Kio: A New King Is Born
Updated: Aug 19
Lions are known to be the kings of the jungle, but we've never seen a journey quite like this one since "The Lion King." National Geographic unveils a cub's journey of strength, personal growth, independence, family, and power in "LION." From executive producers Jon Favreau, director of "The Lion King" (2019), and BBC Studios Natural History Unit’s Mike Gunton, Kio the cub has a coming-of-age story that can inspire viewers everywhere.
In this four-part docu-series, series producer Jane Atkins, co-executive producer Simon Blakeney, and narrator OJ Lynch creatively join forces to give a close-up of Kio's life. Together, they wanted to bring a version of one of our favorite children's movies to life by observing and spending time with a group of lions who contributed to Kio's growth and his kingdom. Atkins explains that "there's a lot of nostalgia in the series" as it "echoes" "The Lion King." She explains that "they wanted to sort of tell an engaging story of a character who's vulnerable on this saga." Each scene was shot and narrated to convey real emotions, using cinematic storytelling to guide us through life through Kio's eyes.
Kio's life began from his mother's womb. He was born into a strong, nurturing family where no cub went hungry. His mother was a strong hunter with a knack for survival and a leader to her son. Like most cubs during their first few hunts, Kio struggled to tame his own prey. He had to be both nurtured and trained to instill power and confidence in himself before every hunt. While hunting was the beginning of Kio's independence, he was plagued with a harsh test as he was separated from his family. He didn't have a choice but to learn to survive on his own.
He matures right before our eyes by incorporating his family's teachings, his memory, and his environment to help him find community and brotherhood. The journey was lonely at times, and his personal struggles persisted as climate changes made it difficult for him to find his way and adapt to an ever-changing environment. Through those challenges we begin to see Kio's growth and resilience take shape. Blakeney (co-executive producer) lends a visual "hand" to help us understand Kio's journey by closely conveying his mannerisms, emotions, and interactions with other lions. Lynch adds to the on-screen "magic" by helping us understand Kio's emotions and giving him an on-screen "voice." Together, they make us want to be a part of Kio's kingdom.
Now...I don't want to spoil the entire series, but we get our very own king of the jungle with Kio. LION is an empathetic, powerful, and honest story that you don't want to miss.
LION airs August 19 on National Geographic and streams August 20 on Disney+ and Hulu.
Mel's Rating 9/10
Moments With Jane Lynch, Simon Blakeney, & OJ Lynch (Interview)
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