THE LION KING/ The book of the movie 1994

Circel of Life

{Open, black screen. Start nature sound effects. Cue Castle screen. Fade to black. Cue lion roar in the background, calling the animals to gather to Pride Rock for the Ceremony. Sunrise on African grassland (lightly treed), in time with opening chant to The Circle of Life}

MS: Naaaaaants ingoooonyamaaaaa bagithi Baba

BS: Sithi uhhmm ingonyama

{Various shots of animals raising their heads at the sunrise: rhinos, antelope, a cheetah, meerkats, storks...}

MS: Naaaaaants ingonyamaaaaaa bagithi Baba

BS: Sithi uhm ingonyama

Ingonyama

MS: Siyo Nqoba

BS: Ingonyama

Ingonyama nengw' enamabala

{repeats 5}

Ingonyama nengw' enamabala (Sitha ngqwa!)

Ingonyama nengw' enamabala (Eshe!)

{repeats 1}

{The Circle of Life ground forms in the BS's and holds its pattern for eight bars. It is a non-chordal BS part. The progressions are in the medium ranges of the strings. Various pans and camera views of African animals, all moving. Coinciding with the FS pickup in the eighth bar, we first view the giraffes, panning to a long shot of all the animals in their procession}

FS: From the day we arrive on the planet

And, blinking, step into the sun

There's more to see than can ever be seen

More to do than can ever be done

{Camera is panning and jumping to elephants, zebras, ants, birds, storks, etc... }

FS: There's far too much to take in here

More to find than can ever be found

But the sun rolling high

Through the sapphire sky

Keeps great and small on the endless round

{When the "The Circle of Life" is mentioned the long- distance pan centers on Pride Rock where all the animals are gathering. Mufasa is on Pride Rock. Long camera arc to Mufasa and Zazu.}

FS: It's the Circle of Life

And it moves us all

{Zazu bows to Mufasa, who smiles and nods at him}

FS: Through despair and hope

Through faith and love

{Appearance of Rafiki, the mandrill. He passes between ranks of animals, who bow to him; he then climbs Pride Rock to where Mufasa is standing.}

FS: Till we find our place

On the path unwinding

{Rafiki and Mufasa embrace.}

FS: In the Circle

The Circle of Life

{Decrescendo in BS. FS drops out. Pan Flute takes simple lead.}

{Mufasa leads Rafiki over to Sarabi, who is holding Simba}

{Rafiki puts the juice and sand he collects on Simba's brow-- a ceremonial crown. He then picks Simba up and ascends to the point of Pride Rock. Mufasa and Sarabi follow. With a crescendo in the music and a restatement of the refrain, Rafiki holds Simba up for the crowd to view.}

FS: It's The Circle of Life

{The crowd starts howling, stamping, etc... }

FS: And it moves us all

Through despair and hope

Through faith and love

{The clouds part and a sunbeam highlights Rafiki and Simba on Pride Rock.}

FS: Till we find our place

{The crowd bows down, one by one.}

FS: On the path unwinding

{Camera slowly zooms out to a striking panoramic view of the Presentation.}

FS: In the Circle

The Circle of Life

{Bass drum hit (fff) and immediate switch to black screen with title "The Lion King" in blood-red caps.}