Nala (The Lion King)

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Nala
The Lion King character
File:Nala The Lion King.jpg
Adult Nala as she appears in The Lion King (1994)
First appearance The Lion King
Created by Irene Mecchi
Jonathan Roberts
Linda Woolverton
Voiced by Moira Kelly
(adult)
Niketa Calame
(cub)
Sally Dworsky
(adult, singing)
Laura Williams
(cub, singing)
Gabrielle Union
(The Lion Guard)
Information
Species Lion
Gender Female
Occupation Queen of the Pride Lands
Family Sarafina (mother)
Spouse(s) Simba
Children Kiara

Nala is a fictional character who appears in The Lion King franchise, introduced in Walt Disney Pictures' 32nd animated feature film The Lion King (1994). Voiced by American actress Moira Kelly, the lioness subsequently appears in the film's sequels The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (1998) and The Lion King 1½ (2004). In the original film, a young Nala's speaking voice is provided by actress Niketa Calame, while singers Laura Williams and Sally Dworsky provide the singing voices of young and adult Nala, respectively. Kelly was cast as Nala several months after enduring numerous auditions and callbacks, despite not having been the directors' first choice for the role initially. Another actress who had been cast as Nala before Kelly had already begun voicing the character before ultimately being replaced.

Created by screenwriters Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts and Linda Woolverton, and animated by Aaron Blaise and Anthony de Rosa, Nala is first introduced as the childhood best friend of Simba, and ultimately becomes his wife by the end of The Lion King. Several years after Simba's treacherous uncle Scar has killed Simba's father Mufasa, usurped the throne and taken over the Pride Lands, Nala desperately ventures outside of the kingdom in search of help. Upon unexpectedly reuniting with an adult Simba, whom she had long presumed dead, Nala encourages him to return to Pride Rock, overthrow his uncle and ultimately replace him as king. As Simba's Queen, Nala has a daughter, Kiara.

Nala holds the distinction of being The Lion King's most important female character. Due to The Lion King's Shakespearean origins – the film was inspired by William Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet – Nala is considered to be the film's representative of Hamlet's love interest Ophelia, although several differences exist between the two characters. Several early concepts first developed for Nala were eventually abandoned and excluded from the final film, including a younger brother and father for the character, as well as her being romantically pursued by Scar. While critical reception towards Nala's role in the film has been generally mixed - film and feminist critics complained about the character's lack of involvement in the story - Kelly's vocal performance has been lauded. In a role originated by singer Heather Headley, Nala appears in the Broadway musical adaptation of the film. The character also appears in the television series The Lion Guard, with actress Gabrielle Union replacing Kelly as the voice of Nala.

Development

Conception and writing

Film critic James Berardinelli identified Nala as the film's "sole significant female character."[1] Screenwriter Linda Woolverton conceived Nala "as part of a gradual progression ... which have driven recent public conversation about what young girls should be able to expect from their cinematic role models."[2] In early drafts of the screenplay, Nala has a younger brother named Mheetu, who enjoys accompanying his sister and her best friend Simba on their adventures.[3] Pronounced "me too", the character's name alludes to this distinguishing personality trait.[3] At one point, Simba is supposed to save the cub from a wildebeest stampede,[4] and Nala would eventually become responsible for protecting Mheetu from the wrath of Simba's tyrannical uncle Scar.[3] Nala also had a fox friend named Bhati.[4] According to Woolverton, Mheetu and Bhati were eventually written out of the film because their storylines were beginning to distract from Simba's, in addition to the Mheetu-Scar subplot making the film too unnecessarily dark when combined with the already prominent death of Simba's father Mufasa.[3] At one point, Nala also had a father, who was similarly abandoned.[5]

Because The Lion King was initially conceived as more mature film, Nala was originally supposed to have been banished from the Pride Lands as punishment for rejecting Scar's romantic advances.[5] This idea was supposed to have been further explored via Scar's song "Be Prepared (Reprise)", during which an increasingly insane Scar demands that Nala be his queen,[6] but the musical number was ultimately cut from the final film because the scene was considered to be too "creepy."[6] Matthew Roulette of TheFW believes that the sequence was ultimately abandoned because Scar is old enough to be Nala's father.[7]

Nala means "gift" in Swahili.[8] The character has a mother, whose name is never actually mentioned in the film;[9] however, the character is credited as Sarafina during the film's end credits.[9] Candice Russel of the Sun-Sentinel believes that Nala contributes to the film's love story – "an indispensable factor in Disney cartoon features" – in addition to persuading Simba to return to Pride Rock.[10][11] Ella Ceron of Thought Catalog observed that "At [Simba's] return, she’s not exactly the friendliest little kitten, either, and but is willing to overlook her own hurt ego in the spirit of their friendship. She believes in Simba, and doesn’t understand why he wouldn’t want to fight for his right to rule."[12]

Voice and music

The speaking voice of adult Nala is provided by American actress Moira Kelly.[13] Kelly was first informed that Disney was scheduling auditions for the role of Nala by her agent.[14] Despite not having been the directors' first choice for the role initially, Kelly was allowed to audition nonetheless because the filmmakers had been longing to hear different voices.[15] Kelly believes that the directors were searching for a specific "quality of voice ... a sort of authoritative voice but with a lot of warmth" to compliment Nala's sensible yet nurturing personality.[14] After a series of callbacks, during which Kelly returned to Disney several times to read the character's lines, the final decision eventually came down to be between Kelly and one other actress.[14] It was not until several months after her audition that Kelly would finally be contacted and offered the part;[15] Disney's initial first choice for the role remains undisclosed.[15] Actor Matthew Broderick, voice of Simba, had already begun recording alongside another actress who had been cast as Nala before that actress was eventually replaced with Kelly.[16] Broderick was not informed about his original co-star being recast, and only learned that Nala was actually voiced by Kelly at the film's premiere.[16]

The film's entire recording process took approximately three years to complete, during which Kelly's sessions were held in both the United States and Canada, while her co-stars Broderick and Jeremy Irons, voice of Scar, were recording in the United States and England, respectively.[15] Each main cast member recorded their dialogue separately,[15] which took Kelly some time to get used to because she had grown accustomed to working with several other actors at a time on the sets of live-action films.[14] For The Lion King, a director would often take the place of another actor for Kelly to act opposite of.[14] Vocally, Kelly decided to approach the role as though she were reading to a child, explaining, "it's kind of fun to play with different voices and try to color the lines for the child so they can imagine it more fully", which she admitted is different than how the actress would approach a live-action role.[15] Because Nala is a "very straight character", determining what kind of voice she would use for her was not a particularly challenging task.[14] Additionally, the filmmakers would also film Kelly's performances in order to incorporate her own facial expressions into her character's design, the process of which impressed the actress.[15] In her film debut, actress Niketa Calame voices young Nala.[17][18] According to Calame's official website, Nala remains the actress' "biggest role to date".[19] A classically trained pianist and chorister, Laura Williams provides the singing voice of young Nala, which can be heard in the song "I Just Can't Wait to Be King";[17] the musician was 15 years old at the time.[17] Meanwhile, singer-songwriter Sally Dworsky provides the singing voice of adult Nala, which is heard during the song "Can You Feel the Love Tonight".[17] The film's love theme, "Can You Feel the Love Tonight"'s lyrics were re-written approximately 15 times, according to lyricist Tim Rice, who wrote the song alongside composer Elton John.[17] At one point, the producers wanted the song to be a comical duet performed by supporting characters Timon and Pumbaa,[5][20] despite the fact that John had originally composed the song with Nala and Simba in mind.[21] However, John lobbied in favor of "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" being a love song performed as a duet by Nala and Simba, with which the filmmakers ultimately agreed.[17]

It is rare for the cast of a film to reprise their respective roles in its sequel, but The Lion King's sequels hold the distinction of having the majority of its original cast return, including Kelly.[15][22][23] When asked by Disney if she was interested in reprising her role as Nala in The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, Kelly immediately accepted, joking, "Sure, you wanna do a third, fourth, fifth? I'm right there".[15] In the case of The Lion King 1½, it took the actress only a few days to record her character's dialogue due to Nala's comparatively smaller role in the film; much of her footage from the first film was simply reused accordingly.[15] Elton John's official website cites Kelly among the film's cast of actors who "would grace any red carpet."[24] Kelly's performance as Nala is responsible for introducing the actress to a younger audience, who had been better known for appearing in more adult-oriented live-action films at that time.[25] In 2011, Kelly revealed that fans of the film rarely recognize her speaking voice as the voice of Nala,[26] although Robert DeSalvo of NextMovie.com claims that the actress "has a ... distinctive voice that The Lion King fans will instantly recognize as the voice of adult Nala."[27]

Characterization and themes

A straight woman, Kelly described Nala as a sensible and nurturing yet authoritative character,[14] while Amber Leab of Bitch Flicks described her as strong, independent and intelligent.[28] Occupying the role of the film's female lead, Nala is The Lion King's most important female character,[1][29] who contributes to the film's "small romance element".[30] Often identified as the film's deuteragonist,[31][32][33] Taylor Orci of The Atlantic wrote, "Nala is really the agent of change in The Lion King", dismissing Simba and likening his personality to that of a "rich, lazy boyfriend."[31] Leab observed that The Lion King's male characters tend to "take the center stage" while "female characters take a backseat to the action."[28] Lenka Křivánková of Masaryk University wrote in her master's diploma thesis "1990s Hollywood Break-Away Hits: A Feminist Perspective" that she was not particularly surprised by the film's lack of strong roles for its female characters taking into consideration its Shakespearean source material, while describing the film as "an old traditional fairy tale with all its traditional features", including patriarchy and monarchism.[29] Aside from Nala, The Lion King has only two other major female characters in comparison to the film's total of nine major male characters.[29] Shepherd University's Emmylou Allen observed that Nala is first introduced "as a dominating young girl" who ultimately matures into "a strong woman" by the end of The Lion King.[34] Mouse Morality: The Rhetoric of Disney Animated Film author Annalee R. Ward wrote that Nala's role in The Lion King reflected "a 1990s feminist reversal".[35] In her book Biblical Allusions, author Lindsay Bacher noted that Nala is often depicted as a stronger and more responsible character than Simba, despite observations that The Lion King's female characters seldom "have agency".[36] Leab identified Nala as Simba's "equal" who is "more intelligent, or at least a more naturally sound leader throughout the film, while Simba tends to be comparatively a bit more immature and in need of multiple characters propelling him into responsible/rightful action."[28] Physically, Nala is a stronger and more skillful fighter than Simba, proven by the character's ability to constantly overwhelm him in battle,[36][37] which is reminiscent "of the physical power of lionesses in the real nature."[29] However, as strong as she is, Nala has little influence elsewhere.[29] New York's David Denbey dismissed Nala's athleticism as nothing more than Disney's attempt to "disguise [the film's] essential boss-daddy ethos."[38] Bacher believes that had The Lion King revolved around Nala as the Pride Lands' hero as opposed to Simba, the film could have possibly avoided its imminent "patriarchal structure."[36] Leab concluded that "the main and most problematic aspects of the film" remain that it "boils down to the fact that an entire group of strong female characters are unable to confront a single male oppressor; to do so, they need to be led by a dominant male." Leab continued, "It almost sucks more that Nala is such a strong ... female character and still ends up constrained by this plot device", accusing the film of depicting women as weak.[28] Alison Agosti of The Atlantic agreed, calling it "a shame that they choose a species where females are the majority of the population but chose to make the one male the focal point/hero."[31]

Vicky Wong wrote for the University of Waterloo's Kinema that Nala reinforces the film's "take your place" motif, reminding main character Simba that becoming king is his responsibility.[39] In his book Retelling Stories, Framing Culture: Traditional Story and Metanarratives in Children's Literature, author John Stephens credited Nala with teaching Simba about responsibility – "the lesson the hero must learn before he can become an adult".[30] Nala belongs to a trio of Disney heroines who, after having been separated from their love interests for several years at a time, eventually reunite with them.[40] Stephens believes that Nala and Simba's separation allows the characters to fall in love "properly" upon reuniting as young adults.[30] Because The Lion King is loosely based on William Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet.[41][42][43] Therefore, Nala is considered to be The Lion King's "representative" of the Hamlet character Ophelia, Hamlet's love interest.[44] Both characters' relationships with and opinions of their respective love interests are similar,[45] however, there are also several differences between the two characters; while identifying Nala as "the closest character in The Lion King to Ophelia," Shepherd University's Emmylou Allen acknowledged in her article "Shakespeare in the Pride Lands" that "their similarities are not as great as their contrasts."[34] Unlike Ophelia, Nala does not succumb to insanity, nor does she die. Instead, Nala establishes herself as "a physically powerful ally"[46] by encouraging Simba to return to Pride Rock and assisting the character in overthrowing Scar.[44] Additionally, Nala is a more stubborn character than Ophelia, the latter of whom remains passive and obedient.[45] While Ophelia is raised by a single father, Nala is raised solely by her mother, inspiring Allen to believe that Nala depicts how Ophelia would have been had she been raised by a woman as opposed to a man, concluding, "Nala is able to show the potential that Ophelia could have had.".[34]

Appearances

Film and television

A young Nala debuted in The Lion King (1994) as the best friend of Simba, who she often accompanies on his Pride Land adventures. Simba invites Nala to visit the forbidden Elephant Graveyard with him, despite his father Mufasa's orders. The cubs are soon ambushed by a trio of hyenas hired by Simba's treacherous uncle Scar to kill Simba in order to improve his own chances of becoming king, but are ultimately rescued by Mufasa. The following day, however, Nala is devastated to learn from Scar that both Simba and Mufasa have perished during a wildebeest stampede. With both Simba and Mufasa dead, Scar usurps the throne and becomes king. Several years into Scar's tyrannical rule, which has left the kingdom barren and starving, a desperate Nala ventures into the jungle in search of help, where she attempts to eat a warthog named Pumbaa; little does she know that the warthog is actually a friend of Simba's, who is in fact alive and well. While defending Pumbaa from Nala, Simba recognizes Nala, and the two finally reunite only to argue over why Simba is refusing to face his responsibilities and return to Pride Rock. Upon learning that Simba has eventually decided to return to Pride Rock and face Scar, Nala travels back to the Pride Lands to assist him. Surprised to find Simba alive, Scar forces his guilt-ridden nephew to "admit" to the pride that he is responsible for Mufasa's death, which was in fact caused by Scar himself by throwing Mufasa into a gorge. Upon learning the truth, Simba forces his uncle to admit his crime to the pride, and a battle ensues between the lions and Scar's army of hyenas. Simba eventually defeats Scar and becomes king, with Nala ultimately becoming his queen.

In the film's first direct-to-video sequel The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (1998), Nala appears in a less prominent role as Queen of the Pride Lands and mother of Kiara, her and Simba's spirited daughter. Nala observes that Kiara has seemingly inherited her father's rebellious personality and passion for adventure. When Kiara befriends Zira's son Kovu, a young lion from an exiled pride of Scar's followers known as the Outsiders, Nala is much more tolerant of their relationship than Simba, convincing him to give Kovu a chance to prove himself. In the paraquel The Lion King 1½ (2004), Nala's role is virtually identical to that of her appearance in The Lion King.

Musical

In the Broadway musical adaptation of The Lion King, the role of Nala was originated by singer Heather Headley. Her Broadway debut, auditioning for the role proved difficult for the singer at first due to her Ragtime contract, which her agent was eventually successful in releasing her from.[47] Director Julie Taymor felt that Nala's journey in the film was among the story's weaker elements, and thus decided to "strengthen" the character's narrative.[48]

Reception

Critical reception towards Nala has been generally mixed; both film and feminist critics have accused the film of lacking empowering roles for female characters, including Nala.[29][28][49] James Berardinelli of ReelViews appreciated the fact that "after three animated motion pictures centered upon the love of two people from different worlds", the love story between Nala and Simba has been relegated to that of "a subplot."[1] Desson Howe of The Washington Post advised parents to remind their daughters that despite the fact that Nala "pads in the supportive shadows, awaiting her inevitable marriage to Simba, it doesn't mean human girls can't grow up to be monarchs too."[50]

Nala's role and demeanor during the film's romantic "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" sequence has drawn criticism in regards to her "submissive behaviour".[29] The New York Times' Janet Maslin cited the film's lack of a strong heroine among its weaknesses, dismissing Nala and Simba's interaction throughout "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" as "obligatory" and "gratuitous".[49] Joel W. Martin wrote in the Journal of Religion and Film, "One song later, [Nala and Simba] have fallen in love. Playing one day, they literally tumble down a hillside in the jungle, and he ends up on top of her. This time, she does not bear her teeth, but instead, shows 'bedroom eyes'". Martin ultimately accused the scene's "reversal of positions" of "establish[ing] male dominance."[37] Criticizing the film for "being merely distracting when it could have been both meaningful and instructive", Robert Humanick of Slant Magazine wrote, "Small potatoes, then, when Simba's former childhood friend and betrothed queen Nala ... unexpectedly reappears in his duty-free, protein-rich life, demanding he return to his kingly responsibilities and coaxing the lion to sleep tonight with arguably the most blatant 'fuck me now' face to ever appear in a PG-rated film."[51]

However, the character has garnered positive reviews as well. Sara Franks-Allen of ScreenCrush wrote that "If being a Disney princess is about being a good role model for little girls, then Nala has a lot in her favor", elaborating, "She's strong enough to take down Simba, ventures out on her own to find help for her pride and calls Simba out for ignoring his responsibilities."[52] Meanwhile, Ella Ceron of Thought Catalog ranked Nala 14th on her list of "The 16 Most Awesome Female Characters From Disney Movies".[12] Responsible for introducing the seasoned actress to a younger audience,[25] Kelly's vocal performance as Nala has garnered critical acclaim. Writing for The Washington Post, Desson Howe hailed Kelly's voice acting as "terrific."[50] Jeremy Gerard of Variety commended Kelly for voicing the character "beautifully".[53] PopSugar ranked Kelly among the website's "Favorite Animated Voices", writing, "there are a lot of great voices in Disney's The Lion King ... but Moira Kelly has a unique quality to her voice, and I remember reveling in it as a youngster anytime the adult Nala was on the screen."[54] In a 2014 interview, actor Eddie Redmayne admitted that Nala was his first "celebrity crush",[55] having been specifically attracted to the character's "sweet" face and singing voice,[56] referring to the experience as his "sexual awakening".[57]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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