However, there were some live-action elements used in the original 1994 film:
* Reference footage: The animators used real-life footage of animals in the African savanna to help them create the realistic movement and behaviors of the animated characters.
* Sound effects: The animal sounds in the movie are often taken from real-life recordings.
For the 2019 live-action remake, they used a combination of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and real animals:
* CGI: The majority of the animals were created digitally, using CGI technology. This allowed the filmmakers to create detailed and realistic representations of the animals.
* Real animals: Some real animals were used for certain scenes, particularly for close-ups and shots where the filmmakers wanted to capture the real-life beauty and movement of the animals. This included lions, zebras, and other African wildlife.
So, while the Lion King movie features many different animal characters, the majority of them are created through animation, with some live-action elements incorporated for reference and sound effects.