Mufasa (Benjiiman)

Mufasa was a male lion. He was the king of Pride Rock who preceded Simba. He was the elder brother of Scar, and the mate of Sarabi, with whom he had a son, Simba.
Mufasa was born to his parents, Ahadi and Uru a few minutes before his younger brother, Taka. Taka and Mufasa were inseparable as cubs, going everywhere together and always getting into trouble together. One day, when wondering the Pridelands, they met two cubs, Sarabi and Sarafina, they claimed to have come from a far pride that had been taken over by a new male lion, they had only just escaped. 
Mufasa and Taka took the cubs to their parents, and Uru agreed to let the two female cubs stay. But, Mufasa and Sarabi were set to be married someday, following the tradition of betrothing the first-born cub. 
Mufasa was taught more about the Circle of Life and being king everyday, spending more and more time with Ahadi. This made Taka jealous, Mufasa was only a few minutes older, why was he the king. This jealousy grew until Scar was a young adult. 
Ahadi promises to take his sons hunting, but a crowd of disgruntled Pride Landers stalls him before the three can depart. Throughout the ordeal, Mufasa sits loyally at his father's shoulder, and when Ahadi is forced to cut the hunting trip short, he does not protest. Ahadi is grateful to him for this and praises his son for his good sense of responsibility, a comment which sparks animosity from Taka. Despite this, Ahadi is forced to leave his sons to attend to the more pressing issue of the hyenas. 
Not long after this, Taka tricks Mufasa into talking to Boma, a selfish buffalo who is hogging a source of water, in order to help his father. When the plan goes wrong and Taka is hurt, Ahadi and Mufasa rush to help their kin. The two later leave Taka (now known as Scar) to rest, and Mufasa joins his father as he appoints the first adviser and majordomo of the Pride Lands.
Mufasa, as an adult, marries the lioness he was best friends with as cubs, Sarabi. But soon after, Uru dies when out with Taka. Ahadi was thrown into deep grief because of this, and stepped down, letting Mufasa take the throne. Eventually he passed of old age. 
After the birth of his son, Simba, Mufasa trained him in the ways of an upright monarch, schooling him in such matters as the Circle of Life. During this time, Mufasa's younger brother, Scar, plotted against him and used a stampede to endanger Simba. In his attempt to save Simba from the stampede, Mufasa was thrown from the side of a gorge by Scar and died from the fall. Simba found his father's body after the stampede, and Scar convinced him that he was to blame for Mufasa's death, which prompted Simba to flee the Pride Lands.
For years, Simba grew up in self-exile until an encounter with Mufasa's spirit prompted him to return to the Pride Lands and reestablish his birthright as king. During his confrontation with Scar, Simba learned that Scar was to blame for Mufasa's death, and he exiled Scar from the Pride Lands. After Scar's defeat and death, Simba ascended Pride Rock, with Mufasa's spirit watching him from the stars. In the years afterward, Mufasa's spirit continued to stay present in the Pride Lands, as he was present at the presentation ceremony of Kiara, Simba's daughter, and frequently offered advice to Kion, Simba's son.
Following the return of Scar's ghost, Mufasa encouraged Simba and Kion to take Scar down and save the Pride Lands. After the battle, when Kion journeyed to the Tree of Life in the aftermath of the battle, Mufasa reassured Kion that his scar, which he had received in the battle, did not define him. Later, Mufasa told Kion that it was his choice to either stay and serve Queen Rani or return to Pride Rock with his family and uphold his position as the leader of the Lion Guard.
When the Outsiders threatened the Pride Lands, Mufasa advised Rafiki to unite Kiara and Kovu, Scar's heir, in the hopes of ending the conflict between the Outsiders and the Pride Landers. The plan was successful; Zira was defeated, and Kovu married Kiara. Mufasa was present at both of his grandchildren's wedding ceremonies.
== Description ==
=== Appearance ===
Mufasa is an exceptionally large and muscular lion, bearing powerful shoulders and a compact build. He has golden fur, with a beige muzzle, paws, and underbelly. His upper eye shades are darker than his main pelt, the lower eye shades are lighter, and his eyebrows are thick and black. Mufasa bears a thick mane of dark scarlet that extends down to his middle chest, and the tip of his tail matches it in color.
=== Personality ===
As a cub, Mufasa is a mischievous, yet kind child. He is close to his brother, Taka, and the two of them are always together. He is always happy, and is excited about being the next king of the Pridelands. 
As an adult, Mufasa grows in maturity and regality, becoming a symbol of power who instills respect in every creature, even his enemies, the hyenas. His physical strength is not his only symbol of power, for his very voice and manner is often enough to draw the attention of his subjects, most often his son Simba and his majordomo Zazu. In addition to physically playing the role of king, Mufasa has a manner that demands respect. The king does not stand for disrespect, as seen when he challenges his brother for not attending the presentation of Simba.
Despite his strong exterior, Mufasa is kind at heart and playful, showing respect for all the creatures, even those who are perceived as lower than himself. He is not strictly business, often playing games with his majordomo Zazu, and is unafraid of showing affection, as seen when he greets Rafiki with a hug prior to the presentation of Simba. In family life, Mufasa is just as soft-hearted, treating his mate Sarabi with gentle respect and treating his son fairly, even when the cub deliberately disobeys his parents' instructions.
As a king and a father, Mufasa is instructive and wise, borne down by years of experience and instruction. His rule over the Pride Lands results in a period of prosperity, reflecting his reasonable and responsible approach to kingship. His lessons leave a deep imprint on Simba, who learns from his father that every creature must be respected in order for balance to be maintained. In addition to understanding natural balance, Mufasa understands the workings of a family, keeping his mate and son as well as his pride in steady paws.
== Family Members ==
Mohatu (Maternal Grandfather)
Tamu (Maternal Grandmother)
Ahadi (Father)
Uru (Mother)
Taka/Scar (Brother)
Sarabi (Mate)
Mheetu (Nephew)
Nuka (Nephew)
Kopa (Grandson)
Kion (Grandson)
Kiara (Granddaughter)
Aisha (Great Granddaughter)
Shani (Great Granddaughter)
Chaka (Great Grandson)
== Trivia ==
* Mufasa is the only character in the franchise whose voice actor reprised their role from the 1994 film for the 2019 remake.
* During a Tenth Anniversary Reunion discussion panel, directors Rob Minkoff and Roger Allers were asked about who Nala's father is. Minkoff joked that Roger was the father, but the two directors stated that Mufasa or Scar could be Nala's father. However, the Lion Guard episode "Paintings and Predictions" reveals that Nala's father was a different lion, not Mufasa or Scar.
Category:Benjiiman
Category:Lions
Category:Kings
Category:Deceased
Category:Pride Landers
Category:Parents
Category:Adults
Category:Males