Word: mufasa
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...heard the story already, no doubt. Mufasa, a feared but well-liked ruler, his mate Sarabi and their son Simba live together in the seemingly harmonious land of Pride Rock. There's something rotten in the kingdom, though--Mufasa's brother Scar, the younger sibling simply green-eyed (literally) with jealousy of his brother's power...
Carrying out the Hamlet-esque overtones of the tale, Scar plots to kill Mufasa and Simba and seize power. While Simba survives his uncle's machinations, Scar manages to convince him that Simba was responsible for hid father's violent death, causing Simba to go into exile...
There are the bare bones (no pun intended) of the tale. Of course, in the 87 minutes of the movie, much more is presented. Simba's relationship with his father and the effect Mufasa's death has on the small cub is a prominent subtheme. Their bond carries even beyond death, and Simba's wish to make his father proud is a realistic drive. While the father-child relationship is a common element in Disney tales, this one is somehow much stronger, perhaps because the father is neither overly harsh (a la "The Little Mermaid") nor a bumbling fool ("Beauty...
...comprehending this review, you're old enough to handle a few fight scenes. But if you're thinking about bringing small children along, you might want to be on the lookout. (Then again, if those small children are into violent cartoons, they probably won't have many problems). And Mufasa's death scene is enough to make even the most jaded child ask his/her parents if "they'll always be there for them...
There are some particularly good examples of animation in the film--such as the evil Scar, who slinks around the kingdom. In fact, Scar is such an interesting character that it's a testament to the moviemakers that he doesn't eclipse the honorable Mufasa. He fairly radiates unctuous evil wherever he goes, although Simba never seems to notice...