Mufasa: The Lion King

Mufasa: The Lion King (2024)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


In some ways, this is similar to The Lion King 1 1/2 as it's formatted in a retelling format, except it's a story we haven't heard before and done in live action instead of animated. Timon and Pumba are also present as part of the story telling entertainment, but the real story is coming from Rafiki. He tells the tale of how Mufasa became the king of the pride lands, going back to his own days as a cub and how he ended up on an adventure of his own leading to meeting Scar (then known as Taka), Sarabi, and Zazu, all of whom will become foundational characters for the rest of the series. It also makes a lot more sense why Scar has always looked so different from the rest of the lions in the pride lands, as well as where the "outlanders" came from, along with why Scar would have a connection to them. It seems this version also merges the series together better as we're introduced to Kion, though his name isn't shared. It sets up rather nicely why Simba and Nala are away for Rafiki to tell Kiara this tale in the first place.

The Magic is in You

The Magic is in You by Colin Hosten

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is an extremely simple book for young children. Each page spread is large artwork with a short sentence identifying what is hard, and the next spread is "the magic is in you" for one page with the other page expanding on what can be done (ex: spreading love, recognizing your feelings, finding true friendship, etc.). Not heavy on any story aspect at all, and each challenge and answer set features a different Disney movie. Spotlights in this one are Tangled, Inside Out, The Lion King, Finding Nemo, Aladdin, Dumbo, Toy Story, and of course Mickey from The Sorcerer's Apprentice.

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Disney Storybook Collection: Special Edition

Disney Storybook Collection: Special Edition by Walt Disney Company

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


While most Storybook collections like this are short stories from various movies, this collection is a retelling of the actual movies themselves, so not anything new in the regard. The movies highlighted in this collection are the following:

1. The Lion King
2. Wreck-It Ralph
3. The Princess & the Frog
4. Cinderella
5. Frozen
6. Robin Hood
7. 101 Dalmatians
8. Peter Pan
9. Mulan
10. Aladdin
11. Beauty & the Beast
12. Lady & the Tramp
13. Pinocchio
14. Lilo & Stitch
15. Sleeping Beauty
16. Tangled
17. The Little Mermaid
18. Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs

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Disney: Scary Storybook Collection

Disney: Scary Storybook Collection by Walt Disney Company

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


As with most Disney storybook collections, there's some overlap with other collection books, so if you're collecting them yourself, expect repeat stories. This edition features these spooky tales:

1. Peter Pan: The Curse of the Crow
2. Inside Out: Riley's Haunted Halloween
3. Big Hero 6: Lights Out!
4. Winnie the Pooh: Frankenpooh
5. The Jungle Book: Shadows in the Jungle
6. Finding Nemo: The Ghost-Light Fish
7, 101 Dalmatians: Detective Lucky
8. Beauty & the Beast: Belle's Mysterious Message
9. Toy Story: Toy Story of Terror!
10. Alice in Wonderland: Queen of Frights
11. Mickey & Friends: Mickey's Slumber Party
12. Brave: Merida's Wild Ride
13. The Lion King: A Dark & Scar-y Night
14. Wreck-It Ralph: Power Outage!
15. Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs: The Queen's Spell
16. Sleeping Beauty: A Message for Maleficent
17. Up: One Brave Dug
18. Monsters, Inc.: The Spooky Sleepover

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Disney Bedtime Favorites: Special Edition

Disney Bedtime Favorites: Special Edition by Walt Disney Company

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Though it's called a "bedtime" collection, not all of the stories involve sleep. Some are repeated in other collections as well, so they may be familiar. This edition includes:

1. Tangled: Bedtime for Max
2. Disney Bunnies: Good Night, Thumper
3. Monsters, Inc.: The Spooky Sleepover
4. Big Hero 6: Nighttime of Fires
5. The Little Mermaid: Sweet Dreams at Last
6. Wreck-It Ralph: Power Outage!
7. Toy Story: The Big Campout
8. Winnie the Pooh: Piglet's Night-Lights
9. Lady & the Tramp: A Trusty Babysitter
10. Peter Pan: Captain Hook's Shadow
11. Finding Nemo: Night Games
12: Up: Watch Dug
13. Sleeping Beauty: Aurora's Slumber Party
14. The Lion King: A Wild Night Out
15: 101 Dalmatians: Thunderbolt Patch
16. The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Great Story
17. Mickey & Friends: Mickey's Campout
18. Bambi: The Light-Up Night

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5-Minute Girl Power Stories

5-Minute Girl Power Stories by Walt Disney Company

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Lilo & Stitch: Ride the Waves
Even though there was surfing in the movie, this is written as if Lilo & Stitch are learning to surf for the first time. Of course, the whole family pulls together as usual.

Toy Story 4: Officer McDimples on Duty
Not all toys are meant for kids. The toys have a new adventure discovering a Taco toy that is meant for dogs. Now to find the perfect dog to play with them.

The Little Mermaid: The Tambourine Dance
Ariel still has trouble living on two legs, but she loves to try new things. It's encouraging to see her family supporting her this time around and everyone joining in to contribute to this new tradition for her.

Moana: A Day with Moana
Gathering sugar cane turns into a bit of an adventure when hide and seek doesn't go as planned. The group stays remarkably calm as they follow clues to find their lost friend, and the sugar cane they originally set out to collect, too.

The Lion King: Nala's Great Adventure
Simba and Nala are on the search for their perfect "cubhouse". Perhaps, it seems, the best place for a couple of cubs, is back at home.

Mulan: Honor for Father
While he comes across harsh at the beginning of the movie, it is scenes like this when he seems to be the ideal dad who truly values his family and his daughter. Mulan truly did do her best, and also showed that her family and friends are more important that a village tournament.

Sleeping Beauty: An Amazing Team
With Prince Phillip away (without his horse?), Aurora steps in to cheer up Samson and compete in the local jousting tournament. Certainly not the usual sport you hear of for a princess.

Aladdin: The Princess Polo Games
We don't usually see or hear anything about Princess Jasmine's mother. Apparently, she was well known for Princess Polo. Jasmine doesn't think she has a good team at first, but she learns to pull her team together and play to everyone's strengths. Perhaps most important of all though, they have fun.

Zootopia: Big Trouble in Little Rodentia
This tale is actually just a small snippet of the movie, focusing on the chase through Rodentia to catch a weasel.

Minnie: The Missing Daffodils
Minnie starts off accusing those who are innocent of being the flower prowler. She picks up towards the end though and realizes that it may be a rather innocent crime and unintentional as a hungry goat certainly has no idea that they're stealing her garden.

Incredibles 2: A Day Out with Mom
Violet and Helen have very different ideas when it comes to fashion, however, the entire family can agree on one thing: they make a great team and they enjoy being superheroes.

The Princess & the Frog: Tiana's Big-City Sound
This time around Tiana puts her focus and determination into helping her cousin and their band when the place they usually played closes down just as she gets to town. Not much of a surprise given the focus on music in the movie as well.

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The Lion King: Nala & Simba

The Lion King: Nala & Simba by Mary Tillworth

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This is a very simplified version of the original Lion King movie starting with when Simba interrupts Nala's bath and leading to the end of the film. Good for early readers, but not nearly as detailed or engaging as the full animated film would be.

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Disney Junior: Five Tales of Fun!

Disney Junior: Five Tales of Fun! by Walt Disney Company

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Mickey & the Roadster Racers: Donald's Stinky Day
This follows one of the TV series episodes rather closely when Donald ends up making friends with a skunk. As expected, that's not the best smelling friend to have around usually.... at least not until they figure out how to be friends and Daisy maybe steps in with some perfume (though one has to wonder how that would actually blend with the skunks natural scent - but it's a cartoon, so anything is possible).

Puppy Dog Pals: Ice, Ice, Puggy
See original read through and review here.

Vampirina: Scare B & B
This is a newer Disney Junior show, and not one the kids have gotten into as much as some of the others. Things get a bit dicey when both Vee's human friends and a couple of vampire guests both want to rent the one room available in the B & B. A lot of happy accidents and some careful maneuvering later, it's only complete coincidence and accident that allows the guests to meet without things falling apart. Without the prejudice of their different kids in the way however, they all get along swimmingly, proving that what you are maybe isn't as important as who you are.

The Lion Guard: Bunga the Wise
See original read through and review here.

Mickey & the Roadster Racers: Mickey's Perfecto Day
Another TV episode changed to book form. This time between a bull calf following around Minnie for her rose and Donald losing his voice when he plans to sing with his friends, the Three Caballeros, it's questionable if the group of friends will still get their perfecto day in Madrid.

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The Lion Guard: Unlikely Friends

The Lion Guard: Unlikely Friends by Walt Disney Company

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Once again following the learning/world of reading pattern - overly simplified short sentences to tell the story while severely shortening it. This one tells how Kion meets Jisari and learns that not all hyenas are bad. Cute, especially if you are familiar with the characters, but can be frustrating for more advanced readers or those who know how much is missing from the TV episode.

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The Lion Guard

The Lion Guard (2015)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Another spin off from the original The Lion King. While you will see some of all the original characters in the series, this focuses on Simba and Nala's younger son, Kion. Kion doesn't appear to do things the "traditional" way, something that sometimes both amuses and irritates his parents. Despite his rather eccentric choices for "The Lion Guard," you can't say that the group isn't fun in their diversity or that they don't get the job done. A cute show for young kids or for families to watch together.

The Lion Guard: Bunga the Wise

The Lion Guard: Bunga the Wise by Walt Disney Company

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is basically a simplified book format of the TV episode by the same title. It does make it a little extra fun as it adds in translations for the Lion Guard's catch phrases as well as a little animal facts page about honey badgers in the back of the book. As a level 1 (pre-k-grade 1) world of reading book, it makes for a good introduction to reading for small children. Bonus if your child likes animals and/or The Lion King. Don't have to have seen the Disney Junior series this is based off from The Lion Guard in order to enjoy it, though it does make it a little easier for small kids to follow along if they are already familiar with the story.

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The Lion King II: Simba's Pride

The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (1998)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


As far as sequels go, this is actually a pretty good one. With the original voice cast along for the ride, it adds to the value as well. A little confusion might be found as there was no mention of any dissension among the lionesses in the final battle from the original film, but beyond that the pieces fit and it's an enjoyable feature. Kira and Kovu make an interesting pair, and Kovu does manage to grow on you through the film.

The Lion King 1 1/2

The Lion King 1 1/2 (2004)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Amusing for the most part, this is largely a re-telling of the original film from Timon's point of view. There are some new clips especially involving Timon with his family and his life where it separates from Simba's story. Otherwise the majority of the movie is literally cut and paste from the original film with commentary by the ever lovable Timon and Pumba.

The Lion King

The Lion King (1994)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Like with many Disney films, this has been changed slightly in the DVD edition vs. the original VHS. The Morning Report is a new scene/song added early on in the movie that was rather obviously missing from the original feature. Despite the change, this is a wonderful tale that many families have loved for some time and likely will for years to come. One of Disney's finer films, The Lion King is great for all ages.