Mtoto

Mtoto is a male elephant. He is a member of Ma Tembo's herd.
Mtoto deeply admired the Lion Guard, particularly Beshte the hippopotamus. One day, Beshte invited Mtoto to train with the Lion Guard, but Mtoto continually ruined the exercises. Though disheartened, Mtoto was encouraged to embrace his inner hero by Beshte. Later, when Mtoto was attacked by Janja and his cronies, Cheezi and Chungu, Beshte saved his life, and Kion bestowed on him an honorary Lion Guard shoulder marking.
During the Savannah Summit, the Lion Guard had suspicions about Makuu, the crocodile leader. They employed the help of Mtoto, who used his incredible hearing to keep tabs on Makuu and inform the Lion Guard if there was any trouble. Eventually, Mtoto and the Lion Guard uncovered a plot to hurt Makuu but were able to stop it in time.
Later, the Army of Scar attacked Kilio Valley, which left Mtoto and his herd without a home. Though they tried to move in with other herds, they were continually rejected and forced to move on. Eventually, Ma Tembo deduced that the elephants must leave the Pride Lands, as they were an unwanted burden. However, after the elephants helped save the galagos from a fire, Laini invited them to move into Ndefu Grove with her group.
==Biography==
===Early life===
Mtoto was born to an unnamed female elephant. He lived in the Pride Lands as a member of Ma Tembo's herd. At some point in his life, he became friends with Gumba, Kambuni, Kwato, and Shauku. The friends often played "Lion Guard" together. Mtoto formed a particular admiration for Beshte, the Strongest member of the Lion Guard.
===Calfhood===
====Bunga the Wise====
When Bunga gained an entourage of followers, Mtoto began to follow him around, fanning him. The Lion Guard approached, which caused Mtoto to pause, but Bunga encouraged him to continue. Not long after this, a dam broke. Even so, Mtoto continued to fan Bunga until the honey badger took off after his friends.
Mtoto scrambled after Bunga, following him into a canyon. Bunga yelled encouragement to him as he raced to escape the rushing water. Once Mtoto caught up with Bunga, the two followed the rest of the animals to a dead-end, where Kion was forced to use the Roar of the Elders to blast away the oncoming floodwaters. With the flood no longer a threat, Mtoto joined the other animals in enjoying a new water hole that had been created by the floodwaters.
====Training with the Lion Guard====
When the Lion Guard was alerted to a hyena attack, Mtoto and his friends emerged from the thicket, explaining that they had simply been playing "Lion Guard." Kion gently explained to them the dangers of pretending to be hyenas, and the young animals vowed to never play in such a way again.
After the promise was made, a shy Mtoto approached his idol, Beshte, and suggested that the real Lion Guard play with them. The other young animals were excited by this idea, but Kion admitted that they had business elsewhere. However, Mtoto begged Beshte to stay, and the hippopotamus invited Mtoto to watch the Lion Guard train. On their way to the training grounds, Mtoto gushed about his love for Beshte and admitted that it was because of Beshte that he liked the Lion Guard so much.
Once at the training grounds, Beshte told the team that he had brought along Mtoto, and Kion agreed to let the young elephant train with them. First, the team did an obstacle course, but when it was Mtoto's turn to dash through the water, he got water in his trunk and sprayed it all over Fuli. After Mtoto's mistake, Kion decided to run a stealth-surround drill, during which the team attempted to sneak up on him without alerting him to their presence. However, as they were drilling, Mtoto accidentally fell down a steep cliff and landed on an unsuspecting Bunga.
After the disaster, Beshte volunteered to walk Mtoto home. On their way home, Beshte encouraged Mtoto to embrace his inner hero. After Beshte left, Mtoto returned to his friends, more ready than ever to play a game of "Lion Guard." Since they were no longer allowed to play as hyenas, the friends instead began to chase hyraxes. However, in doing so, they inadvertently alerted the hyenas to their presence, and Janja instructed his cronies to follow them.
Eventually, the hyenas caught up to Mtoto and his friends, and the young animals fled. After a brief skirmish, the hyenas targeted Mtoto as the slowest. Having escaped the hyenas, Mtoto's friends rushed up to Beshte and begged him to save Mtoto. Just in time, Beshte showed up to save Mtoto from the hyenas, and the two escaped into a river. Together, Beshte and Mtoto managed to avoid the hyenas, who skulked on the edges of the water, trying to catch a bite of them as they passed. However, the two ran into a float of crocodiles, and Beshte encouraged Mtoto to be stealthy as they snuck past.
Ono happened to catch sight of Beshte and Mtoto, and raced back to alert the team. Too late, Beshte and Mtoto were spotted by the crocodiles, and Mtoto fended them off by spraying water with his trunk. Just then, the rest of the Lion Guard appeared and dispatched of the crocodiles. In the chaos, the hyenas were knocked into the river, where they were chased in circles by the crocodile float.
After the rescue, Mtoto related his tale of rescue to his friends, who reacted with amazement and awe. Kion approached and volunteered to give each of them a muddy mark of the Lion Guard. In response, the young animals crowded around him eagerly. Mtoto, who bore his muddy mark proudly, proclaimed to Beshte that he was his hero, and Beshte in turn proclaimed that Mtoto was his.
====Rafiki's tale====
Mtoto and a group of young animals gathered at Rafiki's tree to hear a story about the Zimwi, a legendary beast that roamed the Pride Lands during the full moon. Mtoto and his friends were frightened by the story, but Kion assured them that no such beast existed.
After the story, Mtoto wondered if the Zimwi was real, but Kion once more asserted that it was just a story. He then suggested that Mtoto and his friends sleep together that night in order to feel safe. The young animals took Kion's advice. As they were sleeping, they were frightened by rustling in the bushes and rushed off to get the Lion Guard. After hearing the young animals' story, the Lion Guard set off in search of the fabled Zimwi, which turned out to just be the porcupine brothers.
====Royal Mud Print Ceremony====
Mtoto hid from his friends by submerging underwater. He then sprang out of the water and sprayed his friends. Just then, he asked the two if they had heard something, after which they spotted a large flock of birds gathering nearby. The Lion Guard arrived on the scene, and Mtoto exchanged cheerful greetings with his hero, Beshte.
Later, before the Royal Mud Print Ceremony, Mtoto graciously gave up his seat in the front for some birds. Beshte praised him for his kindness, and Mtoto commented that Beshte would always be his hero.
At twilight, Mtoto attended Ono's Royal Mud Print Ceremony.
====Savannah Summit====
The Lion Guard was playing Baobab Ball when a dry ledge collapsed underneath Kion and Bunga. Kion assured the others that they were fine, and Ono commented that the ledge was rather dry. Fuli added that the dry season was well on its way.
Just then, Mtoto approached with the Lion Guard's baobab fruit. Bunga started to chase Mtoto when the young elephant suddenly pulled to a halt, listening intently. He informed the Lion Guard that his mother was communicating with him via infrasound, a low pitch that only some animals were able to hear. Mtoto then demonstrated his great hearing to the Lion Guard and informed them that several important Pride Landers were heading toward Pride Rock.
Kion realized that it was time for the Savannah Summit, an important yearly event in which the various leaders in the Pride Lands discussed how they would proceed during the dry season. No sooner had he revealed this when Mtoto overheard a crocodile heading to Pride Rock, and Ono spotted Makuu en route to the Summit. Kion deduced that Makuu must be trying to spoil the event, and he and the Lion Guard took off to thwart the danger and warn Simba.
At Mizimu Grove, the Lion Guard commented on how well the animals were behaving, though Kion remained unconvinced of Makuu's reformation. As they spoke, the Lion Guard noticed that Makuu was missing from the event, and Mtoto ran up with news that Makuu was speaking angrily near the watering hole. The Lion Guard took off to stop the danger and arrived on the scene to find Makuu arguing with Bupu, the sable antelope leader.
Without asking for an explanation, Kion ordered Makuu to back off. Despite the Lion Guard's presence, Bupu attacked Makuu, who attempted to defend himself. However, Kion chastised Makuu again and declared that he would not let anyone ruin the Savannah Summit. After the fight, Kion thanked Mtoto for helping the Lion Guard and conscripted the young elephant to keep his ears open for trouble.
While patrolling the Pride Lands, Mtoto overheard Twiga speaking about Makuu and informed the Lion Guard of what he had heard. Bunga assumed that there was trouble, and Kion worried that Makuu would ruin the Summit. Together, the team took off to protect Twiga. When they arrived on the scene, Makuu was nowhere to be found, only Twiga and Vuruga Vuruga.
Later, Mtoto rushed up to the Lion Guard and proclaimed that Makuu was yelling at Bupu again, this time at Pride Rock. The team then rushed off to take care of the situation.
After a discomforted Kion spoke with the spirit of his grandfather, Mufasa, he was confronted by the Lion Guard, who informed him that Mtoto had heard of another attack involving Makuu. Kion warned his friends not to jump to conclusions, then asked Mtoto to listen more closely to what was being said. Mtoto did as he was prompted and explained that someone was making a plan to strike just after sunset. Though the rest of the Lion Guard suspected Makuu of foul intentions, Kion thought more deeply about the issue and realized that it might be the other Pride Lander leaders who were at the root of the problem.
The team rushed to Mizimu Grove, where they saved Makuu from falling into a pit full of rotten fruit. Makuu realized that someone had set a trap for him, and Kion proclaimed that he knew how to find out who was to blame.
Later that day, Kion announced to the Summit that Makuu had fallen into a pit and lost his life in the struggle. A horrified Twiga and Vuruga Vuruga exclaimed that they had never intended for Makuu to get hurt, only to fall into a pit of rotten fruit. Just then, Makuu revealed himself and announced to the gathered animals that he had come to the Summit with the intention of helping his float and the Pride Lands but had only received distrust and hostility. Makuu then prompted Simba to let the Summit go on.
With negotiations re-initiated, the other animals acted graciously with Makuu. Mtoto announced that he must return home, and Bunga commented that he was glad that he could not hear as well as Mtoto, else he would know everyone else's business. Fuli joked that he would look horrible with ears that big, and the rest of the Lion Guard laughed.
====Christmas====
One day, Beshte asked Ma Tembo if her herd would participate in Bunga's Christmas celebration. Ma Tembo was hesitant to accept Beshte's offer, but Mtoto expressed interest in the performance and asked if they could participate. He then pointed out that Beshte was like family to the elephants, which ultimately persuaded Ma Tembo to acquiesce to the Lion Guard's wishes.
That night, Mtoto attended Bunga's rehearsal. As Bunga started to direct the animals, Mtoto interrupted him and asserted that he already knew what to do. He started to demonstrate his honking abilities, but Bunga reminded him that they needed to be quiet so as not to wake up Timon and Pumbaa. Mtoto apologized, and the rehearsal continued. Things went well until the next morning, when everyone was leaning toward abandoning the project. Before the animals could depart, Bunga desperately explained that the performance was important to both himself and Timon. This caused Mtoto and the others to change their minds.
Later that day, Ma Tembo's herd partook in the "The Twelve Ways of Christmas" performance. After the performance, Timon lamented that Dandy Claws would never come, only for Pumbaa to suddenly appear in costume. Pumbaa apologized for his lack of gifts, but Timon pointed out that their family and friends were the gifts. The Lion Guard decided to make Christmas an annual holiday in the Pride Lands, and the gathered Pride Landers yelled, "Merry Christmas!" in unison.
====New water source====
The dry season started, and the Lion Guard became busier than ever. During their patrol, Ono informed his friends that Janja's clan was attacking Ma Tembo's herd. The Lion Guard arrived at the scene to find that Janja and his crew were attacking the elephants, with Mtoto as their main target. Mtoto was almost caught by Janja and one of his lackeys, Nne, but Kion intervened and drove the hyenas off.
Later, Mtoto and his herd were attacked by Janja's crew again, but the Lion Guard intervened. This time, Kion used the Roar of the Elders to blast the hyenas away.
Afterward, Mtoto expressed faith in Ma Tembo as she searched for water. When Ma Tembo successfully located the new source of water, Mtoto helped in expanding the small pool and drank from it along with the other Pride Landers.
====Ukumbusho Tradition====
As a member of Ma Tembo's herd, Mtoto was tasked with participating in the Ukumbusho Tradition, a ceremony that honored the peace between the elephants and lions of the Pride Lands.
For the ceremony, Mtoto allowed Makini to draw a sunburst on his forehead. However, the paint attracted a swarm of bees that chased Mtoto and the herd across the Pride Lands. The Lion Guard pursued the stampede, and Beshte observed Mtoto attempting to blast away the bees with dust. Kion wondered if the same trick could work on the paint, and Fuli caught up to Mtoto, suggesting that he try to spray at the paint instead of the bees. Mtoto did as he was told, and the paint disappeared, which prompted the bees to fly away.
During the chaos, Mtoto's mother found herself trapped on top of Mapango Cliffs, which was unstable from all the dry weather. Though she was frightened, Bunga climbed up the cliffs to reach her, and the two descended the cliffs to safety, much to Mtoto's relief.
With the bees driven away, the elephants returned to Mizimu Grove, where the Ukumbusho Tradition proceeded, this time without the ceremonial sunbursts.
====Kilio Valley fire====
When Kilio Valley caught fire, the Lion Guard enlisted the help of Ma Tembo and her herd. Despite their efforts, the fire devastated the valley, and the elephants were forced to leave.
Kion attempted to find Mtoto and his herd members a new home, but the other Pride Landers rejected the elephants because of their foreign, disruptive behavior, much to Mtoto's chagrin. After a series of such rejections, Ma Tembo resolved to lead her herd out of the kingdom.
However, as the herd was departing, Kion approached them for help in putting out a fire at Ndefu Grove. Ma Tembo accepted, and the herd worked together to put out the fire. After the rescue, Laini offered the elephants a place with her galagos at Ndefu Grove.
====Scar's attacks====
At Mizimu Grove, Rafiki and Simba announced Makini's mpando mpaya. In the midst of the celebration, the Army of Scar attacked, and the Pride Landers rose up to defend themselves. During the fight, Beshte implored Mtoto to hide. Before long, the spirit of Scar appeared in the flames and threatened to overtake the entirety of the Pride Lands. Frightened by Scar's unexpected appearance, the remaining Pride Landers, including Ma Tembo and her herd, fled Mizimu Grove. However, when Ono informed the herd that nothing was chasing them, they halted their stampede.
Kion used the Roar of the Elders to defeat the Outlanders, while Simba deliberated what to do with Ma Tembo. Simba approached the Pride Landers once the Lion Guard had calmed them and admitted that he had had knowledge of Scar's return for some time. Ma Tembo noted that she understood why he had kept it a secret. The herds deliberated whether they should leave the Pride Lands, and Simba told them to inform him of their decision the following morning at Pride Rock.
The next day, Kion implored Ma Tembo and her herd to follow him to Mizimu Grove before they decided to leave the kingdom. The herds followed Kion to Pride Rock, where Makini's baobab tree seed had survived the fire. This inspired the Pride Landers to remain in the kingdom and work together to defeat Scar.
===Adolescence===
====Battle for the Pride Lands====
Over the seasons, Mtoto helped drive out the Army of Scar whenever they tried to invade the Pride Lands. Eventually, he gathered with his fellow Pride Landers at Pride Rock to train for an upcoming invasion of the Outlands. That night, the Pride Landers witnessed Scar's spirit manifesting in a fire at Pride Rock and warning them to leave before his army conquered the Pride Lands. After Scar disappeared, the Pride Landers grew concerned about their chances against him. However, after Janja informed the Pride Landers that Scar could be defeated, Simba readied an invasion force for the following morning.
====Lion Guard's trip to the Tree of Life====
When the Lion Guard left the Pride Lands en route to the Tree of Life, Mtoto saw Beshte off. He then hugged his mother in sorrow. When Beshte returned to the Pride Lands, Mtoto had a joyous reunion with him at Big Springs.
====Battle of the Lion Guards====
Mtoto went to Mizimu Grove to witness the onset of the Battle of the Lion Guards. He watched Beshte's individual challenge, during which he cheered his friend on. He also spectated Bunga's challenge.
====Kion's coronation====
Mtoto attended Kion's wedding to Rani at the Tree of Life.
==Physical appearance==
Despite his small size, Mtoto is rotund, with a medium blue-gray hide and a pale underbelly. He has blue eyes, a wisp of dark hair on his head, and the beginnings of small tusks.
==Personality and traits==
Mtoto is innocent and playful. Though he does not intend to harm others, his mischievious nature often gets him into trouble. Like his friends, he deeply respects the Lion Guard, especially Beshte.
==Appearances==
==Trivia==
* Mtoto was voiced by Justin Felbinger.
* Mtoto's name means "child, kid, offspring, baby" in Swahili.
* Mtoto's calf model erroneously has his tusks growing out of his lower jaw. However, his adolescent model correctly has his tusks growing out of his upper jaw.
* Another character named Mtoto is mentioned in a puzzle inspired by The Lion King.
==References==
Category:Canon articles
Category:Characters
Category:Elephants
Category:The Lion Guard characters
Category:Males
Category:Pride Landers