Which animated Disney film inspired Beyoncé’s 2020 visual album Black Is King?

Beyoncé’s 2020 visual album Black Is King was inspired by Disney’s The Lion King.

Disney+ released Black Is King on July 31, 2020. Beyoncé wrote, directed, and executive-produced the project, which reimagines themes and music connected to the 2019 photorealistic remake of The Lion King. She also voiced Nala in that film.

The visual album uses music from The Lion King: The Gift, Beyoncé’s 2019 companion album to the film. Its imagery travels across African and diasporic settings, using fashion, dance, architecture, and visual symbolism to explore family, ancestry, identity, and the inheritance of cultural memory.

Black Is King is not a conventional scene-by-scene remake of The Lion King. Instead, it presents a visually connected interpretation of the film’s themes through Beyoncé’s music and collaborations. Artists appearing on the associated music include Jay-Z, Childish Gambino, Shatta Wale, Major Lazer, and Beyoncé’s daughter Blue Ivy Carter.