The Lion King= Hamlet?

The Lion King, one of the better Disney movies of ones childhood, is a cartoon almost everyone is aware of. Almost everyone has some connection to this charming little film. Kids like the cartoon animals and the jaunty musical numbers that almost immediately put a smile on their impressionable tiny faces. A lot of people like the plot twist and the dynamic character as well as the spiritual undertones that suggest that we are all connected in this "circle of life". Some people feel that they have grown out of this silly film, but will still watch it when it happens to be on television because it reminds them of their childhood. It doesn't really matter why people like it or are connected to it, we simply are, which also means that we are connected to Shakespeare. 

Yep, the quirky little story of The Lion King is basically a happier , easier to understand version of Hamlet (As shocking as learning most horror movies are scarily similar to Hansel and Gretel, isn't it?). So Simba's father is a king which makes him a prince. Hamlet is also a prince though when the story begins his father has already fallen victim to fratricide, in TLK we get to watch the murder happen first hand (we knew one of Simba's parents had to go because almost no Disney character gets to keep both parents, don't be so greedy Simba). It is also important to mention that they both have insane uncles who kill their fathers, this is a detail that shouldn't be overlooked. Both princes are sent away from their homes. Simba spends his banishment in a jungle paradise while Hamlet spends his time depressed, suicidal, and a touch insane. The princes both see their dead fathers, though Hamlet's dad tells him to get revenge and Simba's dad tells him some cryptic crap about taking his part in the circle of life. Last but not least, both princes kill their uncle. Disney turned it into a happily ever after where Simba is a happy king. The Shakespeare version isn't quite so rainbows and unicorns (or African sunsets and lions if you prefer). Hamlet ends up dead as well as countless others. So TLK is Hamlet without the never ending tragedy of almost all Shakespearian stories, also it has lions which makes it cooler. 

Shakespeare is impossible to avoid. If you are sitting around and want to watch a rom com like 10 Things I Hate about You or She's the Man, you are still subjected to Shakespeare, more specifically Taming of the Shrew and Midsummer Nights Dream. Shakespeare follows us everywhere, but you have to admit the stories are quite entertaining even when half the character don't end up dead by the end. Shakespeare simply works. All the stories are timeless tales, adaptable to any time period and any species.  

Shakespeare is everywhere but I often wonder if there wasn't someone before Shakespeare, the real mastermind from whom Shakespeare got all his stories. Perhaps this stories originate from a source unknown yet we still give Shakespeare all the credit. Maybe Shakespeare is on the some level as every other writer that came after him, trying in vain to receive a portion of the original fame.