Anyone who's anyone sees the links between The Lion King, one of the best works of entertainment of our era, and Shakespeare's masterpieces of his era.

While I am fairly certain that Shakespeare and Disney cannot be rearranged to spell each other, the plots are similar.

But that's not to say that the Lion King copies the plays in anyway ( incase you didn't know, Shakespeare came before the Lion King by like half a millennia )

The first and most obvious link is the first movie and Hamlet. The movie creators said it themselves, they were inspired by Hamlet. The uncle kills the King to take his place, the son seeks revenge when his father appears to him as a ghost or apparition. The difference is the ending, in the Lion king it has been made more Disney.

Now the Second film and the obvious connection, Romeo and Juliet. Two warring families/prides. Two star crossed lovers fall quickly in love against the wishes of their families, eventually their love lets the families put aside their differences. Right down to the two falling in love then the death of one from Romeo/Kovu's side of Mercutio/Nuka, Then Romeo/Kovu being exiled out of the Pride lands/ Verona. Once again however, no one commits suicide. Though there is a deleted scene with Zira...

Also in the second film is the link to the Merchant of Venice. When Zira makes reference to a Pound of flesh, it is an allusion to the play.

And now the last play with a link, Macbeth. This requires a background on the history of Scotland, where a ruler is decided by the best warrior, and England, where the monarchy is based on blood lines. This represents the two ways a king can gain power in the Lion King, i.e Scar claiming next in line or Simba Killing Scar to become king.

I should also mention that based on the blood line system, Kovu would never become king so long as Kiara is alive. Kiara would be the unsurpassed Queen of the Pridelands, and Kovu would be Prince Kovu of the Pridelands. Only if Kiara died, would Kovu have a chance. So it would still mean Kovu was Kiara's consort, but he wouldn't be King just by marrying her. Do I even have to point to the current Monarch in Britain, her majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, and her husband?

Thank you for taking the time to read this Article, hope you take the time to comment as well. XD