The Lion King is an artistic work.
Donald Paul Hahn ( born November 25 , 1955 ) is an American film producer who is credited with producing some of the most successful animated films in recent history , including The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast , the first animated film to be nominated for the Oscar for Best Picture . The Lion King is a 1994 American animated epic musical film , produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures . The Lion King garnered two Academy Awards for its achievement in music and the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture -- Musical or Comedy .