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| Great Lions of the Past | |
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| “ | Mufasa: Simba...let me tell you something that my father told me. Look at the stars. The Great Kings of the Past look down on us from those stars. Simba: Really? Mufasa: Yes. So whenever you feel alone, just remember that those kings will always be there to guide you...and so will I. |
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The Great Lions of the Past (also known as the Great Kings of the Past) are deceased members of the Pride Lands monarchy and Tree of Life monarchy, respectively.
Concept[]
Great Lions of the Past[]
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When a benevolent member of the Pride Lands monarchy or the Tree of Life monarchy dies, they are manifested as a spirit and are tasked with watching over their living descendants. Though the Great Lions are said to reside among the stars, they will occasionally make themselves visible to a descendant by appearing in the clouds. This usually only occurs when the descendant is in dire need of advice or guidance. Because the Great Lions have this ability, living members of both monarchies typically receive teaching about them at some point in their life.[1]
The spirit of Mufasa, a Great Lion of the Past, appears to instruct his son, Simba.
The Great Lions of the Past control the Roar of the Elders, which is bestowed on the leader of the Lion Guard. The Great Lions regulate the use of this power and can take it away from the user if he or she does not respect their gift, as was the case with Scar. The Great Lions are summoned when the Roar is used, in which event they will roar alongside the user, creating a powerful blast of wind among various other effects.[2]
Further, the Great Lions have other duties, such as presiding over important royal ceremonies[3] and choosing Royal Mjuzis.[4] In both the Pride Lands and at the Tree of Life, royal family members and Royal Mjuzis have the ability to see the Great Lions. Royal Mjuzis are also able to hear the Great Lions even when they are not present, though both seeing and hearing are skills that they must develop.[4] Great Lions are also capable of being visible to other animals if they so choose.[5]
Evil Lions of the Past[]
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Ushari and Janja summon the spirit of Scar, an Evil Lion of the Past.
When an evil member of a monarchy dies, they cannot voluntarily manifest themselves as a spirit. However, they can be summoned with the combined powers of the Roar of the Elders and a bakora staff, which allow them to appear in flame.[4] When an Evil Lion of the Past vanishes after making themselves present, they leave a distinguishing burn mark in the exact place where they appeared.[6]
Once summoned, an Evil Lion of the Past can only be made to vanish permanently through the judgment of the Great Lions of the Past. During the battle for the Pride Lands, Kion called upon the Great Lions to judge the spirit of Scar for his actions. The Great Lions responded by unleashing rain upon Scar, extinguishing his flames and evaporating him into nothingness.[7]
History[]
Mufasa's cubhood[]
When Mufasa was a cub, his father, the king of the Pride Lands, taught him about the Great Lions of the Past.[1]
Simba's cubhood and Mufasa's death[]
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As a continuance of tradition, Mufasa taught his son, Simba, about the Great Lions of the Past.
Mufasa later died in a stampede staged by Scar and thus became a Great Lion of the Past.[1]
Simba's self-exile and return[]
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When Simba fled to the jungle after Mufasa's death, he met Timon and Pumbaa, who scorned his belief that the Great Lions of the Past resided in the stars. Simba subsequently pleaded with the stars and accused Mufasa of not being there for him.
Mufasa teaches Simba about the Great Lions of the Past.
Some time later, Simba was reunited with his childhood friend, Nala. Their reunion was cut short when Nala accused Simba of turning his back on his destiny. Furious, Simba paced in an open plain, where Rafiki cornered him and promised that he could take him to his father. Simba followed Rafiki to a pool, into which he gazed at the mandrill's instruction. Simba declared that he could only see his reflection, to which Rafiki responded by urging him to "look harder" and explaining that Mufasa lived within Simba.
Just then, the spirit of Mufasa materialized in the clouds overhead and accused Simba of having forgotten him. When Simba denied this, Mufasa explained that by ignoring his true identity, Simba had abandoned Mufasa as well. He then urged Simba to remember who he truly was and take his place in the Circle of Life. With this, the spirit gradually vanished despite Simba's pleas for him to remain. Thus encouraged, however, Simba set off for the Pride Lands.
The spirit of Mufasa urges Simba to take his rightful place in the Circle of Life.
During the battle for Pride Rock, Simba hurled Scar into a throng of hyenas, who betrayed him by devouring him alive. As such, Scar became an Evil Lion of the Past. After the battle, Simba ascended Pride Rock, thus reclaiming the throne. As he gazed up at the stars, he heard Mufasa say, "Remember." In response, Simba roared out over the Pride Lands.[1]
Kiara's cubhood[]
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The spirit of Mufasa attended the presentation of Simba's daughter, Kiara. As Kiara matured, Simba taught her about the Great Lions of the Past as part of her royal training. [3]
Makini's birth[]
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When Makini was born to Fikiri and Kitendo, the Great Kings chose her to be Rafiki's apprentice.[4]
Dawn of the Lion Guard[]
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The Great Lions of the Past roar alongside Kion when he uses the Roar of the Elders for the first time.
While playing Baobab Ball, Bunga and Kion, the second cub of Simba, the monarch, lost their baobab fruit in the Outlands. Bunga went to retrieve the fruit but was captured by Cheezi and Chungu, members of Janja's clan. Infuriated by the situation and the hyenas' taunts, Kion involuntarily used the Roar of the Elders for the first time. As he did so, the Great Lions appeared in the clouds behind him.
Alerted by Kion's use of the Roar, Simba informed his son of his responsibility as leader of the Lion Guard and instructed him to form a new Guard. Kion assembled a team of his closest friends—Bunga, Beshte, Fuli, and Ono—and tried to show them the Roar, only to find that he couldn't do it on command. Just then, Simba arrived to see the new Guard and condemned Kion's choices, asserting that the Lion Guard ought to be comprised of lions only.
The spirit of Mufasa advises Kion to accept his destiny as leader of the Lion Guard.
Frustrated, Kion went for a walk, where he encountered the spirit of his grandfather, Mufasa. The spirit urged Kion to trust his instincts, asserting that he would always be there for his grandson. Encouraged, Kion accepted his destiny as leader of the Lion Guard. He led his Guard into battle with Janja's clan and ultimately routed them with the Roar of the Elders.[2]
As the years passed, the Great Lions continued to assist the Lion Guard in their defense of the Pride Lands, roaring alongside Kion whenever he used the Roar. The spirit of Mufasa also continued to advise Kion on important matters.[5]
Scar's resurrection[]
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The spirit of Scar appears over Pride Rock during the battle for the Pride Lands.
One day, Ushari learned that Evil Lions of the Past, like Scar, could be resurrected by the combined powers of the Roar and a bakora staff. He and Janja succeeded in stealing Makini's bakora staff and luring Kion to a volcano in the Outlands, where they tricked Kion into using the Roar out of anger. After the Lion Guard left, the spirit of Scar emerged from the lava and announced his intention to reclaim the Pride Lands.[4]
The spirit of Scar and his army waged war with the Lion Guard for years. Finally, he was defeated during the battle for the Pride Lands when Kion summoned the Great Lions to judge Scar for his actions. The Great Lions unleashed rain on Scar, quenching his flames.[7] Scar fizzled into oblivion, but he continued to haunt Kion as he fretted that his Mark of Evil was turning him evil.[8]
The Lion Guard's admittance to the Tree of Life[]
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The spirits of Ãnanda and Sãhasí advise their daughter, Rani.
Some time prior, Ãnanda and Sãhasí, the parents of Rani and Baliyo, died of unknown causes and, being members of the Tree of Life monarchy, were manifested as Great Lions of the Past. One night, they consulted with Rani about her hesitation to let the Lion Guard enter the Tree of Life. They implored their daughter to trust the judgment of her grandmother, Janna, and reminded her that Janna was preparing her to be queen. Rani thanked her parents for their advice, and they vanished when she left.[9]
Janna's death[]
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One day during the Lion Guard's stay at the Tree of Life, Ullu informed the Night Pride and Lion Guard that Janna requested their immediate presence. Kion and the Night Pride rushed to visit Janna, whom they realized was on her deathbed. Janna wished all of them well, then died and became a Great Lion of the Past.
That evening, after her coronation, Rani spoke to the night sky, assuring the spirit of Janna that she was ready to be queen.[10]
Kion's apprenticeship to Askari[]
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The spirit of Askari trains Kion to master the Roar of the Elders.
Shortly after Janna's death, Kion journeyed to Cikha Escarpment, where he encountered the spirit of Askari. Kion offered to relinquish the Roar, but Askari praised his humility and offered to teach him everything of which the Roar was capable.[11]
While training Kion, Askari taught him to lift boulders, break apart rocks, and make pillars with the Roar. He also taught Kion that only one who was willing to let go of the Roar could truly master it.[12]
Kovu's infiltration of Simba's pride[]
| “ | Simba: I was seeking counsel from the Great Kings. Nala: Did they help? Simba: Silent as stars.
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One night, while Kiara and Kovu were stargazing, the former asserted that she and Simba used to stargaze often and mentioned her father's claim that the Great Lions of the Past resided among the stars. This prompted Kovu to wonder aloud if Scar was "up there" as well. Nearby, Simba sought counsel from the Great Lions regarding whether Kovu ought to be trusted, to no avail.[3]
Zira's ambush[]
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The next day, Nuka died in Zira's assassination attempt on Simba, and Zira asked the spirit of Scar to watch over Nuka's body.[3]
Marriage of Kiara and Kovu[]
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After the marriage of Kiara and Kovu, Simba, Nala, Kiara, and Kovu ascended Pride Rock together and roared out over the Pride Lands. Simba heard the voice of Mufasa's spirit praise him for his wisdom. In response, Simba closed his eyes and smiled.[3]
Battle of the Lion Guards[]
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During the battle of the Lion Guards, Kion relinquished the Roar to Vitani after recalling the advice Askari had given him. Immediately, the spirit of Askari appeared in the clouds—much to the astonishment of everyone present—and praised Kion for his wisdom, asserting that he had now mastered the Roar. He then advised Kion to return to the Tree of Life and join the Night Pride.[5]
Kion's coronation[]
Kion and his Lion Guard returned to the Tree of Life to join the Night Pride. One evening, Kion's wedding to Rani—which doubled as his coronation—was held. The spirits of Mufasa, Janna, Askari, and other Great Lions watched over the event.[5]
Notable members[]
Appearances[]
Trivia[]
- As a spirit, Janna lacks the wrinkles around her mouth, nose, and neck that she sported in her middle[13] and old age.[5] This would imply that the Great Lions of the Past appear according to how they looked at the peak of their physical health, not how they looked when they died.
Gallery[]
References[]
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