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Tunu
Tunu
Physical information
Gender

Male

Species

Hyena

Hair color

Black, gray, and pink

Eye color

Blue

Distinguishing features

Spots on muzzle

Biographical information
Also known as

   Little guy (by Kion)
   Little one (by Kion)

Affiliations

   Jasiri's clan
   Outlanders

Relationship information
Allies

Beshte, Bunga, Fuli, Jasiri, Kion, Madoa, Ono, Wema

Enemies

Cheezi, Chungu, Janja, Nne, Tano

Bye, Lion Guard! Thank you!
―Tunu[src]

Tunu is a male hyena. He is a member of Jasiri's clan.

When Tunu and his clan were driven from their watering hole by a pride of lions known as the Outsiders, Jasiri appealed to Kion for help. Upon meeting Kion, Tunu and Wema were fearful of him, and they continued to hide from him even after he saved their watering hole.

Later, the Lion Guard saved Tunu, Wema, and Jasiri from perishing in a lava pit.

Biography[]

Early life[]

Tunu lived in the Outlands. He was a member of Jasiri's clan.[1]

Conflict with the Outsiders[]

2016-11-12-21 29 49

Madoa plays with Tunu and Wema.

When a pride of lions known as the Outsiders overtook Jasiri's clan's watering hole, Jasiri appealed to her friend, Kion, for help. Upon arriving at the clan's hideaway, Kion spotted Tunu and Wema playing with Jasiri's sister, Madoa. The two caught sight of Kion and hid. Though he tried to comfort the cubs, they refused to emerge, and Madoa told him that he should not blame them for their behavior, for they had only ever known bad lions.

After Kion returned the watering hole to Jasiri's clan, Kion asked Tunu and Wema if they were still scared of him. To Jasiri and Madoa's amusement, the cubs hid from him once more.[1]

Janja's attack[]

One day, Jasiri played with Tunu and Wema. Janja watched from afar and ordered his clan to attack the trio. The clan launched their attack, and Jasiri desperately tried to protect the cubs from harm. In the midst of the fight, Janja forced the three into an open steam vent, where lava was steadily rising to the surface. As Janja's clan gathered around, preventing any attempt at escape, Madoa resolved to get Kion's help.

2017-10-27-18 02 45

Janja traps Tunu, Wema, and Jasiri in a rising steam vent.

The Lion Guard arrived and engaged Janja's clan in a fight, which effectively steered them away from the edge of the steam vent. With the hyenas out of the way, Kion ordered Beshte to push a large rock into the lava flow. He did so, and Tunu clambered to safety alongside Jasiri and Wema.

After the rescue, Jasiri thanked the Lion Guard for their help and expressed concern over how overzealous Janja and his clan had been. Kion blamed the dry season for Janja's odd behavior, and the two groups departed, with Jasiri returning the cubs to their clan.[2]

Hyena Resistance[]

Tunu looked on as Jasiri convinced her clanmates to form the Hyena Resistance.[3]

Janja's visit[]

When Janja appealed to Jasiri for help, he visited her clan's watering hole, where Tunu was sleeping next to Wema.[4]

Physical appearance[]

Unlike the females of his clan, Tunu does not have a purple tinge to his pelt. Rather, his fur is pale gray, and he has dark gray stripes across his back and one in-between his eyes. Both his ears and legs are black, and his underbelly is a pink-tinged gray. His tail is black, though its underside is the same pinkish-gray as his underbelly, and his eyes are dark blue. He also has one small tooth that protrudes from his mouth.[1]

Personality and traits[]

Tunu is innocent and playful. Like Wema, he harbors a deep-rooted fear of lions due to how his clan was treated by the Outsiders. Even after Kion saved his clan's watering hole, Tunu continued to react with fright to his presence.[1] Eventually, Tunu overcame his fear of lions and showed gratitude to the Lion Guard for their help in saving him from Janja's clan. He is deeply fond of Jasiri and feels safe around her.[2]

Appearances[]

Trivia[]

  • Tunu's name means "valuable" in Swahili.[6]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 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.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Revealed in "Rescue in the Outlands" from Disney Junior's The Lion Guard. Season 2, Episode 9. Written by Elise Allen and directed by Tom Derosier and Howy Parkins. Originally aired September 29, 2017.
  3. Revealed in "The Hyena Resistance" from Disney Junior's The Lion Guard. Season 2, Episode 23. Written by Kendall Michele Haney and directed by Tom Derosier and Howy Parkins. Originally aired September 6, 2018.
  4. 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.
  5. Crimson Hart. IMDb. IMDb.com, Inc. Retrieved on October 7, 2020.
  6. "a tunu" English translation. bab.la. IDM. Retrieved on April 22, 2022.
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