Disney rip-off left, right and centre. Yes, they aggressively protect their IP, but that doesn't mean they won't trample all over everyone else's. they have a history of this behaviour.
http://theafictionado.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/lionking46...
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/bd/ReallyKimbaThe...
I mean, look at a lot of forensic women in thrillers. But that is just meant as a bit background-info on literature. There is even a "scientific" way of saying, some (very) old author copied from someone else:
Intertextuality: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intertextuality
But as a side-note: Don't the ears of the white lion remind anyone of Mickey Mouse? Just saying... ;-)
* Mickey Mouse: First appearance - Steamboat Willie (1928)
* Kimba The White Lion: [..]Kimba the White Lion, is an anime series from the 1960s. Created by Osamu Tezuka and based on his manga of the same title which began publication in 1950
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1378/did-disneys-em...
I wanted to link to another article, but can't find it right now, but it had a comparison of specific shots that were alleged to have been plagiarised. I remember it being quite striking, but these things are usually in the eye of the beholder.
Regardless, on the general point, for those who believe in "remix" culture there's nothing ethically wrong with this kind of direct inspiration provided credit is given where it is due.