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| Simba (2019 film) | |
|---|---|
| Physical information | |
| Gender |
Male |
| Species | |
| Eye color |
• Blue (infant) |
| Biographical information | |
| Status |
Living |
| Residence |
• Pride Lands |
| Affiliations | |
| Relationship information | |
| Family |
Mufasa (father) † |
| Enemies | |
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Simba is a male lion. He is the son of Mufasa and Sarabi, and the nephew of Scar. He is the mate of Nala, with whom he has a cub.
Biography
The Lion King
Cubhood
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Rafiki presents an infant Simba to the Pride Lands
At Pride Rock, King Mufasa and Queen Sarabi present their newborn son, Simba, to their subjects.
After the ceremony, Mufasa's younger brother, Scar, laments how he is no longer second-in-line for the throne. Mufasa arrives and questions Scar as to why he had been absent at Simba's presentation, to which Scar feigns ignorance.
Mufasa shows Simba the Pride Lands from atop Pride Rock
Many months pass, with Simba growing into a lively young cub. One morning, he wakes his father and begs to be taken on patrol around the Pride Lands. Mufasa takes Simba to the top of Pride Rock and shows him their kingdom. He declares that Simba will become king someday and that everything the light touches will be his to protect. Simba wonders how far the kingdom's borders extend, and Mufasa forbids him to ever visit the shadowy place.
The two leave Pride Rock behind and walk through the open grasslands, with Mufasa teaching Simba about the Circle of Life. Just then, Zazu arrives and begins to give his morning report to Mufasa. As Zazu drones on, Mufasa encourages Simba to practice his pouncing. Simba pounces on Zazu, knocking him to the ground, and Mufasa congratulates him for a job well-done. Zazu then reports that there are hyenas in the Pride Lands, to which Mufasa promises that he will take care of the threat. He orders Simba home, despite the cub's protests.
Simba and Nala sing "I Just Can't Wait to be King", during which they anticipate Simba's rule
With Mufasa gone, Simba follows Zazu back to Pride Rock. He attempts to catch a beetle, but fails. Scar comments on his hunting skills, and Simba declares that he will someday become the king of the Pride Lands. Scar then subtly informs Simba that there is an Elephant Graveyard beyond the borders of the Pride Lands, where only adult lions are allowed to venture.
Simba hastens to where his friend, Nala, is being bathed by her mother and urges her to come play with him at the water hole. However, before the cubs can depart, Sarabi instructs Simba to bring Zazu with them.
Simba and Nala are ambushed by a clan of hyenas
With Zazu flying overhead, Simba and Nala journey to the water hole. Along the way, Zazu informs them that they will someday be married, to which both cubs react with disgust. Simba then asserts that he will not have to marry anyone, as he will be the king. Zazu argues that Simba cannot break tradition, to which Simba declares that he can do everything his way. The cubs race away through a crowd of animals at the water hole.
After losing Zazu, Simba and Nala scuffle and accidentally fall into the Elephant Graveyard. They begin to explore the area, though Nala warns Simba that they should return home. Just then, Shenzi and her clan arrive and surround the cubs. Zazu intervenes, warning Shenzi that she will be starting a war with Mufasa if she hurts Simba, but she declares that hyenas and lions are already at war.
Mufasa teaches Simba about the Great Kings of the Past
The hyenas attack Simba and Nala, who flee into a network of tunnels. Eventually, they break free and find themselves once more surrounded by hyenas. However, before they can be eaten, Mufasa arrives and fends off the clan. He warns Shenzi to never hurt his son again, then leads the cubs away to safety.
Once back in the Pride Lands, Mufasa orders Zazu to escort Nala home. He then chastises Simba for disobeying him and tells him that he is only brave when it is necessary. Simba asserts that Mufasa is not scared of anything, to which Mufasa admits that he is afraid to lose Simba. The two then have a playful scuffle, and Simba asks his father if they will always be together. Mufasa answers by teaching Simba about the Great Kings of the Past, who live among the stars and watch over the lions of the Pride Lands. He then promises to always watch over his son.
Simba is trapped amidst a wildebeest stampede
The next morning, Scar brings Simba to the gorge and tells him to practice his roar in order to impress his father. Simba does so, scaring off a lizard. No sooner has he done this when a stampede of wildebeests bursts into the gorge. Simba flees the stampede, taking refuge on a dead tree.
Meanwhile, Scar warns Mufasa of the stampede and leads him to the gorge. Mufasa races into the stampede and bears his son to safety. However, he is drawn back into the herd by the wildebeests and only barely jumps back onto a ledge. He begins to climb, and Simba rushes up to meet him at the top. However, as Mufasa reaches the top, Scar grabs him by the paws and heaves him off the side of the cliff. Simba reaches the rim just in time to see his father fall.
Simba flees the Pride Lands
Simba climbs back down to the floor of the gorge, where he finds his father's body. As he grieves, Scar approaches and blames Simba for Mufasa's death. He then urges Simba to run away, and the cub obeys. Shenzi and her clan pursue the cub, only to lose him over a ledge. Shenzi orders her lackeys, Azizi and Kamari, to check that the cub is dead, but they do not follow through, as they believe that the fall is too high for a cub to survive.
Simba crosses a desert and passes out beneath the scorching sun. However, just as vultures begin to pick at his body, a meerkat named Timon and a warthog named Pumbaa arrive and fend off the flock. Pumbaa wishes to keep Simba as a pet, and Timon agrees after realizing that Simba can protect them once he is older.
Simba befriends Timon and Pumbaa, who teach him about their worry-free lifestyle
Once Simba awakens, he tells the two that he has done something terrible. They urge him to forget his past and embrace the present with no worries. They lead him to their jungle home and take him in as one of their friends. He grows up with them, leaving his past behind.
Adulthood
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Simba is reunited with his childhood friend, Nala
As a young adult, Simba attempts to play with his jungle friends, but they deliberately avoid him. Timon and Pumbaa gently explain that he is a predator now and that many animals are afraid to spend time with him. That night, they sit together and wonder what stars are. Simba passes on his father's story about the Great Kings of the Past, only for Timon and Pumbaa to laugh at him. He walks off, saddened, and a tuft of his mane flies off in the wind. The tuft of mane carries across the savanna until it reaches Rafiki in his tree. Rafiki then realizes that Simba is alive.
Back in the jungle, a full-grown Nala attempts to hunt Pumbaa, only to be thwarted by Simba. The two scuffle until Nala uses a familiar fighting trick and Simba realizes her identity. The two have a joyous reunion. Nala then tells Simba that he must return to the Pride Lands, as Scar has taken over and become a tyrannical king. Unwilling to embrace his past, Simba instead invites her to take a tour of the jungle. They stroll through the jungle together, with Timon and Pumbaa watching unhappily.
Simba encounters the spirit of his father, Mufasa
Eventually, Nala confronts Simba about why he has not returned to Pride Rock, and Simba explains that he is not the rightful king. Nala argues that Scar is a tyrant, but Simba refuses to return home with her. Disappointed and angry, Nala bids him farewell and leaves.
Simba wanders off, muttering to himself that he does not need to return to the Pride Lands. Along the way, he runs into Rafiki, who reveals that he once knew Mufasa. He promises to show Simba that his father is indeed alive, and Simba follows him on a run through the jungle. Eventually, Rafiki stops beside a pool and urges Simba to look into the water. Simba declares that he can only see his reflection, to which Rafiki asserts that Mufasa lives in him.
Simba realizes that it was not he, but Scar, who killed Mufasa
Just then, Mufasa's ghost appears, speaking to Simba through a lightning storm. He commands his son to return to the Pride Lands and take his place as the king of the Pride Lands. Moved by his father's words, Simba agrees to return home.
Simba races home, catching up with Nala along the way ("Spirit"). They arrive in the Pride Lands, with Timon and Pumbaa arriving shortly after. Timon and Pumbaa distract the hyenas, while Simba and Nala hasten to Pride Rock. Once there, Simba sees Scar demanding that Sarabi be his queen. She refuses yet again, and Scar attacks her viciously.
Simba and Scar fight for the throne atop Pride Rock
Simba intervenes, protecting his mother and ordering Scar to back off. Scar realizes that Simba is alive and declares that the hyenas recognize him as the rightful king now. Nala argues that the pride stands with Simba, and Simba offers an ultimatum: step down or fight. Instead of giving in, Scar accuses Simba of killing Mufasa and calls him a coward. He backs Simba to the edge of Pride Rock until he is hanging only by his claws and confesses that he had in fact killed Mufasa.
Enraged, Simba attacks Scar and demands that he tell the pride his crimes. Scar refuses, but the pride sees through his lies and attacks. The hyenas jump to Scar's defense, but the lionesses eventually overpower them.
Simba takes his rightful place as king of the Pride Lands
Meanwhile, Simba chases Scar to the top of Pride Rock, where Scar attempts to lay blame on his hyena minions. Simba does not believe Scar's story and instead commands that he leave the Pride Lands forever. In response to this, Scar attacks Simba, and the two lions engage in a bloody fight. After a short, but vicious battle, Simba overpowers Scar and throws him off Pride Rock into the burning flames below.
With Scar dead, Simba takes his place as the king of Pride Rock. The kingdom soon returns to its former glory, and Simba presents his newborn cub to the Pride Landers.
Physical appearance
Simba has golden brown fur, a white muzzle, a black tail tuft, and a dark stripe down his forehead. His lips are black, and his dark-lined eyes are blue, though they shift to gold after infancy. As a cub, he is small but stocky, and his fur is slightly fuzzy.
As an adult, Simba is much larger and stronger, with a smoother, sleeker coat. His size and physique are somewhere in-between that of his father Mufusa and his uncle Scar; he is slightly larger and sturdier than Scar, but slightly smaller and leaner than Mufusa. He has a brown mane that is darker at the back and lighter at the front. His mane is thicker than Scar's, but thinner than Mufusa's.
Personality and traits
As a cub, Simba is adventurous, curious, and playful
As a cub, Simba is energetic and adventurous. Being taught that he's going to become the king of the Pride Lands after his father, Simba develops an inflated ego, believing that he's brave and capable. As a result, he dislikes being treated like a cub and strives to prove himself, to the point of putting himself in danger. Once he sets his mind on something, he hardly listens to the advice or warnings from those around him and won't even think of the consequences. This stems from his admiration of his father, Mufasa. Simba sees his father as the perfect role model, believing Mufasa to be fearless and able to do anything. He longs to become a king like his father and thus seeks to gain his acknowledgement even if it means disobeying him. To Simba, his father is his entire world, and disappointing him is the last thing he wishes to do. Losing his father takes a heavy toll on young Simba, so much so that he suffers severe depression over the loss and no longer cares whether he lives or dies.
The grief from losing his father and the guilt from supposedly causing his death makes the emotionally vulnerable Simba adopt Timon and Pumbaa's carefree lifestyle; he forgets everything related to his life in Pride Lands and lives in blissful ignorance. He thinks of nothing but living his life happily in the jungle with his new friends, even dismissing the Circle of Life that his father had once taught him about. This carries on until Simba reaches adulthood. While physically bigger, Simba is still rather childish on the inside. He still like to chase after butterflies and is completely oblivious to the fact that some of the jungle animals are afraid of him due to his carnivorous status. However, despite his efforts, Simba can't completely forget his past and sometimes misses his family and friends in the Pride Lands.
As an adult, Simba spares Scar, displaying his maturity and sense of forgiveness
It takes encouragement from Rafiki and the spirit of his father for Simba to finally regain his courage and remember his duty as the rightful heir to throne of Pride Rock. Simba quickly matures, determined to fight for his pride and his homeland. His maturity is more evident when he is willing to spare Scar even after learning that his uncle had murdered his father and framed him for it, as he knows that taking revenge will make him no different than Scar. Even when Scar tries to kill him, Simba still makes an effort to convince his uncle to surrender, only fighting back when he has no other choice.
Trivia
- As a cub, Simba is voiced by JD McCrary.[1] As an adult, he is voiced by Donald Glover.[2]
- Chance the Rapper originally auditioned for the role of Simba, but lost out to Donald Glover.[3]
- Young Simba is modeled after lion cubs from the Maasai Mara game reserve in Kenya.[4]
- In the novelization, Simba is aware that the hyenas had overheard Scar's betrayal and leaves Scar at their mercy after throwing him off Pride Rock.[5]
References
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