The Lion King and Hamlet

Shakespearian themes and motifs can sometimes be lost on younger generations, but with the premiere of the Disney movie The Lion King, Shakespeare was brought into children's minds without them knowing the Shakespeare was the mastermind behind the plot.  The Lion King is very closely related to the play Hamlet, and while the ending is not totally the same (this is Disney after all) a lot of the main action in the movie is the same as in the play.

The prince, or Hamlet, is portrayed by Simba.  Simba's father is killed early in the movie and Simba is made to feel guilty for this and he runs away from his duty as prince of the Pride Lands.  Similarly, Hamlet's father is killed and he goes into a severe depression and runs away from his right to be king of Denmark.  They both avoid vengeance for the death's of their fathers and become old in their depression.  Hamlet Sr. and Mufasa both appear to their sons through an apparition or ghost-like appearance.  They let their sons know that something must be done about the current ruler of their kingdom (Claudius and Scar) and the nation needs to go back to the peaceful rule it once had.

Timone and Pumba (my favorites) relate to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in that they are almost a relief to the tense nature of the plot as well as catalysts for Simba and Hamlet to return to their home/castle and seek revenge on Scar and Claudius.