Series: The Lion King
Company: Disneyland / Walt Disney World
Release date: 1994
Size: various
Main distribution: Worldwide (Disney Theme Parks / Disney stores)
These are the Lion King plush that were sold in the theme parks and Disneystores in 1994 when the film released. Possibly the first official plush of the Lion King from Disney. These are often referred to as the “vintage” Lion King plush.
Several plush were released in this line;
Nala (baby) sitting
Nala (baby) laying
Nala (young) laying
Pumbaa with 2 bugs
Simba (baby) sitting
Simba (baby) pouncing
Simba (young) sitting
Simba (adult) sitting and roaring
Simba (adult) laying puppet
Japan also had a young Nala and Simba, which look similar but are slightly different, with bigger eyes and cuter faces.
Simba (baby) pouncing
Size: 25cm
RRP: $12
Simba has brown spots giving him his baby coat. He has beautiful hard plastic eyes with depth. He’s in a pouncing position, looking playful.
Although this particular Simba does not appear in the film, proportion wise he looks ok. His colouring is also more natural, with a brown fur colour and lighter brown/yellow paws and underbelly. His tail tip is fluffy. He’s well sculpted, but hard to pose / play with otherwise.
He’s made from that classic plush material common in the 90s. His tush tag is on his bottom left and is the standard Disneyland Paris one.
Simba (young) sitting
Size: 38cm
RRP: $18
Simba has his iconic cub look. He has beautiful hard plastic eyes with depth and plastic whiskers. His hair is fluffy. He’s in a sitting position, looking prideful.
He seems slightly off proportion wise. His head is too small or his paws too slim, it makes him look more teenager than cub. His colouring is also more natural, with a brown fur colour and yellow paws and underbelly. His tail tip is fluffy.
He does have a nice silhouette in the back. He’s well sculpted, but hard to pose / play with otherwise. He’s made from that classic plush material common in the 90s.
His tush tag is on his bottom left and is the standard Walt Disney World one.
These are classic and proper vintage. And yet I don’t hold them as dear as the Mattel ones from the same era. This is because I didn’t grew up with these, nor ever went to the theme parks and the Netherlands did not have a Disney store.
It’s interesting how natural these look as well compared to the modern yellow Simba now. I guess his design wasn’t so finalised and commercialised yet. However I find the brownish tones quite nice.
The colour differences between my Simba plush are interesting too. I don’t know whether this is because one is baby and the other cub, or because one is European while the other is American. I would need another for comparison I guess, and I might split this post up then for the differences.
Despite being vintage, these are quite common. I never really seek them out as I prefer the Mattel ones, or more accurate ones. I found the cub in a charity shop once, and bought it as it’s Simba and looked unique and was probably cheap. The baby my mom found in a charity shop or market, and bought it for me as it’s Simba.
I won’t be looking for the others, although if I end up with them I wouldn’t mind. I’m not super attached to the ones I got either, but they feel classic.
If you love Disney, The Lion King or vintage plush, you’ll like these.
If you prefer more accurate or modern plush, you’ll give these a miss.
Got any more details / information you think I should add? Or did I get something wrong? Do you own the same plush? Do you agree or disagree with my findings? Let me know in the comments below!