simba's pride the lion king sequel

Just Hear Me Out: ‘The Lion King’ Sequel ‘Simba’s Pride’ Is Better Than The Original

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Despite mixed reviews, live-action Disney remake of The Lion King is getting a sequel.

When I first heard the news back in 2020, I was disappointed as I hate unnecessary movie sequels, often only made because the original made a heap of coin (an estimated $1.657 billion to be exact). But then I realised this meant that underrated movie gem, The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride, would finally get the glory it deserves.

My positive vibes were quickly extinguished when I read that the next movie would be prequel — not a sequel — and therefore will not be inspired by Simba’s Pride AT ALL.

For those unfamiliar with the revolutionary sequel, Simba’s Pride follows on from the end of the (inferior) original film. Simba and Nala welcome a newborn cub Kiara, and the sequel sees Kiara fall for another lion cub Kovu, who is Scar’s adoptive son. Controversial!

Kiara and Kovu are two star-crossed lovers pulled apart by their warring families, it’s pretty much Romeo and Juliet but with less Shakespearean dribble and more animated lions and catchy songs.

This movie has IT ALL and I would go as far to say that it’s even better than the original.

Here are just a few reasons why Simba’s Pride is better than The Lion King and rightfully deserves respect and praise:

‘Love Will Find A Way’ shits all over ‘Can You Feel The Love Tonight’.

When it comes to Lion King love songs, ‘Love Will Find A Way’ is just better. This is a love ballad for the ages and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t make my two cats recreate this scene as a kid while singing (both parts).

‘The Circle of Life’ walked so that ‘He Lives in You’ could run.

While I can acknowledge that ‘The Circle of Life’ is The Lion King’s best song, it was merely a warm-up to something even more spectacular to come: ‘He Lives in You’. This song has BUILD and commands that you sing along.

‘We Are One’ genuinely slaps.

This is just a great tune and listening to it just once will give you clear skin, cure your depression and erase all your split ends so that your mane is as glorious as Simba’s.

OK, ‘Upendi’ was an obvious misstep.

This is the movie’s only bad song. What the hell was this fever dream???

But two words: Deception. Disgrace.

This song is an anthem and proved that African animals are judgemental, petty bitches. Kovu deserved better.

It’s just such a great tune and can be applied to everyday situations. Someone does something shifty to you? Deceeeeption! Disgraaaaace! A guy doesn’t match his dating profile pics? Deceeeeption! Disgraaaaace! You don’t immediately become shredded after drinking one protein shake? Deceeeeption! Disgraaaaace!

The villain is so much better than Scar.

Zira was the mother of Kovu, Scar’s widow and she simply lived for chaos. She hates Simba, his whole pride, and commits herself to living a life based purely on revenge.

We stan a self-aware queen.

The storyline is much more nuanced.

Lions aren’t just born evil. They are made evil. In the original movie, things are pretty black and white. Mufasa is good. Scar is bad. Simba’s Pride is a much more nuanced take, Zira only becomes bad to avenge Scar’s death, while Kovu becomes good in spite of Scar’s legacy.

Kiara was the feminist hero we always deserved.

While Nala had her charms in The Lion King, she was a bit of a pushover and always put up with Simba’s shit. Their daughter Kiara is far more headstrong and it was her — not Simba, the king — who managed to reunite the two warring prides back together at the end of the film.

Sorry, but Kovu is hot. Much hotter than Simba.

I said what I said. I think it’s his voice. It does things to me.

Most importantly, there are no tragic deaths, so you don’t have to live your whole life with the childhood trauma of watching Mufasa be trampled by a stampede of buffalos.

I’m still not over it.

You can stream The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride on Disney Plus.

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This article has been updated since it was originally published.