 |
| Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Area |
The Land Pavilion, Epcot, Walt Disney World Resort |
| Opened |
January 21, 1995 |
| Closed |
February 3, 2018 |
| Type |
Film show |
| Capacity |
428 per show |
| Length |
12:22 minutes |
| Status |
Closed |
Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable was a documentary short film inspired by The Lion King. It was shown in the Harvest Theater in The Land pavilion at Epcot in Walt Disney World. It opened on January 21, 1995, replacing Symbiosis, and closed on February 3, 2018.
The film's plot followed Timon and Pumbaa as they chopped down trees and clogged up rivers in order to build the Hakuna Matata Lakeside Village. Eventually, Simba approached them and explained how their actions were harmful to nature. The lesson was illustrated with live-action footage, some of which was left over from Symbiosis.
Production[]
In 1995, the Symbiosis film was replaced by Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable, with some recycled footage. Disney believed that conservation was a prescient issue during the 1990s and that the Circle of Life theme from The Lion King was a way for Epcot to "keep [its] finger on the pulse."[1] In addition to live-action footage, the film also utilized new animated sequences featuring characters from The Lion King.
Synopsis[]
The film opened with a montage of animals, as "Circle of Life" played. Upon noticing Timon and Pumbaa clogging up rivers, King Simba asked what they were planning, and Timon explained that they were building a non-ecological resort called Hakuna Matata Lakeside Village. Simba tried to tell him and Pumbaa that other nearby creatures required water as well, but Timon and Pumbaa brushed him off.
Simba decided to illustrate his point by telling them about another creature (humans) that was like them. He explained how they needed space, power, and food for themselves. They also decided to help nature by studying animals and ending pollution in order to save the environment. Timon and Pumbaa then decided to take out the dam and give the water back, claiming they had learned their lesson. The film ended with a shorter montage.
Cast[]
- James Earl Jones as Mufasa
- Cam Clarke as Simba
- Nathan Lane as Timon
- Ernie Sabella as Pumbaa
- Carmen Twillie as the lead singer of "Circle of Life"
Trivia[]
- During the opening and closing montages of Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable, a shot of a killer whale from the 1993 film Free Willy is shown.
Gallery[]
Media[]
References[]
- ↑ Celebrating Thirty Years of Epcot. WDWNT. Archived from the original on November 6, 2016. Retrieved on February 8, 2025.