't demand repeat playbacks. If the music had been cut then the lengthy running time of almost two hours would be shaved down. Over 90 minutes is challenging for younger audiences and sometimes for older viewers.

This brave cat earns two paws up for all ages in terms of storytelling, voice talent and visual spectacle. Grab Mufasa by the tail, see him roar on the big screen and never lose your Pride!

Mufasa: The Lion King squeaks out just in the nick of time at the year's end opening in theaters on Dec. 20, 2024.