Lion King is one of the most beloved films of all time. That’s why Balich Wonder Studio turned to TDF’s Russell Abrahams (aka Yay Abe) ahead of its highly-anticipated production of the 1994 classic.
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Bringing the Disney masterpiece to the global stage, the Milan-based entertainment group needed a versatile artist who could replicate the film’s aesthetic without compromising its legacy. The Lion King remains the highest-grossing, traditionally-animated movie of all time. So, no pressure.
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“We needed to create something fresh that the audience would enjoy – all while making sure it was still recognisable,” Yay says of the commission. “I tried to really deep dive during the sketch phase and just throw ideas into the air.”
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Those ideas landed. Reimagining the savannah that introduced characters as distinct as Simba and Scar, Yay expertly played with patterns: introducing shapes and shades that both reflected and renewed the film’s setting.
“The challenge was pulling references from all over Africa, so that the illustration work was inclusive of a wide range of African countries,” Russell says, whose research also involved numerous screenings of the Oscar-winning animation.
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Having relished the chance to “redraw the actual Simba from The Lion King”, Russell now has a place in Disney history.
For more from Yay Abe, click here.
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