Khaberni - The "Disney" empire and animation fans around the world have lost one of their greatest pillars with the passing of the distinguished American director Roger Allers at the age of 76. Allers, who was not just a director but was the "maestro" who led the golden age of animation, leaving an indelible mark in the memory of global cinema with his timeless masterpiece "The Lion King" (The Lion King).
His Disney colleague and companion, Dave Bossert, announced the death on Sunday morning via social media, describing him as "a true pillar of the Disney Renaissance era." In a touching tribute, Bossert said: "Roger was one of the kindest people you could ever meet. Despite the legendary success of The Lion King, pride never crept into his heart, but he always carried the wonder of children and the generosity of adults, and his enthusiasm lifted the spirits of everyone who worked with him."
On his part, Bob Iger, CEO of Disney, mourned the late director, describing him as a "creative pioneer," assuring that his contributions will continue to live and inspire future generations, thanking him for defining an entire era of animation with his unique vision.
From "Peter Pan" to the heights of Hollywood
Allers was born in New York in 1949, and the seeds of his creativity were planted in Arizona when he was enchanted by the film "Peter Pan" at the age of five. His career at Disney began in the early eighties with the film "Tron" (1982), and he rapidly ascended thanks to his extraordinary talent as a storyboard artist in iconic works like: The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast - (Head of Story), and Aladdin.
"The Lion King": An unbroken record
In 1994, Allers, in collaboration with Rob Minkoff, presented "The Lion King," which was not just a cartoon but a cultural phenomenon that shattered records:
Highest Grossing: Topped the list of films in 1994, and ranked second historically after "Jurassic Park" at the time.
Historical endurance: It still holds the title of the highest-grossing hand-drawn animated film in history.
Best-selling: Dominated the home video throne by selling more than 55 million copies globally.
Allers and Minkoff won the Golden Globe for Best Musical or Comedy Film for "The Lion King," and the success did not stop at the big screen. Allers wrote the theatrical version on Broadway for the film in 1998 with Irene Mecchi, which is still being performed around the world, achieving unprecedented success
Career spanning studios
Allers did not confine himself to the Disney walls, but contributed to works such as "Lilo & Stitch," then moved on to lay the foundation for Sony Pictures Animation by directing its first film, "Open Season."
Roger Allers may have departed, but the "Circle of Life" that he painted and immortalized with his music and vision will continue to revolve in the hearts of millions, forever commemorating the name of an artist who believed that animation is not just pictures, but are souls and stories that live forever.
