Release Date October 15, 1954

Running time 6:26

Synopsis

A lion decides to get a taste of civilization by letting himself be captured.

Credits

Director : Jack Kinney

Animation : Norm Ferguson

Effects Animation

Dan MacManus

Ernest Bemiller

Story

Milt Schaffer

Dick Kinney

Layout : Bruce Bushman

Background : Thelma Witmer

Music : Oliver Wallace

Inside Jokes

A sign on a window reads "Fergie's Fresh Fillet's", a reference to animator Norm Ferguson. Another sign reads "For Rent Bushman Realty Co.", referring to the layout artist, Bruce Bushman.

Videos

Germany

Donald Superstar and Co.

Vorsicht Löwe!

Italy

Disney Adventures

Laserdiscs

Japan

Disney Cartoon Festival 5

DVD

United States

Disney Treasures : Disney Rarities: Celebrated Shorts, 1920s - 1960s

Television

The Ink and Paint Club : #42 : Goin' to the Zoo

Technical Specifications

Color Type : Technicolor

Animation type : Standard

Sound mix : Mono

Aspect ration : 1.37 : 1

Negative format : 35mm

Print format : 35mm

Cinematographic process : Spherical

Original language : English

Released by RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.

Comments

From Jerry Edwards : I enjoy this quirky short. I enjoy the gag of where the lion is ignored by everyone when he tries to scare them, but then dresses up as a man - only then does everyone realize he's a lion. Most showings on Disney Channel, including Ink and Paint, censor a scene of the lion smoking a cigar (while disguised as a man).

From Ryan : A lion is taken from the jungles of Africa and brought to the city of New York. When he breaks loose and runs amok in the city, no one seems to notice him. I enjoy the animation of this cartoon as well as the humor. One part I like is the scene where the lion goes into the Lions Club who is about to select a new president. The members are quite impressed by his roars. This is definitely a worthwile short to watch. Hopefully it will appear on a later version of the Disney Treasures sets.

From Baruch Weiss : I wonder why Goofy's theme was used at the beginning and at the end presentations? You don't suppose Goofy was in this cartoon, but not seen in it do you? Anyway this was a great cartoon, loved the scene where he poses as a statue.

From Matthew Cooper : Okay, I'll give it to you straight this is a great cartoon! The jokes come fast and funny, and the animation is done quite nicely. The lion here looks just like the-grown up Lambert from Lambert the Sheepish Lion (I wonder why no one has pointed that out yet.) Although, there are quite a few scences that should have been censored before showing this short on television. They are as follows: the scenes of the lion smoking (when he's a man and when he's not.) The scene of the two men yelling at each other and fighting on the train and lastly, the scenes where the lion goes into the jungle-themed bar with the red-nosed drunk and where the drunk that dances with the lion says "Hiya Bonnie, let's dance (cut out the 'Hiya Bonnie' part and leave in let's dance.) Speaking of the bar-scene, I especially like the part where the lion roars there and the drunks all cry "My wife!" and run away.

From Billy Joe : This short is just great fun!

I have seen "Social Lion" and would like to
submit a comment on this short