A Wisconsin-based artist who goes by Pugletto was getting frustrated by how fans were interpreting The Lion King characters when they drew them as humans. So she decided to do some new ones herself.
The results are impressive and ethnically diverse before-and-afters that are massively popular on Tumblr, where the pictures have gotten up to thousands of notes.
"People liked it so much, I went ahead and took some liberties with other animal characters from my childhood," the 24-year-old, who has a degree in animation, told BuzzFeed.
The hyenas from The Lion King.
The hyenas from The Lion King.
The hyenas from The Lion King.
In deciding how the characters should look, the artist takes into account location, time period, and the characters' palettes in their tones and clothing.
Jenna and Balto in Universal's Balto. Yes, it's not Disney.
Jenna and Balto in Universal's Balto. Yes, it's not Disney.
Jenna and Balto in Universal's Balto. Yes, it's not Disney.
"I try not to be very typical about it, but I mostly try to ensure the characters themselves retain similar angles and structures," she said.
Kovu in The Lion King 2.
Kovu in The Lion King 2.
Kovu in The Lion King 2.
Pugletto said she's hoping to eventually do some human interpretations of 101 Dalmatians, Oliver & Company, and some '90s cartoons.
Nala, Zazu, and Simba in The Lion King.
Nala, Zazu, and Simba in The Lion King.
Nala, Zazu, and Simba in The Lion King.
"I ... just got really frustrated about the amount of Simbas with white skin and flowing red hair," she told Cosmo.
Duchess and Thomas O'Malley in The Aristocats.
Duchess and Thomas O'Malley in The Aristocats.
Duchess and Thomas O'Malley in The Aristocats.
"The project went from alleviating my frustrations to employing diversity where there was a blatant absence of it," she added.
The Jungle Book.
She's even done some reverse animations, like showing what Elsa would look like as a beautiful-maned, frost-colored pup.
Elsa from Frozen
More of Pugletto's art can be found on Tumblr or DeviantArt.
