| Hornbills | |
|---|---|
| |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Feather color |
Black, blue, and white |
| Eye color |
Black |
| Distinctions |
Bright red bills |
| Sociocultural characteristics | |
| Habitat |
Savanna |
| Dominions | |
| Predators | |
| Notable members | |
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Hornbills are a species of animal native to the Pride Lands. They are preyed upon by hyenas and lions.
History[]
Simba's presentation[]
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Zazu, the majordomo of King Mufasa, attended the presentation of Simba at Pride Rock. Afterward, he confronted the king's younger brother, Scar, for having missed the ceremony, but Scar simply tried to eat him. Just in time, Mufasa intervened and forced Scar to let Zazu go. Though Mufasa and Zazu pressed Scar for an explanation as to why he had missed the presentation, Scar deflected and lamented having been replaced as the first-in-line to the throne.[1]
Zazu's morning report to Mufasa[]
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Seasons later, when Simba was a cub, Zazu approached him and Mufasa to deliver his morning report. As Zazu was speaking, Mufasa noticed Simba chasing a nearby grasshopper and offered to teach him how to pounce. Using a reluctant Zazu as target practice, Mufasa guided Simba in pouncing on Zazu and pinning him to the ground. At that moment, a mole approached and informed Zazu that hyenas were in the Pride Lands. Zazu passed on the news to Mufasa, who instructed him to take Simba home while he dealt with the threat.[1]
Simba and Nala's escapade to the Elephant Graveyard[]
| “ | Shenzi: Whoa, whoa. Wait, wait, wait. I know you. You're Mufasa's little stooge! Zazu: I, madam, am the king's majordomo. |
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Zazu shields Simba and Nala from the hyenas.
When Simba and his best friend, Nala, resolved to visit the "water hole," Sarabi instructed them to bring along Zazu as a babysitter. On the way to the water hole, Zazu gushed over the cubs' closeness and informed them that they were betrothed. Though the cubs were disgusted by this revelation, Zazu explained that betrothal was a Pride Lands tradition going back generations. Simba declared that he would get rid of betrothal someday, but Zazu claimed that he would not let that happen. Simba retorted that he would simply fire Zazu, to which Zazu reminded Simba that he was not really the king and that he was shaping up to be a "pretty pathetic" king. Together, Simba and Nala bragged about Simba's future reign, during which they lost Zazu.
Eventually, Zazu caught up to the cubs, who had stumbled upon the Elephant Graveyard. Despite his best efforts to usher them out of the area, three hyenas approached and recognized Zazu as being Mufasa's majordomo. Intent on eating the cubs, they began to joke about how they would prepare their meal, while Zazu, Simba, and Nala took advantage of the distraction to escape. However, while Zazu was flying away, the hyenas caught him and dragged him to a geyser. After they stuffed him in the geyser, it exploded, shooting Zazu away. Free from the hyenas' grasp, Zazu fetched Mufasa, who raced to the Elephant Graveyard and saved Simba and Nala. After the incident, Mufasa instructed Zazu to escort Nala home while he reprimanded Simba.[1]
Stampede[]
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As Mufasa was patrolling with Zazu, they spotted a wildebeest stampede in the gorge. At that moment, Scar approached and warned them that Simba was in the gorge, caught in the stampede. The three raced to the scene, where Zazu spotted Simba clinging precariously to a tree in the midst of the stampede. While Mufasa jumped into the fray to rescue his son, Zazu resolved to get help, but Scar knocked him unconscious before he could do so.[1]
Scar's coronation[]
Zazu attended Scar's coronation at Pride Rock, during which he comforted a grieving Sarabi. When Scar allowed the hyenas to invade the Pride Lands, Zazu and the lionesses looked on in horror.[1]
Zazu's enslavement[]
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Over the seasons, Scar's reign devastated the Pride Lands, which suffered a severe drought and famine. At the same time, Scar imprisoned Zazu in a bone cage and forced him to sing songs for him. One day, Zazu lamented how he would never have had to do such a thing for Mufasa, which incited Scar's rage. He reminded Zazu that it was against the law to mention Mufasa's name, and Zazu hastily explained that he had simply been highlighting the differences in the two kings' "royal managerial approaches."
Zazu suffers enslavement under Scar's reign.
Just then, the hyenas entered the den and complained about the lack of food in the Pride Lands. Scar offered up Zazu as food, but Zazu protested that he would be too "tough and gamey." Scar then ordered the hyenas to leave his den.
Eventually, a full-grown Simba returned to the Pride Lands and challenged Scar's right to rule. A fight broke out, during which Banzai chased Timon into the den of Pride Rock. While Timon took shelter with Zazu in his bone cage, Pumbaa arrived and chased off Banzai and his hyena ally, Ed. Afterward, Timon and Zazu escaped the bone cage and celebrated their victory.[1]
Simba's coronation[]
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Zazu attended Simba's coronation.[1]
Kiara's presentation[]
Zazu attended Kiara's presentation.[2]
Zazu's rescue of Kion and Bunga[]
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One day, Zazu was babysitting Simba's infant son, Kion, when the cub wandered off with his best friend, Bunga. After finding the cubs surrounded by Pua and his float, Zazu explained to Pua that Kion was Simba's son. Makuu retorted that the crocodiles had a right to eat the cubs for having challenged them, and Pua added that Simba respected their float's ways. Acquiescing to Pua's point, Zazu offered himself up in Kion's place. Impressed by the hornbill's bravery, Pua allowed him and the cubs to leave unharmed.[3]
Zazu's report on habitat disruption[]
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When Makuu invaded Big Springs, disrupting the Pride Landers' habitats, Zazu reported to Kiara that a herd of giraffes had moved into the baboons' forest.[4]
Aminifu's funeral[]
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Zazu attempts to teach Simba elephantese.
Upon the death of Aminifu, Simba resolved to attend the funeral and give a tribute in elephantese. Along the way, Zazu attempted to teach Simba how to say, "He had good on him," in the elephant language, but Simba struggled to pick it up. At one point, Simba lamented all his responsibilities, but Zazu reminded him of those duties of his that were more enjoyable.
Eventually, Simba, Nala, and Zazu arrived at Kilio Valley. As Aminifu's funeral commenced, Simba gave his tribute but accidentally said, "He had poop on him," to Zazu's horror. However, the elephants laughed it off and forgave Simba for the error. Afterward, Simba, Nala, and Zazu returned to Pride Rock.[5]
Kupatana[]
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On the day of Kupatana, Zazu rehearsed a choral piece with several Pride Landers at Mizimu Grove. That night, they performed the piece as part of the Kupatana celebration, with Zazu directing.[6]
Zazu's report on a rockslide[]
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When Zazu noticed that a rockslide had blocked the giraffes' access to their watering hole, he flew into the Lair of the Lion Guard and informed the Lion Guard of the situation. He started to lecture Ono for having failed his lookout duty but flinched when he noticed the egret's missing crest feathers. As the Lion Guard left to help the giraffes, Ono attempted to stay behind, but Zazu insisted that he must fulfill his duties and ushered him out of the Lair.[7]
Zazu trapped in a beehive[]
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Upon learning that some pangolins were spraying their stench in the Pride Lands, Zazu resolved to report the situation to the Lion Guard. However, along the way, he got his beak stuck in a beehive. The Lion Guard arrived on the scene, and Bunga pulled Zazu free. Zazu then informed the Guard about the pangolin situation, and they left to investigate.[8]
Savannah Summit[]
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Zazu assembles the Pride Lander leaders for the Savannah Summit.
Zazu gathered with Simba and some key Pride Lander leaders at Pride Rock for the annual Savannah Summit. When the time came, Zazu assembled the Pride Lander leaders to head to Mizimu Grove. Along the way, he and Simba stressed the importance of working together and everyone having an equal say.
During the Savannah Summit, the Lion Guard heard Zazu squawking for help and followed the noise to where Rafiki was painting a portrait of the baboon leader and Mbeya. Before long, they discovered that Mbeya was sitting on top of Zazu. At Zazu's outraged demand for him to get up, Mbeya stood, finally freeing him. Zazu then asked Rafiki if the incident would appear in his portrait, and Rafiki replied cheekily that he would keep it out of the official painting.[9]
Zazu kidnapped[]
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One morning, Zazu witnessed the Lion Guard freeing Bupu's horns from a tree branch and remarked that he would share the incident with Simba as part of his morning report. Though Bupu protested that that was unnecessary, Zazu explained that his duty was to inform the king of all business in the Pride Lands, no matter how bizarre it might seem. After Zazu left, Fuli remarked on his nosiness, but Kion reminded her that it was part of his job to know the Pride Landers' business.
Janja interrogates Zazu.
Shortly afterward, Janja, Cheezi, and Chungu kidnapped Zazu under orders from Scar and imprisoned him in the Outlands. They attempted to interrogate him for critical information about Simba, but he only revealed trivial, unhelpful tidbits about the king. In the midst of the interrogation, the Lion Guard arrived to save him. During the ensuing fight between the Guard and Janja's clan, Zazu noticed Fuli getting cornered by Janja's clanmates and rolled his cage onto the hyenas, defeating them. However, in doing so, he began to roll toward a nearby lava river, and Kion used the Roar of the Elders to clear a patch of bare rock for him to fall upon. With Zazu freed, the hyenas fled, and the Lion Guard returned to the Pride Lands with Zazu.
That evening, Zazu delivered his "morning report" to Simba, lamenting that it was his first time being late with one. The Guard assured him that he was not to blame and reminded him of his past brave feats, which lifted his spirits. He then continued delivering his morning report to Simba.[10]
Battle for the Pride Lands[]
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After several seasons in which the Pride Landers battled Scar's army, they gathered at the base of Pride Rock to train for an upcoming invasion of the Outlands. During the training session, Zazu reported to Simba and Kion on the promontory of Pride Rock, explaining that Hadithi had arrived with the gorilla warrior, Shujaa, and that the Lion Guard had gathered the Pride Lander herds for the upcoming battle. Simba then tasked Kion with leading the invasion of the Outlands and ordered Zazu to tell the Pride Landers to get some rest.[11]
Kiara's first hunt[]
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Zazu spots Kovu rescuing Kiara.
On the day of Kiara's first hunt, Zazu gathered with Simba's pride to spectate. After Kiara embarked on her hunt, Simba began to pace anxiously atop Pride Rock, while Zazu attempted to calm him. At that moment, Simba noticed a fire in the distance and ordered Zazu to fly ahead and find Kiara. Doing as Simba had instructed, Zazu spotted Kovu rescuing Kiara from the fire and resolved to inform Simba.
Shortly afterward, Simba confronted Kovu, who asked permission to join his pride. Though Simba initially refused, Nala reminded him that he owed Kovu his daughter's life, and Zazu added that royal protocol dictated that they must repay all debts. However, he added that Simba may want to make an exception for Kovu. Reluctantly, Simba allowed Kovu to join his pride.[2]
Battle between the Outsiders and Simba's pride[]
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When the Outsiders invaded the Pride Lands, Zazu reported the attack to Simba. He, in turn, ordered Zazu to find Kiara.[2]
Kovu and Kiara's wedding[]
Zazu attended Kovu and Kiara's wedding at Pride Rock.[2]
Kion's coronation[]
Zazu attended Kion's coronation at the Tree of Life.[12]
Physical characteristics[]
Hornbills are small birds with blue feathers and bright red bills. They have darker feathers on their wing tips and tail tip, as well as white chests. Their eyes can be black.[1]
Sociocultural characteristics[]
Hornbills live on the savanna. They are known to be preyed upon by hyenas and lions.[1]
Notable hornbills[]
Appearances[]
References[]
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