Disney's "Lion King" rip-off

[bodhi_tree777]

Random topic, I know, but I'd heard about this a while back and just came across this site again:http://www.kimbawlion.com/rant2.htmThe gist of it is that Disney, in making their hit "Lion King" film, completely ripped off and failed to credit the original Japanese source film when they were unable to obtain the rights to the film legally. Disney's done this before, and I guess as an artist it just churns me up that they could be so blatant about it. Disney, more than any other company, has gone to great lengths to extend copyright law to protect their own products (since Steamboat Willy was about to go to the public domain), but they more than any other company also use public domain works to source most of their material (think Beauty & the Beast, Snow White, Cinderella, etc etc). Minor annoyance, I know, but seeing this just reminded me of the whole thing. Anyone every seen the original Japanese version?(random post, sorry, bored at work )

[Herb]

Yeah, I remember the controversy when it first came out. The Simpsons noted this in season six episode 22 "Round Springfield"From tv.com:Kimba the White LionWhen Mufasa (the lion) appears in the clouds before Lisa, he says "You must avenge my death, Kimba... I mean, Simba." This is a reference to the idea that Disney's was not original. The Lion King's idea is very similar to a Japanese anime show called Kimba the White Lion, which originated in the 60s, where the main character is a white lion named Kimba who's father also dies.

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[mspalmer]

I'm a huge Simpsons fan and catch most references but this one went over my head. Thanks for that piece of trivia.

[Whelan]

Disney does it better anyways.

[Herb]

Quote, originally posted by Whelan »Disney does it better anyways.I hardly think it's a fair comparison regarding production quality.The Kimba series was produced in 1966 with an animated TV show budget and Lion King was done in 1994 with a feature film budget.Anyways the original issue for the thread was Disney failing to acknowledge the source material for the Lion King.

[Whelan]

It's a dingo throwing a white kitten off a cliff.I get they didnt acknowledge the old production and where it originally came from. But I also don't see Volkswagen saying thank you to Chrylser for their mini-van.

[Herb]

Quote, originally posted by Whelan »It's a dingo throwing a white kitten off a cliff.I get they didnt acknowledge the old production and where it originally came from. But I also don't see Volkswagen saying thank you to Chrylser for their mini-van.Point taken.However I wonder if Disney would be equally magnanimous if someone were to rip off their ideas without permission or acknowledgment

[tribalman]

i'm sorry. i don't see it. the only similarity i see is a creature on top of a cliff and another trying to hang on.from what i got from this thread, Kimba is the character in the 1960's show and from the picture he is the one trying to hang on to the cliff. it was also stated that his father died. now cut to Lion King. Person on the side of the cliff is Mufasa, not the main character of Simba.so the only similarities i get are, lions hanging off a cliff and someone's father is killed. i don't call that stealing an idea.

[Whelan]

If I read correctly it was the basic storyline that was pulled, but I could be wrong.And I realize my counterpoint was not even in the same ballpark as movies, but it puts it in perspective. The Routan is literally a Chrysler with a new badge and headlights. But I can also see if Disney got ripped off the storm that would ensue.

[bodhi_tree777]

Quote, originally posted by tribalman »i'm sorry. i don't see it. the only similarity i see is a creature on top of a cliff and another trying to hang on.from what i got from this thread, Kimba is the character in the 1960's show and from the picture he is the one trying to hang on to the cliff. it was also stated that his father died. now cut to Lion King. Person on the side of the cliff is Mufasa, not the main character of Simba.so the only similarities i get are, lions hanging off a cliff and someone's father is killed. i don't call that stealing an idea.there's more, that photo is just one example. Click on the link, it goes into more detail. It's one thing to have sort of an homage to an existing source in a single scene, but this is scene after scene after scene.