'The Lion King' Character Guide

Get to know the characters from Disney’s reimagining of 'The Lion King,' in theatres July 19!

SIMBA is destined to be a mighty king from the moment he’s born. As an over-confident cub who can’t wait to be king, Simba learns from his father, Mufasa, and mother, Sarabi, to respect the Circle of Life. But not everyone supports the future king. And no matter how much training and advice Simba receives, actually assuming his place on Pride Rock and filling his beloved father’s great shoes will prove far more difficult than he once believed.

SIMBA is destined to be a mighty king from the moment he’s born. As an over-confident cub who can’t wait to be king, Simba learns from his father, Mufasa, and mother, Sarabi, to respect the Circle of Life. But not everyone supports the future king. And no matter how much training and advice Simba receives, actually assuming his place on Pride Rock and filling his beloved father’s great shoes will prove far more difficult than he once believed.

NALA befriends Simba as a young cub. Playful, competitive and equally matched, they are deemed a pair long before the idea ever occurs to them. Nala, a strong and self-assured cub, grows into a powerful lioness who’s concerned about the future of the Pride Lands. When she and Simba find themselves together again, hope returns to the ailing pride, and Nala—who’s fierce and determined—encourages Simba to be who he’s meant to be.

NALA befriends Simba as a young cub. Playful, competitive and equally matched, they are deemed a pair long before the idea ever occurs to them. Nala, a strong and self-assured cub, grows into a powerful lioness who’s concerned about the future of the Pride Lands. When she and Simba find themselves together again, hope returns to the ailing pride, and Nala—who’s fierce and determined—encourages Simba to be who he’s meant to be.

TIMON is a wisecracking meerkat who discovers a downtrodden Simba after he flees Pride Rock in search of a different life. Timon and his buddy Pumbaa take in the lonely cub and teach him how to survive in their habitat—there’s no need for hunting here. Timon’s no fool, having a lion in your corner can’t be a bad thing—even if he is destined for greatness.

PUMBAA is a perpetually gassy warthog and best friend to meerkat Timon. Following his buddy’s lead, Pumbaa befriends young Simba—just as soon as it’s established that the little lion isn’t planning to eat them. Pumbaa, whose name means “silly” in Swahili, has a big heart and a sensitive soul.

SCAR is the overlooked and undervalued brother to King Mufasa. He has long believed that he is the rightful ruler of the Pride Lands—if only his painfully noble brother would just step aside. When Simba is born, Scar’s dreams fall further from his reach, so the unhappy uncle hatches a plan to dispose of both Mufasa and the new cub with help from his hyena minions. There’s a good reason Scar was never meant to reside over Pride Rock.

RAFIKI is a wise primate shaman and royal advisor to Mufasa. He’s there when Simba is born, and he’s there for the future king when he finds himself at a crossroads. His laugh—infused with equal parts wisdom and madness—is both baffling and contagious.

SARABI is Mufasa’s strong and sophisticated wife, Simba's loving, no-nonsense mother, and the respected queen of Pride Rock. Behind every great lion, there's a great lioness.

ZAZU is a red-billed hornbill and Mufasa’s right wing, so to speak. He is the eyes and ears of the kingdom, reporting the good and the not-so-good news of the day. His loyalty extends to Young Simba—though the over-confident little lion isn’t nearly as grateful for Zazu’s services as Mufasa is.

MUFASA is the intelligent and capable king of Pride Rock and father to Simba. A kind and loving partner to Sarabi, Mufasa is always up for some fun with his cub. He’s driven to teach Simba everything he knows in hopes that his son will one day lead the Pride Lands with compassion and integrity. An ardent believer in the Circle of Life, Mufasa knows he won’t be around forever. His devotion to his family and kingdom knows no bounds.