Mufasa (The Lion King)

King Mufasa, also simply known as Mufasa, is the titular overarching protagonist of Disney's franchise.
He is the father and mentor of Simba, the mate of Sarabi, and the older brother of Scar. He is the king of the Pride Lands until his death by his envious brother, Scar.
In The Lion King: Six New Adventures (which are non-canon to the films and TV shows), Mufasa is the son of Ahadi and Uru. He is also the grandfather of Kopa, Kiara and Kion.
He was originally voiced by the late in the films (including the ) and in The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar, who also voiced the evil Darth Vader in Star Wars media, and is currently by since The Lion Guard, who also voiced Br'er Bear from The Adventures of Br'er Rabbit and Uncle Ruckus from The Boondocks.
==Background==
Mufasa was born at Pride Rock in the Pride Lands to the king and queen. Sometime after Mufasa's birth, his younger brother Askari was born. Being the eldest, Mufasa was made heir to the throne whilst Askari, as second born, was made leader of The Lion Guard (whose first leader, was his namesake), a team who protect the Pride Lands and defend the Circle of Life and was gifted with the Roar of the Elders, which made the lions of the Pride Lands past roar with him.
In his childhood, Mufasa was betrothed to a lioness named Sarabi, whom he married later on. Some point before or after the marriage, Mufasa became King of the Pride Lands.
One day, during Mufasa's earlier days as king, Askari returned to Pride Rock from the Outlands after using the Roar of the Elders to defeat a strange lion and cobra. Unbeknownst to Mufasa, Askari have previously partnered with the strange lion to overthrow Mufasa because of his jealously of him being king instead of him before he was being double-crossed, and killing the lion primarily in an act of vengeance. Instead of praising him, Mufasa simply gave his brother a congratulatory pat on the head and gave him a nickname "Scar", due to the scar over his left eye, which he got from the cobra. Enraged at not being taken seriously by his older brother, Scar (whose mind began to become corrupted by the cobra's venom) decided to proceed with his plans to be king of the Pride Lands. Scar attempted to get the other members of his Lion Guard to assist him overthrow Mufasa. But when they refused, an angry Scar eliminated them by using the Roar of the Elders against them, but he lost the ability to use it in the process as the Roar is meant to be used for good not evil. It’s likely Mufasa forgave his younger brother for his crimes and allowed him to stay at Pride Rock rather than crucifying or exiling him.
==Films==
===The Lion King===
Mufasa is first seen on Pride Rock at the presentation of his and Sarabi's newborn son Simba where he nods and smiles happily at Zazu and hugs Rafiki. He then goes over to Sarabi, who is cradling Simba in her arms. Mufasa and Sarabi watch Rafiki anoint Simba and raise him into the air for all the animals of the Pride Lands to see. Later that day, Mufasa stops Scar from devouring Zazu and says he and Sarabi did not see him at Simba's presentation. Scar claims it slipped his mind and when Zazu tells him as the king’s brother, he should have been first in line, Scar replies he was first in line until the "little hairball" was born. Mufasa steps in and says the hairball is his son and Scar's future king. When Scar sarcastically promises to practice his curtsy and starts to depart, Mufasa warns him not to turn his back on him. Scar replies that perhaps Mufasa shouldn't turn his back on him. Mufasa roars furiously at this and runs after Scar and blocks his path, demanding to know if he was challenging him. Scar tells his brother to control his temper and replies he would not dream of challenging him and when Zazu asks why, Scar replies as far as brains go, he got the lions share but when it comes to brute strength, he's at the shallow end of the gene pool. After Scar departs, Mufasa wonders what to do with him, to which Zazu jokingly suggests making him into a throw rug and that whenever he got dirty, Mufasa could take him out and beat him. Mufasa chuckles at this suggestion.
Months later, Mufasa is seen asleep in Pride Rock one morning with Sarabi and the other lionesses before he's being awoken by Simba who Mufasa promised to show the Pride Lands to. Mufasa gets up and takes Simba to the top of Pride Rock and tells him everything the light touches is their kingdom. When Simba asks about a shadowy place in the distance, Mufasa says this it is beyond their borders and tells Simba never to go there. When Simba replies he thought that a king could do whatever he wants, Mufasa tells him there's more to being king than getting his way all the time.
Mufasa then takes Simba around the Pride Lands and talks about everything being in a delicate balance and as king, Simba needs to understand that balance and respect all creatures and says they are all connected in the great Circle of Life. Just then, Zazu arrives and gives Mufasa a morning report and while this is going on, Simba tries pouncing on a bug. Mufasa decides to give Simba a lesson and uses Zazu as the target. After being pounced on by Simba, Zazu meets a mole who tells him that the hyenas are in the Pride Lands, which Zazu tells Mufasa who goes to dispense with them but not before telling Zazu to take Simba home.
Later that day, though not shown, Mufasa is informed by Zazu that Simba and his friend Nala were in the Elephant Graveyard (which was the shadowy place Mufasa told Simba not to go to) being pursued by three hyenas named Shenzi, Banzai and Ed. Mufasa rushes to the cubs' aid and fights the hyenas, quickly overpowering them and warns them to not come near Simba again. As the hyenas flee, Zazu flies over to Mufasa and smiles and nods happily at him for dealing with the hyenas, only to cower when Mufasa gives him a stern look. Simba walks over to Mufasa and tries to apologize for not listening to him, only to be scolded by Mufasa for deliberately disobeying him. Simba says that he is sorry. Mufasa then leaves the Elephant Graveyard with Simba, Nala and Zazu. Unbeknownst to Mufasa and the others, they are being watched by an annoyed Scar (who had influenced Simba to go to the Elephant Graveyard as he had hoped that there the hyenas would kill Simba thus making Scar the first in line again.).
Upon returning to the Pride Lands, Mufasa tells Zazu to take Nala home as he's got to teach his son a lesson. After Zazu and Nala depart, Mufasa calls Simba over to him and expresses his disappointment in him for almost getting killed, deliberately disobeying him and for putting Nala in danger. When a remorseful Simba replies that he was just trying to be brave like Mufasa, the king replies he is only brave when he has to be and tells Simba "Being brave doesn't mean he goes looking for trouble". Simba says that Mufasa is not scared of anything, but Mufasa says he was today as he thought he might lose Simba. Afterwards, the two of them reconcile and have a brief play fight. When Simba asks Mufasa if they will always be together, Mufasa tells him something his father had told him, telling his son to look at the stars as The Great Kings of the Past look down on them from those stars, so whenever he feels alone, just remember that those kings will always be there to guide Simba and so will he.
The next day, Mufasa is out patrolling the Pride Lands with Zazu who notices dust rising from the gorge and points out a wildebeest herd is on the move which Mufasa finds odd. Just then, Scar shows up and tells Mufasa there is a stampede in the gorge and Simba is down there. Mufasa (unaware that Scar deliberately set up the stampede as part of his plot to kill both Mufasa and Simba in order to become king) rushes to the gorge with Scar while Zazu flies on ahead. When the two lions show up at the gorge, Zazu points out Simba hanging from a tree to which Mufasa dives amongst the wildebeests to rescue his son, however, he collides with a wildebeest, which knocks him to the ground. Just then, a wildebeest crashes into the tree Simba is on, causing Simba to be catapulted into the air. Fortunately, Mufasa manages to get up and catch Simba in midair and runs through the herd. However, Mufasa collides with another wildebeest afterwards, causing him to drop Simba, but he is able to pick him up and puts him on a ledge to safety. Suddenly, Mufasa is knocked down by another wildebeest afterwards, but he manages to leap out of the stampede and onto a steep cliff and starts to climb up it where he sees Scar at the top. Mufasa asks for Scar's help. Scar gazes down at his brother before lunging forward and grabbing onto his paws and sinking his claws into them, causing Mufasa to roar in pain. Scar leans over the cliff and smiles wickedly at a confused Mufasa and threateningly says "Long Live the King". Mufasa's look of confusion turns to horror when he discovers Scar set the stampede up and what he intends to do. Scar then dislodges Mufasa's paws from the cliff before letting go of them, sending Mufasa back into the gorge. Mufasa screams in despair (and possibly anger at Scar's betrayal) as he falls back into the stampede as Simba (who didn’t see what Scar did and believed Mufasa had lost grip) watches on and cries out in horror. After the stampede is over, Simba finds Mufasa lying under a tree. He tries to wake his father, before realizing that he is dead. Scar then arrives and tricks Simba into thinking he caused his father's death (as Simba had roared seconds before the stampede began) and tells him run away and never return.
Years later, when a young adult Simba reunites with Nala in a jungle and Nala expresses disappointment in him for not wanting to return to the Pride Lands to defeat Scar, an annoyed Simba tells Nala that she is starting to sound like Mufasa. Later that night, Mufasa's spirit appears to Simba and accuses his son of forgetting him, to which Simba denies the statement. Mufasa replies to Simba has forgotten who he is himself and so has forgotten him. He tells Simba he must take his place in the Circle of Life, and he is his son and the one true king afterwards. Simba returns to Pride Rock and discovers Scar killed Mufasa and battles and defeats him, avenging his father. Simba ascends Pride Rock, looks up at the stars through an opening in the clouds, and hears Mufasa say "Remember" before he roars triumphantly.
===The Lion King II: Simba's Pride===
Months later, Mufasa's ghost is shown in the opening song, "He Lives in You" watching his granddaughter Kiara's presentation.
A few years later, Rafiki is seen in his tree talking to Mufasa whilst painting a picture of a now adolescent Karia next to Kovu, a young lion being raised to avenge Scar's death by killing Simba. Rafiki expresses worry about Kovu being raised by his mother Zira to have hate in his heart. Mufasa via blowing a fruit down and cracking it, tells Rafiki that Kiara and Kovu should brought together in order to bring peace between the Pridelanders and the Outsiders. At first, Rafiki is against the idea but is eventually coaxed into going with the plan by Mufasa.
Sometime after this, Simba has a nightmare about Mufasa's death. Mufasa is seen in the gorge clinging to the side of a cliff above the stampede calling out for Simba's help. Simba tries to rescue him and stop him from falling into the gorge, but he is stopped by Scar. Mufasa begins to slide further down the cliff and calls out to Simba again before losing his grip and falls into the stampede, much to Simba's sadness. Simba angrily turns on Scar, who transforms into Kovu and throws Simba into the gorge after Mufasa.
Later, Mufasa is mentioned after Simba arrogantly exiled Kovu (after believing the younger lion was involved in an ambush on him by Zira and the Outsiders, which he wasn't) and tells Kiara that he knows that Kovu is following in Scar's pawprints, and he himself must follow in Mufasa's (unaware of Mufasa's plan). Kiara (who knows that Kovu would never do such a thing) tells Simba that he will never be Mufasa (suggesting that in Kiara's eyes, Mufasa would have at least heard what Kovu wanted to say and/or given him a fair trial before he decided whether or not to exile him, unlike Simba who exiled Kovu without even giving him a chance to explain), to her father's and the pride's shock. After Kiara and Kovu reunited that night, a breeze blows over at the both of them, indicating Mufasa was watching them and was pleased that his goal was finally fulfilled. After Zira's demise and the Outsiders rejoining the Pridelanders, Mufasa congratulates Simba on a job well done and says his signature line "We are one".
===The Lion King 1½===
Mufasa makes brief appearances in the film which is set from Timon's and Pumbaa's point of view. He appears at Simba's presentation where he and Zazu watch the animals bowing (due to being knocked out by Pumbaa's flatulence). Mufasa's second appearance is when he arrives at the Elephant Graveyard with Zazu to rescue Simba and Nala from Shenzi, Banzai and Ed and he is watched by Timon and Pumbaa. His final appearance in the film is as a ghost which Timon and Pumbaa mistake for bad weather.
===The Lion King (2019)===
See Mufasa (2019)
Mufasa appears in the live action/CGI remake of the original 1994 film. Like his original counterpart, he was also voiced by James Earl Jones.
==Television==
===The Lion Guard===
Mufasa appears as the overarching protagonist of the 2016 Disney Junior series The Lion Guard, which serves as a midquel to The Lion King II: Simba's Pride and focuses on Mufasa's grandson Kion, who serves as leader of the Lion Guard which protect the Pride Lands and defend the Circle of Life.
Mufasa appears in the series' 2015 pilot film The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar in a painting inside an area of Pride Rock called the Lair of the Lion Guard, which is being shown to Kion and Bunga by Simba and Rafiki in the first place. In the same scene, it’s revealed when Mufasa was younger, Scar led the Lion Guard and an ability called the Roar of the Elders and attempted to overthrow Mufasa, but this failed as his Lion Guard refused to assist, resulting in Scar killing them with the Roar. This caused Scar to lose the Roar as it is not meant to be used for evil.
Later, Mufasa appears in spirit form to Kion, who felt dejected after Simba reprimands him for not putting lions in the Lion Guard and for treating his role as leader as a game. Mufasa tells Kion he is about to embark on a great journey and being leader of the Lion Guard, but Kion replies he doesn't think Simba will let him lead the Lion Guard and he's worried that he can't handle it. Mufasa tells Kion that Simba is worried because he loves Kion and that being leader of the Lion Guard will not always be easy.
Kion believes he's not ready to lead the Lion Guard or use the Roar of the Elders (as when he tried to use it again, it came out as a squeak) and doesn't want to end up like his great-uncle Scar, but Mufasa encourages Kion to trust his instincts and the Roar will be there for him when he needs it and so will he.
Mufasa makes recurring appearances throughout the series mostly to give advice to Kion. In the show's second season, Mufasa discovers Scar has returned from the dead. Although this is beyond his experience, Mufasa believes Kion, the Lion Guard and Simba will be able to defeat Scar.
In the final episode "Return to the Pride Lands", Mufasa witnesses the wedding and coronation of Kion and Rani at The Tree of Life alongside the spirits of Askari (the first leader of the Lion Guard who Scar was named after) and Janna (Rani's grandmother and the previous Queen of the Tree of Life).
==Musical==
Mufasa appears in the stage adaptation of the first film. He was first played by the late Samuel E. Wright (who also played Sebastian).
Mufasa's role in the musical is similar to that of the film, though during the scene where he tells Simba about the Great Kings of the Past, he sings "They Live In You". In a later scene during a conversation with Zazu, it is revealed that Mufasa was much like Simba as a cub.
==Books==
===The Lion King Six New Adventures===
===="A Tale Of Two Brothers"====
In this book, which serves as a prequel to The Lion King, Mufasa is depicted as a teenager and is the son and heir of King Ahadi and Queen Uru. In the story, Mufasa along with his younger brother Taka and Ahadi, are patrolling the Pride Lands which is suffering from a drought, resulting in Uru departing Pride Rock to find a water source. The three lions see a mandrill named Rafiki being surrounded by three young hyenas named Shenzi, Banzai and Ed. Ahadi upbraids the hyenas for attempting to hunt for sport and make them leave Rafiki alone. Mufasa strikes up a friendship with Rafiki.
The animals of the Pride Lands come to Ahadi to complain about the current drought affecting them. When the king chooses to deal with the situation over taking his son's hunting, Taka expresses exasperation at this and blames Ahadi of favouring Mufasa over him as well.
Later in the book, Taka attempts to make Mufasa look like a fool in an attempt to convince Ahadi to make him his heir instead. He attempts to get Mufasa to fight a cape buffalo named Boma, but this fails, and it is Taka who is attacked by Boma and his herd and becomes slashed across his left eye by one of the buffalos horns. Fortunately, Ahadi shows up to assist his sons. Rafiki tends to Taka and says he will heal but the cut over his eye will remain. Feeling humiliated for his moronic ideas, Taka asks to be known as Scar from now on.
Afterwards, Mufasa talks with Ahadi and Rafiki and agree that a majordomo is needed and recruit a female hornbill named Zuzu. Rafiki is recruited as adviser in addition.
===="How True Zazu?"====
In this book, which like "A Tale Of Two Brothers, takes place before the film, Mufasa being informed of everything happening in The Pride Lands by Zazu (who is the son and successor of Zuzu). When the other Pride Land animals become irritated by this, they trick Zazu into giving Mufasa fake stories, causing the king to start to lose trust in him.
However, Mufasa regains his trust in Zazu after he warns him of an ant attack.
===="Friends In Need"====
In this book which contradicts the timeline of The Lion King: Six New Adventures, a teenaged Mufasa rescues a young Zazu from Shenzi, Banzai and Ed. As thanks for being rescued, Zazu hopes he can be of service to the future king.
Zazu starts to follow Mufasa around, much to the young lion's aggravation as Zazu keeps disturbing his hunts and his time with his betrothed Sarabi. One day, Zazu notices vultures circling and questions Mufasa about it. However, the young prince does not wish to deal with it and has a nap. Zazu goes to see what the vultures are fascinated with and discovers Sarabi trapped in a gorge. He goes to alert Mufasa, who uses a tree trunk Zazu points out to him to rescue Sarabi.
Afterwards, Mufasa accepts Zazu is useful and declares when he becomes king, Zazu will be his majordomo, which happened when Mufasa became the new king of Pride Rock.
===="The Brightest Star"====
On a cold winter's eve, Mufasa and Simba are on Pride Rock stargazing. Simba notices the brightest star in the sky and asks his father which Great King of the Past it is. Mufasa replies the star is Simba's great-grandfather Mohatu, who searched for a water supply during a drought in the Pride Lands.
After Mufasa finishes the story, Simba tells his father he wished Mohatu could still be with them. Mufasa explains to his son Mohatu still is with them, at least in spirit. He was there to remind them to respect and love one another, no matter how different they may be. Then, Mufasa proclaims it was time to go to bed. As they depart, Simba says good night to his great-grandfather's star, and tells him he wanted to grow up to be just like him. Mufasa smiles proudly at his son and they head down Pride Rock.
===="Simba's Big Secret"====
Mufasa is seen with Simba who accidentally slips that Nala is scared of mice, to which Mufasa replies he himself was scared of mice when he was younger.
Later in the book, Mufasa goes with the pride to the Red Cliffs to find Nala after Simba reveals she told him she found a secret cave there. Luckily, the pride is able to rescue Nala after she became trapped in the cave.
==Personality==
Mufasa was known for his benevolence, courage, a tender and playful side yet stoicness and seriousness. He was respected amongst every lion in Pride Rock (except for his younger brother Scar, of course) but Mufasa still wasn't without his faults, for instance he exiled the hyenas to the Elephant Graveyard leaving them with very little food which shows he can be quite racist, however when Scar became king of Pride Rock and he invited the hyenas to live there, it’s understandable why he would exile them. Mufasa has something of an extremely short temper, while he’s confronting Scar who replies "Oh no, Mufasa. Perhaps you shouldn't turn your back on me.", It prompted the king to snarl in fury.
All of his faults in hand, Mufasa was a selfless and loving lion who cared deeply about his family to the very end. Mufasa was also a massive believer in the Circle of Life. Mufasa's faith in the Circle of Life kept the Pride Lands in balance during his reign, under which the kingdom thrived, and prepared his son, Simba to follow it in his paw prints. Mufasa was utterly devoted towards his son and would risk his life for him even at the cost of his own safety. He charged head-first to attack the hyenas when they were fixing to devour Simba and his friend, Nala. What’s more, Mufasa was able to rescue Simba from a stampede of wildebeest at the cost of his own life this time however. In a twist of irony, however, Mufasa's love for his family also attributed to what causes his downfall and death as when he climbed up the edge of a cliff and Scar was at the top, he asked for help only for Scar to reveal his true nature and throw him off the cliff before he replaced him as king. This shows despite being a very wise king, Mufasa had a slight poor judge of character as he was unaware of Scar's resentment and hatred of him and Simba until it was too late.
==Relationships==
===Family===
====Scar====
Mufasa had a complicated relationship with his younger brother for years on end. One day in their youth, his brother had returned to Pride Rock after defeating a strange lion and cobra and expected Mufasa to praise him. However, Mufasa simply gave his brother a congratulatory pat on the head and gave him a nickname "Scar", due to the scar over his left eye, which he got from the cobra. Infuriated at not being taken seriously by his brother, Scar chose to proceed with his plans to become king. He attempted to have his Lion Guard help him overthrow, but when they refused, he destroyed them with his Roar of the Elders, losing it in the process. Presumably, Mufasa either had no knowledge of this crime, or had forgiven his brother, as Scar was still allowed to live at Pride Rock with the royal family.
As adults, the two brothers continued to have a strained relationship with Scar becoming jealous of Mufasa's son Simba replacing him as next in line to be king. Seasons later, after rescuing Simba from a wildebeest stampede, Mufasa had a hard time climbing up a cliff to safety and asked Scar for help, believing that despite their poor relationship, he would help him. However, Mufasa was scared when Scar revealed his true nature and threw him to his death.
Despite Scar causing his death, Mufasa did not wish vengeance on him and when he appeared as a ghost to an older Simba, he only wanted him to take his rightful place as king rather than just get revenge on Scar. Furthermore, extends no ill judgement towards Zira’s pride for their loyalty to Scar, and encourages Rafiki to unite the heirs of both Simba and Zira’s prides (Kovu and Kiara) to end the war and fix the Circle of Life.
Upon hearing that Scar has returned from the dead, Mufasa is worried about what would happen, but still didn't wish vengence on his brother and was assured that Simba and Kion will be able to defeat him. In the end, Scar was defeated, albeit at the price of Kion getting his own scar, which the deceased King does not hold against his grandson.
====Sarabi====
Mufasa loved his wife dearly. They were presumably betrothed to each other as part of tradition, and thus married to become King and Queen of the Pride Lands.
As adults, Mufasa and Sarabi became King and Queen of the Pride Lands and had a son together named Simba, who they both loved very much.
After Mufasa passed away, Sarabi was devastated and became outraged to learn that the one responsible was Scar, and so along with the pride, took part in the battle of Pride Rock to avenge her husband's death.
====Simba====
Mufasa cared very much for his son and did what he could to train him to be a great king like him. After Mufasa passed away rescuing Simba from a wildebeest stampede, the cub was upset and believed himself to be accountable and fled his home.
Years later, Mufasa's ghost appeared to Simba and encouraged him to return to the Pride Lands and be king. To this day, Simba tries to be as great a king as Mufasa was.
After his grandaughter Kiara is born, Mufasa presuades Rafiki to have the Outsiders who have been exiled by Simba due to their loyalty to Scar and the Pridelanders to be together by making Kiara and Kovu in love together and the Circle of Life will be fully restored to its former glory. When Simba was injured in the ambush set the leader of the Outsiders Zira and Kovu being exiled believing he was involved in the ambush, Mufasa was furious and disappointed in Simba for deliberately disobeying him again, not believing Kovu and breaking the Circle of Life, even Simba tries to justify his actions that he was only "following" what his father wanted, which Kiara angrily tells him that he will never be his late father which will likely to happen if he still refusing to reconsider his mistakes and Mufasa tells him that he breaks his family apart.
However, after Zira's demise, Simba manage to reunite the prides and Kiara and Kovu together, he congratulates Simba and telling him "We are one".
====Nala====
Though they’re not seen interacting, it is presumed that Mufasa had a good relationship with Nala, due to her being Simba's best friend. He had intended to have Nala as his daughter-in-law as part of him and Sarabi’s agreement with Nala’s parents to betroth her with Simba.
He came to her and Simba's aid when they were about to be slaughtered by Shenzi, Banzai and Ed. Later, Mufasa expressed disappointment in Simba for putting Nala in danger. Nala expressed sadness after hearing that Mufasa and supposedly Simba passed away in the stampede.
Years later after Simba returned to the Pride Lands, Nala joins in the battle with Scar and the hyenas to avenge Mufasa.
====Kiara====
Though he died before Kiara was born, Mufasa loves his granddaughter dearly. He watches proudly as an infant Kiara is presented to the animals of the Pride Lands.
Years later, Mufasa wished for the Pridelanders and their offshoot the Outsiders would reunite and decide that Kiara along with Kovu would be the ones to reunite the prides. However Simba disobeys him by exiling Kovu and forbidding Kiara from meeting with him, believing he was involved in Zira's ambush to kill him, which caused a heartbroken Kiara to say to him openly that he will never be Mufasa, who was now furious at Simba for his disobedience and hurting his daughter's feelings. After Zira's demise, Kiara and Kovu's wedding and Kion's return to the Pridelands, Kiara was able to meet Mufasa's spirit for the first time, with the both of them happy in each other's presence.
====Kion====
Though he died before Kion was born, Mufasa loves his grandson dearly and will give him guidance when he needs it, such as encouraging him to trust his instincts and to be there for his older sister Kiara.
===Friends===
====Zazu====
Mufasa had a fairly good relationship with his majordomo. He is also the hornbill’s best friend. The two first meet as adolescents after Mufasa rescued Zazu from Shenzi, Banzai and Ed. As thanks, Zazu would stay by Mufasa, much to the prince's aggravation as it disrupted his time with Sarabi. However, after Zazu alerted him to Sarabi being in danger, Mufasa gained respect for the young hornbill and told him that once he became king, Zazu would be his majordomo.
Zazu served Mufasa throughout his time as ruler of the Pride Lands, doing tasks such as giving the king a morning report on what the animals of the Pride Lands were doing. Zazu was with Mufasa on patrol when Scar revealed that Mufasa's son Simba was trapped in a stampede. Zazu, along with the pride, was devastated when Scar claimed that both Mufasa and Simba died in the stampede. Years later, Zazu witnessed the battle of Pride Rock, where an alive and well Simba and the pride battled against Scar (who confessed to killing Mufasa) and his hyenas and avenged Mufasa.
====Rafiki====
Mufasa had a fairly good relationship with Rafiki. It’s unknown when the two of them met. However, it’s likely that they met during Mufasa's cubhood, adolescence, or young adulthood, and grew a close bond.
Years later, a now King Mufasa warmly greeted Rafiki when he came to bless and present Mufasa and Sarabi's son Simba to see the Pride Lands' animals. Months later, Rafiki is sad after hearing from Scar that both Mufasa and Simba died in a stampede.
Years later, however, Rafiki discovered that Simba was alive and so travelled to him and brought him to Mufasa's spirit, who encouraged his son to return to the Pride Lands and defeat Scar, who let the hyenas destroy the kingdom. Rafiki helped Simba battle Scar's forces and avenge Mufasa after it was discovered that Scar killed him.
Months later, Mufasa's spirit watches Rafiki present Simba and Nala's daughter Kiara to the Pride Lands's animals. Mufasa contacts Rafiki to tell him of his plan to make Kiara fall in love with Kovu (Scar's heir) in order to end the feud between the Pridelanders and their offshoot group the Outsiders later on. However their plan was ruined by a disobedient Simba by exiling Kovu believing he was involved in the ambush set by Zira the traitorous leader of the Outsiders to kill him and forbidding Kiara to meet with him. After the two prides reunite and Zira's demise, Rafiki watches Mufasa's spirit congratulate Simba.
==Audio Samples==
==Quotes==
==Trivia==
*Mufasa is voiced by treasured actor James Earl Jones (who also played the voice of Darth Vader) and Gary Anthony Williams (who also voiced Uncle Ruckus from The Boondocks.
*The wildebeest scene in which Mufasa dies has been ranked in one of the most iconic and saddest moments even outside of animation.
*In earlier drafts for The Lion King, Mufasa and Scar were originally unrelated with Scar being a rogue lion until it was decided that the threat should come from within the royal family. Also in earlier concept art, Mufasa was smaller than Scar. Mufasa was also meant to die fighting Scar rather than be thrown by him into a stampede.
*Mufasa was originally going to sing a song called "To Be King". However, the song was scrapped as it didn’t suit James Earl Jones' singing bass voice.
**During the song, he would have rescued his subjects from a flood, as a showcase of his bravery.
*Before James Earl Jones was cast as Mufasa, Avery Brooks was considered for the role of Mufasa, but turned down the role due to scheduling conflicts with Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
*In early drafts of The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride, Mufasa was to appear to Simba in a dream sequence and chastised Simba for letting his family as well as the Circle of Life break apart. In the “Proud of Simba’s Pride” documentary, James Earl Jones is shown recording lines for this scene; "You have let your family break apart, and in doing so, you have broken the Circle of Life."
*In an early draft to The Lion King, Mufasa was originally going to die fighting Scar, who was originally going to be a rogue lion and would have been much larger than Mufasa, until it was decided that they should be brothers.
*The scene in The Lion King where Mufasa's spirit appears to Simba, was the last scene to be made for the film. This was because originally, Mufasa was not to appear again after his death until it was decided by the film's creators that Simba should see him again.
*In The Lion King comic "An Unusual Choir", Mufasa is shown to have two nephews who are the children of Simba's aunt and uncle from Sarabi's side of the family.
*Though not outright mentioned, it is revealed in The Lion Guard episode "Paintings and Predictions" that Mufasa and Scar had an uncle who led the Lion Guard that saved Nala's father after he fell from a tree as a cub.
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