Pumbaa’s Gas Passing Makes Animation History
Though passing gas is a normal bodily function, it was never captured on screen until Disney’s 1994 film, The Lion King. Pumbaa, a warthog, suffers from occasional flatulence, much to the dismay of the animals around him. Pumbaa’s gassiness was not only an endearing and funny character trait but also the first time a character passed gas in a Disney film. Perhaps the problem wasn’t Pumbaa’s smell but the fact that he was hanging around animals with extremely sensitive olfactory glands (a meerkat and a lion).
This humorous moment in The Lion King departed from Disney’s traditional animation style. It showcased the studio’s willingness to incorporate more lighthearted and unconventional humor into its films. Pumbaa’s gas passing became a memorable and comical element in the movie, emphasizing Disney’s commitment to entertaining audiences of all ages with clever and unexpected humor.
