we back ramped up we on 10 PATREON: bit.ly/3KBzZSw TWITTER: bit.ly/3I4hap4 TWITCH: bit.ly/3CvXeKR DISCORD: bit.ly/3KEMWeh

So I'd always heard the term, "the lion king is just hamlet." But to be so eloquently put, thoroughly and studiously ascertained by the breadsword, and that only being 30 minutes into the video, you've done it again you brilliant bastard!

That feel when you watch a video talking about Disney animated sequels that is almost as long as a typical Disney animated sequel.

Ironically, Hamlet has been my go-to example for years of why "originality" or "unpredictability" isn't the highest goal of storytelling. I watch a live staging of Hamlet every few years; in 2021, I staged a reading of it in a park with friends because we all missed live theater. (I was Claudius.) The story doesn't change. Only the telling does--the actors' performance choices, the visual design, the blocking and other direction. But those retellings and reimaginings make a good story infinitely relatable and infinitely readable/watchable. A good Hamlet is always worth watching. My usual closing argument is, "And when somebody gave it a happy ending and called it The Lion King, Disney made a bazillion dollars off it, so don't tell me audiences only want new stuff."

FINALLY, the validation of my high school rants that if The Lion King is Hamlet then The Lion King 1 1/2 is absolutely Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead has never been so sweet! Also thank you for talking about literally my favorite Disney sequel, this has become SUCH a good day.

To add to your "Hamlet's father's ghost is the true villain" theory, keep in mind that in the Elizabethan stage that there was accepted portions of the stage meant to be interpreted as heaven (above the stage) and hell (under the stage). And Hamlet's father's ghost when he disappears off stage but is still spooking the night's watch into swearing the vow to Hamlet, knocks and shouts from underneath the stage--per the stage directions. I.E. Hamlet's father's ghost is knocking from hell, not heaven. Also add into this the context that to Elizabethans, ghosts weren't what we'd consider "the souls of the departed"--they were either angels or demons taking the shapes of the departed to influence human action (this is a simplification to make a point). Which is why you needed an university trained person to determine the true nature of a ghost (aka why the Night's Watch have dragged the skeptical Horatio out of bed in the first scene--as a university educated young man, he's supposed to be able to "interpret" whether the ghost is heavenly or demonic. Horatio in that scene is a bit of a stand-in for the Elizabethan audience and their view of ghosts at the time as the skeptical view that "there's no such thing as ghosts". That skepticism was increasingly becoming the opinion of the average educated Elizabethan. As such, Horatio fails at his task--though if you pay attention the ghost flees at the invocation of Christ's name and refuses to answer when it's invoked. Had Horatio paid more attention at the University one might argue, he would have known from that alone that the ghost was nothing good--but alas Horatio was a skeptic scared shitless by having his worldview challenged that he didn't pay attention, and as such the ghost got what it wanted. In other words, in the context of the Elizabethan times: the ghost of Hamlet's father is a demon, come in the shape of Hamlet's father to set Hamlet on a self-destructive path of vengeance that will damn and doom all those around him.

I love the idea that we've been telling the exact same stories in different permutations throughout our entire human existence. We keep thinking of the same ideas, because it's impossible to think of ideas outside of our own human understanding of the world. As a creator, it's almost comforting to know you don't have to create the "next big thing", something so ~original~, to create a memorable story. Creating stories that feel familiar, that borrow from the collective human experience, will always resonate with others.

The Lion King 1 1/2 is one of my favorite Disney sequels simply because it has one of my favorite jokes in any Disney movie ever: “We’re going to get old walking across this thing.”

I was really not expecting such a deep analysis when I clicked on this video. This is fantastic. I feel like the "video essay" genre has become pretty flooded with surface level recaps, and this was very refreshing

Stopping everything I'm doing to watch this. Thank you in advance Bread Dad.

The warmth that you put into these essays is always so amazing to feel.

Ok so, I nee to say something... There are actually 2 more good Disney sequels out there! There's Cinderella 3, which is actually surprisingly a ton of fun, and Rescuers: Down Under which is LEAGUES ahead of it's predecessor in every possible way.

I loudly cheered when you revealed this would tackle 1 1/2. This movie means a lot to me and I think it was my first encounter of 4th wall breaking in film and it just amazed me that you could do such a ridiculously cool thing as having characters what their own movie, also it was and still is downright hilarious. A lovely video as always.

I literally yelled "yoooooooooo" in my room when I saw this video and skipped 2 other videos I had queued up. I love every video essay you release and have rewatched dang near all of them multiple times (videos like tintin and gurren lagan too many times to count) Keep doing what you're doing and bringing your voice to every thing you put out.

I would honestly say Rescuers Down Under is far more known and memorable than The Rescuers, and that was the first major Disney sequel.

Apparently, "Scar" is actually just a cruel nickname and the character's "real" name is "Taka," which can mean "waste" or "desire" in Swahili. Although there is apparently a Disney Jr. cartoon that "establishes" Scar's real name was "Askari," which means "police" or "soldier" or "guard" in Swahili. >sniff< Yup.

That feeling when you watch a breadsword video and it makes you laugh, think, and cry all in one condensed analysis.. Now that’s a full video. - Jim Valvano

So happy you're still around to keep us entertained with so much knowledge

I love how thorough, well-reasoned, and beyond all, personal your analyses are. Every video you make breathes new life into movies I've loved for as long as I can remember, and makes me take another look at ones, like Lion King 1 1/2, that I always kinda slept on. Can't wait to see what you do next!

I see you bready boy. Fight the good fight.

There's nothing like the feeling of just sitting back and listening to you talk about movies. Your passion for movies really shines through in these videos and it's a nice contrast to the ever so critical society.

I talk about Lion King 1 ½ so often and people always look at me so confused! But I quote it so much more than the original!!

What I love about Lion King 1 1/2 is that it acknowledges where the original film wasn't able to cover and covers it. For those who read Timon as not a very good person in Lion King, we get to see him become a good person both through accepting Pumbaa into his family group and through parenting Simba. And the bad idea of Hakuna Matata he has, becomes a good one when Rafiki helps him. Family, is what gives him his Hakuna Matata, which is why I'm so glad he brings the family that rejected him to join his new family, once they realise how badly they mistreated him.

Yo the Lupin the Third vid just got taken down :(

Sometimes, everything else is so big and overwhelming. And so I rewatch Breadsword's videos for the 10th time and I am calmed.

This channel is where I go to make my mind feel good. Not because I'm upset, or want entertainment, but because it validates my love and joy in media, even the types of media that seem goofy and unimportant, and don't attempt to leave the audience with some profound realization or moral, just art. Your videos make me feel good about loving art, all kinds of it. Thank you

Amazing how much history you always slip into these videos that we might never have gone out of our way to learn otherwise. I came here to hear about DTV Disney movies and walked away with a whole Shakespeare history lesson. Another banger as always. (Also it's very surreal hearing myself on a patron roll call)

Lion King 1 1/2 is the genuine cause to my current career path. The virtual safari in the special features made me want to learn how rides work and now I’m a whole theme park engineer 😁

this video is incredible! the lion king is my favorite disney movie, and i was one of those weird nerd kids who actually watched it AFTER i studied (and acted in a performance of) hamlet. i'd always joked about how TLK was just hamlet with lions and the sequel was a retelling of romeo and juliet, but i never really thought about it any more beyond that. this analysis was so well-researched and well-argued, and i loved every second of it. excellent work!

The Bread GOAT never disappoints, quality all day every day every time.

ayo i really really missed the bobbing and weaving expert story tellers cadence of your vids and this is such a grandiose return king. so excited to strap in for the rest. godspeed my gamer

Welcome back, Breadsword! It looks like you got a copyright strike from TMSAnime over your Lupin III video. :/ Just so you know!

Looks like I found a new channel to binge while learning animation in college. Listening to videos like this, then being able to chat with my professors, some of which worked on the Disney renaissance films themselves back in the day, while also learning how to create animation myself, is such a surreal experience I'm so lucky to have. Thank you for putting the time and effort into studying the history and elements of animated stories, and acknowledging that even the roughest animated movies took immense amounts of passion, sweat, and tears to produce.

I remember I literally made my KZfaq account so that I could like the Treasure Planet video. However many years later I'm still here for every single video. always so well done. Still crossing my fingers for an Atlantis: The Lost Empire video one day.

I’m usually a double speed guy. I like KZfaqrs with long videos and there’s not enough time in my day to dedicate to all that. But breadsword is the exception. Worth every second. Beautiful writing and editing. But more than anything there’s substance beneath the gorgeous wrapping. Your final point of what makes a story timeless will stick with me forever. You inspire me to be a better writer. Nothing but piles and heaps of love.

Saw Rosecrantz and Gildenstern are dead on TV once years ago and loved it. It's felt like being stuck in a dream that always feels off, but you can't wake from. And yes, "questions" is the best scene of the movie.

Mans is cooking. Don't forget to rest king. WE'll be patient.

Straight up one of my favorite channels on the whole site, thanks for blessing us with another video

When the world needed him back, the legendary icon himself returned in a spectacular fashion 😍💖🥰

I like to imagine that the Breadsword residence has a house party with a killer playlist going on 24/7, and from time to time he has to climb into the closet to record the videos, but the closet doesn't quite block the music outside.

Eloquently explaining the parallels of Shakespearian work and Lion King juxtaposed to 'this shit is poggers' is why I love your videos

this might sound weird but I really love all the patron names at the end. I feel like you can always (usually) get a good sense of the KZfaqrs content (or just general vibe) based on the usernames their patrons use and your's do that hilariously

Always a good day when Bread drops a new vid!

I'm working on a production of Hamlet right now and I think about this video constantly every performance. It's set ambiguously in modern day, and I can't help but continuously think about how we like to like to retell the same stories over and over and over again but to try to hold them closer to who we are now. I'm also a deep lover of Ancient Greek theatre, and I spend an obnoxious amount of time reading adaptations of the Iliad, trying to get at the same thing. This video genuinely made me rethink the way I view adaptations entirely. Excellent work, please never stop never stopping

Lion King 1 1/2 is the only DVD I kept when purging my childhood collection. Something felt very special about it, and I didn't know what that something was until you highlighted it here. Thank you, and as always, fabulous work

been watching since Treasure Planet video, keep up the great work

Im sick with some kind of sinus crap and Ive gone through like every piece of media possible in the last three days THANKS FOR CONTENT

Your use of “in another room” music is so good but I thought I was going insane at first because it was so subdued I thought it was actually coming from another room. Good job

Every one of your videos moves me to tears. I love story telling. I've been an actor for over a decade and am now stepping into the directing and writing role. Stories are what make us

And he ascends down from the heavens, with a sword made of bread...

Kronk's New Groove is baller and don't you dare say otherwise

The muffled familiar background music adds a lot here, maybe just a comfortable nostalgic atmosphere which matches the topic nicely

The amount of detail throughout this video is amazing. I adore The Lion King and I've always found Hamlet to be one of Shakespeare's most interesting play. The Lion King has often been called Hamelt with lions, but going more in depth with that comparison with the characters made it much more fascinating to me. Personally, I still prefer Lion King 2 over Lion King 1 1/2, but the comparisons were still really interesting.

Ugh this video just tickled me in the best ways. My brother and I rented 1 1/2 so many times from the local blockbuster back in the day that we actually wore out the tape 😂. I feel so validated

There's a strong element of an earlier theme of the Henriad (namely in Henry IV Parts 1&2) in The Lion King, too. The arc of Simba needing to remember who he is and become the one true king mirrors the arc of Prince Hal to Henry V, growing beyond the drunken wastrel hedonism of Falstaff and the Cheapside crew to embrace the purpose and responsibility of monarchy in Henry IV 1&2, and then what he's learned from both of his father figures is shown off gloriously in Henry V, where it's just all owning for Our Hal. Timon and Pumbaa are kind of, say, Poins and Falstaff, while Mufasa is Henry IV, and Prince Halsimba has to learn that it can't always be "Hakuna Matata" and sometimes you just gotta put down the grubs and usurp a big rock for King Daddy. Of course, it's a Disney musical and not a Shakespearean history, so it doesn't end with "I know thee not, old warthog". And sounds like The Lion King 1.5 would undermine such a reading by making Hakuna Matata not a problem-free philosophy to be discarded upon ascension to adulthood and power but a useful ethos to be folded into a more rounded whole of a life ("Banish Pumbaa and banish the whole world"). But it's where I thought you were going when you brought up the Henriad, anyway. Either way, dynamite stuff, brilliant, 10/10 from IGN, keep it up.

So I have to point something out. Disney absolutely did not put out the first synchronized sound cartoon with steamboat Willie. They managed to convince everyone of that but no they were second. The first animated synchronized sound movie was Song car-toons by Fleischer Studios. In fact, until very recently, modern day Disney was still pouring money into perpetuating the falsehood that they made the first synchronized sound cartoon.

I’ve never thought about The Lion King, Shakespeare, and “Do Me, Baby” all at once. Thank you for that.

As a South African whom only read 4 Shakespeare plays, I never thought I'd know so much about King Henry or Richard or Claudius

In the middle of DND but you best believe I'm watching this soon as it's over

This is literally such an incredible video????? Like holy shit the research of Shakespearean plays, the in depth look of walt's life, this is wild and I subscribed this feels so insightful and motivational for an aspiring film critic such as myself, the editing is really good too and I love your voice over!

Between this, your Treasure Planet, Robin Hood, and Sinbad video essays, I feel like you come up with clickbait-y titles that make me want to throw hands but always follow through with S tier commentary. Loving your content, sir :D

I love the stories with a 4th wall break. I think my favorite that I had seen was a Star Wars comic mini-series called "Tag and Bink" where we followed two young jedi and their view of the prequels and original trilogy.

Another banger from you that had me tearing up at the end. Never disappoints. Thanks so much for making videos with such a sense of earnestness. In an internet poisoned by irony, you are an antidote.

Nothing makes me feel like that part of my mind is understood as much as letting Breadsword talk smart at me about something I either know intimately or not at all. The excitement and warmth at the prospect of a new vid makes me wanna buy all the best drinks and snacks and get warm in front of my PC for an hour or three.

When the Lupin vid gets released we are PARTYING

I struggle to put into words just how much I appreciate all the love and respect you show to animated films. Every animator dreams of someone like you watching their work

Man, there is something the same between the feeling after finishing a perfect film, song, book, or in this case video essay. Just the feeling of WOW that washes over you. Thanks so much for making this video man.

it may seem a little weird but I want to thank you because your videos were the only reason I got through the last couple of months and I've definitely watched every single one at least 20 times and I think you're awesome so thanks dude :]

i suffer form anxiety and it is so omnipresent that i barely notice it consciously anymore. but when i watch your videos i notice... the lack of it. your videos are so soothing in its mellow and relaxed presentation that i feel all that is weighing me down flow off me for the duration of the video. so i wanna say thank you for all that you do.

Chills already, bro. The To Pimp A Butterfly of video essays.

Your editing is insane, it’s so frenetic and varied you got unrelated shots working so well to accompany the voiceover!

I just wanted to say that I really enjoy what you do, in so many ways. Your videos are a comfort and a kick to the nuts that I sadly need quite often nowadays. And whenever I feel like shit I watch one of your videos to remind myself that it's fine to feel like shit. That there is a newday (scary as it is)still to be explored. A new day to try to get better and hopefully one day, I'll be who I want to be. So Thank you BREADSWORD, thank you for being you

whenever I watch one of your videos, I keep thinking about how can I make an interesting comment so that it won't get lost with the many others but I realized that's not the point. I just want to thank you for the great content you make, I often get emotional without even realizing how much your words were getting to me. You're one of the people who motivate me to become more knowlageble and cultured, so thank you for that and please keep up the good work, it's very much appreciated. (I'm sorry if there's language mistakes, I'm not a native speaker)

I've been watching all of your videos for years now Breadsword, and every single time I'm in awe of the amount of work and creativity you put forth. Thank you.

I'm a simple man I see an hour long BREADSWORD video, I listen for an hour

By God my man...your video editing craft. Outstanding. You are one of the most interesting editors I've seen on KZfaq. Thank you for brightening my life with these careful scripts backdropped by playful associative editing.

That funky music at your title screen make me tear up for some reason. I was not ready for music that went that hard out of nowhere. Looking forward to the rest of the video lol

Just realized I never finished typing my last Tintin comment. It was amazing!! You inspire me to become a better writer and I’m so excited for this!

Another BREADSWORD video? My week made. Thank you again for all your good work!

Including "New York, I love you but you're bringing me down" with the Miles Davis improvisation in the intro brought back a great memory. I had to go listen to it right away before continuing

Your analysis is always so impressively layered, and your enthusiasm for your material unmatched. I love it.

I’ve been waiting for one of my favorite KZfaqrs to talk about my favorite movie 🙏🏾 plus I’m writing a final paper on the lion king so this should be good

I’m glad that a small rant from a stream turned into an amazing video, as always your work is amazing bread man

I never thought I would see a video talking about The Lion King 1 1/2, it was such a memorable part of my childhood. I remember the movie was given to me secondhand, and it was like the two-disc version with those weird bonus feature games. My little sister and I used to stay up for hours playing those and watching the movie. I haven't seen it in a really long time, but this brought me back so thanks for resurfacing some good memories.

Dude perfect video your point was concise and fluent, and the songs in the background were just perfect. The way you just blurred them just right amazing.

FINALLY some love for Lion King 1 1/2. I had the DVD when I was younger and me and my friend would watch this Roller Coaster thing in the special features like every other weekend

Hell yeah! MORE BREADSWORD ! 🍞

Thank you!!! I've been telling everyone for years that Lion King 1 1/2 is a banger for being the anti-Disney sequel. So glad to see someone actually give the movie its due credit while most people and especially the TLK fandom have pushed for years that "it's bad because the first two movies were *serious* and this one is *funny* "

My favorite part of this movie was definitely when they actually gave more of an explanation to why the tower of animals in "I Just Wait to be King" fell and it felt so natural.

another Breadsword video that starts out as an enthusiastic media analysis video and ends with a deeply moving examination of the human experience; never change

Wow, man. I was expecting this to be a straight forward review of a bunch of disney sequels, which I would have been fine with . But you went the extra mile to make something way more educational and thought provoking than that. This was a really good video, well done!

Great job pointing out the influence of Richard III on Scar, and the perspective on Claudius was really interesting as well. Weird pet peeve, I know, but I feel like too many people misunderstand the opening line of Richard III because it's almost always cut off mid-sentence when quoted. "Now is the winter of our discontent" conveys a meaning opposite to "Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by this sun of York". The point is that a period of celebration has been entered as the long series of wars has ended because of the ascension of the "sun/son of York" to the throne. It's not that times are bad, it's that Richard can't stand seeing others happy and celebrating when he feels deformed and hated, so he plots to cause others misery and steal the glory for himself through treachery, which is also Scar through-and-through.

I remember reading Hamlet in Highschool and predicting to the entire class how everything was going down and how it would end. My teacher, looking completely bewildered, says "So I take it you've already read this then?" I answer "No. I've just seen The Lion King like twenty times."

Nobody talk to me for an hour the bread man has gifted us a boon

Thank you for making some of the best art on KZfaq, I admire your writing and filmmaking skills a great deal but most of all your ability to deliver an emotional point

editing is impeccable as always, hyped you got to make a WoW ref even just for a second

Every time I watch one of your videos I’m blown away by how far you take this genre. This is a full on video essay / documentary about a kids film which shouldn’t work but it just does! The temptation to think that you are putting 2 and 2 together to make five is there in my head sometimes while I’m watching but by the end you’ve always won me over and I’m left feeling entertained, nostalgic warm and amazed by the obscure parallels that you draw. The lion king is literally Shakespeare, you are really smart and this is a wonderful time to be alive. Thankyou breadsword.

I think Lion King 2 is literally the only good Disney sequel that has ever existed personally

I'm in love with this video. It has Shakespeare, Disney, a conclusion that I (as an author, and avid classics reader) have reached long ago and yet gives me warmth to remember. Maybe you won't read this, but I wanted to let you know how much I appreciated it nonetheless. Thank you.

Just heard your name dropped in a 'In Praise of Shadows' video and realised nothing had been posted on Breadsword, which made me further realise how I missed it. I have no intention on pressuring you by saying that. I rather wanted to finally take the time to say how much I appreciate your essays and your vibe. Wherever you are and whatever your are doing, I hope you are having a blast! If you ever post again on KZfaq, I'll be among your faithful viewers :)