There is a place in Africa called Pride Lands of which the animal kingdom is ruled over by a lion from Pride Rock. King Mufasa’s newborn son, Simba, is presented to the kingdom by Rafiki, a mandrill who serves as shaman and adviser. Simba grows up and is taught about Pride Lands and explained by his father the responsibilities of kingship and the “circle of life” which connects all living things. King Mufasa has a younger brother named Scar, who always convets the throne and plots to eliminate Mufasa and Simba in order for him to be king. He tricks Simba and his bestfriend Nala, also his betrothed one, into exploring a forbidden elephants’ graveyard. Scar cleverly spots three hyenas who are one his side to have chance of attacking two little buddies. Mufasa realizes the situation from
the warning of his major domo, the hornbill Zazu, and rescues the children. Mufasa is angry with Simba for not asking him of allowance, but forgives and explains to Simba that the great kings of the past watch over them from the night sky, from which he will one day be watching over Simba, too.

Not successful in the first time, Scar sets a trap for his brother and nephew, leading Simba into a gorge and having the hyenas drive a large herd of wildebeest into a stampede that will cost his life. He pretends to be seen really serious when informing Mufasa of Simba’s dangerous situation, knowing the king will rush to save his son. Mufasa saves Simba but hangs up periously from the gorge’s edge and is betrayed by Scar, who sends him falling to his death. Scar makes Simba thinks that the death of the king is Simba’s fault and tells him to run away from the kingdom, and simultaneously orders the hyenas to trace after Simba and kill him, but Simba escapes. As a result, Scar take after the kingdom and becomes king after telling the animals about Mufasa and Simba’s deaths, allowing the hyenas to live the Pride Lands.

Simba faints on the road and is rescued by a meerkat Timon and a warthog Pumbaa, who a fellow outcasts. They live with Simba as he gradually grows up in the jungle, a carefree life under the motto “hakuna matata”. Now a young adult, Simba rescues Timon and Pumbaa from a hungry lion who turns o
ut to be Nala. She and Simba reunite and fall in love, and she urges him to return home, telling him that Pride Lands have become a drought-stricken wasteland under Scar’s reign. Feeling guilty over his father’s death, Simba refuses and storms off. He encounters Rafiki, who tells him that Mufasa’s spirit lives on in Simba. Simba is visited by the ghost of Mufasa in the night sky, who tells him he must take his rightful place as king. Realizing he can no longer run fro his past, Simba decides to return home.

Helped by his friends, Simba sneaks past the hyenas at Pride Rock and confronts Scar. Scar taunts him over his role in Mufasa’s death and backs him to the edge of the rock, where he reveals to Simba that he murdered Mufasa. Enraged, Simba pins Scar to the ground and forces him to reveal the truth to the rest of the pride. Timon, Pumbaa, Rafiki, Zazu, and the lionesses fend off the hyenas while Scar, attempting to escape, is cornered by Simba at the top of Pride Rock. Scar begs for mercy and attempts to blame the hyenas for his actions; Simba spares his life but orders him to leave the Pride Lands forever. Scar attacks his nephew, but Simba manages to toss him from the top of the rock. Scar survives the fall but is killed by the hyenas, who overheard him betray them to Simba. With his enemies gone, Simba takes over the kingship as the rains begin to fall, restoring life to the land.

Later, with Pride Rock restored to its former glory, Rafiki presents Simba and Nala’s newborn cub to the assembled animals, continuing the circ
le of life.