ADVERTISEMENT

Ask a hundred people what their favorite animated Disney movie is, and odds are that a huge chunk of them will answer that it’s The Lion King. I know it’s my personal favorite, ever since I was a small kid. I’ve got such a soft spot for the movie that almost nothing can top it — not even the live-action remake, no matter how good it was. The Lion King remake has divided audiences. Some people believe it’s a masterpiece and it shouldn’t have to look cartoonish, because it’s a live-action movie — it’s supposed to look realistic and different from the original. Others believe the remake is far too realistic and has very little personality when compared to the original.

Artists Ellejart (whose real name is Nikolay Mochkin) and Design By Feo recently drew the most amazing fan art poster of what The Lion King remake would have looked like if the movie’s creators would have made a live-action version that was faithful to the original style. Honestly, the artists’ version looks amazing, and I’d love to see it on the silver screen. Perhaps we need to ask Disney to remake the remake? So scroll down, share with your friends, and upvote your favorite fan edits of the remake.

#1

Scar

Scar

Nikolay Mochkin Report

Add photo comments
POST
edsouza avatar
Ed Souza
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is the best one so far. Not too real and not too cartonny... still can tell just by looking at the character's face what he's about.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Bored Panda reached out to Nikolay Mochkin, also known as Ellejart, for an interview: “In my childhood, after watching the classic cartoon The Lion King, I was delighted and immediately began to draw fan art on it on paper with a pencil. And now, when I watched the modern trailer, my first reaction was: “wow! It looks cool, but where are the heroes we were used to from childhood?” I was determined to make fan art with a classic character design, because I can show people what a real film about the Lion King should be. I like all the characters, because they are perfectly accustomed to their roles, and this is a great story. As a result, I am faithful to the classic cartoon.”

Mochkin added he has been drawing since childhood. “Maybe I was born with a pencil,” Mochkin jokes. He told Bored Panda that it takes him anywhere from 3 to 11 hours to create a piece of art. However, he says that he still doesn’t “feel like a successful artist — I'm just a person who likes to draw fan art.”

The artist stated that he mostly creates art of what’s popular and ‘hyped’ up, but he also tries to stay true to his own rule of "draw what you love!”

ADVERTISEMENT

“Now I am working on the character of Miles Morales,” Mochkin revealed to Bored Panda about his upcoming work. He also had some advice for aspiring artists: “Beginning artists are advised not to be afraid of harsh criticism, not to give in to excessive praise, to listen to your heart and strive to be first.”

#3

Rafiki

Rafiki

Nikolay Mochkin Report

Add photo comments
POST
kanna172014 avatar
Bored Moogle
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you're going to do this, then why even bother watching the live-action version? Just watch the damn cartoon movie.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

The two artists Ellejart and Design By Feo recreated the remake’s movie poster to make Simba, Timon, and Pumbaa look a lot more like their old selves. Now, it might just be the nostalgia talking, but the inseparable trio looks a lot more likable and, ironically enough, way more natural when their appearance is closer to the cartoon version.

#4

Simba

Simba

Nikolay Mochkin Report

Add photo comments
POST
klaudiia9191 avatar
Klaudiia Sherbatzky
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

it looks very very cute but I prefer the realistic one. We have already the cartoon why not one thats looks very realistic?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Ellejart and Design By Feo are both digital artists. Nikolay has more than 75,900 followers on Instagram, and Design By Feo has over 2,700. Both artists have stunning portfolios that are sure to catch your eye. Ellejart has also previously done a few more fan edits of The Lion King remake to show the Internet how much better the remake could have looked.

#5

Simba

Simba

Nikolay Mochkin Report

Add photo comments
POST
klaudiia9191 avatar
Klaudiia Sherbatzky
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

my opinion is - they wanted it to make realistic and not like a cartoon and I have to say I like it.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#6

Pumbaa And Timon

Pumbaa And Timon

Nikolay Mochkin Report

Disney released the original The Lion King movie in 1994. Development started back in 1988, while production started in 1991. With an initial worldwide gross of $766 million, The Lion King finished its theatrical run as the highest-grossing release of 1994 and the second-highest-grossing film of all time. It is also the highest-grossing traditionally animated film of all time, as well as the best-selling film on home video, having sold over 30 million VHS tapes.

#7

Simba

Simba

Nikolay Mochkin Report

Add photo comments
POST
thereader19 avatar
TheReader19
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Simba anxious about his first day of clown school, "did I get my make up right" 😂

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT

The remake, released in the United States on July 19, 2019, has grossed $543 million worldwide. It received mixed reviews with praise for its visual effects, musical score, and vocal performances, but criticism for the lack of originality and facial emotion on the characters. The Lion King has a rating of 8.5 on IMDb, while the live-action remake has a rating of 7.2.

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#11

Lion King Promo Poster

Lion King Promo Poster

Nikolay Mochkin Report

Add photo comments
POST
n_10 avatar
N
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

NO, no. I think keeping it as life-like as possible was the best way to go.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu