NAME: Amani88. As you know, Swahili plays a huge role in TLK (isn’t that right “Lion”, err, I’m mean “Simba?”) So, I picked a Swahili word which I hope both describes something I value greatly, and what I’m sure TLK brings to all of us: amani, “peace.”
REAL NAME: Dennis, but feel free to call me “Den.”
AGE: 26 (which, by the way, is the age in human years for a two year old house cat! Don’t know If the conversions work for lions, though. . .)
OCCUPATION: I am a newly hired Catholic Religion/Theology and Biology teacher.
HOW I FOUND OUT ABOUT YOU: Well, in my extensive research and inquiry into the animated, anthropomorphic series predominantly featuring characters of Panthera leo, I came across your esteemed site for “Lion King aficionados (Ha, more like: Wow! Look at all this stuff the Google shows when I type in “The Lion King”. ..Hey, what’s this?!? A forum dedicated to TLK!?! KEWL!)
HX TLK: I’ve never forgotten the first few times I saw the ‘Lion King”, sitting on the tile floor of my parents’ house in Louisiana, in front of a definitely non-HD (and certainly not-so-flat screened) TV! The characters I loved the most as a “cub” were Simba and Timon. Fast forward about a decade later to the beginning of my college days (and the blessed arrival of HD, flat screen TVs!). . . thanks to some intensive re-immersion into the Disney magic of the 90’s, my love for TLK was re-awakened! Mufasa and Rafiki are my favorite characters now (but honestly, with their stern but serene presence, still kinda scare and challenge me . . . but in a good way).
WHAT I HOPE TO FIND: Hmm. . .I enjoy the music and art of the Lion King, so any discussion on that would be great. I used to draw, but alas, I don’t have much time to bust out Prismacolor pencils and paper and draw something from TLK. However, I do play piano (at least at an average level) and LOVE the score and music for TLK series (especially “This Land,” one of the few pieces that brings me to tears). Most importantly, I am absolutely fascinated by the religious/spiritual/philosophical allusions of the Lion King (especially any Christian themes . . . I know, “surprise, surprise” coming from a theology teacher )!! If anyone would ever like to discuss ANY such views on this (or other aforementioned topics), I would love to hear your take!! (Obviously, I would never denigrate anyone, or coerce any beliefs on anyone, on account of their religious beliefs(s) and/or lack thereof). I hope to both grow in admiration of this film with the rest of y'all of you and hopefully develop some friendships along the way!
Well, this night owl-now-early-bird has to hit the hay. . .G’night!
