What if Simba never returned with love, but only with gold?

This blazing artwork by Takuma Tanaka presents a crowned skull — a decaying monarch of a lost kingdom,
its eyes burning with pink flames of desire.

The piece echoes The Lion King, not as a tale of legacy and love, but as a warning: when the pursuit of money replaces meaning, all kings turn to bone.

The golden strokes mimic royal fire, the crown symbolizes power, and the pink hues represent corrupted love.

Is this the fate of all who chase thrones without hearts?

A fierce fusion of pop symbolism, imperial decay, and emotional collapse — this is not just a painting, it’s a prophecy.

• Title: I Am King

• Medium: Acrylic and oil on canvas

• Size:27×23㎝

• Artist: Takuma Tanaka

• Year: 2022