SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND DESIGN

THE DESIGN SCHOOL

FOUNDATION IN NATURAL BUILD ENVIRONMENT

NAME: Sham Zhen Wen

STUDENT ID NO: 0317733

FILMS SELECTED: Frozen and Lion King

WORD COUNT:663

ENGLISH 2 (ELG 30605)

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT 1: COMPARE – CONTRAST ESSAY

LECTURER: CASSANDRA WIJESURIA

SUBMISSION DATE: 19TH SEPTEMBER 2014

We all love music. It has a potent effect to our emotion, whether it is happy, sad,

relaxing or warmth. Thanks to this effect, musical based films has become a member of the

movie family. Although the potential of a musical film is all about the sound, different musical

films have some specialty in their own way. For example, the music style, the setting, and

the characters of the film. To further explain these difference, I will compare two of my

favorite musical films, Frozen and The Lion King. Both films are produced by Walt Disney

Animation Studios.

First and foremost, let’s introduce the plot of the films. The films “Frozen” is about a

princess with the magical power to turn things into ice. Her power turns her home in infinite

winter as she failed to control her power, her sister, Anna teams up with a mountain man, his

playful reindeer, and a snowman to save the day. On the other hand, the films “The Lion

king” is about a young lion prince that was born in Africa, making his uncle Scar the second

in line to the throne. Scar plots with the hyenas to kill King Mufasa and Prince Simba, thus

making himself King. The King is killed and Simba is led to believe by Scar that it was his

fault, and so flees the kingdom in shame. After years of exile he is persuaded to return home

to overthrow the usurper and claim the kingdom.

Both films have different setting. The films “frozen” takes place in Arendelle, which

seems to be inspired by medieval era. There are castle, knights, and people dressing like

those in medieval period. Around the castle are the beautiful sight of snowy mountains and

river. Meanwhile, “The Lion King” takes place in southern Africa, where there are endless

view of fields, which are the “kingdom” of the lions, as the lion king Mufasa told his son,

Simba, Mufasa: "Look, Simba, everything the light touches is our kingdom.” The film also

brings you to various jungles and desserts.

Both films have different character as well. The community in the film “Frozen” is

made up with human civilization while all the inhabitants in the film “The Lion King” are all

animals that talk. The main characters in both films have different stories, although they bear

some same characteristic, for example: they are both from royal family. The main character

in the film, Elsa fears that her power will hurt the innocent, especially her dearest sister,

Anna, so she decided to ran away from her castle. On the other hand, Simba running away

from his throne when his evil uncle convinced him that he was responsible for his father

death.

Music style is also what made both of these films unique in its own way. The music in

the film “Frozen” are more modern, catchy and warm. Most notable example is the song “Let

It Go”, the song that never get out of my head. Not to mention music like “Do You Want to

Build a Snowman” and “Fixer Upper” that give you warmness, despite the title is called

“Frozen”. In the film “The Lion King”, its music borrow the taste of African folk song to fit its

environment. For example the song “Circle of Life” and “Hakuna Matata”, you can hear the

traditional African music instrument, and how they usually sings in a group. Classical music

are also heard in the film, like “King of Pride Rock”, as the plot reached the sad part.

After all, different film can’t be totally the same. But I would said both film are really

great. Both films have the music that have the potential to affect the audience heart

according to the plot of the films. Their music are pretty unforgettable, especially the one

from “The Lion King”, which make me feel nostalgic and old. I wish the producer will keep up

the good work, and continue to produce amazing musical films.