History Main / HakunaMatata

** ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing'': The TropeNamer is "Hakuna Matata", where Timon and Pumbaa tell Simba, who has just run away from his responsibilities and his life, that he doesn't need to worry about the past, because a carefree existence is much less trouble. SubvertedTrope: This mentality ends up becoming an obstacle Simba must throw off before he can [[spoiler:kill Scar and claim his inheritance.]] In fact, it shows him being ''apathetically cynical''. "Bad things happen and there's nothing you can do about it. So why worry?"
*** [[WesternAnimation/TheLionKing2019 The 2019 remake]] takes a rather nihilistic spin on Hakuna Matata. There is no "circle of life" or anything beyond the here and now, only a "line of meaningless indifference". Nothing really matters beyond living comfortably and choosing your own happiness over a meaningful purpose.

** ''WesternAnimation/TheJungleBook'': There's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ogQ0uge06o "Bare Necessities"]] from Disney. Baloo tells Mowgli all about life in the jungle, where your only concern should be what's for dinner (and whether or not it's you), and no one needs any lasting anxiety.

** [[OverlyLongGag Before "I'm a Happy-go-Lucky Fellow"]], there was [[http://youtu.be/LcxYwwIL5zQ "Zip-a-dee-doo-dah"]] from ''Film/SongOfTheSouth''.

[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/TheLionKing https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hakuna_matata.PNG]]]]

[[folder:Theater]]

** ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen}}'' has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnpJBkAMk44 "Let it Go"]] sung by Elsa where she believes that she could finally use her own ice powers without harming anyone and live with no worries or responsibilities before going on a self-induced isolation in her IcePalace. [[SubvertedTrope Unfortunately]], what she doesn't realize is that she accidentally plunged her own kingdom under an EndlessWinter and upon being informed, she goes right back to square one and panics, plunging Arendelle further into a snowstorm, particularly after she accidentally struck her sister in the heart.

[[quoteright:350:[[Disney/TheLionKing https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hakuna_matata.PNG]]]]

-->-- "The Bare Necessities", ''Disney/TheJungleBook''

** ''Disney/TheLionKing'': The TropeNamer is "Hakuna Matata", where Timon and Pumbaa tell Simba, who has just run away from his responsibilities and his life, that he doesn't need to worry about the past, because a carefree existence is much less trouble. SubvertedTrope: This mentality ends up becoming an obstacle Simba must throw off before he can [[spoiler:kill Scar and claim his inheritance.]] In fact, it shows him being ''apathetically cynical''. "Bad things happen and there's nothing you can do about it. So why worry?"

** ''Disney/OliverAndCompany'' has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb7kJ-j_dKA "Why Should I Worry,"]] a Disney song created [[OlderThanTheyThink way before Hakuna Matata (the song) existed]]. The Dodger isn't comic relief in the end, but it's very much a "let me astonish you, young stranger, with tales of my carefree lifestyle" song.
** ''Disney/TheJungleBook'': There's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ogQ0uge06o "Bare Necessities"]] from Disney. Baloo tells Mowgli all about life in the jungle, where your only concern should be what's for dinner (and whether or not it's you), and no one needs any lasting anxiety.
** ''Disney/FunAndFancyFree'': Jiminy Cricket's song [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCc3GeYPQFU "I'm a Happy-go-Lucky Fellow."]]

** ''Disney/BrotherBear'' has a CutSong called, well..."The Fishing Song", which is replaced in the final version of the film by "Welcome". The Fishing Song is basically about how the bears at the Salmon Run live a happy life just being bears, including eating, swimming, fishing, and sleeping. They also live a motto that can be described (as said in the lyrics) as "every day is one long party" and "life don't get no better than this".
** ''Disney/{{Frozen}}'' has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnpJBkAMk44 "Let it Go"]] sung by Elsa where she believes that she could finally use her own ice powers without harming anyone and live with no worries or responsibilities before going on a self-induced isolation in her IcePalace. [[SubvertedTrope Unfortunately]], what she doesn't realize is that she accidentally plunged her own kingdom under an EndlessWinter and upon being informed, she goes right back to square one and panics, plunging Arendelle further into a snowstorm, particularly after she accidentally struck her sister in the heart.

-->'''Rebecca:''' ''But now our love \ has magically solved them \ And there won't be any \ more in our future at all!''\\

** ''Disney/{{Frozen}}'' has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnpJBkAMk44 "Let it Go"]] sung by Elsa where she believes that she could finally used her own ice powers without harming anyone and live with no worries or responsibilities before going on a self-induced isolation in her IcePalace. [[SubvertedTrope Unfortunately]], what she doesn't realize is that she accidentally plunged her own kingdom under an EndlessWinter and upon being informed, she goes right back to square one and panics, plunging Arendelle further into a snowstorm, particularly after she accidentally struck her sister in the heart.

[[caption-width-right:350:[[EarWorm It's our problem-free philosophy: Hakuna Matata!]]]]

* ''WesternAnimation/RudolphTheRedNosedReindeer'' The Movie (1998) had Slyly the fox sing "It Could Be Worse" to Rudolph after he's run away from home on how there are worse situations in the world and how he should forget his troubles.

** Josh also ''tries'' this earlier, with the Music/JasonMraz-style "Thought Bubbles", but he keeps being distracted from his insistence that he's totally happy and chill with disturbing thoughts like how weird it was that he randomly stopped liking guacamole one day because what if he suddenly stopped liking his mom the same way? Ultimately concluding with him realising that his generally carefree personality can only be kept up as long as he's in a relationship and has someone to distract him from his thoughts.

* "Three Little Birds" from ''[[Music/ExodusAlbum Exodus]]'' by Music/BobMarley - the one with the chorus "'cause every little thing's gonna be alright."

----

** ''Disney/{{Frozen}}'' has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnpJBkAMk44 "Let it Go"]] sung by Elsa where she believes that she could finally used her own ice powers without harming anyone and live with no worries or responsibilities before going on a self-induced isolation in her IcePalace. [[SubvertedTrope Unfortunately]], what she doesn't realize is that she accidentally plunge her own kingdom under an EndlessWinter and upon being informed, she goes right back to square one and panics, plunging Arendelle further into a snowstorm, particularly after she accidentally struck her sister in the heart.

** ''Disney/BrotherBear'' has a CutSong called, well..."The Fishing Song", which is replaced in the final version of the film called "Welcome". The Fishing Song is basically about how the bears at the Salmon Run live a happy life being themselves, including eating, swimming, fishing, and sleeping. They also live a motto that can be described (as it is in the song) as "every day is one long party" and "life don't get no better than this".

* ''Series/CrazyExGirlfriend'' finally [[spoiler:hooks up Josh and Rebecca]] after a season and a half of trying, and they celebrate with a '70s soul pastiche called "We'll Never Have Problems Again," and forcibly reject any thoughts about how delusional with infatuation they are.

** ''Disney/{{Frozen}}'' has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnpJBkAMk44 "Let it Go"]] sung by Elsa where she believes that she could finally used her own ice powers without harming anyone and live with no worries or responsibilities before going on a self-induced isolation in her IcePalace. [[SubvertedTrope Unfortunately]], what she doesn't realize is that she accidentally plunge her own kingdom under an EndlessWinter and upon being informed by it, she goes right back to square one into fearing her powers, particularly after she accidentally struck her sister in the heart after realizing it.

** ''Disney/{{Frozen}}'' has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnpJBkAMk44 "Let it Go"]] sung by Elsa where she believes that she could finally used her own ice powers without harming anyone and live with no worries or responsibilities before going on a self-induced isolation in her IceCastle. [[SubvertedTrope Unfortunately]], what she doesn't realize is that she accidentally plunge her own kingdom under an EndlessWinter and upon being informed by it, she goes right back to square one into fearing her powers, particularly after she accidentally struck her sister in the heart after realizing it.

[[quoteright:350:[[Disney/TheLionKing http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hakunamatata.jpg]]]]

->''"[[TropeNamer Hakuna Matata]]. What a wonderful phrase!\\
Hakuna Matata. Ain't no passin' craze\\
It means "no worries" for the rest of your days\\
It's a problem-free philosophy! Hakuna Matata!"''
-->-- "Hakuna Matata", ''Disney/TheLionKing''

* Disney's ''Disney/TheLionKing'': The TropeNamer is "Hakuna Matata", where Timon and Pumbaa tell Simba, who has just run away from his responsibilities and his life, that he doesn't need to worry about the past, because a carefree existence is much less trouble. SubvertedTrope: This mentality ends up becoming an obstacle Simba must throw off before he can [[spoiler:kill Scar and claim his inheritance.]] In fact, it shows him being ''apathetically cynical''. "Bad things happen and there's nothing you can do about it. So why worry?"
* ''Disney/OliverAndCompany'' has [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb7kJ-j_dKA "Why Should I Worry,"]] a Disney song created [[OlderThanTheyThink way before Hakuna Matata (the song) existed]]. The Dodger isn't comic relief in the end, but it's very much a "let me astonish you, young stranger, with tales of my carefree lifestyle" song.
* ''Disney/TheJungleBook'': There's [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ogQ0uge06o "Bare Necessities"]] from Disney. Baloo tells Mowgli all about life in the jungle, where your only concern should be what's for dinner (and whether or not it's you), and no one needs any lasting anxiety.
* ''Disney/FunAndFancyFree'': Jiminy Cricket's song [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCc3GeYPQFU "I'm a Happy-go-Lucky Fellow."]]
* [[OverlyLongGag Before "I'm a Happy-go-Lucky Fellow"]], there was [[http://youtu.be/LcxYwwIL5zQ "Zip-a-dee-doo-dah"]] from ''Film/SongOfTheSouth''.

* ''Disney/BrotherBear'' has a CutSong called, well...The Fishing Song, which is replaced in the final version of the film called "Welcome". The Fishing Song is basically about how the bears at the Salmon Run live a happy life being themselves, including eating, swimming, fishing, and sleeping. They also live a motto that can be described (as it is in the song) as "every day is one long party" and "life don't get no better than this".

* Subverted and directly referenced in ''Theatre/TheBookOfMormon'' with Hasa Diga Eebowai, in which the Ugandan villagers sing a happy-sounding song about how much their lives suck and how they try to make the best of it by [[spoiler: cursing God in the most profane manner possible]], and again in Turn It Off, in which the Mormon missionaries sing a toe-tapping tune about forgetting their problems by suppressing their emotions.

* ''Series/CrazyExGirlfriend'' finally hooks up Josh and Rachel after a season and a half of trying, and they celebrate with a '70s soul pastiche called "We'll Never Have Problems Again," and forcibly reject any thoughts about how delusional with infatuation they are.

[[folder: Anime And Manga ]]

* ''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex'': The children's song the Tachikomas sing when they [[spoiler: [[HeroicSacrifice crash the satellite hosting their A.I. into an American nuclear missile launched at the refugee camp/island of Dejima]].]] Fits this trope to a 't': the Tachikomas are [[spoiler:robotic]] sidekicks, and the song is about the simple optimism of life.

[[folder: Film - Animation ]]

* Disney's ''Disney/TheLionKing'': The TropeNamer is "Hakuna Matata", where Timon and Pumbaa tell Simba, who has just run away from his responsibilities and his life, that he doesn't need to worry about the past, because a carefree existence is much less trouble.
** SubvertedTrope: This mentality ends up becoming an obstacle Simba must throw off before he can [[spoiler: kill Scar and claim his inheritance.]] In fact, it shows him being ''apathetically cynical''. "Bad things happen and there's nothing you can do about it. So why worry?"

* [[OverlyLongGag Before "I'm a Happy-go-Lucky Fellow"]], there was [[http://youtu.be/LcxYwwIL5zQ "Zip-a-dee-doo-dah"]] from ''Disney/{{Song of the South}}.''
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer}}'' The Movie (1998) had Slyly the fox sing "It Could Be Worse" to Rudolph after he's run away from home on how there are worse situations in the world and how he should forget his troubles.

[[folder: Film - Live Action ]]

%%* "Life's a Happy Song" from ''{{Film/The Muppets}}''.

[[folder: Music ]]

[[folder: Theatre ]]

* "Wilkommen, Bienvenue, Welcome" from ''{{Theatre/Cabaret}}'' is of the darker life-sucks-but-let's-pretend-for-a-moment-it-doesn't variety.
--> '''[=EmCee=]''': Leave your troubles outside! In here, life is beautiful ... the girls are beautiful ... even the orchestra is beautiful!

--> ''Come taste the wine / Come hear the band / Come blow your horn, start celebrating / Right this way, your table's waiting!''

--> '''Ben''': "When the rent is owing / What's the use of tears? / I'd rather laugh, / I'd rather love, / I'd rather live / In arrears."

* ''Disney/OliverAndCompany'' has [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb7kJ-j_dKA "Why Should I Worry,"]] a Disney song created [[OlderThanTheyThink way before Hakuna Matata (the song) existed]] � the Dodger isn't comic relief in the end, but it's very much a "let me astonish you, young stranger, with tales of my carefree lifestyle" song.

* The song "Fill Your Heart" by Music/PaulWilliams and Biff Rose, later CoveredUp by the likes of Music/TinyTim and Music/DavidBowie, urges you to fill your heart with love today, which will clean your mind and make you ''freeeeeeeeeeee!''

* In the song "[[https://youtu.be/uD1M6XAQELg Fill Your Heart]]" from his album ''Music/HunkyDory'', Music/DavidBowie says to fill your heart with love, which will clean your mind and make you ''freeeeeeeeeeee!''