Part 8/8:
As Mufasa makes its way into theaters, its journey serves as a cautionary tale for Disney on the importance of not only delivering strong narratives but also understanding its audience’s pulse. With both enthusiasm and merchandising potential in flux, the future of Disney’s animated endeavors—and its iconic characters—hangs in the balance as viewers make their choices this holiday season. The studio will need to reconsider the stories it tells and how it tells them if it hopes to reclaim its status at the box office and, more critically, in the hearts of families around the world.