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| Mufasa (2019 film) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical information | |||
| Gender |
Male | ||
| Species | |||
| Hair color |
Brown, gold, and white | ||
| Eye color |
Yellow | ||
| Biographical information | |||
| Also known as |
• Brother (by Scar) | ||
| Status |
Deceased | ||
| Residence |
• Pride Lands | ||
| Affiliations |
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| Titles |
• Great King of the Past | ||
| Relationship information | |||
| Family |
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| Allies |
Afia, Ajarry, Chigaru, Eshe, Masego, Mobo, Nala, Obasi, Rafiki, Sarabi, Sarafina, Simba, Zazu, Scar (formerly) | ||
| Enemies |
Akua, Amara, Azibo, Azizi, Kamari, Kiros, Scar, Shaju, Shenzi | ||
| “ | Mufasa: As king, I was most proud of one thing: having you as my son. Simba: That was a long time ago. Mufasa: No, Simba. That is forever. |
” |
Mufasa was a male lion. He was the king of Pride Rock who preceded Scar. He was the son of Masego and Afia, the adoptive son of Eshe, the adoptive brother of Scar, and the mate of Sarabi, with whom he had a son, Simba.
As a cub, Mufasa grew up in a desolate wasteland, where his parents assured him that they would someday reach a paradise called "Milele." One day, a flash flood separated Mufasa from his parents, and he was taken in by Obasi's pride. Over the seasons, he grew close to Obasi's son, Taka, whom he considered his brother. Eventually, a pride of white lions known as the Outsiders drove the brothers from their home, killing their pride in the process, and they sought a new life together.
Over the course of their journey, Mufasa and Taka met a young lioness named Sarabi, her hornbill scout Zazu, and a mandrill named Rafiki. Though Taka developed romantic feelings for Sarabi, she ultimately chose Mufasa over him, which embittered him and drove him to betray his friends to the Outsiders. Eventually, the group reached Milele, only for the Outsiders to confront them and reveal Taka's betrayal. Mufasa proceeded to rally the animals of Milele to fight alongside him, then battled Kiros to the death. With the Outsiders defeated and Kiros dead, Mufasa pardoned Taka, who renamed himself "Scar," and became the new king of Milele.
Together, Mufasa and Sarabi had a son named Simba, whom they raised to respect the Circle of Life and embrace his role as the future king of Milele, later known as the Pride Lands. Unbeknownst to Mufasa, Scar plotted to assassinate both him and Simba in order to usurp the throne. Scar enacted his plan in the form of a wildebeest stampede that endangered Simba's life. Though Mufasa was able to save his son, his attempts to scale the side of the gorge ended in Scar betraying him and throwing him to his death. Simba eventually found his father's body, and Scar convinced him that he was to blame for Mufasa's death. Ashamed, the cub fled the Pride Lands.
Years later, when Simba was a young adult, Mufasa's spirit appeared to him and implored him to return home and reclaim his birthright. Simba did so and learned in the process that Scar was to blame for Mufasa's death. After Scar's defeat and death, Simba ascended Pride Rock and took his place as the rightful king. Seasons later, Rafiki told the story of Mufasa to Simba's young daughter, Kiara.
Biography[]
Early life[]
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Mufasa was born to Masego and Afia. As a cub, he lived with his parents in a desolate wasteland. Despite their meager surroundings, his parents assured him that they would someday find the fabled paradise of Milele.[1] At some point in his life, Mufasa learned about the Great Kings of the Past from his father.[2]
Flash flood and induction into Obasi's pride[]
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One day, it began to rain, and a nearby ravine filled rapidly with water, to the delight of Mufasa and his family. Along with several nearby animals, Mufasa began to frolic in the water. However, as the current grew rapidly deeper and rougher, Mufasa's parents called him back to them. Too late, he got swept into a flash flood, and Masego jumped in after him and carried him to the edge of the ravine. Though Afia climbed down toward him and urged him to come to her, he got paralyzed by fear. Suddenly, an elephant was swept into the rocks upon which he was standing, breaking them apart, and he was thrown back into the flood.
Mufasa meets Taka.
Over time, Mufasa was carried far downstream and drifted into Obasi's territory. As he clung to a log, a fellow lion cub named Taka appeared on the riverbank, and the two introduced themselves. Taka then warned Mufasa that he was about to be eaten by crocodiles, and Mufasa fled to the riverbank, begging Taka for help. Though reluctant to assist a stray, Taka pulled Mufasa to safety, with some help from his mother, Eshe. She was adamant that their pride's king, Obasi, would never accept a stray into their fold. However, when Mufasa confessed that he was lost and asked which way his home was, she was overcome by pity and decided to bring him before the pride.
Upon seeing Mufasa, Obasi resolved to eat him for being a stray and asserted that he was worthless. Mufasa retorted that he was fast, and so, Obasi proposed a race between him and Taka, with the prize being either Mufasa's induction into the pride or his death. Though Mufasa initially lagged behind, Taka confessed that he had always wanted a brother and let Mufasa win the race. Furious, Obasi declared that Mufasa would live with the females, not the males. Despite his father's disapproval, Taka bonded with Mufasa, and the two came to consider one another as brothers.[1]
Initial encounter with the Outsiders[]
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Mufasa and Taka flee their pride.
As Mufasa grew up, Eshe taught him how to hunt and hone his senses. Meanwhile, Taka was forced to spend time lazing and lounging with the other males in the pride, despite his yearning to hunt alongside his mother and adoptive brother. One day, Eshe asked Mufasa what he could sense, and he reported that there was a faraway herd of antelope. He confessed that he could sometimes detect a scent that reminded him of home, and Eshe posited that perhaps his family was still out there.
As the two continued hunting, Taka tailed them secretly. Suddenly, two white lions attacked Eshe. Though Eshe urged Mufasa to run, he jumped to her defense, while Taka fled in fear, despite his initial attempt to help. As they fought, Mufasa shoved one of the lions onto the sharp point of a log, killing him, and the other ran away. He guided a wounded Eshe back to the pride, and they explained that they had been attacked by white lions. Obasi immediately became fearful of a rumored pride of "Outsiders" and thanked Mufasa for having saved his mate's life.
Mufasa and Taka fall off a waterfall.
Later, Chigaru, a member of Obasi's pride, spied on the Outsiders and witnessed them killing the surviving white lion for having abandoned their king's son to die. Immediately, Chigaru returned to his pride and warned Obasi that the Outsiders' numbers were far greater than their own. In an effort to preserve his bloodline, Obasi decided to send Taka away to start a new life. He ordered Mufasa to accompany Taka and pledge his loyalty to him. Together, the two young lions fled their pride. In their absence, the Outsiders confronted the pride and obliterated them.
Upon finishing off Obasi's pride, the Outsiders pursued Mufasa and Taka. As the young lions ran, they reached a river, and Mufasa refused to enter the water for fear of drowning. At that moment, the Outsiders approached, and Kiros demanded to know which of them had killed his son. Mufasa immediately took the blame and lied that Taka was simply a stray, but Akua and Amara deduced that he was the king's son. Bent on vengeance, Kiros ordered his pride to attack, and Mufasa and Taka fled. Eventually, they got cornered on the edge of a waterfall. Though Mufasa resolved to go down fighting, Taka knocked them both off the waterfall and into the river below.[1]
Meeting Sarabi, Zazu, and Rafiki[]
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After escaping the Outsiders, Mufasa and Taka continued on their way. Suddenly, Mufasa detected a scent and confronted a nearby lioness named Sarabi. She claimed that she had been following them all night, undetected. He questioned why she had been tailing them, and she confessed that she had been searching for any remnants of her pride, which had been decimated by the Outsiders. Though Taka urged her to join up with them, she insisted that she did not need any help and introduced the brothers to her hornbill scout, Zazu. As Mufasa and Taka moved off to hunt, Zazu urged Sarabi to reconsider their offer, and she reluctantly followed them.
Mufasa and Taka meet Sarabi and Zazu.
While hunting, the young lions ran into a lone mandrill named Rafiki. They started to attack him, only for Rafiki to reveal that he was searching for his long-lost "brother" at Milele. Recognizing the word from his childhood, Mufasa proposed a deal: they let Rafiki live, and he lead them to Milele. Rafiki ultimately accepted the deal, and the five formed a partnership.
As the group journeyed toward Milele, Taka confessed to Mufasa that he had romantic feelings for Sarabi and asked for his advice. Mufasa proposed that he be a good listener and talk about the flowers from her pride's valley. Though Taka made his best attempts at flirtation, he was awkward and stilted.[1]
Elephant stampede[]
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Mufasa in the midst of an elephant stampede.
The group continued on, eventually reaching a ravine. Using his senses, Mufasa detected that the Outsiders were approaching and suggested that they climb down the ravine rather than try to cross it. As the group moved into the ravine, the Outsiders arrived, and Sarabi got the idea to unleash a hive of bees on a nearby herd of elephants. This incited a stampede that knocked her unconscious. Seeing Sarabi in peril, Mufasa dragged her under a rock and protected her from the elephants, all the while iterating, "I got you." Meanwhile, the elephants broke apart several rock bridges that the Outsiders had been using, which cut them off from their pursuit of Mufasa and his friends.
After the stampede had cleared, Rafiki revived Sarabi and informed her that "he" had saved her. She asked who specifically had saved her, and Mufasa interjected that it had been Taka. Grateful, Sarabi thanked and nuzzled Taka, after which Taka murmured his own thanks to Mufasa.[1]
Romance with Sarabi[]
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Mufasa and Sarabi form a romantic connection.
The group traveled on, scaling a snowy mountain. As they ascended, Mufasa told Zazu to cover their tracks so that the Outsiders could no longer follow them. Eventually, the group reached the mountain's summit. There, Mufasa let Rafiki climb onto his back, during which he remarked, "I got you." This made Sarabi realize that it had been Mufasa, not Taka, who had saved her life. She confronted Mufasa over the lie, and though he initially denied it out of loyalty to Taka, he eventually caved and told the truth. The two proceeded to bond over their shared experiences and confessed their love for one another.
Unbeknownst to Mufasa, Taka was watching from a nearby snowy ridge. Inflamed by jealousy, he declared that Mufasa had betrayed him and denounced their brotherhood. He then revealed himself to the Outsiders and agreed to help them follow his friends to Milele.[1]
Ascent to kingship[]
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Together, Mufasa and his friends reached Milele. Once there, Rafiki found a baobab tree and realized that his vision of a brother had, in fact, been of Mufasa all along.
Mufasa rallies the animals of Milele.
At that moment, the Outsiders approached, and Kiros revealed that Taka had betrayed Mufasa. Horrified, Mufasa wondered why Taka would do such a thing, and he accused Mufasa of having taken Obasi, Eshe, and Sarabi away from him. In a desperate bid for help, Mufasa rallied the animals who lived at Milele to his cause, arguing that the Outsiders would simply kill them next. Persuaded by his speech, the animals pledged themselves to him and began to fight the Outsiders, while Mufasa took on Kiros.
As the battle raged, Mufasa and Kiros fought in a cave, with Kiros quickly getting the upper hand. Just before he could fatally strike Mufasa, Taka jumped in-between them, taking Kiros's blow across his eye. Suddenly, an earthquake split the land, forming Pride Rock and causing Mufasa and Kiros to fall into an underwater pool. As they continued to fight, Mufasa sensed a large boulder falling into the water and hurled Kiros underneath it, killing him. He then swam for the surface, and Taka, after a moment of hesitation, pulled him to safety.
Mufasa becomes the king of Milele.
Once outside, Mufasa was hailed as king by the animals of Milele. Though he insisted that he was nobody, Rafiki reminded him that it was his destiny to reign. Just then, Mufasa caught a familiar scent and followed it to where his mother, Afia, stood. He questioned what had happened to Masego, and Afia revealed that he had passed on. However, she reminded Mufasa that Masego lived on in him.
Just then, Taka approached, and the animals questioned what would become of him. Mufasa announced to the crowd that, as long as he was king, Taka would be permitted to live in Milele. He told Taka that he would never speak his name again, and Taka suggested that he go by "Scar" from then on, as a reminder of what he had done. Mufasa then ascended Pride Rock and roared over his kingdom, solidifying his rule.[1]
Simba's presentation[]
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Together, Mufasa and Sarabi had a son, whom they named Simba. One morning, at Pride Rock, they presented their newborn son to their subjects. After the ceremony, Mufasa and his majordomo, Zazu, confronted Scar for having missed the presentation. Scar lamented being second-in-line to the throne but made it clear that he would not challenge Mufasa's kingship again. As Scar slunk off, Zazu wondered why Mufasa refused to exile the younger lion, to which Mufasa said that they were brothers and that Scar had a right to live in the Pride Lands.[2]
Raising Simba[]
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Months passed, and Simba grew into a lively cub. One morning, he awakened Mufasa to take him on patrol. Mufasa led him to the summit of Pride Rock, where he showed Simba his future kingdom. He encouraged Simba to protect his homeland and to think about what he could give rather than take. He also forbid his son to visit the Elephant Graveyard.
Mufasa teaches Simba about the Circle of Life.
The two walked across the grasslands, and Mufasa taught Simba about the Circle of Life. Just then, Zazu showed up and delivered his morning report. As he droned on, Mufasa instructed Simba on how to pounce. After Simba pounced on Zazu, the hornbill fluttered off, only to return quickly with news that hyenas were hunting in the Pride Lands. Mufasa rushed off to deal with the incursion, leaving Simba to return home with Zazu.
Later, Mufasa journeyed to the Elephant Graveyard to save Simba and his friend, Nala, from the hyenas. He brought them back to the Pride Lands and reprimanded Simba for having deliberately disobeyed him. Then he taught Simba about the Great Kings of the Past and promised that he would always be there for him.[2]
Stampede and death[]
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Mufasa falls to his death.
The next day, Simba got trapped in a stampede that had been set off by Scar and his minions. Scar fetched Mufasa, who rushed to Simba's rescue. Though he managed to bear Simba to safety, he struggled to scale the side of the gorge. At the top, he encountered Scar and begged him for help. However, Scar simply stated, "Long live the king," and threw Mufasa to his death.
After Mufasa's fall, Simba found his body at the bottom of the gorge and mourned his death. Scar soon arrived and convinced Simba that he was to blame for the king's demise and that he should flee the Pride Lands in shame. Simba did as his uncle had instructed and only narrowly avoided being killed by Scar's hyena minions on his way out of the Pride Lands. Meanwhile, Scar became king and allowed the hyenas to turn the kingdom into a wasteland.[2]
Post-mortem[]
| “ | Simba: Please! Don't leave me again. Mufasa: I never left you, and never will. Remember who you are. Remember.
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Years later, Mufasa appeared as a ghost to Simba, who was living in exile. He commanded his son to return to the Pride Lands and seize his birthright. When Simba did become king, Mufasa spoke a final "Remember," over his coronation.[2]
Seasons later, Rafiki told Mufasa's story to his granddaughter, Kiara. Afterwards, she climbed to the top of a cave and roared. As she did so, a specter of Mufasa appeared in the clouds above and answered her roar.[1]
Physical appearance[]
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As a cub, Mufasa was moderately sized and slightly compact. He had golden fur, with lighter fur on his chest and lower muzzle. His eyes were yellow. Upon growing into an adolescent, Mufasa became larger and more well-built, with noticeably more height, weight, and muscle than his adoptive brother, Scar. He also grew a short golden-brown mane.[1] As an adult, Mufasa grew to be an imposing size, with a powerful build, a large muzzle, a white chin, and an exceptionally thick mane.[2]
Personality and traits[]
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As a cub, Mufasa was headstrong and playful. He especially loved to brag about his speed. Despite his fun-loving nature, he was more grounded and mature than his adoptive brother, Scar. He understood the concept of the Circle of Life and displayed a humble attitude in the face of other species' strengths. Because of his past experiences with a flash flood, he harbored a deep-rooted fear of water and drowning.
As an adolescent, Mufasa displayed leadership qualities that elevated him to kingship.
Having been brought up among the females of his pride, Mufasa honed his skills as a hunter and tracker, and became adept at survival. He was exceptionally brave and fierce, being willing to leap to Eshe's defense despite her pleas for him to flee danger. His natural courage and strength even managed to impress Obasi, though it sometimes made Scar jealous. Even so, Mufasa was subservient, humble, and mature, being willing to submit to Obasi's authority and pledge his loyalty to Scar. He was fiercely devoted to his brother and did everything he could to bolster Scar's royal destiny, as seen in his attempts to build him a new kingdom and set him up with Sarabi.
Over time, Mufasa gained confidence in his leadership abilities. He employed a strong, rousing manner of speech that could sway total strangers to his side in times of crisis. Likewise, he was unwaveringly determined and strong, and would not give up a fight, even at the cost of his life. In the face of deeply personal setbacks, like Scar's betrayal, he remained forgiving and compassionate, being willing to pardon his brother for his treachery.[1]
Mufasa was nurturing and instructive toward his son, Simba.
As an adult, Mufasa was wise and noble, and respected the Circle of Life. Despite being the ruler of the Pride Lands, he never flaunted his status nor abused his authority over the other animals. He did not regard his kingdom as something he owned; rather, he believed that a true king should search for what he could give, not take.
Mufasa cared deeply for his family and was willing to risk his life for them. He was especially close to Simba, who was his pride and joy. Despite his soft side, Mufasa had a fierce temper that emerged whenever someone disrespected him or tried to harm his family. When enraged, he could be quite reckless and often rushed into danger without thinking. Even so, he was forgiving of his enemies, as he harbored no hatred of his estranged brother, Scar, despite the younger lion's hostility toward him. Mufasa still cared for Scar and refused to exile him, no matter how many times Scar disrespected him. This blinded Mufasa to Scar's true nature, which ultimately led to the king's downfall and death.[2]
Appearances[]
Trivia[]
- Mufasa was voiced by the following:
- In The Lion King, he was voiced by James Earl Jones.[3]
- In Mufasa: The Lion King, he was voiced by Braelyn Rankins as a cub and Aaron Pierre as an adolescent.[4][5]
- Mufasa is the only character in the Lion King franchise whose voice actor reprised their role from the 1994 film for the 2019 remake.[3]
- It was also the last time James Earl Jones voiced Mufasa before his death in 2024, five years later.[6]
- According to Obasi, Mufasa's name means "king."[1]
- Though Zazu implies that he knew Mufasa as a cub in The Lion King,[2] the two meet each other as adolescents in Mufasa: The Lion King.[1]
- In the novelization of The Lion King, it is stated that Sarabi would sometimes question Mufasa about what had happened between him and Scar, but he would avoid the subject by speaking about the weather or the state of the pride.[7]
References[]
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