download the lion king musical circle of life

For starters, rather than simply show the animals wordlessly moving towards Pride Rock, the scene was to feature dialogue one early iteration would have them sing a prayer in Swahili.

Originally, the scene – now widely regarded as one of the most awe-inspiring movie openings ever – was going to be quite different. Twenty-five years on, it has lost none of its ability to drop your jaw. The opening moments of The Lion King are some of the most powerful moments Disney animators have ever put to screen: from the second Lebo M.’s Zulu chant kicks in over a rising red sun, to the moment that same sun slices through the clouds to bless baby Simba, held skyward by Rafiki, the sequence holds the audience in its thrall. “The Circle of Life” Might Have Looked Very Different Here’s how it came together – and how it almost looked, and sounded, completely different.

To celebrate the anniversary of the original game-changing animated classic, we’re looking back at its first few minutes, which make up one of the most spellbinding opening sequences in movie history. And it’s just less than a month before Disney’s new take on the story lands in cinemas across the country. It’s been 25 ears since The Lion King was released in theaters on June 24, 1994. (Photo by ©Walt Disney Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection)

Download the lion king musical circle of life