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| Zazu (reboot) | |
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| Physical information | |
| Gender |
Male |
| Species | |
| Feather color |
Black, blue, and white |
| Eye color |
Yellow |
| Biographical information | |
| Also known as | |
| Status |
Living |
| Residence |
• Pride Lands |
| Affiliations |
• Pride Landers |
| Titles |
• Majordomo |
| Relationship information | |
| Family |
Unnamed brother |
| Allies |
Mufasa, Nala, Pumbaa, Rafiki, Sarabi, Sarafina, Simba, Timon, Scar (formerly) |
| Enemies | |
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Zazu is a male hornbill. He currently serves as the majordomo of the Pride Lands.
Initially, Zazu served the young princess Sarabi per the orders of her father, the king of their pride. After a hostile pride of white lions known as the Outsiders all but decimated their pride, Sarabi and Zazu went on the run and attempted to survive on their own. Eventually, they ran into two young lion adoptive brothers named Mufasa and Taka, as well as a mandrill named Rafiki, whom they allied with. Together, the group sought the fabled paradise Milele.
After an extended journey, the group finally found Milele, only for the Outsiders to attack them. Mufasa managed to rally the animals of Milele to his cause, and they helped him and his allies fight off the enemy pride. Once the Outsiders had been defeated and their leader, Kiros, had been killed by Mufasa, the animals of Milele hailed Mufasa as their new king. Shortly into his reign, he made Zazu his majordomo.
Seasons later, when Mufasa died in a wildebeest stampede, Scar (formerly Taka) assumed the throne, and Zazu was driven from the pride. Despite his banishment, Zazu continued to report on the state of the Pride Lands to Sarabi, and helped Nala escape the Pride Lands to find help. Eventually, Nala returned to the Pride Lands with Mufasa and Sarabi's son, Simba, who challenged Scar's claim to the throne. Zazu supported Simba's efforts and helped him defeat Scar's hyena army, after which Simba took the throne, and Zazu became his majordomo.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Zazu had a brother and a cousin.[1]
Serving Sarabi[]
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As a young adult, Zazu was recruited by the king of a lion pride to protect his daughter, Sarabi. At some point, the Outsiders attacked and all but decimated their pride, leaving Sarabi and Zazu to fend for themselves. While searching for remnants of their pride, the two stumbled into Mufasa and Taka. Though Taka pointed out that Sarabi was alone, Zazu revealed his presence and introduced himself as the latest addition to the King's Royal Guard, then asked the brothers to move on. After they had left to hunt, however, he encouraged Sarabi to reconsider their offer, and she reluctantly followed them.
Zazu introduces himself to Mufasa and Taka.
Before long, the group met a mandrill named Rafiki, who claimed to be searching for Milele. Hoping to reach this mystical paradise themselves, the group opted to spare his life and follow his lead. In order to break the ice, Zazu tried to ask personal questions of his friends, but they simply ignored him.
Continuing on, the group reached a ravine and climbed down into it in order to evade the pursuing Outsiders. Even so, the Outsiders soon caught up to them, and Sarabi heaved a beehive into the midst of an elephant herd to incite a stampede. Though the others managed to evade the elephants, Sarabi got knocked unconscious, and Mufasa dragged her to safety. Once the elephants had run off, Rafiki revived Sarabi, and the group continued on their way.
Zazu journeys to Milele alongside his friends.
Next, the group scaled a snowy mountain. In an effort to throw off their pursuers, Mufasa instructed Zazu to cover their tracks, and he obediently flicked snow over his friends' paw prints to hide them. Once at the mountain's summit, Sarabi praised Mufasa for his efforts and nuzzled him. Misunderstanding the gesture, Zazu attempted to nuzzle Taka, but he simply shoved him aside.
Eventually, the group moved on until they reached Milele. No sooner had they arrived when the Outsiders caught up to them, and Mufasa rallied the animals to help them fight. Though Zazu attempted to take on several lionesses, a shoebill scooped him into the air and carried him away from danger.
After the battle, Mufasa was hailed as the new king of Milele. Zazu suggested that he banish Taka for his treachery, but Mufasa decreed that his brother could live in Milele as long as he was king.[2] Under Mufasa's reign, Zazu became his majordomo.[1]
Simba's presentation[]
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Seasons later, Zazu attended the presentation of Mufasa and Sarabi's newborn son, Simba. As the Pride Landers gathered at Pride Rock, Zazu flew over the crowd, landed on Pride Rock's promontory, and bowed to Mufasa.
Zazu scolds Scar for his absence at Simba's presentation.
After the ceremony, Scar taunted a field mouse. Zazu approached and warned Scar that Mufasa was coming, as he was displeased with Scar for having missed Simba's presentation. Annoyed at the hornbill for distracting him and letting his prey escape, Scar attempted to eat Zazu, only for Mufasa to show up and stop him. Once Zazu was free, Mufasa asked Scar why he had not attended Simba's presentation, and Zazu reminded Scar that, as the king's brother, he should have been "first in line." Scar countered that he had been first in line until Simba's birth. In the face of Mufasa's hostility, Scar claimed that he would not dare to challenge Mufasa again, and Zazu agreed that it was a wise decision, as Scar was no match for Mufasa.
Eventually, Scar wandered off, and Zazu questioned why Mufasa refused to expel him. Mufasa replied that Scar was his brother and that the Pride Lands was his home. Zazu asserted that every family had an odd member, then told the story of his cousin, who thought he was a woodpecker. Together, Mufasa and Zazu left the cave.[1]
Morning report to Mufasa[]
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Zazu delivers the morning report to Mufasa.
As seasons passed, Simba grew into a young cub. One day, while Mufasa was teaching Simba about the Circle of Life, Zazu appeared and delivered his morning report to Mufasa. During Zazu's report, Mufasa instructed Simba in a pouncing lesson, and Simba used Zazu as his target. Annoyed, Zazu declared that he had been trying to deliver the news, then flew off in a huff.
Before long, Zazu returned with news that hyenas were invading the Pride Lands. Mufasa asked where Sarabi was, and Zazu told him that she was leading the charge against the hyenas. Mufasa ordered Zazu to take Simba home, and Zazu obediently guided Simba back to Pride Rock. Once there, Zazu urged Simba to play with the other cubs, then flew away.[1]
Rescuing Simba and Nala[]
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Zazu attempts to keep up with Simba and Nala.
Simba asked Sarabi if he and his best friend, Nala, could go to the water hole. She agreed but sent Zazu with them. While escorting the cubs, Zazu patrolled the surrounding area vigilantly. Meanwhile, Simba and Nala plotted to get away from Zazu so they could visit the Elephant Graveyard.
In the midst of the cubs' planning, Zazu flew down and marveled at their friendship. Confused, Simba and Nala asked Zazu what he was talking about, and he informed them that they would be some day get married to each other. Disgusted, Simba declared that he would not have to marry anyone, as he would be the king, but Zazu insisted that it was a tradition. Simba countered that he would never let anyone tell him what to do, to which Zazu asserted that Simba could not escape his destiny. As Simba and Zazu argued back and forth, the cubs raced away, and Zazu frantically chased after them. Despite his best efforts to keep up with them, he eventually got swept away by a flock of birds and separated from the cubs.
Zazu defends Simba and Nala from Shenzi.
Eventually, Zazu caught up with Simba and Nala at the Elephant Graveyard and defended them from Shenzi and her clan. He warned Shenzi that, should she harm Simba, she would be starting a war with Mufasa, but Shenzi argued that hyenas and lions had always been at war and that she wanted to end Mufasa's bloodline right then and there. Shenzi proceeded to lunge at Simba and Nala, but Zazu jumped in front of her, which gave the cubs time to escape. Just in time, Mufasa showed up and fended off the hyenas. Afterward, Zazu, Mufasa, Simba, and Nala returned to the Pride Lands, and Mufasa instructed Zazu to take Nala home. Before leaving, Zazu encouraged Mufasa to go easy on Simba and reminded him that he had once been a rambunctious cub himself. Zazu and Nala then left together.[1]
Mufasa's death[]
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Scar sends Zazu to fetch the pride for help.
The next day, Zazu was with Mufasa when Scar informed them that Simba was trapped in a wildebeest stampede. The three raced toward the gorge, and Zazu vowed to find Simba. Eventually, Zazu found Simba clinging to a tree branch. After Zazu informed Mufasa of Simba's location, Scar sent Zazu to fetch the pride while he helped Mufasa save Simba. However, while Zazu was away, Scar threw Mufasa to his death and drove Simba from the Pride Lands.
After Mufasa's death, Scar became the king of Pride Rock. From afar, Zazu and Rafiki watched the coronation in disapproval.[1]
Scar's reign[]
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Under Scar's tyrannical reign, the hyenas over-hunted the Pride Lands and depleted the kingdom of its plentiful resources. Meanwhile, Zazu got banished from the kingdom under the threat of being eaten should he ever return. However, he continued to deliver daily morning reports to Sarabi.
Zazu distracts Scar so Nala can escape Pride Rock.
One day, Zazu delivered the morning report to Sarabi, where he informed her that the hyenas had chased off the last of the herds. Just then, Azizi and Kamari approached and chased Zazu off.
That night, Nala attempted to sneak out of the Pride Lands. Zazu intercepted her and tried to convince her to stay, but she argued that she did not need protecting anymore. Just then, Scar noticed something amiss and began to search the surrounding area with his hyena minions. He nearly caught Nala until Zazu distracted him and lured him and the hyenas away from her. This enabled her to successfully escape the Pride Lands.[1]
Battle for Pride Rock[]
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Zazu attacks a hyena during the battle for Pride Rock.
One day, a young adult Simba returned to the Pride Lands with Nala, Timon, and Pumbaa. Zazu spotted Simba and, elated to see him again, welcomed him home. Simba then introduced Zazu to Timon and Pumbaa, who mistook him for a puffin. As the group readied to approach Pride Rock, Zazu declared that they were with Simba until the end. Timon and Pumbaa proceeded to distract the hyenas, while Zazu, Simba, and Nala made a beeline for Pride Rock.
Upon reaching Pride Rock, Simba challenged Scar for the throne and rallied the lionesses against him. In the ensuing battle, Zazu attacked some of the hyenas before being cornered, but Rafiki saved him.[1]
Simba's coronation[]
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After Scar's defeat, Simba reconvened with his pride. Before he ascended Pride Rock to become king, Zazu bowed to him and called him "Your Majesty." Later, Zazu attended the presentation of Simba and Nala's newborn cub.[1]
Physical appearance[]
As a young adult, Zazu was small and delicately built. He had feathers with blue, gray, and white hues, with white spots on his wings. He also had a long, curved, orange beak; black talons; and beady yellow eyes.[2] Upon growing into adulthood, Zazu retained his coloring, though the feathers on his head smoothed down considerably, and he gained a ridge of black on the top of his head.[1]
Personality and traits[]
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As a young adult, Zazu was high-strung, petulant, and anxious. He was fiercely devoted to Sarabi and took his duties as her protector quite seriously. He could be somewhat chatty and oblivious, to the point that his friends would sometimes ignore him. He tended to doubt his abilities and often needed encouragement to take on a task. Even so, he was brave bordering on stupid, willing to take on full-grown lions in a fight.[2]
Zazu continued to deliver morning reports to Sarabi, even under the threat of death.
Now an adult, Zazu has a strong sense of duty and reveres tradition. He is exceptionally loyal to Mufasa, to the point that he continued to deliver morning reports to Mufasa's widow, Sarabi, even under the threat of death. At times, Zazu can be snobby and vain, as he takes great pride in his majordomo title and does not tolerate being talked down to. Despite his more serious nature, he does occasionally enjoy a good jest and likes to tell funny stories about his family.
Zazu is especially protective of Simba and Nala, even into their adulthood. He continued to shield an adult Nala from Scar and the hyenas, and vowed his loyalty to Simba upon the young lion's return to the Pride Lands. Brave and determined, Zazu will defend the Pride Lands with his life and is unwaveringly loyal to those whom he trusts and respects.[1]
Appearances[]
Trivia[]
General[]
- Zazu was voiced by the following:
- In The Lion King, he was voiced by John Oliver.[3]
- In Mufasa: The Lion King, he was voiced by Preston Nyman.[4]
- Though Zazu implies that he knew Mufasa as a cub in The Lion King,[1] the two meet each other as adolescents in Mufasa: The Lion King.[2]
In development[]
- In an early draft of Mufasa: The Lion King, Zazu appeared in the opening scene, during which he vowed to help Simba find Nala.[5]
References[]
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