In The Lion King the use of lighting and colors is the essence of the film. High key lighting is used mostly throughout the movie except in the scenes where the evil Scar or the Hyenas are involved. These shots are normally dark for the sign of evil. High key lighting is a very bright light over everything, with few shadows and relatively low contrast between the lightest and darkest parts of the scene (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011, p. 110). One of the best and most known scenes of the movie is when Mufasa and Simba are sitting on the rock and Mufasa looking over the Pride Lands. This is a great example of three point lighting as the backlight is shining on the back of the lions. Mufasa and Simba are “popping out” of the background of the Pride land. In the very beginning after Simba is born and Scar does not to go the ceremony due to jealousy Mufasa pays him a visit. This scene is an example of low-key lighting as there is a single source of light coming from the outside. Mufasa is blurred in the background as Scar is up feint ion the shadows of his cave. In the scene toward the end of the movie where Simba takes his place as King is one of the best uses of high-key lighting. This scene is a happy and prideful scene as the new King takes his rightful reign.
The lighting and the use of color throughout the movie was perfectly balanced. The good characters, such as Mufasa, Simba, Rafiki, Timon, and Pumba were bright in color and the lighting was more focused on them showing their good and brightness. The low key lighting was used on the evil characters that were dull in color. These characters are Scar and the Hyenas. There is one more than one theme in this movie. The first being the circle of life and the second being good versus evil. The colors and lighting effects are suited to the animation genre.
If the lighting were different then the effect of the scenes would not have been as clear and the messages would get lost. The good characters and bad characters could not be as fun to watch. The low key lighting was perfect for the dark evil side as well as the high key lighting for the good side; balancing the good versus evil. The lighting and color gave the audience a clue as to what was about to happen whether it be good, evil, or both.
References
Goodykoontz, B. & Jacobs, C. (2011). Film: From Watching to Seeing. San Diego, Ca. Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
http://www.lionking.org/~affinity/sunrise.jpg
http://movies.disney.com/the-lion-king-gallery#image/52f5316b0a172d5ba800791d
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