The Jungle King is a 1994 Animated Musical made by Golden Films.
The film is about a lion king called Maximilien, who is selfish, arrogant and obnoxious. The Hyena Chancellor is conspiring with a tiger kingdom and manages to have the king kidnapped. Then, General Glump talks to Irwin, the king's brother, and persuades him to impersonate the king.
Tropes:
- Always Chaotic Evil: The tigers are always presented as evil.
- Animated Musical: It has some musical sequences, as per tradition in Golden Films.
- Because You Were Nice to Me: The citizens support Irwin-as-Maximilien against the tigers because he was nice to them.
- Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: The Hyena Chancellor pretends to be a dutiful servant, but actually is a power-hungry quisling.
- Cain and Abel: Maximilien and Irwin are a downplayed case. Maximilien is not evil, but is a Jerkass and feigns hatred towards his brother.
- The Caligula: Maximilien is an abusive ruler and a full on Jerkass.
- Decoy Protagonist: At first, Maximilian seems the protagonist of the story, but his brother is the real protagonist.
- Depraved Dwarf: Raj, the King of the tigers.
- Distracted by My Own Sexy: Maximilien when he sees his reflection in mirrors and water.
- Emergency Impersonation: The plot of this film.
- Evil Chancellor: The Hyena Chancellor is conspirating against the king.
- Evil Overlord: Maximilien.
- Evil Sounds Deep: The intimidating tiger general, who serves as a contrast to his more comical, bombastic king.
- Evil Twin: Downplayed with Maximilien.
- Eviler than Thou: Maximilien is an utter asshole, but the Hyena is an outright evil quisling.
- Expy: The Hyena Chancellor and Ricardo are based off Jafar and his parrot Iago. The Hyena is an Evil Chancellor who also pretends to be loyal to the King and his relationship with Ricardo is similar to Jafar and Iago's.
- Freudian Slip:
- When Leonette tells Irwin-as-Maximilien that he wouldn't be interested in what she wants to say to him, Irwin says that [Maximilien] wouldn't but he would. He almost reveals his true identity.
- When the tigers invade, the hyena Chancellor complains that they are ruining his city.
- Furry Confusion: Most of the birds don't talk, except Ricardo.
- Happily Married: It's implied that this is what will happen with Irwin and Leonette.
- Heel Realization: Maximilien eventually realizes the wrong of his ways.
- Henpecked Husband: Leonette's father is submissive to his wife. He disagrees with her, but when she comes near him, he pretends to change his mind.
- Impersonating the Evil Twin: Irwin as Maximilian, although it's much more of impersonating the obnoxious twin.
- It's All About Me: Maximilen is pretty selfish, but he eventually has a Jerkass Realization.
- Jerkass: Maximilian mistreats all his subordinates.
- Jerkass Realization: Maximilien finally realizes he has not been nice to his "people".
- Karma Houdini: Ricardo helps with the conspiracy against the king and he does not receive any punishment. It's even implied he will have a perfectly happy ending. The Hyena also counts, to a lesser extent.
- King of Beasts: This film is built in this stereotype, being about a lion king who is a Jerkass, but is betrayed and captured, so his more benevolent brother has to impersonate him.
- Manly Man and Sensitive Guy: Maximilien and his brother Irwin, respectively.
- Marry for Love: Leonette's argument as to why she won't marry Maximilien.
- Mockbuster: While the plots aren't similar by any means, it did come out within a week of The Lion King, and has a suspiciously similar title.
- Modesty Towel: Maximilien wears one when he is kidnapped.
- Nice Guy: Irwin is friendly with the "subordinates". He teaches one to choose a fruit, doesn't get angry for complaints and lacks the pettiness of his brother. He ends up getting the favor of all them because of this.
- Obviously Evil: The Hyena. His evil grin makes it obvious to the audience that he is the villain of the story.
- Polar Opposite Twins: Maximilien is a jerk, and Irwin is nice and benevolent. Maximilien is a good fighter and Irwin isn't.
- Preferable Impersonator: People prefer Irwin in his Emergency Impersonation of Maximilien since he is much kinder. However, when Maximilien returns, he declines any royal position.
- Pride: One of the vices of Maximilien.
- Punch-Clock Villain: The zoo people and their back supporters are just trapping Maximilen because it's their job, not out of malice.
- The Quisling: The Chancellor Hyena is basically delivering Maximilien's lands to the tigers.
- Rewarded as a Traitor Deserves: Raj tells his troops that the Hyena will be executed after the battle. He even says Never trust a traitor.
- Royals Who Actually Do Something: Maximilien participates in wars. He fights alongside his brother in the battle against the tigers.
- Second-Act Breakup: Irwin and Leonette's dinner is successful... until Leonette discovers everything.
- Talking Animal: Almost all the characters are talking animals.
- Took a Level in Kindness: The film is about Maximilien, a pompous lion that behaves as an asshole to everybody. After being kidnapped, escaping and saving his kingdom, he learns from his brother (who was impersonating him) thay he must be nice to his people.
- Vegetarian Carnivore: In the opening sequence, Maximilien appears eating bananas despite the fact that lions are carnivores.
- Walking Shirtless Scene: The back supporters/slaves of the zoo people are perpetually shirtless.
