Well I've been meaning to start this topic for several months now. And if I don't post it now, then I'll be stuck messing with it in my drafts for another month or more. But, TLK 1 1/2 or 3 definitely wouldn't be TLK 1 1/2, without also having a discussion on Timon and his Mother's relationship from this film.
I know that this is something that from what I've seen out there has been pushed aside at least some on this TLK film. It may be because of the view that Ma "had to be" in it in order for Timon's back story in the beginning to coincide. But the entire film doesn't show that. And instead, it really shows that care was put into crafting this idea for the movie and is definitely within in the bounds of TLK culture. I would also say that it's something to the extent of Simba's relationship with his father Mufasa in TLK 1.
Why else did they bring Ma back into picture in the middle (with Rafiki) and then in the ending parts of the movie? Not only that. The deleted scenes also show that Timon had a much better relationship with his mother than with his deleted father, while he was growing up and being frowned upon in his meerkat colony.
As I've written in this topic, I do like Timon's relationship with Ma more than Timon & Pumbaa. One main reason why is because there is a good deal of feeling involved between them and not just full blown laughter. I'm not saying Timon's friendship with Pumbaa is meaningless, especially in this film, where their developing friendship had some depth in it as well. But one example for Timon & Ma is in this scene.
I do of course, like that there is definitely comedy mixed in with them as well as it happily can't be avoided with Timon. But what makes it more unique to me, is how it is mixed in with the depth that is shown in the scenes like the one linked above between him & Ma. So instead of it just being plain funny, the creators actually took some time (although slightly rushed) to blend it in meaningfully.
When you have seen this entire film, it becomes very obvious that Timon loves his mom just as much as Ma loves her son in this film. And it really shows for Timon when he brings her to their new predator-free home near the end of the film. I will never forget that quote in this part where he tells her: "I found a place that was beyond my wildest dreams. But..., it still wasn't home." I very honestly see that as an act of love from him. 'Least to me, it's a very unexpectedly good and comforting quote to hear him say in his film.
All of this, while also very unexpected for me when I first watched the entire movie, even tells me that Timon has appreciation for his mother in his life. Even more, their relationship has helped me to appreciate my own mom more in my life too. It really has helped, and even to understand more about the importance of parents in a person's life and the love that comes out of it.
He may be most known for his wisecracking and sarcastic behavior overall. But had it not been for Ma, I definitely would have not understood where Timon's own (maybe sometimes hidden) sensitive side comes from. And this is one of the reasons why I love seeing him the most in this film, out of all official works. Because this whole part of the film shows that he really does go the extra mile in TLK 1 1/2.
I could go on and on this subject for paragraphs. But if you've read this far, then I thank you for doing so. Yet, I definitely want to see what everyone thinks about this in what is actually a good TLK 1.5 discussion to have on.
Oh. And be sure to take a look at this please :