The Lion Queen
Don’t I mean the Disney classic, The Lion King? Well, yes and no. Today in my emerging technologies class we did an exercise in storytelling. We talked about how there are usually three side to every story involving two people: one person’s version, the other person’s version, and then the truth, which is likely a mix of the previous two. Everyone has their own experiences that lead to their unique perspective. Perspective is important in emerging technology storytelling. We’ve done projects involving 360 video and virtual reality where the video perspective is first point of view. Perspective is essential to the narrative created when telling a story. The perspective changes how a compelling narrative is understood.
Disney is one of the greatest storytellers and likely knew all of this. The company released The Lion King, The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride, and The Lion King 1 1/2. Wait…what? Yes, the third movie was called the Lion King 1 and 1/2. Check it out.
It’s all about perspective! Our in class assignment to practice storytelling was to re-write The Lion King from a new perspective and still create a compelling narrative.
So without further ado, I present to you, The Lion Queen.
We open on a young lioness cub Nala, growing up under the cruel reign of Scar at Pride Rock. Scar’s rules are all she knows, and no one is allowed to speak of the previous rulers. Her family and friends are suffering and struggling to survive in cruel conditions brought on by the harsh dictatorship. As Nala grows up, she experiences flashbacks of a different time; a time of light, happiness, fun and prosperity. With the help of her best friend, a lion cub named Chad (it’s a placeholder name, ok, it’s in the works) Nala seeks out the assistance of the seer, Rafiki, to help her piece together her memories. Eventually she remembers Simba and their short time together as children before Scar banished Simba forever. Nala and her lioness squad believe Simba is her soul mate and their savior. So they leave Chad behind and embark on a daring journey into the jungle to find him and bring him back. (Cue the hero’s journey with a few musical montages and coming-of-age moments). Nala finally finds Simba, her soul mate, and entices him back to Pride Rock. But once there, Simba proves to be an inexperienced leader who doesn’t want the job. Nala realizes she doesn’t love Simba and is distraught. Again through the help of Rafiki, Nala realizes that her true love and savior were right at home all along. With encouragement and support from true love Chad, Nala and her lioness girl gang seize the throne and she rules kindly and justly as, you guessed it, The Lion Queen.
@ The Walt Disney Company…just consider it. Here are our original notes for reference.
