Questions about the blessing ceremony

[SuperBabySimba]

Another question: Can you imagine the parents really could agree and be at peace with having their new-born child hung over the edge of the very high cliff by (an elderly) baboon - or is it just that the film makers didn't think it through or that they threw it into the "this is a cartoon movie, it doesn't have to make sense in this" category? I mean, it's not as if the animals down there celebrating and bowing to the prince or princess could actually see the child as it is held up so high above them. Most of them probably saw just a small lion-like figure up there. =D

[KopsTheTerminator]

I think they trusted Rafiki enough to let him do such a thing, lol. =P

Maybe the animals in TLK have bionic eyes XD

[Panda-chan]

[quote="SuperBabySimba"]Another question: Can you imagine the parents really could agree and be at peace with having their new-born child hung over the edge of the very high cliff by (an elderly) baboon - or is it just that the film makers didn't think it through or that they threw it into the "this is a cartoon movie, it doesn't have to make sense in this" category? I mean, it's not as if the animals down there celebrating and bowing to the prince or princess could actually see the child as it is held up so high above them. Most of them probably saw just a small lion-like figure up there. =D[/quote]
Probably cause it's a very long-standing tradition, so they threw their worries out the window lol. Besides, Rafiki may be old but he is far from feeble (remember Upendi? ) He wasn't exactly dangling lil Simba over a cliff Michael Jackson style either; he held him firmly in both hands, raising Simba up to the sky and not out, where the sunlight could reach him best:

As you can see from the pic, Rafiki is also standing a safe distance away from the edge, with Mufasa and Sarabi positioned protectively behind him. And if worst comes to worst and Rafiki actually drops Simba (LOL), I'm betting the animals below would try to catch him... or, you know, cats always land on their feet.
As to your second point, the place Rafiki stood was most likely the only good view all the animals had of the little cub, even if he did just look like a tiny speck to most of them. But keep in mind that these are all the animals in the entire Pridelands that are gathered together to see him ("Everything the light touches..."). Obviously, that's a LOT of animals, and not everyone's going to get the best view. To get an accurate idea of what I'm trying to say here, take a look at this pic:

Pretty much no one was able to see Obama clearly during his inauguration except a lucky few, but of course everyone wanted to be there to witness the historic event. Same idea with the animals during Simba's presentation.
Also, the fact that royal cubs are raised so high up just makes the ceremony more majestic and almost celestial, like the cubs are somehow closer to the Great Kings that way.

[SuperBabySimba]

Lol. Good points. And I never really bothered to look closely at the distance from the tip of the cliff, it just always seems like it's so very dangerous. ;P

[Panda-chan]

[quote="SuperBabySimba"]Lol. Good points. And I never really bothered to look closely at the distance from the tip of the cliff, it just always seems like it's so very dangerous. ;P[/quote]
Thanks ^^
Judging from this aerial view, and keeping Rafiki's smaller frame in mind, I'd estimate it at being around 7 feet in width. That's scary, but not dangerous. Rafiki's quite the acrobat so I doubt he'd slip up anyway lol.

[Lauren]

IDK how to answer this question but the blessing ceremony is just another great detail that they have put into both TLK1 and TLK2. Simba's presentation was amazing to see the sun shine of him. Kiara's presentation was cool b/c we get to see Mufasa up in the sky looking at his granddaughter.

[Pixie]

Yeh I think it is only the future king/queen that is presented by Rafiki. And when he dies, another will take over. His apprentice or something.