Disney PlusMufasa, a cub lost and alone, meets a sympathetic lion named Taka, the heir to a royal bloodline. The chance meeting sets in motion an expansive journey of a group of misfits searching for their destiny.
Mufasa: The Lion King , from the Moonlight director, doesn’t transcend its cynical origins as a Disney product.Early in Mufasa: The Lion King, one shot quickly differentiates the new movie from the other CGI-heavy spins on classic Disney cartoons. Just before a cast of familiar characters begins recounting the titular patriarch’s origin story, his young granddaughter bounds toward the screen. For a moment, the photorealistic cub aims a warm, open look at the audience—and, instantly, we’re reminded that this is a Barry Jenkins production.
‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ Director Barry Jenkins Gets Biblical on His Virtual Production Roller-Coaster Ride.But, unlike Favreau’s vision of “The Lion King” as a NatGeo film made with CG photorealism, Jenkins wanted a scrappy, indie-like film, emphasizing animated performances that are more emotional, relatable, and anthropomorphic. In other words, a Barry Jenkins film about nobility, ancestry, and community. At the same time, Jenkins wanted more expansive CG photorealism for the environments, covering the breadth and beauty of African landscapes.
