Ask a hundred people what their favorite animated Disney movie is, and odds are that a huge chunk of them will answer that it’s The Lion King. I know it’s my personal favorite, ever since I was a small kid. I’ve got such a soft spot for the movie that almost nothing can top it — not even the live-action remake, no matter how good it was. The Lion King remake has divided audiences. Some people believe it’s a masterpiece and it shouldn’t have to look cartoonish, because it’s a live-action movie — it’s supposed to look realistic and different from the original. Others believe the remake is far too realistic and has very little personality when compared to the original.
Artists Ellejart (whose real name is Nikolay Mochkin) and Design By Feo recently drew the most amazing fan art poster of what The Lion King remake would have looked like if the movie’s creators would have made a live-action version that was faithful to the original style. Honestly, the artists’ version looks amazing, and I’d love to see it on the silver screen. Perhaps we need to ask Disney to remake the remake? So scroll down, share with your friends, and upvote your favorite fan edits of the remake.
#1 Scar
Mochkin added he has been drawing since childhood. “Maybe I was born with a pencil,” Mochkin jokes. He told Bored Panda that it takes him anywhere from 3 to 11 hours to create a piece of art. However, he says that he still doesn’t “feel like a successful artist — I’m just a person who likes to draw fan art.”
The artist stated that he mostly creates art of what’s popular and ‘hyped’ up, but he also tries to stay true to his own rule of “draw what you love!”
“Now I am working on the character of Miles Morales,” Mochkin revealed to Bored Panda about his upcoming work. He also had some advice for aspiring artists: “Beginning artists are advised not to be afraid of harsh criticism, not to give in to excessive praise, to listen to your heart and strive to be first.”
#3 Rafiki
The two artists Ellejart and Design By Feo recreated the remake’s movie poster to make Simba, Timon, and Pumbaa look a lot more like their old selves. Now, it might just be the nostalgia talking, but the inseparable trio looks a lot more likable and, ironically enough, way more natural when their appearance is closer to the cartoon version.
#4 Simba
Ellejart and Design By Feo are both digital artists. Nikolay has more than 75,900 followers on Instagram, and Design By Feo has over 2,700. Both artists have stunning portfolios that are sure to catch your eye. Ellejart has also previously done a few more fan edits of The Lion King remake to show the Internet how much better the remake could have looked.
#5 Simba
#6 Pumbaa And Timon
Disney released the original The Lion King movie in 1994. Development started back in 1988, while production started in 1991. With an initial worldwide gross of $766 million, The Lion King finished its theatrical run as the highest-grossing release of 1994 and the second-highest-grossing film of all time. It is also the highest-grossing traditionally animated film of all time, as well as the best-selling film on home video, having sold over 30 million VHS tapes.
#7 Simba
#8 Nala
The remake, released in the United States on July 19, 2019, has grossed $543 million worldwide. It received mixed reviews with praise for its visual effects, musical score, and vocal performances, but criticism for the lack of originality and facial emotion on the characters. The Lion King has a rating of 8.5 on IMDb, while the live-action remake has a rating of 7.2.
#9 Simba
#10 Simba
#11 Lion King Promo Poster
#12 Lion King Promo Poster
#13 Simba
