Walt Disney Pictures announces the production of The Lion King 1½, also known as The Lion King 3 in some regions, as a direct-to-video sequel to The Lion King.
Production begins at Walt Disney Television Animation on The Lion King 1½, focusing on the story of Timon and Pumbaa from the perspective of the original Lion King timeline.
The Lion King 1½ is released direct-to-video on February 10, 2004, exploring a comedic retelling of The Lion King's story through the eyes of Timon and Pumbaa.
The Lion King 1½ achieves strong home video sales and becomes one of the top-selling direct-to-video releases of the year, solidifying its success for Disney.