My Lion King Forum

Sad News Everyone, I just found out Roger Allers passed away yesterday

https://www.animationmagazine.net/2026/01/disney-veteran-lion-king-co-director-roger-allers-dies-at-age-76/

Rest in peace, Roger! He was incredibly influential in making The Lion King one of the best and culturally impactful animated films ever made.

Roger joined the project around 1990 or 1991, and even "The Lion King" was a rough story about a lion cub learning maturity, he believed in it when very few did. He fought to make the film a musical when it was initially envisioned to resemble a nature documentary. He and Rob Minkoff pleaded with talented animators to work on the film when "Pocahontas" was seen as the next Disney classic. They both wanted James Earl Jones as Mufasa. The epic vision, every camera shot, every line and detail...Roger was involved in nearly every aspect of the film.

He will be missed. May he rest in peace.

Wow! I never knew He did so much for the film.

And not only that, Roger was involved in the Broadway musical. He and Irene Mecchi, one of the screenwriters for the 1994 film, co-wrote the book (or libretto) for the musical and were nominated for a Tony Award. He also helped on The Lion King 1½. According to Vulture, Allers came up with the Mystery Science Theater 3000–inspired narrative framing idea for the film.

I say all this to express we lost a really talented individual with a strong sense for storytelling. Again, may he rest in peace.