My Lion King Forum

It recently occurred to me that TLK contains a LOT of puns Don't believe me? Practically every major scene contains one. A few examples:

Zazu: You should have been first in line!
Scar: I was first in line... until the little hairball was born.

Zazu: And the baboons are going ape over this. Of course, the giraffes are acting like they're above it all...

Simba: I'm gonna be the mane event like no king was before!

Banzai: Yeah, we could have whatever's lion around!

Simba: Hey Uncle Scar, will I like the surprise?
Scar: Simba, it's to die for.

Simba: What's a motto?
Timon: Nothing. What's a motto with you?

Pumbaa: I'm a sensitive soul, though I seem thick-skinned. And it hurt that my friends never stood downwind.

Pumbaa: I ate like a pig!

Timon: Lady, have you got your lions crossed.

Simba" Will you cut it out?
Rafiki: Can't cut it out! It'll grow right back!

Simba: I finally got some sense knocked into me. And I've got the bump to prove it.

Were puns just considered really funny in the 90's? Why do you think the creators chose to use so many? I'm not sure I know of any other Disney movies with nearly as many puns.

I think the filmmakers were probably just having fun with the script as they wrote it. They probably realized that those puns were applicable, and liked the way they helped the script to flow. I think they were a great addition to the film, as they lightened the mood a bit. Perhaps they were intended as comic relief?

Scar: A monkey's uncle.

This could work two fold. It could be a reference to the Darwinian theory but I think it was a reference to the Disney film. That and because it sounded silly.

Shenzi: A cub sandwhich (club sandwhich)

[quote="Amanda"]Were puns just considered really funny in the 90's? Why do you think the creators chose to use so many? I'm not sure I know of any other Disney movies with nearly as many puns. [/quote]

No. Puns have been used ever since mankind conceived the thought of literature. There are several puns in the Bible, Shakespearean plays, and various pieces of poetry. When you become a writer, it is necessary to use these literary devices to keep the reader's interest.

As in the case for TLK, I agree with Juliette's opinion. Most of the puns used in the film are there to lighten the mood, and provide comic relief.

I think Disney likes to squish puns in there too because I believe they consider it something "faster" humored to keep the adult's attention while the kiddies are staring at pretty colors.

There was an awful lot in TLK though. Maybe the team just thought they were really clever? xD

I find puns insanely funny, but that's because I have the lamest sense of humour ever.

I think the most clever one was Zazu saying, "Cheetahs never prosper." And you know, it took me years before I finally noticed and got it.

Timon: Gee, he looks blue.
Pumbaa: I'd say brownish-gold.

Pumbaa: Hey kid, what's eatin' ya?
Timon: Nothing; he's at the top of the food chain!

Simba: I'm so hungry I could eat a whole zebra.

Simba: Come on, let's go check it out.
Zazu: Wrong! The only checking out you will do will be to check out of here.

Shenzi: Look, boys! A king fit for a meal! [elephant graveyard scene]
^ This one was cut from the final script, but I'm putting it here anyway ^

Shenzi: Look at you guys. No wonder we're dangling at the bottom of the food chain.
Banzai: Man, I hate dangling.

Scar: ...And injustice deliciously squared... [be prepared scene]

Banzai: Yeah, Be prepared. Yeah-heh... we'll be prepared, heh. ...For what?
Scar: For the death of the king.
Banzai: Why? Is he sick?

Simba: Zazu! Help me!!
Zazu: Your father is on the way! Hold on!

My personal favorite:
Timon: We're going to get old walking across this thing.

I think the writers knew that they were creating a bunch on puns, liked it, and went with it. Such as that "lady, have you got your lions crossed" line. I understood the meaning for a long time, but I never actually understood where that line came from. It ended up that Disney took a popular saying and modified it to fit the TLK universe.

So Disney liked their puns, and went out of its way to include more.

simba....little banana beak is scared!
Zazu: not the birdie boiler!

I love all these puns, but I bet they were a pain to translate into 42 other languages, lol.