Mufasa: The Lion King, released on December 20, 2024, is a prequel to The Lion King. The movie narrates Mufasa’s journey as a young lion cub who gets separated from his parents during a flood and is rescued by Scar (Taka). They become close friends, but their loyalty is tested when a threat to their pride emerges.

I enjoyed this movie because it shows Mufasa’s life before Simba was born. I like it because the original movie does not share much about Mufasa’s background; it focuses more on his character and the legacy he leaves for Simba. The movie also has a rags-to-riches theme, while telling a touching story of how Mufasa and Taka go from being strangers to becoming brothers which is worth watching.

The movie’s strengths are its plot and music. The animation is impressive as well. The movie keeps the original story but adds depth by including Mufasa’s backstory. The main characters are Mufasa, Scar (Taka), Sarabi, Zazu, Rafiki, and Kiros. Kiros is the villain who wants to become king of the pride and control all the animals. The music is catchy, especially the song “I Always Wanted a Brother,” which plays in one scene. The new movie uses CGI instead of traditional animation. Normally, I don’t like CGI because it can look fake, but the CGI in Mufasa: The Lion King looks realistic and is very enjoyable to watch.

Sariah Hunter (10) felt the same. “When I went to the movies to watch Mufasa: The Lion King, the music was very catchy. The song ‘I Always Wanted a Brother’ was stuck in my head for a long time, even after the movie ended. Sometimes, I even find myself randomly singing it—it was super good!” she said. “I also wasn’t confused while watching the movie; it brought back scenes from the original movie and added more scenes which made the movie much better.”

Overall, I give this movie a 10/10, I recommend it because it balances out the original story while adding a backstory without being repetitive. This movie is one of those that brought out my childhood and should definitely deserve a watch.