Here's a breakdown:
Arguments for The Lion King being a fairy tale:
* Magical elements: The movie features talking animals, a wise baboon who acts as a mentor, and a spirit that appears to guide Simba. These are common elements of fairy tales.
* Moral lessons: The Lion King teaches important lessons about responsibility, courage, and the cycle of life, which are common themes in fairy tales.
* Simple plot structure: The Lion King follows a classic "good versus evil" structure, with a hero who overcomes adversity and ultimately triumphs. This is a common structure in fairy tales.
* Archetypal characters: The Lion King features characters who represent classic archetypes found in fairy tales, such as the wise mentor (Rafiki), the villain (Scar), and the hero (Simba).
Arguments against The Lion King being a fairy tale:
* No "happily ever after": While the movie has a positive ending, it's not a true "happily ever after" in the traditional fairy tale sense. The story acknowledges loss and hardship, which are not always present in fairy tales.
* Realism: While The Lion King features magical elements, it also depicts the natural world with a high degree of realism. The movie's animation and storytelling are grounded in animal behavior and the African savanna.
* Complex characters: The characters in The Lion King are more complex and nuanced than those found in traditional fairy tales. They have flaws and motivations that are more realistic than simplistic "good" and "evil" characters.
Conclusion:
Ultimately, whether or not you consider The Lion King a fairy tale is a matter of personal interpretation. The movie certainly borrows elements from the fairy tale genre, but it also goes beyond those conventions with its realism, complex characters, and darker themes.
Many consider it a "modern fairy tale" that reimagines the genre for a contemporary audience.