Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
Set in the African savannah, the film follows Kion as he assembles the members of the 'Lion Guard'. Throughout the film, the diverse team of young animals will learn how to utilize each of their unique abilities to solve problems and accomplish tasks to maintain balance within the Circle of Life, while also introducing viewers to the vast array of animals that populate the prodigious African landscape.
A straightforward TV movie pilot for a Disney Junior spinoff of The Lion King, The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar is competent but unremarkable across the board. The plot is a simple hero-assembles-a-team origin story with little complexity or surprise, aimed squarely at young children. Voice acting is serviceable but lacks the depth of its theatrical predecessor. The animation is standard TV-grade Disney Junior quality, functional but far below cinematic standards. Novelty is limited as it treads very familiar Lion King territory with a formulaic structure. The ending wraps up neatly and predictably, setting up the series without any memorable payoff. It does what it sets out to do for its target audience but offers little distinction in any category.