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Roar of the Elders
Rafiki: We have heard your roar! Yes? Yes?
Kion: Yeah, it was, uh, kinda different today.
Rafiki: Different? Different, you say? It is more than different. It is the Roar of the Elders! When you use it, the great lions of the Pride Lands' past roar with you.
Kion and Rafiki on the Roar of the Elders[src]

The Roar of the Elders (also known as simply "the Roar") is a powerful roar that is bestowed on worthy lions by the Great Lions of the Past. It is currently possessed by Kion, king of the Tree of Life and a member of the Night Pride, and Vitani, the current leader of the Lion Guard.

Concept[]

Function[]

The Roar is a very powerful gift. It can be used for great good, but it can also lead to terrible evil.
―Rafiki[src]
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The Great Lions of the Past control the Roar of the Elders and roar alongside its user.

The Roar of the Elders is an intensely loud and powerful roar that is gifted to worthy lions by the Great Lions of the Past. When it is used, the Great Lions of the Past roar alongside the user. Since the Great Lions provide the power behind the Roar, they control and monitor its use. It is to be used for good only and can be taken away if the user does not respect the power of the gift, as was the case with Scar.

The leader of the Lion Guard—who is either the second-born cub or younger sibling of the ruler of Pride Rock—is given the Roar upon their induction into the Guard.[1] The Roar may be transferred from an old Lion Guard leader to their successor when the former gives the latter the Mark of the Guard. It may also be possessed by a member of the Tree of Life monarchy, as seen with Kion.[2]

Abilities[]

It is time. Time for you to learn everything the Roar can do.
―The spirit of Askari to Kion[src]

The powers of the Roar include but are not limited to:

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Kion uses the Roar to summon lightning.

  • Atmokineses - The Roar can produce tiny twisters used to pick up objects.[3]
  • Earth manipulation - In addition to causing earthquakes, the Roar can create pillars and rifts in the earth.[4]
  • Electrogenesis - The Roar can produce powerful blasts of lightning, which can break apart rocks.[5]
  • Generating rain clouds - The Roar can produce rain when the user roars at clouds. The rains are very brief, but can be powerful enough to create floods.[6]
  • Precise blasts - The user of the Roar can aim at and hit targets, such as when Kion uses the Roar to blast away enemies in his path while escaping the volcano.[4]
  • Summoning spirits - The Roar can be used to summon spirits, such as when Kion accidentally brings the spirit of Scar back to life.[7]
  • Wind blasts - The Roar can produce gusts of wind powerful enough to do multiple things, including scatter objects as large as rocks[8] and moderately-sized animals,[1], strip trees of their leaves,[9] redirect floodwaters,[10] and extinguish fires.[11]

History[]

Origin[]

But Rafiki sent you here to be healed. Doubtless because Askari first discovered the Roar at Chikha Escarpment, not far from here.
Nirmala to Kion[src]

The Roar of the Elders originated at Cikha Escarpment at the Tree of Life. It was first discovered by Askari, who learned all of its powers and eventually mastered it.[12] Armed with the Roar, Askari later founded the first Lion Guard.[13]

Possessed by an unknown Lion Guard[]

Kion's grandfather did fall from a big branch. But he was saved by the Lion Guard of his day.
―Rafiki on the unknown Lion Guard[src]

Presumably, the Roar was possessed by the lion who led the Lion Guard that existed when Nala's father was a cub.[14]

Scar's possession of the Roar of the Elders[]

When your grandfather, Mufasa, was about your age, his younger brother, Scar, was the leader of the Lion Guard. Scar also had the gift of the Roar. The Roar made Scar feel powerful, but that power went to Scar's head. He began to think that he should be king instead of his older brother Mufasa. So, Scar ordered the Lion Guard to help him take down Mufasa. When the Guard refused, Scar was furious. And then, Scar used the Roar to destroy the Lion Guard. What Scar didn't realize was that by using the Roar for evil, he would lose the power of the Roar completely.
Simba tells Kion the story of Scar's possession of the Roar[src]
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Scar uses the Roar of the Elders to destroy his Lion Guard.

Generations later, Scar, the second-born son of the monarch, became the leader of the Lion Guard and therefore was gifted with the Roar. However, he was tricked by a strange lion into thinking himself worthier to be king of the Pride Lands than his brother, Mufasa. He destroyed the strange lion with the Roar, though not before a strange cobra inflicted him with the Mark of Evil.

The Mark soon corrupted Scar, and he ordered his Lion Guard to help him take down Mufasa. When they refused, he destroyed them with the Roar. Seeing this, the Great Lions stripped Scar of the Roar and his position as leader of the Lion Guard.[15] Nevertheless, sometime during his life, Scar taught one of his followers, Zira, about the Roar.[6]

Kion's possession of the Roar of the Elders[]

Dawn of the Lion Guard[]

Kion: Maybe I'm not ready to lead...or use the Roar. I'm not even sure I can control it. First, it's super loud, then it's just a squeak. And I... I don't wanna end up like Scar.
Mufasa: Don't be afraid, Kion. Trust your instincts. The Roar will be there for you when you need it...and so will I. Until the Pride Lands' end.
—Kion and Mufasa[src]

One day, Bunga and Kion, the second-born cub of the monarch, Simba, accidentally tossed their Baobab Ball into the Outlands. Bunga entered the Outlands to retrieve the fruit only to be captured by members of Janja's clan. Horrified by the prospect of Bunga's death, Kion involuntarily used the Roar of the Elders for the first time. Shocked, the hyenas fled, and Bunga and Kion marveled at the latter's new ability.

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Kion involuntarily uses the Roar for the first time.

Back at Pride Rock, Simba and Nala discussed Kion's roar with Rafiki, who declared that it was time for Kion to assemble a new Lion Guard. When Kion arrived at Pride Rock, Rafiki told him about the Roar of the Elders. Simba then taught his son about the Lion Guard and charged him with assembling a new Guard.

After Kion assembled his team, he attempted to demonstrate the Roar to them but was unable to use the power. Just then, Simba arrived and criticized Kion's choice of Lion Guard members, asserting that the Lion Guard has always been composed of lions. Disappointed, Kion went for a walk and encountered the spirit of his grandfather, Mufasa. The spirit urged Kion to trust his instincts and asserted that he would always be there for his grandson.

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Kion uses the Roar to banish Janja and his clan back to the Outlands.

Encouraged, Kion reconvened with his friends, whom he gifted with the Mark of the Guard and led against an imminent invasion by Janja's clan. Towards the end of the battle, Kion used the Roar of the Elders on Janja and his cronies, sending them scurrying back into the Outlands.[1]

Kion continued to use the Roar over the course of his time as leader of the Lion Guard.[2] He frequently struggled with wanting to use the Roar out of anger, but his fear of becoming like Scar usually prevented him from doing so.[9]

Conflict with Zira[]

I used to know someone else with the Roar. And when he used it against his fellow lions, he lost the Roar. Forever!
―Zira to Kion, on Scar[src]
2016-11-12-21 35 27

At Zira's instruction, Kion uses the Roar to create rain.

One day, the hyena Jasiri requested Kion's help in dealing with some stubborn lions in the Outlands. Kion followed Jasiri to her clan's watering hole, where he met Zira and her children. When Kion asked Zira to give the watering hole back to Jasiri, Zira wondered why he did not simply use the Roar to give the hyenas water. Kion admitted he was unaware that the Roar was capable of such a feat. Zira instructed him to use the Roar on a cloud, and when he did, it swelled into a raincloud.

Afterwards, Zira took Kion on a walk, during which she explained that Scar had taught her everything about the Roar. Kion tried to convince her to share more about the Roar, but she deflected the question by inquiring whether he would ultimately side with lions or hyenas. When Kion asserted that he sided with the Circle of Life, Zira led him into an ambush and declared that he would never leave the Outlands.

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Kion uses the Roar to blast the Outsiders away from Jasiri's watering hole.

Kion threatened to use the Roar on the Outsiders, but Zira warned him that Scar had lost the Roar when he had used it against other lions. Luckily, the rest of the Lion Guard arrived before the Outsiders could harm Kion. Bunga encouraged Kion to use the Roar, and when Kion admitted that he was afraid to use his power on other lions, Bunga explained that Scar had lost the Roar because he had used it for evil. Thus, despite Zira's protestations, Kion used the Roar to blast her and the Outsiders out of the watering hole.[6]

Makuu's attack on Nala[]

I couldn't control it! I don't know if I should ever use the Roar again.
―Kion on the Roar of the Elders[src]
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Nala urges Kion to trust his ability with the Roar.

Some time later, Kion discovered his mother, Nala, surrounded by hyenas. Outraged, he used the Roar to scatter her captors. However, the Roar rebounded and opened a crack in the ground, which nearly swallowed Nala. Though Kion managed to save his mother, he was terrified by his nearly having killed her and determined never to use the Roar again.

When Makuu the crocodile learned of Kion's resolution, he invaded the Flood Plains. Kion and Nala arrived to put a stop to the breach, but Nala was taken captive by the float. Kion hesitated in using the Roar to save his mother, but Nala encouraged him to trust himself. His confidence renewed, Kion successfully used the Roar to target the crocodiles without hurting his mother.[4]

Scar's resurrection[]

The Great Lions of the Past are in the sky. Their voices are in the wind. And you have all seen Kion use the Roar to make those Great Lions appear. But the Roar can also summon the worst lions of the Pride Lands past.
―Rafiki[src]
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Kion's Roar causes a volcano to erupt, summoning the spirit of Scar.

During the dry season, Ushari learned that the Roar could be used to summon Evil Lions of the Past. He and Janja concocted a plan to lead Kion to a volcano in the Outlands and trick him into roaring out of anger. They kidnapped Kiara and trapped her in the volcano. Soon, Kion and the Lion Guard arrived to save her. While the Guard rescued Kiara, Janja threatened Kion's family, provoking the cub into using the Roar in fury. This prompted the volcano to erupt, successfully summoning the spirit of Scar.[7]

Battle for the Pride Lands[]

Kion may have the power to defeat me. But not the way I told Janja. If Kion uses his most powerful Roar here in the caldera, it won't destroy me. Instead, he'll cause an eruption so huge it will destroy the Lion Guard and turn the Pride Lands into a wasteland.
―Scar[src]
2019-08-15-22 26 16

Kion uses the Roar to summon the Great Lions of the Past to judge Scar's spirit.

Years into battle with the Army of Scar, the spirit of Scar tricked Janja—who had begun to doubt Scar's intentions—into thinking that the Roar can destroy him. Later, Scar informed Ushari that if Kion used the Roar on him, it would create a massive eruption that would destroy the Pride Lands.

Meanwhile, Janja relayed this information to Kion, who subsequently confronted Scar but—remembering the Mufasa's advice not to fight fire with fire—did not use the Roar on him. Instead, he used the Roar to summon the Great Lions of the Past, who judged Scar by unleashing rain on him, extinguishing his flames. As he melted away, Scar warned Kion that he could not escape becoming evil like him. Soon after, Kion lost control of the Roar and accidentally used it on Bunga. This led the Lion Guard to decide to journey to the Tree of Life to seek healing for Kion's Mark of Evil, which he had obtained during the battle.[15]

The Lion Guard's journey to the Tree of Life[]

The Roar. It has finally returned.
Janna[src]
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Kion uses the Roar to attack Baliyo, a member of the Night Pride.

On the journey, Kion managed to use the Roar for a good purpose.[16] However, he also used it out of anger.[17] When the Lion Guard arrived at the Tree of Life, they got into a fight with the territory's protectors, the Night Pride. Kion used the Roar on one of the Night Pride's members, Baliyo. This enraged his sister, Rani, who forbade the Lion Guard entry to the Tree of Life as a result.

However, when Rani reported the incident to her grandmother, Janna, the queen was thrilled to hear that the Roar of the Elders had returned to the Tree of Life and instructed Rani to allow the Lion Guard entry.[18]

Apprenticeship to Askari[]

Only one who is willing to let go of the Roar completely can truly master it.
―Askari to Kion[src]
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Askari trains Kion to master the Roar.

During the Lion Guard's stay at the Tree of Life, Kion learned from Nirmala that the Roar had first been discovered by Askari at Cikha Escarpment. Kion journeyed to the escarpment, where he encountered the spirit of Askari.[12] Over time, Askari taught Kion to master the Roar.[5] Kion then used his newfound abilities with the Roar to defeat Makucha's army in the battle for the Tree of Life.[5]

Return to the Pride Lands[]

There is another place that could use the Roar's help.
―Askari to Kion[src]
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Kion uses the Roar to create a twister to help his team cross a ravine.

Shortly after, Janja and Jasiri arrived with news that the Outsiders were invading the Pride Lands. On the way back to the Pride Lands, Kion used the Roar to expedite their journey, including widening a canyon, funneling his teammates across a ravine, and propelling a log along a river.[3]

When the Lion Guard arrived in the Pride Lands, they found that Vitani had created a new Lion Guard in their absence. Both teams decided to have a competition to determine which was fit to lead. For the final event, Vitani called for a mashindano with Kion, who warned her that he would easily defeat her with the Roar. However, Vitani asserted that she could prove the fiercer even without the Roar. This prompted Kion to recall what Askari had taught him: that only one who was willing to give up the Roar could truly master it.

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Kion demonstrates his mastery of the Roar by using it to lift Pride Rock.

Realizing that Vitani deserved to lead the Lion Guard, Kion relinquished his team's duties. He also bestowed the Roar on Vitani, who then used it for the first time. When Vitani asked Kion what it meant to master the Roar, he demonstrated by using the Roar to lift Pride Rock off the ground. The spirit of Askari then appeared in the clouds and advised Kion that the Tree of Life could also use the Roar's help. Thus, Kion and his friends returned to the Tree of Life, where Kion married Rani and became king.[2]

Appearances[]

Media[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Revealed in Disney's The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar (2015). Written by Ford Riley and directed by Howy Parkins. Distributed by Buena Vista Home Entertainment.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Revealed in "Return to the Pride Lands" from Disney Junior's The Lion Guard. Season 3, Episode 19. Written by Kendall Michele Haney and Ford Riley, and directed by Tom Derosier and Howy Parkins. Originally aired November 3, 2019.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Revealed in "Journey to the Pride Lands" from Disney Junior's The Lion Guard. Season 3, Episode 18. Written by Kendall Michele Haney, John Loy, Kent Redeker, and Ford Riley, and directed by Howy Parkins and Ford Riley. Originally aired November 2, 2019.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Revealed in "Never Roar Again" from Disney Junior's The Lion Guard. Season 1, Episode 21. Written by Jack Monaco and directed by Howy Parkins. Originally aired November 18, 2016.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Revealed in "Triumph of the Roar" from Disney Junior's The Lion Guard. Season 3, Episode 17. Written by John Loy and directed by Howy Parkins. Originally aired October 27, 2019.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Revealed in "Lions of the Outlands" from Disney Junior's The Lion Guard. Season 1, Episode 20. Written by Kevin Hopps, John Loy, and Ford Riley, and directed by Tom Derosier and Howy Parkins. Originally aired November 11, 2016.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Revealed in "The Lion Guard: The Rise of Scar" from Disney Junior's The Lion Guard. Season 2, Episode 5. Written by Ford Riley and directed by Howy Parkins. Originally aired July 29, 2017.
  8. Revealed in "Eye of the Beholder" from Disney Junior's The Lion Guard. Season 1, Episode 5. Written by John Loy, Jack Monaco, and Ford Riley, and directed by Howy Parkins. Originally aired February 5, 2016.
  9. 9.0 9.1 Revealed in "The Rise of Makuu" from Disney Junior's The Lion Guard. Season 1, Episode 2. Written by Ford Riley and directed by Howy Parkins. Originally aired January 15, 2016.
  10. Revealed in "Bunga the Wise" from Disney Junior's The Lion Guard. Season 1, Episode 3. Written by John Loy and directed by Howy Parkins. Originally aired January 22, 2016.
  11. Revealed in "Rafiki's New Neighbors" from Disney Junior's The Lion Guard. Season 2, Episode 8. Written by Laura Sreebny and Krista Tucker, and directed by Howy Parkins. Originally aired September 22, 2017.
  12. 12.0 12.1 Revealed in "The Lake of Reflection" from Disney Junior's The Lion Guard. Season 3, Episode 16. Written by Jennifer Skelly and directed by Tom Derosier and Howy Parkins. Originally aired October 26, 2019.
  13. Revealed in "Cave of Secrets" from Disney Junior's The Lion Guard. Season 2, Episode 21. Written by Jack Monaco and directed by Tom Derosier and Howy Parkins. Originally aired September 4, 2018.
  14. Revealed in "Paintings and Predictions" from Disney Junior's The Lion Guard. Season 1, Episode 11. Written by Elise Allen and Kevin Hopps, and directed by Howy Parkins. Originally aired April 1, 2016.
  15. 15.0 15.1 Revealed in "Battle for the Pride Lands" from Disney Junior's The Lion Guard. Season 3, Episode 1. Written by Ford Riley and directed by Howy Parkins. Originally aired August 3, 2019.
  16. Revealed in "Dragon Island" from Disney Junior's The Lion Guard. Season 3, Episode 6. Written by Alison Taylor and directed by Tom Derosier and Howy Parkins. Originally aired September 21, 2019.
  17. Revealed in "The Accidental Avalanche" from Disney Junior's The Lion Guard. Season 3, Episode 3. Written by Elise Allen and John Loy, and directed by Tom Derosier and Howy Parkins. Originally aired September 8, 2019.
  18. Revealed in "The Tree of Life" from Disney Junior's The Lion Guard. Season 3, Episode 11. Written by Kendall Michele Haney and directed by Howy Parkins. Originally aired October 6, 2019.
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