All the novels, folk tales, fairy tales, plays, and children’s books that served as the inspiration for Disney movies.


The Lion King. Poster of the 1994 movie and cover of the 1605 book, King Lear
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King Lear
William Shakespeare, 1605
movie vs book
Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff, 1994

In the Pride Lands of Africa, a pride of lions rule over the animal kingdom from Pride Rock. King Mufasa’s and Queen Sarabi’s newborn son, Simba, is presented to the gathering animals by Rafiki the mandrill, the kingdom’s shaman and advisor.


Beauty and the Beast. Poster of the 1991 movie and cover of the 1740 book, The Beauty and the Beast
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The Beauty and the Beast
Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve, 1740
movie vs book
Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise, 1991

An enchantress disguised as an old beggar woman offers a rose to a cruel and selfish prince in exchange for shelter from a storm. On his way to a fair to showcase his latest invention (an automatic wood-chopper), Maurice gets lost in the forest, and seeks refuge in the Beast’s castle, but the Beast imprisons him for trespassing.


Big Hero 6. Poster of the 2014 movie and cover of the 1998 comic book
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Big Hero 6
Haruki Ueno, 1998
movie vs comic book
Don Hall, Chris Williams, 2014

Hiro Hamada is a 14-year-old prodigy, a high school graduate, and robotics genius living in the futuristic city of San Fransokyo. He spends much of his free time gambling in robot fights. At the fair, Hiro declines an offer from Alistair Krei, CEO of Krei Tech, to market the microbots, and Callaghan accepts him into the school.


Tangled. Poster of the 2010 movie and cover of the 1812 book, Rapunzel: A Fairy Tale Adventure
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Rapunzel: A Fairy Tale Adventure
Jacob Grimm, Wilhem Grimm, 1812
movie vs book
Nathan Greno, Byron Howard, 2010

Long ago, a drop of liquid sunlight sprouts a magical healing flower. For centuries, Mother Gothel has used the flower to retain her youth, and she is angered when soldiers from a nearby kingdom pluck it to heal their ailing and pregnant queen. Shortly afterward, the Queen gives birth to Princess Rapunzel, whose golden hair contains the flower’s healing properties.


Alice in Wonderland. Poster of the 2010 movie and cover of the 1871 book, Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There
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Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There
Lewis Carroll, 1871
movie vs book
Tim Burton, 2010

In London, 1871, troubled by a strange recurring dream and mourning the loss of her father, 19-year-old Alice Kingsleigh attends a garden party at Lord Ascot’s estate. Alice suggests that it is all a dream while the others argue over whether Alice is the right Alice who must slay the Red Queen’s Jabberwocky on Frabjous Day and restore the White Queen (who is the Red Queen’s sister) to power, as foretold by Absolem the Blue Caterpillar and his Oraculum (a scroll-like calendar which tells Wonderland’s history and future).


Alice in Wonderland. Poster of the 2010 movie and cover of the 1865 book, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
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Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Lewis Carroll, 1865
movie vs book
Tim Burton, 2010

In London, 1871, troubled by a strange recurring dream and mourning the loss of her father, 19-year-old Alice Kingsleigh attends a garden party at Lord Ascot’s estate. Alice suggests that it is all a dream while the others argue over whether Alice is the right Alice who must slay the Red Queen’s Jabberwocky on Frabjous Day and restore the White Queen (who is the Red Queen’s sister) to power, as foretold by Absolem the Blue Caterpillar and his Oraculum (a scroll-like calendar which tells Wonderland’s history and future).


Aladdin. Poster of the 1992 movie and cover of the 850 book, Aladdin and the Magic Lamp
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Aladdin and the Magic Lamp
Folk Tale, 850
movie vs book
Ron Clements, John Musker, 1992

Jafar, the Royal Vizier of the fictional city of Agrabah, placed near the Jordan River, and his parrot Iago seek a lamp hidden within the Cave of Wonders. Princess Jasmine of Agrabah is upset that the law requires her to marry a prince instead of one she loves, escapes the palace, and meets Aladdin and his pet monkey, Abu. Disguised as an old man, Jafar frees Aladdin and Abu and brings them to the cave, ordering them to retrieve the lamp.


Maleficent. Poster of the 2014 movie and cover of the 1697 book, The Sleeping Beauty
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The Sleeping Beauty
Charles Perrault, 1697
movie vs book
Robert Stromberg, 2014

Maleficent is a powerful fairy living in the Moors, a magical forest realm bordering a human kingdom. His love is overshadowed by ambition, and as they grow older, the two grow apart and Maleficent becomes protector of the Moors. Devastated by Stefan’s betrayal, Maleficent turns the Moors into a dark kingdom and transforms a raven named Diaval to serve her after saving his life.


Beauty and the Beast. Poster of the 2017 movie and cover of the 1740 book, The Beauty and the Beast
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The Beauty and the Beast
Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve, 1740
movie vs book
Bill Condon, 2017

An enchantress disguised as an old beggar woman arrives at a castle during a ball and offers the host, a cruel and selfish prince, a rose in return for shelter from a storm. On Maurice’s way to a convention and lost in the forest, he seeks refuge in the Beast’s castle, but the Beast imprisons him for stealing a rose from his garden as a gift to Belle.


The Jungle Book. Poster of the 2016 movie and cover of the 1894 book
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The Jungle Book
Rudyard Kipling, 1894
movie vs book
Jon Favreau, 2016

In the jungles of India, Mowgli is a man-cub raised by the Indian wolf Raksha and her pack, led by Akela, in an Indian jungle ever since he was brought to them as an infant by the black panther Bagheera. Bagheera trains Mowgli to learn the ways of the wolves, but the boy faces certain challenges and falls behind his wolf siblings.


The Little Mermaid. Poster of the 1989 movie and cover of the 1837 book
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The Little Mermaid
Hans Christian Andersen, 1837
movie vs book
Ron Clements, John Musker, 1989

Ariel is a 16-year-old mermaid princess unsatisfied with underwater life in the underwater kingdom of Atlantica. Discovering Ariel’s new behavior, Triton questions Sebastian, who accidentally exposes that Ariel has went back to the surface, come in contact with humans and fallen in love with Eric.


The Lion King. Poster of the 2019 movie and cover of the 1605 book, King Lear
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King Lear
William Shakespeare, 1605
movie vs book
Jon Favreau, 2019

In the Pride Lands of Africa, a pride of lions rule over the animal kingdom from Pride Rock. Mufasa shows Simba the Pride Lands and explains to him the responsibilities of kingship and the ‘circle of life’, which connects all living things. He tricks Simba and his best friend Nala into exploring a forbidden elephants’ graveyard, where they are attacked by hyenas led by the ruthless Shenzi.

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“The book is a film that takes place in the mind of the reader. That’s why we go to movies and say, “Oh, the book is better.”

PAULO COELHO (Writer)