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Pumbaa (2019 film)
BigLovableChunkOfWarthogHere
"Do you see any other big, lovable chunk of warthog here?"
This article is about the character from the 2019 film.
You may be looking for the character from the 1994 film.


Pumbaa (2019 film)
Physical information
Gender

Male

Species

Warthog

Hair color

Brown and gray

Eye color

Black

Distinguishing features

Tusks

Biographical information
Status

Living

Residence

   Pride Lands
   Hakuna Matata (formerly)

Relationship information
Allies

Nala, Simba, Timon, Zazu

Enemies

Azizi, Kamari, Scar, Shenzi, Nala (formerly)

I may run from hyenas, but I will always fight a bully!
―Pumbaa[src]

Pumbaa is a male warthog.

When a young Simba fled his homeland, Pumbaa and his best friend, Timon, took the cub in and taught him to adopt a "Hakuna Matata" lifestyle. Seasons later, Simba's childhood friend Nala found him in the jungle and implored him to return home and reclaim his birthright. Simba did so, and Timon and Pumbaa assisted him in the battle against Scar and his hyena army. After Simba and his allies emerged victorious, Timon and Pumbaa witnessed him ascend Pride Rock and take his place as the rightful king of the Pride Lands.

Biography[]

Early life[]

Timon: He found his aroma lacked a certain appeal. He could clear the savanna after every meal.
Pumbaa: I'm a sensitive soul, though I seem thick-skinned. And it hurt that my friends never stood downwind!
—Timon and Pumbaa on the latter's flatulence problem[src]

As a piglet, Pumbaa had a major flatulence problem, which repelled his friends. The abandonment saddened and scarred Pumbaa, who would continue to lament the situation into his adulthood. At some point, Pumbaa took up residence in the jungle, where he lived with several friends, including Timon.[1]

Friendship with Simba[]

Can we keep him? Can we please keep him?
―Pumbaa to Timon, after they find Simba in the desert[src]
Lionking2019-animationscreencaps

Pumbaa begs Timon to let him keep Simba.

Pumbaa and his best friend, Timon, were chasing off vultures when they stumbled upon Simba's unconscious body. Timon implored Pumbaa to run for his life, but Pumbaa expressed interest in adopting Simba as a pet. He begged Timon for permission, and the meerkat eventually relented.

The two brought Simba to their jungle home, where they taught him to embrace a "Hakuna Matata" lifestyle. They introduced him to their animal friends and told him that he must eat grubs in order to live with them. Simba agreed, and the two accepted him as their friend.

Lionking2019-animationscreencaps

Timon and Pumbaa teach Simba to adopt a "Hakuna Matata" lifestyle.

Over the seasons, Simba grew up with Timon and Pumbaa. One day, he asked his friends about the Circle of Life, and they explained that life was more like a line and that everyone was out for themselves. Pumbaa insisted that his actions did not affect anyone but himself.

That night, Pumbaa stargazed with his friends. He wondered if the stars were balls of gas, but Timon merely poked fun at him for obsessing over gas. Simba repeated his father's story about the Great Kings of the Past, only for Timon and Pumbaa to laugh at him. Simba wandered off sorrowfully, and Timon blamed Pumbaa for the situation. Pumbaa, in turn, felt guilty.[1]

Meeting Nala[]

You thought he was dead? I thought I was dead! I thought you were gonna eat me.
―Pumbaa to Nala[src]
Lionking2019-animationscreencaps

Pumbaa flees from Nala.

One day, Pumbaa and his friends were wandering through the jungle when they were attacked by a lioness. The lioness targeted Pumbaa and chased him through the jungle. Just before she could catch him, Simba came to his aid and fended her off. The two fought until they recognized each other as childhood friends, after which they had a joyous reunion.

Simba introduced Timon and Pumbaa to Nala. He then left with her to explore the jungle, which made Timon disapprove. Pumbaa was clueless as to why Timon was upset but understood once Timon explained that Simba would fall in love with Nala and leave their trio.[1]

Battle for Pride Rock[]

We are at your service, my liege!
―Pumbaa to Simba, shortly before the battle for Pride Rock[src]
Lionking2019-animationscreencaps

Pumbaa attacks a group of hyenas after they call him "chubby."

The next day, Timon and Pumbaa journeyed across the desert and caught up with Simba, who had left to reclaim his birthright. They distracted the hyenas, which allowed Simba and Nala to sneak into the kingdom undetected. After escaping the hyenas, the duo joined Simba and his pride in the battle against Scar and his hyena minions. When the hyenas called Pumbaa "chubby," he attacked them and declared that though he may run from hyenas, he would always fight bullies.

After the battle, Pumbaa watched Simba ascend Pride Rock. Seasons later, he and Timon witnessed the presentation of Simba and Nala's newborn cub.[1]

Physical appearance[]

Looks like we'll be having pig for dinner. Plump and chubby.
―A hyena on Pumbaa[src]

Pumbaa is a large and stout warthog covered in wiry brown hair. He has a long, wide snout from which twin white tusks protrude. He also sports pointed cheeks, shiny black eyes, and a disheveled mane of hair that runs down the back of his neck. He tends to hoist his tail upright when he walks.[1]

Personality and traits[]

I will not be made to feel ashamed of who I am!
―Pumbaa[src]

Unlike the more cynical Timon, Pumbaa is generally upbeat, cheerful, and optimistic, although he also tends to speak the truth bluntly. He has a big heart and is protective of those in need of help, as evidenced when he pled with Timon to let him take in a young Simba. Pumbaa is naturally skittish and will instinctively flee when threatened by a predator. Despite this, he will fight when provoked, as seen when he reacted with anger and indignation to being called "chubby" by a hyena.[1]

Appearances[]

Trivia[]

  • Pumbaa's name means "be foolish" or "be dumbfounded, be astonished" or "be weak-minded" or "be negligent, be careless, be thoughtless" or "be ignorant" in Swahili.[3]
  • Pumbaa's piglet version is not a warthog; rather, it is a red river hog.[1][4][5]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Revealed in Disney's The Lion King (2019). Written by Jeff Nathanson and directed by Jon Favreau. Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
  2. Seth Rogen. IMDb. IMDb.com, Inc. Retrieved on September 26, 2020.
  3. Online Swahili - English Dictionary. African Languages. Retrieved on September 26, 2020.
  4. Baby Warthog newborn. Leopard Walk Lodge. Retrieved on September 26, 2020.
  5. Red River hog. Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. Retrieved on September 26, 2020.
  6. Rudnick, Elizabeth. The Lion King: The Novelization (June 4, 2019). ISBN: 136803926X.
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