This article consists of concepts of The Lion King 1½, including artwork, ideas, storyboards, and more.
Alternate or deleted scenes[]
Rafiki retells The Lion King[]
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Originally, The Lion King 1½ began with Rafiki watching over the animals as they approached Pride Rock for Simba's birth. Rafiki then began to explain to the viewers the "other half" of the story as he painted a picture of Timon in his hula outfit. However, director Bradley Raymond explained that he felt the scene was too majestic for a comedy-based movie.
Timon and Pumbaa retell The Lion King[]
| “ | Pumbaa: Ooh, look! Here's the presentation of baby Simba! Oh, wasn't he cute? Timon: Yeah. And here he is with his... Hey, where's his wacky and irresistible sidekicks? Timon and Pumbaa: That's us! Timon: This story revolves around us! As a matter of fact, there wouldn't even be a story if it weren't for us! Let me ask you, who rescued Simba, huh? Who raised him as if he was our very own? And who helped him beat that big jerk Scar? |
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Originally, The Lion King 1½ opened in Rafiki's tree, as Timon and Pumbaa retold the story of The Lion King from their perspective. Eventually, Rafiki appeared, angry that Timon and Pumbaa had drawn on his tree without permission, and chased the two off-screen.
Sentry duty[]
In a deleted scene, Timon joined his father on sentry duty. He and his father discussed the way of a meerkat's life and how they constantly dug tunnels. Ma appeared with food and told Timon that whatever he did, he was going to make her proud. As explained by Raymond, Timon's father was deleted from the film because the filmmakers felt that there were too many characters in the story, and his lines were instead transferred to Ma and Max.
Simba's presentation[]
In a deleted scene, Timon's colony attended the presentation of Simba but did not dare to get too close. Timon insisted that they break through the crowd but, in doing so, angered a pair of hippopotamuses. The meerkats were then forced to escape underground.
"That's All I Need"[]
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Originally, Timon sang an alternate version of "That's All I Need" while on sentry duty. According to Raymond, the scene was deleted because Timon was complaining a lot in the film, and so, the scene was changed to Timon simply daydreaming.
"I Just Can't Wait to Be King"[]
Timon and Pumbaa found a small hole in the ground, which led to a den. They concluded that this was their paradise before sleeping in it. Their slumber got interrupted by singing above, and Timon found that the "noisy neighbors" were the animals singing "I Just Can't Wait to Be King". After escaping being trampled, Timon scoffed at the "show people" and left the area with Pumbaa. Unlike in the final version of the film, Timon did not knock down the tower of singing animals.
Searching for a dream home[]
After leaving their old home, Timon and Pumbaa searched for a new place. They found a large tree that provided them shade, only for it to be devoured by giraffes. They proceeded to tunnel into the ground, and Timon proclaimed it to be their "paradise."
Mufasa's paw print[]
Timon and Pumbaa were passing through the savanna at night. Timon decided to live there, only to see a large paw print and, soon after, Mufasa. The two decided to leave. According to Raymond, the scene was deleted due to time constraints.
"Be Prepared"[]
Timon and Pumbaa searched for Mufasa in the Elephant Graveyard. Whilst on their journey, they hid from Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed. Later, they saw Scar and the hyenas singing "Be Prepared". Timon commented that Scar was not Mufasa, and Scar complained that this was frequently said about him. The hyena trio appeared afterward, ready for revenge, and chased Timon and Pumbaa out of the Elephant Graveyard.
In an alternate version of this scene, Timon and Pumbaa entered the Elephant Graveyard, where Timon declared it to be a "predator-free zone." The duo were taken aback when they heard the hyenas singing "Be Prepared". Pumbaa spotted Scar's shadow in the distance and ran off, with Timon in tow.
Finding Hakuna Matata[]
Whilst in the jungle, Timon and Pumbaa embraced their new lifestyle and "dream home." However, they soon realized with dismay that they could not return home due to the social alienation they had endured from their respective species. Later, the duo bumped into a rhinoceros, who nonchalantly said, "Hakuna Matata." The other animals in the jungle started chanting "Hakuna Matata" and translated it to "no worries." Pumbaa expressed his approval of the catchphrase, while Timon believed that it would never catch on. After a moment, he realized that the lifestyle was perfect for them. They then spent time abiding by this motto, singing "Hakuna Matata" while swinging through the vines, bowling for armadillos and slugs, and playing tag and Marco Polo and "Go Fish" (with actual fish). The duo grew bored, but Timon tried to lighten the mood by saying that they needed nobody else.
Raising Simba[]
After rescuing Simba from being eaten by a flock of buzzards, Timon and Pumbaa took him in. While raising the cub in the jungle, the duo taught him the ways of "Hakuna Matata", including playing baseball with bugs and swimming in the jungle's rapids. At night, Simba pestered his guardians to do more "Hakuna Matata" stuff, to which Timon groggily replied that the cub did not understand it yet. With time and continued teachings, Simba became more carefree and lazy. As Timon put it, Simba was "taking it to the next level." They concluded that he had gotten it "all worked out." Later, while relaxing in a hot tub, Timon and Pumbaa wondered where Simba was. When they failed to find him, they started to get worried, only for the cub to appear unharmed.
"Can You Feel the Love Tonight"[]
Instead of tossing bees at Simba and Nala, Timon and Pumbaa tried to drop the bee-hive off a cliff. They lost their footing, however, and fell with the bee-hive. When they fled to the water for safety, they came across Simba and Nala drinking near the lake. Simba showed off by swinging on a vine over the lake. Timon used a sharp rock to cut the vine, which caused Simba to fall into the water, like he did in the original film. To the duo's disappointment, Simba merely pulled Nala into the water as well.
Later, Simba and Nala frolicked together, only for Timon and Pumbaa to trip them with a vine. The couple rolled down a hill together. Unlike in the final version, Timon and Pumbaa were not flung into a tree but instead watched in frustration. Finally, the duo sent a python after Simba and Nala as they were embracing. Like the other plans, this one backfired, as the python coiled around Simba and Nala, to their surprise.
Later, from the trees above, Timon and Pumbaa witnessed Simba and Nala’s argument, which led them to believe that they had won. However, Simba later left his friends, to Timon's confusion. Pumbaa proceeded to lecture Timon on how it was about friendship.
Battle for Pride Rock[]
Timon and Pumbaa reunited with Simba when he and Nala returned to the Pride Lands to challenge Scar, much like in the original film. There was then a sequence of "behind-the-scenes antics" where Timon and Pumbaa fought the hyenas, with Timon still in his hula skirt, riding a hyena, while Pumbaa dodged a hyena attack. The battle culminated in Simba and his friends chasing away Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed, thus winning the fight. Timon and Pumbaa witnessed Simba's victory with pride and joy. Ma and Max were noticeably absent during the climax.
Ending[]
At the end of the film, Nala shows up in the theater and says that the movie is "one of her three favorites." Additionally, Minnie Mouse accompanies Mickey Mouse in the crowd of Disney characters.[1]
Deleted characters[]
Old Fearless Buzz[]
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Originally, the meerkats sang about Buzz to the tune of "Digga Tunnah". However, the song was cut, as Buzz would have been one more character the audience had to familiarize themselves with.
Timon's father[]
Timon's father was originally going to be a character who showed great fear of the outside world. The filmmakers ultimately decided that he was unneeded, so his character was cut, and his lines were transferred to Ma and Max.
Deleted lines[]
Rafiki[]
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As Ma rewound the film, Rafiki would have said that a good story is worth telling twice or three times.[1]
