Shot Progression and Camera Angles in The Lion King

In lecture on Monday, Professor Ramirez-Berg discussed the shot progression that directors use in films and the denotative meanings of those shots, as well as the connotative implications of the directors’ chosen camera angles.

Specifically, the professor spoke of the connotation of power in a variety of shots: eye level, low angle, and high angle. These are similar to the long shot, medium shot, and close up. The eye level shot is power “neutral” and usually considered an identification shot, while the low angle gives power to a subject and a high angle shot takes power away. This is how filmmakers generally take advantage of the different camera angles; however, some directors have been known to use the various shots ironically (for example, using a low angle to limit power of a subject) or in unpredictable ways (such as changing the normal shot progression or holding a particular shot, like the close up, for a long period of time, omitting the rest). These angles are used in all films, including animation. One example of a film that uses these shots in aesthetically beautiful ways is Disney’s The Lion King.

In this film, one particularly dramatic and action-packed scene involves the young lion cub, Simba, faced with the peril of a sudden incoming stampede of wildebeests. In this scene, the filmmakers animate a classic array of shots and angles to illustrate the progression of the situation.

First, we have a close-up of the character, Simba.

Close-ups are meant to convey feelings and emotion, and here the viewer can easily see that Simba is feeling a combination of shock and fear, which work to foreshadow what is coming next.

A low-angle shot of the wildebeests rushing toward him.

In this shot, the viewer (and Simba) is lower than the oncoming “traffic” here and thus, less powerful. The wildebeests are the subjects given all the power as an invading force: they are up above, towering over everything else, while we are below and much weaker. This combined with the previous close up expresses the imminent peril of terror.

We then have a higher angle shot of Simba clinging to a tree branch for safety.

Although it is not as extreme of an angle as the previous two, it still works to convey the loss or lack of Simba’s power in this situation. The “camera” is above him, limiting his power, and the obvious look of fear on his face in this medium shot (which is an information shot) communicates this even further.

This is just one scene from the film that uses a combination of many shots and angles to create a clear message; many more examples of these shot progressions and camera angles can be found throughout The Lion King, and they all work to produce an enthralling movie.