In the 1994 theatrical and 1995 home video releases, The Lion King opened with the original 1990 blue Walt Disney Pictures logo. For the 2003 Platinum Edition release, it was replaced by the orange-and-black Walt Disney Pictures logo.
Following the Walt Disney Pictures logo in the 1994 theatrical and 1995 home video releases, a memorial card was placed in tribute to Frank Wells, who served as President of The Walt Disney Company from 1984 to 1994.
Exclusively for the 2003 Platinum Edition release, a new title card reading "The Lion King Special Edition" is placed following the revised Walt Disney Pictures Disney logo.
For the 2003 Platinum Edition release, baby Simba and Rafiki were redrawn before the camera pans out.
For the 2003 Platinum Edition release, a new musical number, "The Morning Report", replaces the original version.
In the 2003 Platinum Edition release, the crocodiles featured in "I Just Can't Wait to be King" were re-animated. Co-director Roger Allers explained that he was dissatisfied with the design of the crocodiles in its initial release because "in the rush of trying to get the film done, the scene kind of fell through the cracks. They wound up just using a story panel" and animators were brought in to re-work the sequence for the 2002 IMAX re-release.[1]
In the 1994 theatrical and 1995 home video releases, Scar's shadow on the wall did not match his pose at the end of the Elephant Graveyard scene. This was corrected for the 2003 Platinum Edition release and new animation was added of Scar turning his head.
In the 2003 Platinum Edition release, the waterfalls featured in the "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" were re-animated. In 2003, Don Hahn explained that the waterfalls were enhanced "because we ran out of time and money ten years ago."[2]
In the 1994 theatrical and 1995 home video releases, the names listed in the ending credits following the "Busa" chant were scrolled down. For the 2003 Platinum Edition release, the ending credits did not scroll down and they contain special edition credits.
2011 Diamond Edition
1994 Theatrical / 2003 Platinum Edition
2011 Diamond Edition / 3D Version / 2017 Signature Collection / 2018 4K Ultra HD
Description
For the 2003 Platinum Edition release, the original 1990 blue Walt Disney Pictures logo was replaced by the orange-and-black Walt Disney Pictures logo. For the 2011 Diamond Edition release, the original 1990 blue Walt Disney Pictures logo was replaced by the current 2006 Walt Disney Pictures logo.
For the 2011 Diamond Edition release, the Walt Disney Animation Studios logo was added in.
The ending of the sequence in which the dust purportedly forming the letters "SFX" was trimmed by two seconds.[3]
In the 1994 theatrical, 1995 home video releases, and 2003 Platinum Edition release, the rumbling clouds that Simba runs towards as his father's spirit disappears are present. For the 2011 Diamond Edition release, the rumbling clouds that Simba runs towards as his father's spirit disappears were missing.
In the 2011 Diamond Edition release, the ending credits were scrolled down again, just like in the 1994 theatrical and 1995 home video releases. They are also sped up to contain restoration credits. They're also organized into two columns.
In the theatrical, 1995 home video releases, and 2003 Platinum Edition release, it had "Soundtrack Available on Cassette and Compact Disc from Walt Disney Records". For the 2011 Diamond Edition release, it was updated to have "Soundtrack Available from Walt Disney Records".
For the 2011 Diamond Edition release and 3D re-release, the memorial card to Frank Wells was moved to the end of the ending credits.
In the 1994 theatrical, 1995 home video releases and 2003 Platinum Edition release, The Lion King was distributed by Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc. For the 2011 Diamond Edition release, the movie was distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
For the 2004 release, The Lion King II: Simba's Pride was re-formatted from its original 4:3 aspect ratio to a letterboxed 1:66:1 with improved video resolution.[4]
1998 VHS
2004 DVD
Description
In the 1998 VHS release, Simba's Pride opened with the "Walt Disney Home Video presents" logo. For the 2004 release onwards, the card was replaced with "Walt Disney presents".
For the 2004 release, Kovu's scream towards the crocodiles was re-animated by two separate frames.
In the 1998 VHS release, Kovu and Kiara return back to Pride Rock singing "Upendi" before it fades into the next shot. In the 2004 Special Edition release, the scene is edited slightly shorter than the 1998 print.
