Mtoto's mother

Mtoto's mother is a female elephant. She is a member of Ma Tembo's herd. She is the mother of Mtoto.
During the Ukumbusho Tradition, Mtoto's mother and her herd attracted a horde of bees due to their fragrant head paint. Mtoto's mother panicked and climbed a tall ridge that was unstable due to the dry weather. Bunga managed to climb up next to her, calm her nerves, then coax her back to safety. Afterward, the celebration continued.
Later, the Army of Scar attacked Kilio Valley, which left Mtoto's mother and her 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.
When the spirit of Scar began waging war on the Pride Landers, Mtoto's mother helped protect her homeland. She joined her fellow Pride Landers in an invasion of the Outlands, from which they emerged victorious.
==Biography==
===Habitat change===
Mtoto's mother watched the mashindano between Pua and Makuu. She winced when Pua got violently stricken to the ground by Makuu. Later, she and her herd got forced into a different grazing ground because of Makuu's upsetting of the kingdom's habitats. The issue was eventually resolved, and Mtoto's mother returned to the watering hole with her herd.
===Aminifu's funeral===
When Aminifu died, Mtoto's mother attended his funeral at Kilio Valley to pay her respects. After the funeral procession, she listened to King Simba's eulogy and reacted with shock when he messed up his elephantese. However, like the rest of her herd, she laughed at the harmless error.
===Kupatana===
At Mizimu Grove, Mtoto's mother rehearsed a choral piece for the upcoming Kupatana celebration. Later, when the jackals stole food from several Pride Landers, including Mtoto's mother, they formed an angry circle around the thieves. That night, Mtoto's mother took part in the Kupatana celebration. During the ceremony, the jackals attacked the gathered animals, and Mtoto's mother joined forces with the Lion Guard to defeat them. After Simba banished the jackals to the Outlands, the Pride Landers continued the celebration.
===False alarm===
While grazing, Mtoto's mother got spooked by Mtoto and his friends, who were pretending to be hyenas. She trumpeted in alarm, then huddled with some other Pride Landers until the Lion Guard gave the all-clear. Later, she rested at a watering hole.
===Elephant concert===
Mtoto's mother took part in her herd's annual concert for the royal family. After the performance, Simba, his family, the Lion Guard, Timon, and Pumbaa sang "Hakuna Matata" for the elephants.
===Royal Mud Print Ceremony===
Mtoto's mother rested at a watering hole while a legendary eagle named Hadithi spoke to a flock of birds nearby. However, during his Royal Mud Print Ceremony, Hadithi admitted that he had abandoned Ono to danger, and the Lion Guard raced off to rescue their friend. After Ono was saved, he was honored with the ceremony instead.
===Communicating with Mtoto via infrasound===
Mtoto's mother called to her son using infrasound, asking him to be home by sundown. Mtoto explained how the phenomenon worked to the Lion Guard, who were impressed. That night, Mtoto's mother called for him to come home, and he did as he had been asked.
===Traveling Baboon Show===
Mtoto's mother watched the Traveling Baboon Show perform.
===Christmas===
One night, Mtoto's mother attended Bunga's Christmas rehearsal. 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 the Pride Landers to change their minds.
Later that day, Mtoto's mother 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===
When Janja's clan attacked Ma Tembo's herd, Mtoto's mother fled. Just in time, the Lion Guard arrived and stopped the hyenas from attacking the elephants. After the attack, the herd reconvened and left in search of a new water source for the Pride Landers. However, the hyenas soon returned, this time to attack a baboon troop that had begun to follow the elephants. The Lion Guard came to the rescue once more and led the elephants into a rocky gorge, where Kion used the Roar of the Elders to blast the hyenas back into the Outlands.
Once the Pride Landers were safe, Mtoto's mother encouraged Ma Tembo to keep looking for a new water source. Eventually, after Ma Tembo enacted a long and fruitless search, Makini managed to calm everyone down, and Ma Tembo was able to locate water. Afterward, the Pride Landers drank happily from the new water source.
===Ukumbusho Tradition===
As a member of Ma Tembo's herd, Mtoto's mother was tasked with participating in the Ukumbusho Tradition, a ceremony that honored the peace between the elephants and lions of the Pride Lands. At one point, Kion asked if the traditional yellow sunbursts on the elephants' foreheads were necessary, and Mtoto's mother explained that they represented the Circle of Life and were a big part of the tradition. Shortly afterward, she attempted to practice her lines with Bunga, but the honey badger continually forgot what to say, which irritated her.
During the Ukumbusho ceremony, the yellow paint on the elephants' foreheads attracted a swarm of bees that chased the herd across the Pride Lands. In the chaos, Mtoto's mother got herself trapped on top of Mapango Cliffs, which was unstable from all the dry weather. Seeing her in distress, Bunga climbed up the cliffs to reach her and used their lines from the ceremony to comfort her and ease her fears. Once Mtoto's mother had calmed down, she and Bunga descended the cliffs to safety.
With the bees driven away, the elephants returned to Mizimu Grove. There, Simba and Ma Tembo agreed that the Ukumbusho Tradition should proceed without the ceremonial sunbursts. Mtoto's mother pointed out that she still had hers, and so Mtoto promptly sprayed the paint off. The celebration then continued in a new way.
===Kumbuka===
Mtoto's mother attended the Kumbuka celebration at Pride Rock.
===Kilio Valley fire===
When Kilio Valley caught fire, the Lion Guard enlisted the help of Ma Tembo and her herd. During the fire, the Army of Scar attacked, and Mtoto's mother defended her son from Kiburi. Despite the Lion Guard's best efforts, the fire devastated Kilio Valley, and the elephants were forced to retreat.
Kion attempted to find the elephants a new home, but the other Pride Landers rejected them because of their disruptive behavior. As a result, Ma Tembo resolved to lead her herd out of the kingdom, to Kion's disappointment. However, as the herd was departing, Kion approached them for help in putting out a fire at Ndefu Grove. Ma Tembo accepted, and Mtoto's mother was nominated to look after the calves. Under Kion's direction, the elephant herd worked together to put out the fire. Afterward, Laini offered the elephants a place with her galagos at Ndefu Grove.
===Scar's attacks===
The Lion Guard concluded that the Pride Landers must unite against the threat of the Outlanders. They gathered Bupu's herd, Laini's group, Ma Tembo's herd, and Mbeya's crash. At first, the Pride Landers were tense, but Kion worked to defuse the tension. He instructed the animals to race toward Bunga. However, the event soon got out of hand, for the animals tripped over the galagos and ended up in a heap. Kion then got the idea to call Makuu the crocodile for help. Makuu begrudgingly agreed to help, but his training was too rigorous and ruthless for the other Pride Landers to master.
Later, the Army of Scar besieged Makuu's float. Ono witnessed the battle and reported his findings to Kion. Together, the Lion Guard and their Pride Lander allies stormed the watering hole and fought off the Army of Scar. During the battle, Reirei's pack cornered the elephant herd, including Mtoto's mother. However, the elephants and the galagos worked together to defeat the jackals. After the fight, Makuu thanked Mtoto's mother and her herd for their help and vowed to do the same for them should the need ever arise.
At Mizimu Grove, Simba and Rafiki announced Makini's mpando mpaya. Afterward, Simba introduced Timon and Pumbaa, who performed "Tujiinue". In the midst of the celebration, the Army of Scar attacked, and the Pride Landers rose up to defend themselves. The battle paused when 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 Mtoto's mother, fled Mizimu Grove. Ono pursued the elephant herd out of the grove and informed them that no one was chasing them, which calmed them down and prompted them to halt their stampede.
When the Pride Landers had regrouped at Mizimu Grove, Mtoto's mother asked if Scar's army had been the cause of the fire, and Kion confirmed that they had been. Simba then approached the Pride Landers and admitted that he had had knowledge of Scar's return for some time. Mtoto's mother disapproved of Simba's dishonesty, but Ma Tembo noted that she understood why he had kept it a secret. After Simba's confession, 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, the elephant herd journeyed to Pride Rock to inform Simba of their decision. However, at Kion's prompting, they went to Mizimu Grove, where they saw that Makini's baobab seed had survived the fire. This inspired them to remain in the kingdom and work with their fellow Pride Landers to defeat Scar. As the various animal herds looked on, Makini planted her baobab seed.
===Battle for the Pride Lands===
Along with the other Pride Landers, Mtoto's mother trained at Pride Rock for the upcoming battle with Scar and his army. That night, she witnessed his spirit appearing in the flames of Pride Rock. After Scar disappeared, the Pride Landers grew concered 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.
The next day, Mtoto's mother and her allies invaded the Outlands. They battled the army and emerged victorious.
===Lion Guard's trip to the Tree of Life===
Mtoto's mother and her herd bid the Lion Guard farewell as they departed for the Tree of Life. She comforted Mtoto, who was distressed that Beshte was leaving.
===Battle of the Lion Guards===
Mtoto's mother went to Mizimu Grove to witness the onset of the Battle of the Lion Guards. She watched several individual competitions, including Beshte's, Bunga's, and Fuli's. She also watched the final mashindano between Kion and Vitani.
===Kion's coronation===
Mtoto's mother attended Kion's wedding to Rani at the Tree of Life.
==Physical appearance==
Mtoto's mother is a moderately sized elephant. She has pale gray skin, with pink inner ears, white tusks, and gray toes. Her eyes are black.
==Personality and traits==
Mtoto's mother is kind and maternal toward her son, Mtoto. She can be easily spooked, such as when a bee chase caused her to get trapped on top of a high cliffside. Even so, she is level-headed and takes direction well.
==Appearances==
==Trivia==
* Mtoto's mother was voiced by the following:
** In "Follow that Hippo!", she was voiced by Russi Taylor.
*** Taylor also voiced the fairy and the puppet in The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa as well as Mbuni and Muhanga in The Lion Guard.
** In "The Ukumbusho Tradition" and "The Fall of Mizimu Grove", she was voiced by Virginia Watson.
*** Watson also voiced the baby baboon's mother and Vuruga Vuruga.
==References==
Category:Canon articles
Category:Characters
Category:Elephants
Category:Females
Category:The Lion Guard characters
Category:The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar characters
Category:Pride Landers
Category:Unnamed characters