Zazu/Relationships

These are the relationships of the character Zazu in The Lion King franchise.
==Allies and Friends==
===Mufasa===
Zazu and Mufasa are shown to be on good terms, with Zazu being one of the few characters to the refer to Mufasa by name.
They are shown to have gone back far in time, reminiscing, and both know that something needs to be done about Scar (with Zazu being wittier). He is also shown be obedient with him, accepting to be pounced on by Simba, along with giving him advice and a daily morning report. He is shown to be deeply saddened, comforting his mate, when he hears about Mufasa's death and after his death speaks that Mufasa was more fair than Scar as Mufasa never demanded Zazu to sing.
===Sarabi===
Sarabi and Zazu are also shown to be on good terms with each other. Sarabi sends Zazu with Simba and Nala to go with them to the watering hole, showing that she trusts him. After Mufasa and Simba's supposed death, Zazu is shown comforting Sarabi, brokenhearted and are both shocked upon seeing the hyenas take over the Pride Rock. In the 2019 film, the relationship is expanded on. Zazu was banished from the Pride Lands during Scar's reign, however he still enters Pride Rock to give Sarabi the morning report, with him believing that she is the true ruler and not Scar, leading to being chased out by the hyenas.
In novels, it mentions that much like Simba and Nala, Zazu followed her and Mufasa while they were young, much to Mufasa's annoyance. He also helps Mufasa to save her after she fell into a gorge and can't escape, finding a tree trunk, Sarabi escaping, solidifying his friendship with Sarabi and her future mate.
===Simba===
Zazu and Simba also have a good relationship. When he was a cub, Simba ridiculed and teased Zazu, such as telling him that he will fire him when he becomes king (something he would never do as an adult). When Simba and Nala went to the watering hole as children, Sarabi sends Zazu to watch them. When Simba is thought to be dead, he is shown to be saddened.
He is shown after Simba returns and becomes king to become an important and crucial part of Simba's life as king, becoming Simba's majordomo and royal advisor. He is present at the presentation of Kiara and is shown telling her, with Simba agreeing that they are just murderous and backstabbing, the outsiders. He is shown helping Simba with his Elephants in The Lion Guard episode, Can't Wait to be Queen, as they go to the funeral of Aminifu. When the wildfire starts, Simba sends Zazu to find Kiara and when the Outsiders come to attack, with Zazu being the one to find out, Simba tells him to rally the lionesses.
===Nala===
Nala and Zazu also have a close relationship. Since she was a cub, Zazu was always watching them keeping them safe, though they found it rather frustrating, alongside Simba wanting to ditch him, coming up with the idea to get rid of him. However, as they aged they grew into full friendship, with Nala trusting Zazu on matters. In The Lion Guard episode, Can't Wait to be Queen, Nala trusts Zazu and asks him to reassure Simba on the Duties of the King, asking him to do so.
In the 2019 film, Zazu and Nala are shown more together and the film expands on their relationship. In the film, Zazu was banished from Pride Rock, however, she is also interested like Sarabi on the morning report, marking that he was late, Zazu apologizing. He then finds Nala trying to leave Pride Rock, scolding her, though when Scar nearly finds her, he intervenes and saves her.
===Timon and Pumbaa===
Zazu is shown to be on friendly terms and have a good relationship with the iconic duo. During the battle against Scar and the hyenas, Timon enters Zazu's cage, where Shenzi and Banzai are waiting, with Zazu pleading them to be let out. Although, after Banzai insults Pumbaa, he frees them both, joining them together with a victory yell. During the ending scene of The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, during the wedding of Kiara and Kovu, the duo begin to cry, with Zazu seeming annoyed at the tears. In the 2019 film, he is shown meeting Timon and Pumbaa, as he was banished and not trapped, though Timon thinks he is a puffin, Zazu is charmed.
=== Rafiki ===
Zazu and Rafiki are shown to be on good terms. When Simba was born he held him up for the Pride Landers to see, with Zazu being in attendance. In the episode, The Savannah Summit Rafiki watching and laughs as Zazu is stuck under Mbeya, annoying Zazu, not finding it amusing. After he is freed, Zazu asks Rafiki if him under Mbeya would make it into the portrait Rafiki was painting, with Rafiki jokingly telling that it won't be on the official portrait.
Zazu and Rafiki are shown more together in the 2019 film. As Scar allows the hyenas into the Pride Lands, Zazu shares his worries to Rafiki. During the final battle, as Zazu is chased by hyenas, Rafiki comes in saves him (which doesn't occur in the animated version), with Zazu aiding Rafiki in pecking the hyenas.
===Kiara===
Zazu and Kiara are shown to be on good terms. It is presumed that during her early life (like her father and mother before him) that she found Zazu a pesky bird, though by the time of The Lion Guard they seem to be on good terms.
In The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, Zazu is attending her presentation and also shown lecturing Kiara on the Outsiders calling them, backstabbing and murderous! In the Lion Guard episode The Rise of Makuu, Kiara mentions that Zazu told her, showing trust and friendship and is shown to know his position, while he is away, treating Ono as Zazu. Zazu is also shown happily looking down at Kiara during her first hunt. When the wildfire begins, he is sent by Simba to find Kiara, which he succeeds in. He is also sent to find her when she is found missing before the battle against Zira. He is also seen attending her wedding with Kovu, seeming pleased and happy for her.
=== Kovu ===
Zazu and Kovu at first were greatly disliking of each other. When Simba finds out that Kovu saved Kiara, Zazu mentions the royal law that if they are in someone's debt they must be repaid, however (since they are in Kovu's debt), he reassures Simba that if he would refuse, he wouldn't mind. After Simba reluctantly accepts Zazu, an equally reluctant Zazu calls Kovu a riffraff. However, after Kovu fully joined the Pride, Zazu reformed his ways, happily attending his and Kiara's wedding.
===Kion===
Kion and Zazu are shown to be on good terms with each other with a friendly relationship. When Kion was young, he and Bunga went on an adventure despite Simba telling him to stay put. They then came across a float of crocodiles that were going to eat them, though Zazu intervenes and saves them, nearly sacrificing himself, though are all freed.
In The Morning Report when Scar returned in spirit, Janja, Chungu and Cheezi are told to capture Zazu (with Scar stating that he is the keeper of all secrets in the Pride Lands), which they do, though Kion and the Lion Guard come and save him, with Zazu saving Kion's friend of Fuli, nearly costing it his life, with after being saved thanking Kion, then giving his morning report at night with Simba and Kion and the Guard. In the episode Return to the Pride Lands Zazu is shown attending Kion's wedding/coronation at the Tree of Life to Queen Rani alongside other Pridelanders, seeming happily pleased.
===The Lion Guard===
Alongside Kion, he is also shown to have a friendly relationship with the other members of the Lion Guard, though it is less shown.
Alongside Kion, Zazu also saved Bunga in the same scenario from the crocodiles, Bunga stating that his bravery can rival his own. He is also shown to have an interesting relationship with Fuli, at first she thinks that the hornbill is just nosy, though after he saves her life from the hyenas, nearly costing him his life. As for Ono, in the episode Never Roar Again, he tells the guard that he was doing Ono's job, asking him why he wasn't at his post, and is startled by seeing Ono's featherless head, then pushing him out when he seems reluctant to join the Guard. He is also shown to be thankful for them, when he saves them in the episode, The Morning Report from the hyenas. He is then seen in the episode Return to the Pride Lands attending their joining of to the Night Pride, seeming pleased.
===Mbuni===
Mbuni is shown to have a positive relationship with Mbuni. She is shown as one of the singers in Zazu's chorus for the upcoming Kupatana Celebration alongside Basi, Twiga, and Muhanga in the episode, The Kupatana Celebration. However, during rehearsal Mbuni messes up, disgusting Zazu though he corrects her telling her that the line is "ma-un-de-lay-e-oh, ya uhhi", telling her to remember that, though neither take any offense and later on it is shown that Mbuni has great excitement for the upcoming Celebration.
She is also shown to learn from Zazu's advice, as she makes no mistakes during the actual Celebration, though after they sing a jackal attack comes, leading to Mbuni's great shock. She is also seen bowing while Zazu tries to reassure King Simba on the Duties of the King, which greatly helps Simba prepare for Aminifu's funeral in the episode, Can't Wait to be Queen.
===Makuu===
Zazu and Makuu are on decent terms. While trying to babysit a young Kion and Bunga, escape him and come across Pua's Float, with Bunga accidently challenging Makuu, with them nearly eating them, though Zazu intervenes (revealing he is the king's advisor and majordomo), and knowing the crocodile traditions, gives them the meat they are entitled for, though Makuu lets them all go due to Zazu showing the bravery of a crocodile, with Pua agreeing with Makuu.
Years later, during the Savanah Summit, he is seen to be friendly and decent with Makuu, now the crocodile leader since Makuu tried to eat Kion and Bunga, as they try their hardest to try to survive the Dry Season, with no trouble coming across the crocodile and the hornbill (though trouble comes from king Simba's son Kion and leader of the Lion Guard).
==Enemies==
===Scar===
Zazu is shown to have a bad relationship with Mufasa's younger brother. He confront him (by Mufasa's orders) as he did not attend the presentation of Simba, with him nearly eating him, though Mufasa arrives, with them also having argument with each other. He is then seen, then alongside Scar, he knocks him out so he won't find out that he killed Mufasa.
In the 2019 film, Zazu is banished by Scar, often having to send the hyenas for him to leave (as he often gives Sarabi the morning report). Alongside that, when Nala tries to leave and is nearly caught, he intervenes, saving Nala and enraging Scar.
===Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed===
Zazu is also shown to have a bad relationship with the three hyenas. They are seen keen with her becoming food when him and Simba and Nala are captured. They do capture him and nearly eat him, putting him into the "birdie boiler". Afterwards, when Zazu is imprisoned by Scar, they are shown keen to eat him, and during the battle, they want him and Timon, though they are save in a ribcage, though Pumbaa saves them and scares them away after Banzai calls him a pig.
In the 2019 film, since Zazu was banished, Kamari (Banzai) and Azizi (Ed) need to exile him as he often enters to give Sarabi the morning report, often tried to be eaten (as that is Zazu's penalty), and he is shown to know Shenzi's name as she is leader of the hyenas (though the birdie boiler scene is omitted) as he tries to defend Simba and Nala from them.
=== The Outsiders===
Zazu, much like with Kovu at first had a distain for the Outsiders. When a young Kiara asks about The Outlands and who lives their, Zazu remarks that only Outsiders, whom he describes as murderous and backstabbing live there. He is shown then warning Simba on them coming to invade, much to the hornbill's horror. However, due to Kovu and the Outsider's bravery, he reforms his ways, seeming happily around them watching Kovu and Kiara's wedding.
Category:Relationships
Category:The Lion King relationships