First off, The Lion King 1 1/2 is a brilliant film - one of those rare Disney sequels that doesn't take itself too seriously. I thought it was interesting how Hakuna Matata is used in the same way as Ka is to not just represent a way of life but a group of people. Timon makes reference to the fact that "our Hakuna Matata is now broken" much in the same way that Roland refers to his group of travelers as their ka-tet. Not sure why this caught my attention but it did!
"No worries for the rest of your days" - what a dream! But is that really what we want our kids to aspire to? A life of lounging around and doing what you want when you want? I don't think so. So why is it that it seems like every time I watch a Disney movie it never seems to come with a truly wholesome message? Not to mention that there are almost none with solid family units - even dating back to the original "classics" a parent always died or was never there to begin with. What's up with that? Maybe Comcast in their quest to "Empower Disney animation team to build on legacy of success" will decide to drop the legacy of broken homes and values.
Posted by ravomess at February 22, 2004 09:19 PMFunny - I was just watching the first Lion King with Ezra and Gila, and I was noticing that, despite the prominence the ethic of Hakuna Matata is given in the middle of the film, Simba roundly rejects this approach when he decides to return and challenge Scar.
Hakuna Matata is exactly as you describe; giving up care for the world, for it's betterment, for your responsibility and heritage. Simba runs from all these things to alleviate the pain they bring to him. But ultimately he is convinced that he is doing those whose memory he is trying to preserve an even greater disservice by not returning.
Contrast it as an argument against intermarriage. Why should a person who has no connection to the values or ideals of his heritage remain faithful when it may cause him pain or distress. The answer given by The Lion King is that you are doing a disservice to those that came before you. They struggled to bring you into the world, and you abandoned their quest. This is what ultimately convinces Simba that he must return and challenge Scar.
cf. R. Soloveitchik's article "Confrontation" for more. It's online, I'll send you a link if you like.
Broken family units are a classic element of epic stories. The most basic reason is that it adds an element of uncertainty to the character's lineage, and as such as to what their destiny is (Star Wars is a good example).
Posted by: Greg at February 22, 2004 10:00 PM