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| Simba | |
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Male |
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| Family |
Mufasa (father) † |
| “ | Mufasa: You have forgotten who you are and so forgotten me. Look inside yourself, Simba. You are more than what you have become. You must take your place in the Circle of Life. Simba: How can I go back? I'm not who I used to be. Mufasa: Remember who you are. You are my son and the one true king.
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Simba is an adult male lion, the king of Pride Rock, and the only son of Mufasa and Sarabi. He is the mate of Nala, with whom he has two cubs: a daughter, Kiara, and a son, Kion.
Shortly after his birth, he was anointed future king and presented to the animals of the Pride Lands in a royal presentation ceremony. As the crown prince, he was raised to respect the Circle of Life by his father, Mufasa, and trained in the ways of an upright monarch. During this time, Simba's uncle, Scar, lured him into a wildebeest stampede and used the opportunity to kill Mufasa. Simba blamed himself for the death and exiled himself to the jungle, where he adopted a "Hakuna Matata" lifestyle with Timon and Pumbaa.
As an adult, Simba encountered his childhood friend, Nala, who begged him to return to the Pride Lands and reestablish his birthright as king. Retaining guilt over the death of his father, Simba refused. However, an encounter with his father's ghost prompted him to return home, where he found the Pride Lands in disarray under Scar's tyrannical rule. Along with the lionesses, Simba confronted Scar and engaged in a battle against his hyena minions. After defeating Scar, Simba ascended Pride Rock and established his place as king of the Pride Lands.
In the wake of Scar's death, Simba exiled those who were still loyal to Scar to the Outlands, where they fostered a grudge against the Pride Landers and the royal family. Despite the enmity between the two prides, Simba's daughter Kiara befriended an Outsider named Kovu, who had been Scar's heir before his untimely death. Simba begrudgingly allowed Kovu to stay with the pride, but after the leader of the Outsiders, Zira, framed Kovu for an Outsider ambush, Simba ended their agreement. With tensions high between the prides, the Outsiders and the Pride Landers met in battle on an open field until Kovu and Kiara arrived and implored their leaders to end the bloodshed. The Outsiders assented and switched sides, and Simba welcomed them back into the pride.
Appearance
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Like most cubs in the Pride Lands, Simba is small and lithe. His shoulders are slight, though he is in good shape, being slim and moderately well-muscled. His fur is brownish-gold, while his muzzle, paws, and underbelly are creamy tan. His features are rounded like those of his mother's, and although his lower eye shades are the same shade as his pelt, his upper eye shades are brown. His most distinctive features are his ear rims and a tuft of messy fur on his forehead.
Simba compared to his parents, Mufasa and Sarabi
As a teenager, the only visible differences in Simba's appearance are his size and a new patch of hair on his head, the beginnings of his mane.
Come young adulthood, Simba retains the bright colors of his cubhood, though his ear rims have begun to fade. He grows taller, with a muscular build, but never quite reaches his father's size. However, he is slightly larger than his mother and uncle, who are themselves some inches off Mufasa in height. In the sequel, Simba's appearance has changed slightly, as he has further filled out, being closer to his father in size. His eyebrows have thickened, and his muzzle and paws are more pronounced, though still rounded.
Simba resembles both his parents in different ways. From Mufasa, he inherited his strong build and pelt coloration, as both lions are gold with red manes, though Simba's mane is a paler dark vermilion. From his mother, Simba inherited ear rims (though he loses these when he reaches adulthood) and similar facial features. Sarabi passed down her orange eyes, as well as features common among Pride Landers. However, Simba's nose is pink, unlike those of his parents.
Personality
| “ | Danger? Ha! I walk on the wild side. I laugh in the face of danger!
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As a cub, Simba is curious, adventurous, and almost foolishly brave, always sniffing for something fun to do. Energetic and rambunctious, he can make even the scariest of places into an adventure, with much bravery on hand, evident in the way he confidently stands up to predators and defends his friends even in the face of death. However, unlike his father Mufasa, Simba is less careful about his bravery, throwing himself in harm's way for no good reason. Still young, he is foolishly brave and too arrogant for his own good, nearly getting himself and his friend Nala killed.
Simba as a cub; cheeky, curious, and mischievous in nature
Thinking himself strong and capable, Simba has an ego the size of the Serengeti. He is known to claim Nala's ideas as his own and loves to show off his status to the other animals of the Pride Lands, often overstepping his authority in doing so. He basks in the prospect of becoming king and readily looks forward to the day when he can order around his subjects. In this way, he is somewhat stuck-up and pompous.
Despite this, Simba is good at heart and longs to become the wise king that his father is. The cub glorifies Mufasa, wanting to be just like him when he grows up, and suffers much grief whenever he disappoints him. When his father dies, Simba suffers severe emotional trauma, thinking the death to be his fault. Following Mufasa's fall, Simba becomes somewhat withdrawn and depressed, no longer putting value in his own life. It takes the efforts of Timon and Pumbaa to make Simba forget his past and move on with life.
As an adolescent, Simba picks up a happy, carefree lifestyle, thinking nothing of his responsibilities back home. In addition, Simba's vocabulary changes drastically (as he now says "Father" instead of "Dad", and "Scar" instead of "Uncle Scar"). In the jungle, he develops somewhat grotesque habits, burping and eating bugs alongside his lazy companions. No longer the respected prince of the Pride Lands, Simba becomes sedentary and stubbornly refuting of his past life. Having been tainted in mind by his well-meaning friends, Simba no longer sees the need to help others and would rather lock himself away in bliss than face reality.
However, this changes when he grows into a young adult, with his childhood friend Nala reminding him of his responsibilities back home. When faced with his dark past, Simba is prone to reacting defensively, losing his mostly well-controlled temper in bouts of fury.
A young adult Simba, now accountable and strong-willed
This stems from his sensitivity toward his past, as he thinks himself to be the cause of so much pain and turmoil. Ridden by guilt, Simba will do anything to blame his troubles on someone else, though he ultimately does face the truth, admitting to himself that he is the cause of his own inner grief.
Despite his guilt-ridden conscience, Simba is forced into maturity when he has to face his past, holding himself accountable to the land he once swore to defend. Once accepting of his duties, he becomes a new character, stronger in will than before. Unlike the old Simba, who would rather avoid an argument, this new Simba does not tolerate being bullied and refuses to stand for abuse, being particularly defensive of his mother. When challenged, Simba becomes rough around the edges, determined to have his way and unwilling to stand for compromise. No longer an innocent cub, he is brave when he has to be, standing up for his land and his pride.
Despite this rough exterior, Simba is still good at heart, sparing his uncle even after learning that Scar has been framing him his whole life, having killed Mufasa in cold blood. Simba's good will only extends so far, however, as he has a kingdom to think about, and he ultimately sets aside total forgiveness in order to keep his pride safe, sending Scar into exile. This decision proves that he is growing into a leader, learning the importance of mercy within authority.
Simba as a full-grown adult, a caring but overprotective father
Once a full-grown adult and a father, Simba has matured to a new level, now totally fixated on his duties as a king and a father. For all his benevolence and inherent goodness, Simba is not without fault, as he is overprotective of his daughter Kiara, willing to break a promise to her in order to keep her safe. In this way, Simba shows that he does not fully respect his daughter, seeing himself as the older and wiser pride member. Thinking himself to know better, he often becomes blind to the outside world, focusing only on his family and their safety. In doing so, he comes to harm those around him.
Simba is so determined to keep his family and kingdom safe that he sacrifices his slow-to-anger attitude from the first film for arrogance, paranoia, and suspicion, preferring to jump into situations without first coming to understand them. Such decisions frequently lead to clashes with Kiara, who recognizes the arrogance that has returned from her father's cubhood. At times, this attitude hurts Simba, as his enemies take advantage of it to bait him into dangerous situations. Toward the end of the film, Simba finally loses his rational behavior and temporarily abandons all reason due to sustained injuries, a growing sense of anger, and the stress of being a monarch. He begins to throw fits of retribution, constantly overrides pleas, and even outright proclaims that he is Mufasa, despite acting nothing like his benevolent father.
Perhaps because he is so overprotective of Kiara, Simba is paranoid and unwilling to forgive, segregating the Outsiders for supporting the late Scar. His trust is considerably hard to earn, as he refuses to accept Kovu even after the young lion saves his daughter's life. With the belief that he knows best, Simba is quick to jump to conclusions, not giving others a chance to speak for themselves. Despite this, Simba does later learn his lesson, being willing to accept the words of his daughter. Unlike his enemy Zira, he is able to let go of the past and forgive. Having accepted the wisdom of his daughter, Simba becomes a greater leader, more open to his enemies and willing to give others a second chance.
Information
The Lion King
Cubhood
| “ | Scar: I was first in line...until the little hairball was born. Mufasa: That 'hairball' is my son. And your future king.
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An infant Simba in his mother's paws
At the beginning of the film, a newborn Simba lies curled in his mother's paws. For the ceremony, Rafiki cracks open a gourd and makes a red mark on Simba's forehead, naming him the future king. He sprinkles sand on the newborn's head, making Simba sneeze, and then picks him up, presenting the cub to all the animals in the Pride Lands who are gathered to see him.
Simba soon grows into a lively, playful cub. He is the first to wake up one morning, coming to the edge of Pride Rock to see whether it is dawn yet. When he sees that the morning is approaching, Simba runs into the royal den, where all the lions are fast asleep. When he finds his parents asleep at the back, he starts to wake them up. He recalls that Mufasa had promised to show him the kingdom. Finally, Mufasa gets up. Simba happily scampers ahead of his parents, rubbing affectionately against his mother's leg before following his father to the summit.
Simba and his father climb to the top of Pride Rock, where Mufasa explains to his son that everything the light touches
Simba and his father at the edge of Pride Rock
is their kingdom. He goes on to say that after his passing, Simba will become the new king. The cub questions the "shadowy place," and Mufasa explains that it is beyond their borders, so he must never go there. As they go on a walk through the Pride Lands, Mufasa tells Simba about the Circle of Life, explaining that every living thing "from the crawling ant to the leaping antelope" is connected and exists together in a delicate balance. While they are walking, Zazu, Mufasa's majordomo, gives the king a morning report. Simba, bored, tries to practice pouncing. After some instruction from his father, Simba succeeds in pinning down Zazu. As Zazu is on his back, a mole pops up beneath him and informs Zazu and Mufasa that there are dangerous hyenas in the Pride Lands. Mufasa leaves to deal with the threat, forbidding Simba to come with him. Disappointed, Simba returns to Pride Rock to find his uncle Scar moping in the shadows. He gleefully informs Scar that he will one day be the king of Pride Rock, irritating Scar, who unenthusiastically tells Simba to forgive
"When I'm king, what'll that make you?"
him for not leaping for joy, since he has a "bad back." He then flops down in depression, but Simba, unaware of why his uncle is in a bad mood, asks Scar what he will be once Simba is king. Scar replies, "A monkey's uncle," making Simba laugh. The cub tells his uncle that he is so weird, and Scar tells him that he has "no idea." Scar then asks Simba whether his father had showed him what lies beyond the northern border. Simba admits that he has been forbidden to go there, and Scar acts relieved, claiming that only the bravest lions go there. Objecting, Simba says that he's brave and demands to know what's out there. "Accidentally," Scar lets it slip that there is an elephant graveyard in the shadows, aware that Simba's curiosity will lead him there. Simba is excited at the prospect of an adventure but promises his uncle that he won't visit the graveyard. Leaving Scar, Simba goes to his best friend Nala, who is being bathed by her mother Sarafina, opposite Simba's own mother Sarabi. Simba tries to get Nala to accompany him somewhere without giving away the location of their adventure. When asked where they are headed by his mother, he lies, saying, "Around the Water Hole." Sarabi sends Zazu to accompany the cubs, much to their dismay.
"I'm gonna be the main event, like no king was before!"
On the way to the Water Hole, Zazu makes a nostalgic comment about how the two are "betrothed, intended, affianced," meaning that they are set to be mates and rule the Pride Lands together. Since they are just children, they find it weird. The duo then sing the song "I Just Can't Wait to be King", during which they lose Zazu.
After losing track of Zazu, Simba brags to Nala, claiming that he is a genius for getting rid of Zazu. Nala opposes him, arguing that she deserves credit since she came up with the plan. Simba jumps on her to make her admit that he is the best, but she flips him onto his back, teasing him for getting pinned. Simba tells her to let him go but then jumps on her again, and the cubs roll down a cliff. Nala again flips Simba, but then a geyser beside them shoots skyward, and they realize that they are in the Elephant Graveyard.
Simba is shooed from the Elephant Graveyard by Zazu
After the cubs make a quick exploration, Zazu catches up with them, though Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed soon show up. Simba tries to be brave in front of the hyenas, but, realizing the danger, he makes a frantic effort to escape, with the hyenas in hot pursuit. The cubs manage to get away from the hyenas, but Zazu is caught and thrown into a geyser. Simba and Nala come back to defend Zazu from the hyenas, and Simba tells the hyenas to fight someone their own size. Shenzi suggests that Simba is just the right size, and Simba realizes that he has overstepped his authority. It proves to be too late for the cubs, because the hyenas come for another attack. The cubs flee again and use the backbone of an elephant like a roller coaster that sends them flying from the hyenas. While climbing a mountain of bones, Nala slips, and Simba runs back to save her, swiping Shenzi in the face and helping Nala climb back to the top of the hill. The chase leads to Simba and Nala being cornered in a cave. Simba tries to protect Nala by making a roar to scare the hyenas away, but he is unsuccessful.
Simba protects Nala from the hyenas
Just then, Mufasa arrives and pins down the hyenas, who flee in fear. Simba approaches his father and tries to speak, but Mufasa interrupts, accusing Simba of deliberately disobeying him. Simba quietly apologizes, but Mufasa just says, "Let's go home." Simba follows him, bowing his head, as Nala whispers to him that she'd thought he'd been very brave.
En route to Pride Rock, Mufasa stops on their way through the savanna. Simba bows his head in the grass when he hears that Mufasa wants to speak with him. Zazu then comes to the cubs and says that he will take Nala home. Putting his wings on Simba's shoulders, he wishes him good luck. A little scared, Simba sends one last look at Nala, who leaves. Mufasa then calls Simba to come to him. Going to his father, Simba accidentally steps into his father's pawprint, realizing just how much bigger and wiser Mufasa is.
Mufasa teaches Simba
Once by the king's side, Simba is admonished by his father, who expresses disappointment in him and anger that he'd disobeyed. Simba says that he had been trying to be brave like him, but Mufasa explains that even kings get scared, just as he had been that day because he'd almost lost Simba. No longer so scared, Simba jokes that the hyenas had been even more scared. In response, Mufasa playfully says, "Because no one messes with your dad!" He then picks Simba up and gives him a playful noogie. After playing together under the sky, Mufasa tells Simba about the Great Kings of the Past, who are looking down on them from the stars. He reminds Simba that whenever he feels alone, the stars will always be there to guide him, as will Mufasa.
The next day, Scar, who had been planning to kill Mufasa and Simba in order to become king, takes Simba with him to the Gorge, saying that Mufasa has a "surprise" for him. Simba begs his uncle to tell him what it is, but Scar walks away after teasing him about practicing his "little roar." Unknown to Simba, Scar signals Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed to start a stampede of frightened wildebeests into the gorge below.
Simba in the midst of the stampede
While Simba practices his roar a little louder than usual, the wildebeests charge down the cliff face in the direction of Simba. Terrified, the young cub runs for his life. Meanwhile, Scar, pretending to be terrified and nervous, runs to Mufasa, panting that Simba is in the Gorge. Immediately, Mufasa rushes to the Gorge to save his son, who desperately manages to jump and cling on to a branch while the wildebeests thunder below him. While Mufasa fights through the stampede, one of the wildebeests collides with the branch and breaks it, sending Simba flying into the air. Mufasa leaps up to catch his son, but he drops him upon impact with one of the wildebeests. Becoming stuck in the stampede again, Simba dodges a few wildebeests before again being picked up by Mufasa, who then gets him to safety. Pulled back into the herd, Mufasa fights until he can throw himself onto a ledge, where he clings for dear life.
Simba cries over his father's dead body
Seeing this, Simba runs to the top of the cliff. As he reaches the top, he sees his father plummet into the stampede below, not knowing that he'd been thrown by Scar. He cries out and races down to the bottom of the Gorge to find his father's body under the branch that he had been clinging to. Hoping that his father isn't dead, he tries to revive him. Realizing that Mufasa is neither moving nor breathing, he calls for help but starts to cry and crawls underneath his father's forepaw when he realizes that there is no hope.
Scar approaches and manipulates Simba into believing that he is responsible for his father's death, claiming that Simba's roar had caused the stampede and that if it hadn't been for Simba, Mufasa would still be alive. When asked what his mother will think, Simba doesn't know what to do, so Scar tells him to run away and never return. After Simba scampers away, Scar sends Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed to kill the cub.
Simba with Timon and Pumbaa
Panicked, scared, and now chased by the hyenas, Simba runs out of the Gorge and comes out at the top of a steep cliff. With a patch of sharp thorns below, Simba has no choice but to jump down the cliff to escape the predators. He tumbles down and forces himself through, but the hyenas don't follow, thinking that Simba is as good as dead out in the barren desert anyway.
Tired and dehydrated, Simba wanders into the desert. In the burning heat, he eventually faints. Waiting for him to die, vultures circle overhead, but a meerkat named Timon and a warthog named Pumbaa scare away the vultures and save the unconscious cub. They revive him and ask him if he is okay. He shakily replies and starts to wander off. Timon and Pumbaa ask what he'd done to be so sad, but Simba doesn't want to talk about it. Timon and Pumbaa then take the cub into a jungle to teach him to forget the past and live by "Hakuna Matata." During the song "Hakuna Matata", the duo have Simba eat bugs, explore his new home, and live without worry. The trio walk across a log, which represents a few years, during which Simba transitions from a cub to an adolescent to an adult.
Adolescence
Adolescent Simba
Simba's adolescence is only briefly shown during the log sequence of "Hakuna Matata." Simba is older than in The Lion King 1½ (in which his adolescent self makes a longer appearance), evident by the mane that begins to run down his neck and the mane that begins to appear on his chest and lower body, as well as longer fur on his elbows.
Young Adulthood
| “ | Simba: That's not my father. That's just my reflection. Rafiki: No. Look harder. You see, he lives in you.
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Growing up in the jungle, Simba learns to be carefree and forget about his past and responsibilities with Hakuna Matata. Although seemingly happy in the jungle, he feels homesick when stargazing with his friends, recalling what his father had told him years ago when they'd looked up at the stars together. He
Simba stargazes with Timon and Pumbaa
is upset when Timon's comments mock the Great Kings of the Past. Hurt by his friends' comments, Simba leaves to flop down on a rock in grief over his dead father. A few days later, Simba hears Timon and Pumbaa yelling for help and immediately rushes to their rescue, finding himself face-to-face with a hungry lioness. After wrestling ferociously with the lioness (with Timon cheering him on), Simba is flipped onto his back, a move that he instantly recognizes as belonging to Nala. When he mentions Nala's name, the lioness becomes surprised and backs away. When she asks who he is, Simba tells her his name, and the lioness is surprised to recognize her childhood friend. As they rejoice, Simba introduces Nala to his new friends, and she tells Simba that he is the
Simba reunites with Nala
rightful king. Simba rejects his responsibility and refuses to go back, still believing that he is guilty of killing Mufasa. Still, he comforts Nala as she struggles with the reality of him being alive after all these years.
Enjoying a peaceful sunset evening together, the two lions realize that their childhood friendship has blossomed into love. However, that evening, Nala tries to explain to Simba the fate of the Pride Lands under Scar's reign, trying to persuade him to go back, since he is their only hope. Despite her desperation, he refuses. Disappointed with Simba's new behavior, Nala tells him that he isn't the Simba she knows and remembers, to which he admits that he isn't. Then Simba asks Nala if she is now satisfied, and Nala declines, saying that she is just disappointed. Simba tells Nala that she is starting to sound like his father, to which she replies, "Good! At least one of us does!" Enraged, Simba yells at her and then marches away in a huff. Alone in a grassy field, he yells to the sky at Mufasa for not being there for him when he'd promised years earlier that he would. Simba then labels the blame on himself, hanging his head in shame.
"Well, I know who you are. Shh. Come here. It's a secret."
Soon, Simba notices Rafiki singing in a tree. Trying to get away from him, Simba goes to lie down away from the baboon. Rafiki refuses to leave him alone, so Simba asks him who he is. However, in response, Rafiki asks Simba who he is. Simba doesn't know anymore, and after Rafiki chants in his ear, the baboon tells Simba that he is Mufasa's boy. Surprised to hear Mufasa's name, Simba chases the wise baboon and asks him if he'd known his father, to which Rafiki corrects Simba and tells him that he knows his father. After Simba sadly tells him that Mufasa had died a long time ago, Rafiki tells Simba that he is wrong again and explains to him that Mufasa is still alive. The baboon leads Simba to a stream, and as he remarks that he only sees his reflection, Rafiki tells Simba to look harder. The reflection ripples and becomes Mufasa's face. At the same time, Simba hears Mufasa calling to him from the sky, and Simba looks up to see him again.
Simba speaks to Mufasa's ghost
Mufasa's spirit appears in the sky, and Simba instantly recognizes him, astonishingly asking, "Father?" In answer, Mufasa accuses his son of forgetting him, to which Simba denies him and asks how he possibly could.
Mufasa tells his son that he has forgotten who he is and his own place in the Circle of Life. He then reminds Simba that he is his son and the one true king. Simba chases Mufasa's disappearing form in the sky, begging him not to leave him, with his father repeating, "Remember." Rafiki approaches Simba again and listens to him discussing how he will have to face his past if he is to return. Rafiki then whacks him on the head with his stick, causing Simba some pain, and teaches him the lesson that even though things are in the past, they can still hurt, but one should learn from them. As Rafiki swings his stick again, Simba dodges it. Rafiki notices this and asks Simba what he is going to do, to which Simba tells the baboon that he is going to take his stick first. The lion snatches it away from him and throws it into the grass. However, as soon as Rafiki gets it and turns back, Simba has already left to fight Scar and take back his place as the king of the Pride Lands. Overjoyed, Rafiki proceeds to cheer Simba on from a distance, encouraging him to go back.
Simba appears after Scar hits his mother
Arriving back home, Simba is shocked at the dry, barren condition that the once green and fertile land is in. As Simba moves through the Pride Lands, Nala, Timon, and Pumbaa catch up to help him battle Scar. As they make their way to Pride Rock, they find their way blocked by hyenas, and Simba instructs Timon and Pumbaa to divert the hyenas so that he and Nala can slip past them. Simba then tells Nala to look for Sarabi and rally the lionesses while he searches for Scar. He freezes in horror as he hears his mother's name yelled out by Scar, then watches as Sarabi and Scar argue. Upon seeing Sarabi get struck down by Scar, Simba runs out of hiding to his mother's side. At first, Sarabi mistakes him for Mufasa, but she eventually realizes that it is her son when he tells her that he is home. He and his mother briefly embrace. Simba then confronts his uncle, giving him a choice to either step down from his position or fight, to which Scar promptly refuses. Feeling trapped, Scar resorts to accusing Simba of killing Mufasa, and the young lion doesn't deny it. This news greatly shocks everyone, especially Sarabi.
Simba defeats Scar
With Nala and the other lionesses watching, Scar corners Simba on the edge of Pride Rock, mocking him that his father isn't alive to save him. As Simba slips from the edge, lightning starts a fire below the promontory. While Simba clings to the edge desperately for life, Scar remembers seeing Mufasa in a similar position before he'd died. Scar latches his claws into Simba's paws and whispers into his ear that he is the one who'd killed Mufasa. Filled with shock and rage, Simba immediately leaps from the edge and pins Scar to the ground. Simba forces his uncle to confess out loud, which leads to a tremendous battle. The hyenas ambush Simba, prompting Nala, the other lionesses, Timon, Pumbaa, and Rafiki to charge in and wipe out the hyenas.
Simba then chases his uncle to the summit of Pride Rock, where he finally corners Scar. The old king pleads for mercy as he puts the blame on the hyenas, unaware that they have heard everything. Fed up with all the lies that his uncle has told him, Simba chooses not to kill Scar, because he doesn't want to become the monster that Scar is. Instead, he spares his life by telling Scar to run away and never return, the same words that his uncle had used when Simba was young. Seemingly obeying Simba's orders, Scar begins to slip away slowly, but he suddenly turns around and throws burning embers
Simba directly before reclaiming the Pride Lands
into Simba's eyes.
The two lions fight ferociously until Scar delivers a hard smack that knocks Simba to the ground. As Scar leaps to finish Simba off, the young lion thinks quickly and flips Scar over the edge of Pride Rock, sending him tumbling down the ledge. Simba looks down and sees that Scar has survived the fall, though he is slightly dazed from the attack. However, the hyenas, having had enough of Scar's lies and betrayal from earlier, ignore Scar's pleas for forgiveness and jump on him, devouring him alive.
After rain falls on the Pride Lands and extinguishes the fire, Simba walks down to greet Sarabi, Nala, Timon, Pumbaa, Rafiki, Zazu, and the rest of the pride. Rafiki rattles his stick to get Simba's attention and motions for him to ascend Pride Rock. Simba then walks over to Rafiki, and as Rafiki bows down to him, Simba embraces him before Rafiki tells him that it is time. Simba then climbs up Pride Rock, and as he reaches the promontory, he looks up at a break in the clouds to see a patch of stars, one of which is shining brightly. Upon hearing Mufasa's voice telling him to "remember," Simba
Simba, Nala, and their newborn cub
gains courage, confidence, and strength, roaring out over his reclaimed kingdom. The rest of the pride roars back in approval.
Some time later, when the Pride Lands flourish once again, Simba and his mate Nala, along with their friends Timon and Pumbaa, stand on the promontory of Pride Rock, proudly looking down at the animals who have assembled below Pride Rock. Rafiki then comes in, cradling their newborn cub in his arms, and Simba and Nala watch happily as Rafiki lifts the cub up for all the animals to see.
The Lion King II: Simba's Pride
| “ | Simba: You will not leave Pride Rock. You will stay where I can keep an eye on you, away from him! Kiara: You don't know him! Simba: I know he's following in Scar's pawprints! And I must follow in my father's. Kiara: You will never be Mufasa!
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Simba at Kiara's presentation
In the second film, all the animals return to Pride Rock to welcome the birth of Kiara, the daughter of Simba and Nala. While the king and queen look on proudly, Rafiki holds their cub up for all the kingdom to see.
As Kiara grows up, Simba turns out to be extremely overprotective of her. One time, when Kiara goes off to play, he warns her to stay away from the Outlands and to stay on the path that he has marked for her. Nala teases Simba about Kiara's likeness to Simba when he was a cub. Simba confesses his feelings to Nala about how much trouble they'd get themselves into, to which Nala pins him and teases him, telling him that he means the trouble that he'd gotten them into. She and Simba then chuckle as they nuzzle each other in a loving manner, and Simba smiles warmly at her. Nala assures him that Kiara will be fine and goes back into the cave, with Simba watching with an unsure expression. However, as soon as Nala is out of earshot, he sends Timon and Pumbaa after Kiara to watch her anyway.
Simba orders Zira to leave the Pride Lands
After he realizes that Kiara has sneaked away from her babysitters, he, along with Nala, Pumbaa, Timon, and two Pride Landers, goes out for her, finding her near the outskirts of the Outlands with an Outsider cub named Kovu. Immediately, Simba jumps in front of Kiara, protecting her. At the same time, Kovu's mother Zira launches herself in front of her son to protect him. Simba snarls at her, and Zira mockingly gives a cover-up for straying into the Pride Lands. Simba orders Zira to take Kovu and get out since they are now finished with their conversation. Zira laughs menacingly and tells Simba that they have barely begun. Simba then takes Kiara and walks away, sending Nala and the rest of the pride ahead so he can have a word with Kiara. Simba reminds her that she has to be queen someday, even though she may not want to be. He reminds her of the great Circle of Life. Simba then tells his daughter that they are a part of each other, with Kiara responding, "Hmph!" This makes Simba playfully smile and nudge her. After embracing her, he sings to her that they are one.
Simba teaches Kiara
Years later, Kiara pleads with Simba to let her hunt on her own. He promises this to her, but he once again sends Timon and Pumbaa to watch her anyway, thus deliberately breaking his promise. A few hours later, Simba paces nervously on Pride Rock, where Zazu reassures him that Kiara will be fine. Suddenly, Simba notices smoke on the horizon as Zira's plan goes into action. He and Nala race to Kiara, only to find her talking to Kovu. Simba roars menacingly at Kovu as Kiara reminds him that he has broken his promise, to which Simba, out of fear of losing her again, forbids any more hunting trips for her.
Just then, Rafiki appears and brings up the fact that Kovu has saved Kiara's life. When Simba asks him why, Kovu asks to join his pride. Simba initially refuses, but Zazu tells him that his father's law demands all debts be paid. In repayment for his daughter's life, an agitated Simba reluctantly lets Kovu join the pride, but he doesn't allow him to sleep with the pride. That night, Simba has a nightmare about the stampede. In the nightmare, Simba tries to save his father, who is hanging on to a cliff face. As Simba reaches down, he realizes that Scar is looking over him. Mufasa slips
Simba roars at Kovu
away from Simba and falls to his death, which makes Simba cry out for a brief moment. He then turns on Scar, who morphs into Kovu, shocking Simba. Then Kovu lets Simba fall to his death, and the king snaps out of his dream. Simba is frightened at first but starts to calm down once he looks outside the den, realizing that it's still night. He then looks at Nala, who is happily asleep. So Simba goes back to sleep, still uneasy but more relaxed.
The next morning, Simba has a drink at a water hole. Unknown to him, Kovu is behind him, ready to kill. Luckily, Kiara turns up, wanting her hunting lesson, so Kovu is drawn away. That night, Simba looks down on Kiara and Kovu stargazing together and asks Mufasa for guidance. Nala walks up beside him and tells him to trust Kovu more. That evening, Simba lets Kovu sleep with the rest of the pride in the cave, as it is a fairly cold night.
The next morning, Simba walks in on Kovu about to tell Kiara about Zira's plan, telling his daughter that he doesn't want her talking with him, only to say in a much calmer tone that he wants to talk with him. This makes Kiara brighten up, and Simba smiles and
Simba flees the Outsiders
winks at her before walking off with Kovu, with Kiara watching from a distance. During the long walk, Simba explains to Kovu his side of the story about Scar. As they are walking, Zira, Nuka, Vitani, and the other Outsiders surround them. Zira teasingly asks Simba what he is doing outside "so alone." Zira then congratulates Kovu for bringing Simba with him and adds, "Just like we've always planned." Feeling betrayed, Simba angrily snarls at Kovu, now believing him to be behind the plan. In response, a scared Kovu denies this and tries to reason with Simba that he really didn't have anything to do with Zira's plan. Simba is then attacked by the Outsiders on Zira's orders. Simba slides down a cliff, and the Outsiders attack. He runs into a gorge and climbs up a dam. Just as he's climbing, Nuka grabs his ankle, pulling him down. Simba pushes himself up, dislodging logs, which tumble down and crush Nuka to death. This greatly shocks Zira and Vitani. The entire pride mourns the death of their family member. Simba escapes and weakly makes his way back to the Pride Lands, where he manages to whisper to Kiara, Timon, and Pumbaa about what has happened before he collapses due to extreme exhaustion. They help him back to Pride Rock, where he recovers.
Simba exiles Kovu
When Kovu returns, Simba confronts him, asking why he's come back. Kovu asks for forgiveness, but Simba doesn't believe Kovu. Kiara tries to persuade Simba to listen to Kovu, but he tells her to be silent and then exiles Kovu, to Kiara's dismay. Kiara then quarrels with her father, pleading with him to reconsider, but Simba refuses, saying that Kovu used her to get to him and that he knows Kovu is following in Scar's pawprints and that he must follow in his father's. Kiara angrily yells at him that he will never be Mufasa. This comment hurts and shocks Simba immensely, as he looks away sadly while Kiara runs into Pride Rock before sneaking away to find Kovu.
That night, rain descends on the Pride Lands, and Simba asks Timon and Pumbaa where Kiara is. Just as he finds out she is missing, Zazu informs him that the Outsiders are on the attack. Simba commands Zazu to find Kiara and assembles the lionesses, ready for battle. When they approach the Outsiders, Simba gives Zira a final chance to go home. Zira tells Simba that she is home and commands her troops to attack.
Simba leads the Pride Landers into battle
After a bitter battle, Zira jumps down off her rock, ready to attack Simba herself. Just as they are about to go into a one-on-one duel, Kiara jumps in front of her father, and Kovu jumps in front of Zira. Simba tells his daughter to stay out of the fight, but Kiara tells him that the fight has to stop. Concurrently, Zira tells Kovu to move, and Kovu tells Zira that he won't let her hurt Kiara or Simba. Kiara reminds Simba that they are "one" and asks if he sees any differences between his pride and the Outsiders. As Simba realizes his daughter's words, the rain stops, and sun shines down from the clouds. Simba then nuzzles his daughter as they reconcile. Zira orders Vitani to attack Simba, but she refuses to do so and crosses onto his side, as do the rest of the Outsiders. Zira, realizing that she is losing, tries one more time to attack Simba, but as she jumps for him, Kiara leaps in her way and fights her off. Shocked, Simba jumps down after them just as Zira slips away into the water below. Simba reaches his daughter and helps her back up the cliff, where she is hugged by a relieved Nala. When Kiara is reunited with Kovu, Simba studies him and apologizes to him, finally admitting that he was wrong. He accepts Kovu and the Outsiders into his pride, and they all go home together.
Simba welcomes the Outsiders back
Back at Pride Rock, Simba, Nala, and all the other lionesses watch as Rafiki blesses the union of Kiara and Kovu. Simba, Nala, and the new couple make their way to the top of Pride Rock and roar over their kingdom, with the rest of the pride roaring back in reply. As Simba looks down proudly at the rejoicing animals who have gathered around Pride Rock, the sky opens up and Simba hears his father say, "Well done, my son. We are one."
The Lion King 1½
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During Timon and Pumbaa's first attempt at a new home, they witness Simba's birth ceremony. The two later find a small cave in the Pride Lands, which they live in until Simba and Nala sing "I Just Can't Wait to be King," driving them out. Although not seen
Simba cuddles with Timon
, we can hear Simba say, "I'm okay," after the animal pyramid falls down. Later, after Mufasa is murdered by Scar and Simba runs away from the Pride Lands, he wanders into the desert, ridden with guilt and thinking that he killed his own father. Simba collapses out of fatigue and exhaustion, lying under the sun with buzzards circling overhead. Simba is found by Timon and Pumbaa, who carry him to shade and water and eventually let him live in the jungle with them. Growing up without worries, Simba soon proves to be a difficult cub to handle, and Timon and Pumbaa find it hard to be adoptive parents. Living carefree in the jungle, Simba gets into all kinds of mischief that Mufasa and Sarabi would have never allowed, such as jumping down from dangerously tall trees, swimming down steep and deadly waterfalls backwards, and spinning Timon around like a play toy. He also keeps Timon up all night having to go to the bathroom, wanting a drink of
A adolescent Simba wakes up Timon
water, etc. One night, Simba is awakened by a nightmare and begs to sleep with Timon, who begrudgingly agrees.
Months pass, and Simba grows into an adolescent, with half a mane on his head, who seems to beat Timon and Pumbaa at all kinds of alliterative bug-eating contests, including the longest bug belch, slug swallowing, cricket crunching, grub gulping, maggot munching, and the snail slurping contest shown in the film. He has grown a small mane on his head and looks even more hot-headed than as a cub.
After some years pass, Simba grows into a young adult lion who enjoys his life with Timon and Pumbaa in the jungle. Simba has an interesting conversation with Pumbaa about dung beetles before Nala appears and chases Pumbaa, making Simba attack her. He later realizes that it's his old childhood friend. In the "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" sequence, we see that Simba takes Nala on a romantic evening walk around the jungle, unknowingly hurting Timon while the meerkat attempts to split the two lovers apart. After the familiar scene of Simba arguing with Nala about whether or not he should return to the Pride Lands commences, Simba runs off to encounter his father's ghost.
Later in the film, when Simba challenges Scar, he is seen several times echoing his role in the original film.
Simba embraces Timon and Pumbaa
For example, he is seen slipping off the cliff when Scar corners him and later leaping up to force the truth out of Scar about Mufasa's death. Simba is also seen when he chases Scar up Pride Rock and flips him to the ground below. Once the violence is over, Simba thanks Timon and Pumbaa for their help against the hyenas before he climbs Pride Rock, roaring for all of the Pride Lands to know that they have won. At the end of the film, Simba is lying down in the jungle water with Pumbaa, Timon, and Ma. A silhouette of Simba also appears in the theater while Ma rewinds the movie.
The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar
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Simba can first be seen teaching his daughter Kiara about life as a future monarch atop Pride Rock. Not long after this, he and Rafiki overhear Kion's roar, and the two come to realize that it is time for him to lead the Lion Guard. When Kion and his best friend Bunga return to Pride Rock, Rafiki leads them and Simba to the Lair of the Lion Guard, where he explains that Scar used to lead the Lion Guard until he lost his powers. Simba then tasks Kion with gathering a new Lion Guard to protect the Pride Lands.
Simba with his son, Kion
When Simba arrives to meet Kion's team, he reacts in horror to Kion's choice of teammates. He insists that the Guard must be made of lions only and then berates Kion for treating his role as leader like a game. However, after watching Kion and his Guard defeat Janja's clan, Simba realizes that his son was wise to have chosen who he chose, and he congratulates his son on the victory, accepting this new, brilliant assembling of loyal animals.
Other Roles
The Stage Musical
Jason Raize as Simba
Following the success of the film, Julie Taymor created a musical version of The Lion King. In this production, we have an insight into events that weren't explored in the original film, as Simba, young and old, is in nearly all the musical numbers. In the Broadway production, we see a slightly extended role, including scenes that explore Simba's guilt as well as an additional song called "Endless Night."
Jason Raize played adult Simba in the original production while Scott Irby-Ranniar assumed the role of young Simba.
Literature
The Lion King: Six New Adventures
A Tale of Two Brothers
When Simba is too busy to take his son Kopa to the top of Pride Rock, Rafiki tells a story about Mufasa and Scar when they were cubs, convincing Simba that keeping promises is important. Simba ends up taking his mate and son to the top of Pride Rock for some quality family time.
Vulture Shock
After failing to explain what a "family tree" is to Kopa, Simba finds out that his son has been kidnapped by a flock of vultures. Together, he and his mate Nala lead a group of Pride Landers to the flock of vultures to get their son back.
A Snake in the Grass
In a story told by Timon and Pumbaa, Simba is tricked by Joka into abandoning his friends. He later comes back for them and saves them from the coils of Joka.
Follow the Leader
Simba helps Rafiki save his former troop.
A Little Help From a Friend
With his daughter Kiara a lively young cub, Simba promises to take her on a walk around the Pride Lands. Before the two can depart, the king catches wind of Outsiders invading his kingdom and so must cut the walk short in order to dispose of the problem. He later praises Kiara for her quick thinking in saving Timon's life.
The Hakuna Matata Magazine Series
All Mud and Motor Mouth
At the start of the story, Simba asks his friends Timon and Pumbaa how they first came to meet.
Comics
Video Games
Kingdom Hearts
Simba appears as a Summon, using an attack called Proud Roar where Sora charges up the roar and fires off a powerful attack. Though his world was destroyed, Simba's strong heart refused to languish in darkness, keeping his spirit alive and turning him into a Summon Gem, Earthshine. The gem was in turn found by Leon, who kept it as a "lucky charm", and was eventually given to Sora after Leon told him about the hearts of Worlds. After bringing it to the Fairy Godmother, she recognized it as a Summon Gem and immediately restored Simba's spiritual form, making him able to assist Sora in battles. After stopping Ansem, Seeker of Darkness, Simba's body was restored and he returned to his own world.
Chain of Memories
Simba in Kingdom Hearts II
Simba reappears as a figment of Sora's memories, and he is once again a summonable character. He is the first Summon Card that Sora receives, given to him by Leon after finishing his tutorial and visit to Traverse Town.
Kingdom Hearts II
In Kingdom Hearts II, when Sora, Donald, and Goofy explore the jungle in the Pride Lands world, Simba almost attacks them, not recognizing them, as they were turned into animals due to Sora's enchanted clothes.
Initially, Simba refuses to go back to the Pride Lands, stating that he is "not who he used to be." Mufasa then comes to him and tells him to go back. Afterwards, he accompanies Sora, Donald, and Goofy to Pride Rock for a climactic battle against the hyenas and Scar, who has been turned into a Heartless because of his anger and jealousy. Sora leaves after the successful coronation of Simba. When Sora returns, Simba has been driven into doubt by rumors of Scar's ghost. He later gains confidence and stands up to Scar's ghost, which is a manifestation of Simba's uncertainty and fear.
Cam Clarke voices Simba in the above two appearances, with an archival recording of Jonathan Taylor Thomas used for young Simba during the stampede sequence.
The Lion King
Simba at the cover of "The Lion King" video game
The game is a side-scrolling platform game, with the controlled character (Simba) having to leap, climb, run and descend from platform to platform. There is an exception during the level The Stampede, where Simba is running towards (or in the Game Boy version, running with the camera looking straight down on top of him, while the Game Gear version is a side scrolling platformer like the other stages) the camera dodging wildebeest and leaping over rocks.
As a cub, Simba can roar, jump on enemies and roll. All three are used to combat enemies and have different effects. Rolling can also be used to access hidden areas and dodge attacks. Adult Simba is stronger, can slash and maul, and he can throw instead of defeating his enemies by jumping on them. He also has a more formidable roar, but can no longer roll.
Simba's Adventure
The gameplay is very similar to the first The Lion King video game, in which the player takes control of Simba and must leap and run between platforms while fighting enemies and avoiding pitfalls. During levels Simba can collect pawprint-shaped tokens which add to the overall score.
Disney Friends
Young Simba also makes an appearance in the Nintendo DS game Disney Friends as one of the characters the player has to care for as a babysitter.
Epic Mickey
As a cub, Simba is one of the many Disney animated characters to be kidnapped by the evil witch Mizrabel. He is later rescued by Mickey Mouse and brought to Fortress. Simba then asks Mickey to find his friends, Timon, Pumbaa, and Zazu.
Magic
Simba (as an adult) appears at two puzzles: at one, he and Nala are shown looking at each other in love, and at the second one, he is shown with Pumbaa, Timon and Zazu durong a rain storm.
Operation Pridelands
After Scar's defeat, Simba tasks Gaucíngoua, along with Timon and Pumbaa, to bring the animals of the Pride Lands back to his kingdom. At the end of the game, he can be seen watching the celebratory bonfire in contentment.
TV Series
Timon & Pumbaa
Simba in Timon & Pumbaa
Simba makes occasional appearances in the Timon and Pumbaa animated series as the show's tritagonist. In "Congo on Like This," Timon and Pumbaa (especially Timon) suspect that Simba has reverted to his carnivorous nature. In "Shake Your Djibouti," Timon and Pumbaa are forced to train Simba to protect them from a laboratory monster named Bartholomew. In "Once Upon a Timon," Simba makes a cameo appearance when Rafiki is about to finish telling the story of Timon to Zazu. In "Rome Alone," Simba is forced by Quint to eat Timon and Pumbaa, otherwise he will have to get into a gladiatorial battle with another lion named Claudius. Simba's final appearance in the series is in "Beethoven's Whiff", where he and Rafiki make Timon and Pumbaa clean up the mess they made after they had a fight.
In Around the World with Timon & Pumbaa, Simba makes a brief cameo when he is shown to Pumbaa by Timon, who is trying to restore his friend's memories.
The Lion Guard
"The Rise of Makuu"
When Kion worries about the mashindano between Makuu and Pua, Simba tells him that he must respect and reconize other animals' traditions, even if he doesn't agree with them.
Simba, along with his family, The Lion Guard, and several other animals, watch the mashindano. When Makuu wins, Simba steps forward and congratulates him, before thanking Pua for his services as leader of the crocodiles.
"Can't Wait to be Queen"
When Kiara and Kion squabble over a tree, Simba approaches and tells Kion to back away, for Kiara is going to serve as queen for the day. When Kion reacts with confusion, Simba gently explains that his presence is needed at a funeral in Kilio Valley for Aminifu, a wise old elephant who has passed away. Though Kiara is unsure of herself in acting as queen, Simba reminds her that he had been nervous to rule the Pride Lands on his own, too.
While Kiara stays behind to watch over the Pride Lands, Simba meets with Nala and Zazu to begin his journey to Kilio Valley. Along the way, he worries over having to give a tribute in the elephant language, and Zazu brags over his own skill in mastering animal languages. Unbeknownst to the trio, they have been spied on by Mzingo, who resolves to keep an eye on the doings of the Pride Landers.
As Mzingo flies away, Simba begins to lament having kingly responsibilities, and Zazu reminds him of the perks of the job, singing "Duties of the King". After the song, he begins to coach Simba on his elephantese accent.
Simba, Nala, and Zazu arrive at Kilio Valley
During an elephantese lesson, Simba loses his patience and roars at Zazu, blowing him into a patch of grass. Nala dashes to her mate's side and reminds him that though he may not be an elephant, he is a king and that it is his duty to carry out this tribute to an old friend.
Eventually, Simba and Nala arrive at Kilio Valley, where they witness the elephant herd placing flowers on Aminifu's body. Though saddened by the passing of his friend, Simba resolves to give a proper tribute. After meeting up with the herd, Simba gives his tribute to the elephants, but instead of saying, "He had good on him," the standard elephantese tribute, he says, "He had poop on him." Though Simba is horrified at this turn of events, the elephants begin to laugh, and Aminifu's daughter, Ma Tembo, explains that her father always used to have poop on him and that it was often the cause of much laughter. She then tells Simba that it is good to remember the fun times.
When Simba and Nala return home, Kiara asks how the tribute had gone, and Nala answers that everything had turned out fine. She then asks how ruling the Pride Lands had gone, and though Kiara begins to stumble over her words, Kion jumps in, proclaiming that Kiara is going to make a great queen someday.
"The Kupatana Celebration"
Before the annual Kupatana celebration, Simba compliments Basi's performance to Beshte, who thanks the king and tells him that Basi has been practicing relentlessly. The other members of the Lion Guard express excitement for the upcoming festivities, and Simba explains the importance of Kupatana and how every animal in the Pride Lands meets in peace on that day.
Simba encourages Kion to rescue the jackal pup
In the midst of the conversation, the Lion Guard overhears a jackal pup being chased in the Outlands. Though Kion is hesitant to intervene, Simba encourages him to save the pup in the spirit of Kupatana. Kion agrees and rushes off.
Later, Simba starts to give his opening speech at Kupatana when he is interrupted by Reirei, who disturbs the festivities with her family. The Pride Landers work together to put a stop to her schemes, and Simba roars to get the jackals to flee. Once Reirei is gone, Kion apologizes for letting them into the Pride Lands, but Simba gently reminds his son that it had been he who had encouraged the rescue of the jackal pup.
"The Mbali Fields Migration"
When the gazelles and zebras begin fighting over a depleted grazing ground, Simba suggests that Kion lead the herds to Mbali Fields, a grazing ground on the edge of the Pride Lands. A shocked Kion wonders if he is ready to lead a migration, but Simba assures him that he will do fine.
"Bunga and the King"
Simba attempts to climb out of a forming sinkhole
Simba travels with his family to Mizimu Grove to attend Ma Tembo's herd's concert. Kion is alerted by Ono of antelope being stuck in mud and with his parents permission, leaves to solve the problem. Kiara races ahead of her parents just as a sinkhole appears, luckily Simba is able to throw Kiara over to Nala to safety, but becomes trapped in the sinkhole.
Kion and the Lion Guard arrive at the scene and without thinking, Bunga dives into the sinkhole and ends up trapped there too. Knowing that Kion and the Lion Guard will be able to help, Simba tells Nala and Kiara to go to the concert, due to it being traditional for the royal family to be in attendance. The Lion Guard try to use a large log to help Simba and Bunga escape, but it smashes to pieces when it hits the bottom of the sinkhole.
Simba argues fiercely with Bunga
Bunga notices a tunnel which Simba believes might led to Nandembo Caverns and points this out to Kion, who agrees to meet his father and Bunga there. Simba and Bunga argue when Bunga random picks tunnels, resulting in the two splitting up. Simba finds the right tunnel and goes to find Bunga and manages to find him by hearing him sing Hakuna Matata and joins in. Simba tells Bunga that Timon and Pumbaa sang the song to him all the time he grew up, making Bunga believe that they are brothers. The two hear Timon and Pumbaa's cries and go to them, only to find a large ravine sepreates them from Timon, Pumbaa and the Lion Guard. Working together, Simba and Bunga leap over the ravine and are greeted by a relived Timon and Pumbaa.
Afterwards, Simba along with Kion, Bunga, Timon, Pumbaa and the rest of the Lion Guard, arrives at Mizimu Grove just as the concert finishes. Simba apologies to Ma Tembo and her herd for missing the concert and to make up for it, sings Hakuna Matata with his family, Bunga, the Lion Guard and Timon and Pumbaa.
"The Imaginary Okapi"
Kion brings Beshte's new friend, Ajabu the okapi, to Pride Rock to meet with Simba and Nala. Kion asks his parents if Ajabu can become a Pride Lander, and the two agree to let him stay in their kingdom as long as he likes.
"Too Many Termites"
Simba encourages Kion to fix the termite problem
After Kion notices that there is an excess of termites in the Pride Lands, he comes to Simba, wondering what he should do. Simba suggests that the team ask the aardwolves about the problem. When Fuli questions what an aardwolf is, Simba explains that aardwolves keep the termite population under control. Kion asks where they can find the aardwolves, and Simba suggests that they look in old aardvark dens, since that is the aardwolf's favorite place to sleep.
Fuli and Kion immediately begin to suspect that the problem is their fault, and Kion learns from his father that aardwolves strongly resemble hyenas. This confirms Kion's fears, and he admits to his father that he had used the Roar of the Elders to drive the aardwolves out of the Pride Lands. Simba gently tells his son that he has made a mistake and encourages him to do his best to fix the problem.
"Baboons!"
Simba and Nala leave Kiara in charge of presiding over the Royal Buffalo Wallow.
"Lions of the Outlands"
A painting depicting Simba banishing Zira and her followers
When Kion goes into the Outlands to help Jasiri reason with the Outsiders, he encounters Nuka and Kovu, the sons of Zira. He is confused that the Outsiders are not welcome in the Pride Lands and reasons that his father would welcome them into the kingdom if they asked. Nuka asks who his father is, and Jasiri reveals that he is the son of Simba.
When Kion meets Zira, Nuka reveals that Kion is Simba's son. Zira moves off to speak privately to Kion, but Kion disagrees with her assertion that lions should rule over all animals. This causes Zira to note the similarities between Kion and his father.
"The Lost Gorillas"
Simba speaks with Hafifu and Majinuni
The Lion Guard meets two gorillas named Hafifu and Majinuni, who tell Kion that they're looking for a lion named "King Zimba." Bunga informs the gorillas that Kion is Simba's son, and Majinuni explains that they are here to deliver a message from their father, King Sokwe.
Together, the Lion Guard leads Hafifu and Majinuni to Pride Rock, where Kion relates the situation to his father, Simba. To Kion's surprise, Simba agrees that the message is important and explains that every wet season, King Sokwe informs Simba if their two kinds are still at peace or not.
Simba chuckles at King Sokwe's "peace message"
Just then, the brothers come before Simba, but when prompted to relay their message, they admit that they have forgotten it. With this news, Simba is forced to ask Kion to deliver the gorillas back home and find out what Sokwe's message is. Kion wonders if the brothers should return home themselves and bring back the message again, but Simba points out that peace with the gorillas should not rely on Hafifu and Majinuni.
When the Lion Guard returns to the Pride Lands, they report back to Simba at Pride Rock. Simba prompts the Lion Guard to relate Sokwe's message, to which Kion says, "Kuishi ni kucheka," as Bunga throws a snow ball over Simba's head. Instead of being angry, Simba laughs and comments that no one delivers a peace message quite like King Sokwe.
"The Trail to Udugu"
When Kiara manages to track Kion faster than ever before, Simba comments on the success, and Nala declares that the cubs are ready for a special day. Together, the two descend Pride Rock to speak with their cubs, who are still playing and squabbling. Nala steps forward and tells Kiara and Kion that they are ready to accompany her on the Trail to Udugu, which is a special ceremony for royal siblings. Simba assures Kion that in the absence of their leader, the Lion Guard will be lead by Simba.
Simba during the musical number "When You're Running With the King"
In the Lair of the Lion Guard, Kion informs his team of Simba's intention to lead them while he is away. He then bids them goodbye and leaves them to wait for Simba. Though Ono begins to anxiously preen and fret over the state of the Lair, Bunga assures him that he has nothing to worry about, and sings "When You're Running With the King", in which he explains what Simba is like.
Simba happens to overhear the song and informs Bunga that his performance had gotten one thing right: that Simba is excited to lead the Lion Guard. Simba then gathers the Lion Guard for their morning patrol and leads them out of the Lair.
On the morning patrol, the Lion Guard tries to correct Simba on his route, but he insists that they take his chosen path. Though hesitant, the Guard agrees to the king's wishes, and the team veers off in a new direction.
Simba leads the Lion Guard in their first mission as a team
Later, Ono spots a mudslide heading toward a nest of ostrich eggs, but he is cut off in his report by Simba, who finishes the report for him. He then instructs the Guard to follow him while he moves a log in the way of the falling mud. Though confused, the team follows him, and Simba orders them to jump from rock to rock in order to avoid getting caught in the mud. Beshte comments that Kion usually has him walk through the mud, but Fuli reminds him that Simba is in charge, not Kion.
Beshte does as Simba commands, but accidentally slips on the rocks and falls into the mud, carrying Bunga, Fuli, and Ono with him. The four tumble down the slope and dislodge Simba's log, causing it to roll toward the ostriches' nest. Before the log can reach the bottom of the slope, Beshte leaps forward and stops it from crushing the eggs, but Ono warns that the eggs will now be caught up in the mud. Sure enough, the eggs are swept away by the mud, and the Lion Guard rushes to save them. They return the eggs to the ostriches, who thank them for their help.
The ostriches bow to Simba after he saves their eggs
After the rescue, Simba expresses elation at the Guard's first mission with the king and wonders what their next challenge will be. As he starts to lead the Guard further into the kingdom, Beshte comments that at least he hadn't been mad about their nearly losing an ostrich egg, to which Fuli counters that it's not Beshte's fault that he can't jump like a lion. She then asks why they are a team if they are all going to be tasked with doing the same thing, which prompts Bunga to remind her that Simba is the king and knows what he's doing.
Just then, Ono flies up and starts to report trouble when he is interrupted by Simba, who declares that a herd of gazelles need their help. The Lion Guard then follows his lead down the slope to rescue the gazelles.
Simba deliberates with the Lion Guard after he gets his tail stuck beneath a boulder
Ono reports that the gazelles are trying to reach a patch of grass above an unstable pile of rocks. Simba comments that the rocks will fall if the gazelles try to ascend them and then shouts for the Lion Guard to follow him. As Simba races away, Beshte asks the others if they should warn Simba that gazelles are easily spooked, but Bunga assures him that Simba know what he's doing.
The team streaks across the plains toward the gazelles, who shy away at the Guard's rapid advance. The herd begins to climb the rock pile, dislodging stones, and Ono yells for the Lion Guard to halt their approach. Simba, however, continues to run and gets his tail stuck underneath a massive boulder. The rest of the Lion Guard gathers around him, and Simba assures them that he is uninjured.
Simba tells the Lion Guard that Kion would be proud of them
Just then, the Lion Guard overhears ostriches crying out in fear, and Ono reports that the gazelles are stampeding toward the ostriches' nest. The Lion Guard turns to Simba for instructions, and he orders them to leave him behind and save the ostrich eggs instead. Just then, a large boulder tumbles down from the top of the rock pile, and Fuli heroically saves Bunga from being crushed.
After the rescue, Fuli declares that they cannot leave Simba, for he is in danger from the falling rocks. Simba gets the Guard's attention and tells them that he has been ordering them around all day when he should have figured out how their team works. He then asks what they would do if Kion were in Simba's place, and Fuli explains that she and Ono would go after the herd, while Beshte and Bunga would stay behind to assist the king. Simba submits to these orders and starts the Lion Guard's chant as the team races away to fulfill their separate duties.
Simba explains the importance of Udugu to his cubs, Kion and Kiara
Together, Fuli and Ono catch up to the gazelles, and Fuli orders Ono to speak with Swala, the leader of the gazelles, while she calms the ostriches. Both members are successful, and the gazelles pull to a halt before they can trample the ostrich eggs. At the same time, Beshte and Bunga work together to free Simba. No sooner have they freed him when the rock pile begins to collapse, and the three escape to safety, where they reunite with Fuli and Ono. Simba compliments the Lion Guard on their success and declares that Kion would be proud of them.
At Pride Rock, Simba reunites with his mate and cubs. He asks whether they had found Udugu, and the cubs explain that they had learned to work together as brother and sister. Kion then questions how Simba had fared with the Guard, and Simba admits that working with Kion's team had helped him find Udugu as well. He stresses the importance of Udugu and reminds the cubs that they will one day be responsible for the kingdom of the Pride Lands.
"Ono's Idol"
Simba praises Hadithi
Simba arrives with his mate, Nala, to praise the legendary eagle Hadithi, who is visiting the Pride Lands. He and Nala invite Hadithi to a Royal Mud Print Ceremony, in which he will preserve his talon marks in mud forever alongside those of other heroes.
However, during the ceremony, Hadithi admits that he had abandoned Ono to danger, and the Lion Guard races to the rescue. After Ono is saved, Ono is honored with the ceremony instead.
House of Mouse
Simba and friends in Mickey's Magical Christmas
Simba has made numerous appearances in House of Mouse as a minor character. Throughout the series, Simba alternates between his cub and adult selves. In the episode "Timon and Pumbaa," he complains about Timon and Pumbaa's popularity, saying, "Those guys always get all the attention!" In "King Larry Swings In," young Simba is seen in a flashback, falling from Pride Rock after Donald accidentally drops him. He makes brief appearances in Mickey's Magic Christmas. He also has a cameo as a cub at the beginning of Mickey's House of Villains, where his and Nala's dinner (a ham from the Elephant Graveyard) is stollen by Ed. In "Jiminy Cricket", Jiminy tells a cub Simba not to goat the Elephant Graveyard, because "there is nothing to see."
Simba is voiced by Cam Clarke in House of Mouse.
Wild About Safety
Simba, as a very young cub, makes a brief cameo in the episode "Safety Smart: Goes Green," in which Timon misunderstands a CFL light bulb as a "cute, fluffy lion." An angry Sarabi soon appears to get back her son.
Bloopers & Outtakes
Simba in The Lion King: Bloopers & Outtakes
In The Lion King: Bloopers & Outtakes, during the end credits of the Diamond Edition of The Lion King, Simba and the other characters are represented as live actors. In the bloopers, Simba appears five times. The first time, he appears when Scar can't pronounce the word "responsible." He later attempts three times to say the phrase "Hakuna Matata" while walking across a fallen tree, but he fails, and he and the crew laugh. The third time, Rafiki falls asleep on a rock during the shooting of a scene, and Simba tries to wake him up, shaking his shoulders, but he fails and proposes to continue filming tomorrow. In the end, he is shown as a baby who is being carried by Rafiki to the edge of Pride Rock, but Rafiki stumbles and lets Simba fall from Pride Rock.
Disney Parks
Simba in Mickey's Soundsational Parade
Like most characters from The Lion King, Simba does not appear for meet-and-greets. Instead, he appears in certain shows. He makes cameos in It's a Small World, Fantasmic! and Mickey's PhilharMagic, where he sings "I Just Can't Wait to Be King." In Disneyland, Simba is seen atop a float for Mickey's Soundsational Parade.
Simba has his own spell card known as "Simba's Roar" in the attraction Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom. Simba and other characters from The Lion King are also featured in Disney's Art of Animation Resort in Walt Disney World.
Simba is also a prominent character in Disney's Animal Kingdom merchandise and promotional material. Also in the park, Simba stars in Festival of the Lion King, which is hosted by Timon. In the former Magic Kingdom attraction The Legend of the Lion King, the story of the film is retold using animatronic puppets and scenes from the film.
In Disney California Adventure, Simba makes an appearance in a segment of World of Color. He is seen reliving the wildebeest stampede from the film and can also be seen during the finale.
Simba also makes an appearance on a float in Paris Disneyland with Timon, Pumbaa, Rafiki, and Scar hiding at the back.
Inspiration
The main inspiration for the final version of Simba is Prince Hamlet.
Simba and Hamlet meet the ghosts of their fathers
Hamlet is the main protagonist of Shakesphere's Hamlet and the prince of Denmark. The uncles of Simba and Hamlet both murder the prince's father and assume his royal position. Both characters see the spirits of their fathers, who tell them what to do, though Hamlet's father tells Hamlet that the present king killed him, while Mufasa (being Simba's own subliminal interpretation of his father) doesn't reveal Scar's crime. Both defeat their uncles in a final battle, though Hamlet dies while Simba becomes king.
Though Disney denies that The Lion King was inspired by Kimba the White Lion, Simba bears many resemblances to Kimba, including his name and early design (as he was originally drawn to be a white-furred cub). Both characters lose their father at a young age and later encounter his ghost, and both struggle against a lion enemy who is scarred across one eye.
Concept Art
As a cub in the conceptual stages, Simba doesn't have the golden pelt that is in his final design but rather a creamy beige pelt like Sarabi's. His paws are colorless, and his tail tuft is black, indicating that Simba would've grown a black mane as an adult as opposed to his final red mane. He has many lioness traits in early concepts, such as no whiskers, neck fur, and creamy eye shades.
However, in his earliest stages, when The Lion King was called King of the Jungle, Simba was a pure white cub.
Voice Actors
- The Lion King - (1994) - (film) - Jonathan Taylor Thomas (cub), Matthew Broderick (adult), Jason Weaver (cub singing voice), Joseph Williams (adult singing voice), Evan Saucedo ("The Morning Report")
- Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable - (1995) - (short film) - Cam Clarke
- The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa - (1995) - (TV series) - Cam Clarke
- The Stage Musical - (1997) - (musical) - Scott Irby-Ranniar (cub) (original actor), Jason Raize (adult) (original actor)
- The Lion King II: Simba's Pride - (1998) - (film) - Matthew Broderick (voice), Cam Clarke (singing voice)
- The Lion King 1½ - (2004) - (film) - Matt Weinberg (cub), Matthew Broderick (adolescent and adult)
- Kingdom Hearts II - (2005) - (video game) - Jonathan Taylor Thomas (cub), Cam Clarke (adult)
- The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar - (2015) - (film) - Rob Lowe
- The Lion Guard - (2016–) - (TV series) - Rob Lowe
Awards
Although The Lion King itself has garnered largely positive reviews from film critics, reception toward Simba has been generally mixed. The Christian Science Monitor's David Sterritt hailed Simba as "a superbly realized character," specifically praising the scene in which the character "faces discipline by his dad after his adventure with the hyenas."[2] In the category of Disney animated characters, Simba is among the most known and the most award-winning characters.
However, even though Simba was defeated by Scar in the race for the most interesting character in The Lion King,[3] he has won other awards. Ultimate Disney declared Simba as the second greatest Disney hero.
Trivia
General
Concept of Simba's roar
- According to Mouse Under Glass, the directors themselves aren't sure how Simba grew to the size he is on just a diet of insects.[4]
- In Kung Pow! Enter the Fist, the Chosen One is called "Simba" by Mushuu-Fasa, who is a spoof of Mufasa. The Chosen One replies, "I am not Simba."[5]
In Development
- In King of the Kalahari, Simba was a lazy and negative character who was later overthrown. His original name was Rego.[6]
- In King of the Jungle, Simba is trained by Rafiki (then called Kwashi) to take back the throne from Scar.[7]
- In early versions of the film, Simba loses his tail in an attempt to escape from the hyenas after Scar takes the throne.[7]
- During production of The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, Simba had a son named Chaka. However, he was removed to make the film less complicated.[8]
Quotes
| “ | Simba: Listen, you think you can just show up and tell me how to live my life? You don't even know what I've been through! Nala: I would if you'd just tell me!
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Gallery
 The Lion King Wiki has a collection of images and media related to Simba. |
Media
The Lion King King of Pride Rock HD
Simba reclaims the Pride Lands
References
Template:King
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| Characters from The Lion King II: Simba's Pride | |
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Kiara • Kovu • Simba • Zira • Timon • Pumbaa • Rafiki • Nala • Zazu • Nuka • Vitani | |
Template:Hakuna Matata Template:Return of the Roar