The Lion King Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

The Lion King Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Randy Miller III August 19, 2019

Released long after Disney's now out-of-print Diamond Edition combo pack and before the still-available 4K UHD disc, this special Digibook Edition of Disney's The Lion King (1994) was originally created as a Target exclusive. It's a very classy design that should appeal to collectors of all ages, although the on- disc and digital content is identical to the earlier Diamond Edition Blu-ray. Similarly priced to its regular counterpart, this low-risk packaging upgrade is still easily available and worth a purchase for Disney collectors who have not yet switched over to 4K.

To read Kenneth Brown's take on the film, please read his 2011 review of Disney's Diamond Edition. The movie rating of this review also mirrors Ken's, as I share most of his sentiments about this classic animated production.

The Lion King Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

For an evaluation of the video presentation, please refer to Kenneth Brown's 2011 Diamond Edition Blu-ray review.

The Lion King Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

For an evaluation of the audio presentation, please refer to Kenneth Brown's 2011 Diamond Edition Blu-ray review.

The Lion King Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Unlike Target's more recent Filmmaker Gallery & Storybook exclusives -- such as their release of Cinderella just two months ago-- these Digibook Editions omit the former feature, favoring a more focused storybook presentation that undoubtedly appeals to younger fans. However, this package also includes another exclusive item with older collectors in mind and maintains an overall packaging aesthetic that is streamlined, attractive, and durable.

• Storybook Packaging - The colorful digibook features a nice group image on the front with a wide-open sky and subtle image of Mufasa in the upper-right corner. It's also foil-enhanced with a nice prismatic effect and can be easily handled without smudging. The more minimalist back cover continues the cloud motif with a centered image of the Simba drawing made by Rafiki in the film. The interior has an earth-toned African print design and a nicely-illustrated 32-page version of the story. The layout is attractive with a writing style that seems suitable for ages 8 and up. Both discs are contained on overlapping hubs inside the back cover.

• Limited Edition Film Frames - This limited edition 35mm film strip features three frames of Rafiki lifting young Simba atop Pride Rock from one of The Lion King's most iconic scenes. The cardstock frame advertises that each strip was "created from the film's original digital files, and was developed and printed in a laboratory by master technicians". A nice little bonus, even if you never remove it from the plastic.

• For a detailed breakdown of all the on-disc and digital bonus content, please refer to Kenneth Brown's 2011 Diamond Edition Blu-ray review.

The Lion King Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Lion King is classic family entertainment and, for some, one of Disney's best animated productions of the 1990s. This special Digibook Edition commemorates the now 25-year-old film in style, offering beautifully-designed storybook packaging and a collectible film strip that should appeal to Disney fans of all ages. Whether you've already seen the remake in theaters or plan to buy it on 4K or Blu-ray in October, now's as good a time as any to revisit the original. This limited edition Digibook is one of the better Disney exclusives currently available; unless you've already purchased the 4K disc or plan to in the near future, it comes highly recommended to collectors and casual fans alike.