A Walt Disney animator who has worked on Cars, Mulan and Tarzan is to lend his skills to a first-time author’s African-themed children’s book.

How Lion Became King of Tinga Tinga Land is a book based on a show at the Rose Theatre about a wise old toucan called Banjoko who thinks Tinga Tinga Land should have a king.

She sets about trying to find an animal to wear the crown, meeting a cheeky monkey called Maliki, a kind but goofy giraffe named Gowan and a groovy zebra called Zalika as well as a proud Lion called Lutalo.

Brian Hill, 40, from Chessington, was surprised when Disney’s Dave Murray, got in touch asking whether he could try his hand at the characters.

The first-thing Mr Hill said he thought when he got that email was: “This book is going to be successful.”

The father-of-two of Cox Close, said: “He is the first person I wanted to illustrate the book. I had tried to contact him, but had no reply. He is so busy. He usually takes a year to illustrate a book.

“But I would rather wait for Disney.”

And the wait was well worth it as Mr Murray’s email said: “With all the ideas I have to contribute to the book, I can’t stop my head from spinning.”

Mr Hill said he was inspired to write the story alongside Iain Lauchlan, the creator of Cbeebies TV show Tweenies, after he began watching children’s programmes with his boys – four-year-old Matthew and two-year-old Owen.

The music and theatre director, who studied music at Kingston University, said: “The boys love it. They have been to see the theatre show. Owen’s first song came from it and Matthew really enjoys it but he gets a bit scared by the hyenas.

“I read them the story and have been showing them the latest images that come through. So far so good.”

The show opened at a Basingstoke theatre and was performed at the Rose Theatre earlier this year.

Robert O’Dowd, the Rose’s chief executive, said: “We are really pleased for the creative team behind How Lion Became King of Tinga Tinga Land and delighted that the Rose audience might have helped the production to this success.”

The illustrations are being finalised and the book is expected to be out in February.