Simba

* Adult
* Young Adult
* Adolescent
* Cub
* Infant

"*finally got some sense knocked into me, and I've got the bump to prove it. Besides, this is my kingdom. If I don't fight for it, who will?"*

*—Simba responding to Nala, shortly before the battle of Pride Rock*

**Simba** is a male lion. He is the king of Pride Rock who succeeded Scar. He is the son of Mufasa and Sarabi, the older brother of Asali and Malka, and the mate of Nala, with whom he has five sons named Mkuu, Chaka, Tanabi, Kopa and Kion, and two daughters named Shani and Kiara.

## History

### Early life

**Scar**: *I was first in line...until the little* hairball *was born.*

**Mufasa**: *That "hairball" is my son...and your future king.*

—Mufasa and Scar on Simba

Simba was born to Mufasa, the reigning monarch of Pride Rock, and his mate, Sarabi. As the next in line to the throne, Simba was expected to inherit the mantle of king someday.

One day, when Simba was an infant, the Pride Landers travelled to Pride Rock to witness the cub's presentation ceremony. Rafiki arrived and ascended Pride Rock, where he beheld Simba for the first time. After smiling down at the cub, Rafiki shook his gourds over Simba's head, which made the cub bat at them playfully. Rafiki then took a gourd, ripped it in half, trailed his thumb through the juice, and marked Simba's forehead. Afterward, he threw sand over the marking, and Simba sneezed.

While Mufasa and Sarabi watched proudly, Rafiki took Simba into his arms and carried him to the promontory of Pride Rock. There, he lifted the cub into the air for all the animals of the Pride Lands to see. Immediately, the Pride Landers erupted into cheers and bowed before Simba.

After the ceremony, Mufasa confronted his younger brother, Scar, for his absence at Simba's presentation. Scar claimed to have forgotten all about it and lamented how he had been next in line to the throne until Simba's birth. Mufasa reminded Scar that Simba was the future king, but Scar merely quipped that he would practice his curtsy.

### Cubhood

Seasons passed, and Simba grew into a young cub. One morning, he rushed into the den of Pride Rock and attempted to wake up Mufasa. Sarabi told Mufasa that his son was awake, but he retorted that Simba was her son before sunrise. Despite Mufasa's unwillingness to get up, Simba persisted and reminded Mufasa that he had "promised." This finally made Mufasa get up and follow Simba outside. Together, the two ascended Pride Rock until they were sitting side by side on the summit.

As the sun rose over the Pride Lands, Mufasa told Simba that "everything the light touches" was their kingdom. He then explained to Simba that kings rose and fell, and that Simba would someday succeed Mufasa as the king of Pride Rock. Incredulous, Simba asked if the whole kingdom would be his, and Mufasa replied that it would. Simba questioned if the "shadowy place" was his, but Mufasa told him that it was beyond their borders. He then forbid the cub from going there. Simba asserted that a king could do whatever he wanted, but Mufasa reminded him that there was more to being king than getting one's way all the time.

Mufasa led Simba into the grasslands, where he explained how predator and prey were connected in the Circle of Life. Though Simba pointed out that lions ate antelope, Mufasa illustrated how lions became the grass when they died and so eventually became food for the antelope.

Just then, Zazu arrived and delivered his morning report to Mufasa. Simba quickly grew bored and began to chase a grasshopper. Noticing his son's game, Mufasa asked Simba what he was doing, and the cub replied that he was pouncing. With a mischievous grin, Mufasa told Simba that he would show the cub how to pounce properly. With help from his father, Simba managed to pounce on Zazu and pin him to the ground.

No sooner had Simba let Zazu up when the hornbill informed Mufasa that hyenas had invaded the Pride Lands. Mufasa took off in a hurry and forbid Simba from coming with him. In a huff, the cub started back toward Pride Rock and complained that he never got to go anywhere. Zazu assured him that he could chase off "those slobbering, mangy, stupid poachers" himself someday.

Upon returning to Pride Rock, Simba met up with his uncle, Scar, and bragged about how he was going to be the king of Pride Rock someday. Scar merely commented that he could not leap for joy because he had a "bad back," after which he flopped onto his side. An oblivious Simba asked what Scar would be once Simba became the king, and Scar replied that he would be a "monkey's uncle." He then changed the subject and asked Simba if Mufasa had showed him the entire kingdom, including the rise at the northern border. This deflated Simba, who admitted that Mufasa had forbidden him from going there. Scar was quick to affirm Mufasa's decision and explained that only the bravest lions ventured into such a place. Simba insisted that he was brave and asked what was out there, but Scar refused to divulge any more information. However, he soon let slip that the forbidden territory was an elephant graveyard, which excited Simba. Scar made the cub promise not to go there, then told him to run along and have fun. As Simba raced off, Scar turned away with a sinister smile.

Simba hastened to his friend, Nala, who was being bathed by her mother. He told her that he wanted to show her a "great place," but she reminded him that she was in the middle of a bath. Sarabi added that it was time for Simba's bath and proceeded to clean him with her tongue despite his struggles. After his bath, Simba told Nala that the place he wanted to visit was "cool," which made Sarabi ask what exactly the place was. Simba lied that the area was around the water hole, then added to Nala in a whisper that he would show her more once they got there. The cubs asked permission from their mothers to go, and Sarabi reluctantly granted it, though she insisted that they bring along Zazu as a babysitter. This devastated the cubs.

With Zazu flying overhead, Simba and Nala journeyed to the water hole. Along the way, Nala asked Simba where they were really going, and he told her that they were going to visit an elephant graveyard. Though excited, she wondered how they could get rid of Zazu. Just then, Zazu flew down and told the cubs that they were betrothed. In answer to their confusion, he explained that they would get married someday, which caused both Simba and Nala to react with disgust. A disgruntled Zazu insisted that it was a Pride Lands tradition, but Simba proclaimed that he would get rid of arranged marriages once he became the king. Zazu argued that he would never let that happen, and Simba replied cheekily that Zazu was fired. The hornbill pointed out that Simba was not the king, but Nala retorted that Simba was the future king, and Simba added that this meant that Zazu had to obey him. This only made Zazu assert that Simba was shaping up to be a "pathetic" king.

To prove Zazu wrong, Simba bragged about his future reign as king and proclaimed that he would not have to answer to anyone someday. Nala joined in, as did many other animals. In the commotion, Zazu got sat on by a rhinoceros, and Simba and Nala escaped. Once away from Zazu, Simba called himself a genius, but Nala reminded him that she had come up with the idea to get rid of the hornbill. The two tussled playfully, during which Nala pinned Simba on his back. Simba pounced on her, and the two rolled down a steep embankment, only for Nala to pin Simba again.

Just then, a geyser erupted, and the cubs realised that they had found the Elephant Graveyard. They started to explore the area, but Zazu appeared and urged them to return home. Despite the hornbill's warnings about imminent danger, Simba declared that he walked on the wild side and laughed in the face of danger. He started to laugh mockingly, only for sinister laughter to echo back at him from a nearby elephant skull. Terrified, Simba hid behind Zazu, while three hyenas named Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed slunk out from within the skull.

Upon seeing Simba, Nala, and Zazu, the hyenas accused the trio of trespassing, and Shenzi recognised Zazu as Mufasa's majordomo. Simba identified himself as the future king, but the hyenas reminded him that he was not in his kingdom anymore. The predators started to joke about how they would eat the cubs, and Simba, Nala, and Zazu took advantage of their distraction to sneak away. Despite the trio's head start, the hyenas caught up to Zazu and captured him. Simba and Nala went back for Zazu, whom the hyenas had blasted out of a geyser, and Simba ordered them to pick on someone their own size. After Shenzi pointed out that Simba was their size, the hyenas gave chase.

Simba and Nala fled through the Elephant Graveyard. At one point, Nala started to slip down a hill of bones, but Simba raced to her rescue and stopped Shenzi from attacking her by clawing the hyena across the face. Eventually, the hyenas cornered Simba and Nala against a rock wall. Simba attempted to shield Nala and roared at the hyenas, but they merely made fun of his piteous attempts at ferocity.

Before the hyenas could harm Simba and Nala, Mufasa appeared with Zazu and wrestled the hyenas to the ground. Shenzi and Banzai insisted that they had not known of Simba's relationship to Mufasa, but Ed clarified that he had known. Infuriated, Mufasa roared, and the hyenas scuttled away. Mufasa then turned his ire on Simba and reminded the cub that he had deliberately disobeyed orders. Simba apologised meekly. As Mufasa led the group out of the Elephant Graveyard, Nala told Simba that she thought he had been very brave.

Upon entering the Pride Lands, Mufasa paused in an open field and ordered Zazu to take Nala home while he reprimanded Simba. Before leaving with Nala, Zazu wished Simba luck. As the two departed, Mufasa called Simba to him, and the cub reluctantly started walking toward his father. However, as he was walking, he stepped into one of Mufasa's massive pawprints and stared down at it in consternation. He then sat next to his father and looked up expectantly.

Mufasa expressed his disappointment in Simba and reminded him that he had almost gotten himself and Nala killed. Through tears, Simba explained that he had just been trying to be brave like his father, but Mufasa reminded Simba that he was only brave when he had to be and that being brave did not mean that one should go looking for trouble. Simba insisted that Mufasa was not scared of anything, which prompted Mufasa to confess that he had been scared earlier that day because he had thought he would lose Simba.

Simba was surprised at Mufasa's revelation and realised that even kings could feel scared. He added cheekily that the hyenas had been even more scared. Laughing, Mufasa replied that no one messed with him. He then began to playfully wrestle with Simba in the grass. In the midst of the game, Simba asked if he and Mufasa were friends, and Mufasa affirmed that they were. However, when Simba asked if they would always be together, Mufasa told him that the stars represented the Great Kings of the Past, who looked down on the Pride Landers from the stars. He promised that the Great Kings of the Past would always be there to guide Simba, as would Mufasa himself.

### Adolescence

**Timon**: *Ooh. Sonny boy, I invented Hakuna Matata.*

**Simba**: *Oh, yeah? Well,* I *perfected it.*

—Simba and Timon
Seasons passed, and Simba grew into an adolescent. One morning, Simba boasted to Timon that he had perfected the "Hakuna Matata" lifestyle, and Timon tried to prove him wrong by appealing to all the grub-eating competitions that he had won. However, Pumbaa reminded him that Simba had won every contest, save a snail-slurping contest. Timon seized the opportunity to challenge Simba. The two had their contest, during which Simba slurped up all his snails, while Timon collapsed from eating too much. After his victory, Simba strolled away, and Timon and Pumbaa lamented how quickly he had grown up.

### Young adulthood

#### Reunion with Nala

**Nala**: *I've really missed you.*

**Simba**: *I've missed you too.*

—Simba and Nala reunite as adults

Upon growing into adulthood, Simba continued to live in the jungle with Timon and Pumbaa. One night, the trio was stargazing. Timon and Pumbaa asked Simba what he believed the stars were, and, after some prompting, he recalled the story that Mufasa had told him about the Great Kings of the Past. To his surprise and embarrassment, Timon and Pumbaa burst into laughter and began to make fun of the "mook" who had made up such a story. Though Simba initially went along with their teasing, he soon grew sad and walked off to be by himself. Once away from his friends, he collapsed and inadvertently tossed up a cloud of milkweed floss, which blew across the savanna and reached Rafiki in his tree. This made the mandrill realise that Simba was still alive.

Later, a lioness began chasing Pumbaa through the jungle until he got stuck beneath a tree root. Just in time, Simba leaped to his friend's rescue and began to fight the lioness. During their tussle, the lioness flipped Simba onto his back, and he recognised the signature move as belonging to his childhood friend, Nala. At first, Nala did not recognise him, but when he told her that he was Simba, she cried out in delight.

As Simba and Nala excitedly asked one another why they were in the jungle, Timon approached and demanded to know what was going on. Simba happily introduced Nala to Timon and Pumbaa, but Timon remained confused and expressed his concern that Nala wanted to eat Pumbaa. Nala changed the subject by mentioning how shocked the pride, particularly Sarabi, would be to learn that Simba had been alive all this time. Perturbed, Simba declared that no one had to know, but Nala informed him that the pride believed him to be dead. She then declared that he was the king.

Timon was dubious about Nala's claim, but Pumbaa accepted her narrative immediately and began to grovel at Simba's feet. This made Simba pull away in disgust and order Pumbaa to stop. He explained that he might have been poised to become king at one point in his life but that it had been a long time ago. Timon was incredulous that Simba had never told them about his royal stature and insisted that he saw Simba differently now because he had power.

At this point, Nala asked if Timon and Pumbaa could let her speak privately with Simba, and he echoed her sentiment. Though hurt, Timon and Pumbaa left. Once in private, Nala confessed to Simba that it felt like he was back from the dead and that his survival meant a lot to her. The two expressed how much they had missed one another, then began to nuzzle affectionately. From the underbrush, Timon lamented the two's growing relationship and resolved to ruin their romantic evening. Along with Pumbaa, Timon hatched several schemes to ruin Simba and Nala's night, but each one ended in failure. Finally, Timon and Pumbaa gave up and sorrowfully accepted that Simba was going to leave their friendship trio.

Later that night, Nala asked Simba why he had not returned to Pride Rock, and he claimed that he had wanted to get out on his own and live his own life. She reminded him that his pride needed him and that he was the rightful king, but he told her that Scar was the king. However, she clarified that Scar had let the hyenas take over the Pride Lands, then implored Simba to return home and save his pride from starvation. Despite her pleas, he insisted that he could not go back and posited that there were sometimes bad situations from which one could not escape. Nala insisted that it was his responsibility and that he was the pride's only hope, but he remained adamant in his refusal to help.

Shocked by Simba's attitude, Nala told him that he was not the Simba she remembered, and he angrily agreed with her assessment and asked if she was satisfied. She clarified that she was disappointed, and Simba commented that she was starting to sound like Mufasa. To this, Nala said, "Good. At least one of us does." Incited, Simba yelled at her that she had shown up and told him how to live his life without knowing what he had been through. She implored him to tell her, but he refused, and the two parted on angry terms.

### Communion with Mufasa's spirit

**Simba**: *That's not my father. That's just my reflection.*

**Rafiki**: *No. Look harder. You see, he lives in you.*

—Rafiki to Simba, as they look into a pool of water
After storming away from Nala, Simba paced in an open field and insisted that he could not return home, for the past was unchangeable. After a moment, he paused and yelled that Mufasa had promised to always be there for him. He then bowed his head and admitted quietly that Mufasa's death had been his own fault.

Just then, Rafiki appeared in a nearby tree and began to chant, to Simba's annoyance. The young lion walked away from Rafiki until he was staring down at his reflection in a nearby pool of water. However, Rafiki disturbed the water by throwing a rock at it, and Simba irritably asked him to "cut it out." Rafiki merely replied, "Can't cut it out. It will grow right back." Simba tried to walk away again, but Rafiki began to follow him. When the mandrill would not leave, Simba demanded to know who he was. However, Rafiki simply posed the same question to Simba. Deflated, Simba admitted that he had once known who he was but that he was not sure anymore. Rafiki asserted that he knew who Simba was, but instead of giving a serious answer, he merely began to sing his chant again. At Simba's confusion, he explained that his chant meant that Simba was a baboon, while he himself was not. Though Simba insisted that Rafiki was confused, the mandrill reminded him that he did not even know who he was. He then called Simba "Mufasa's boy," which stopped Simba in his tracks.

As Rafiki raced away, Simba yelled after him and began to chase him across the grasslands. Upon catching up to the mandrill, he asked if Rafiki had known his father, and Rafiki replied that he still knew Mufasa. Saddened, Simba informed Rafiki of Mufasa's passing, but the mandrill insisted that Mufasa was still alive and that he could prove it to Simba. At Rafiki's prompting, Simba followed him through an area of dense jungle until they reached a pool of water. Once there, Rafiki told Simba to look into the water, and he did so, only to express disappointment that it was merely his reflection. However, Rafiki urged him to look harder and told him that Mufasa lived on inside him. Simba did as he was told and watched as his reflection warped and rippled until it had turned into Mufasa's face.

From above, Mufasa's spirit appeared and spoke Simba's name. As Simba watched in wonder, the apparition declared that Simba had forgotten who he was and so forgotten Mufasa. The spirit went on that Simba had to return home to take his place in the Circle of Life because he was Mufasa's son and the one true king. Upon making this final declaration, Mufasa's spirit began to fade and tell Simba over and over again, "Remember." Desperate, Simba chased after Mufasa's spirit and begged him to stay, but the apparition soon vanished into the night.

After Mufasa's spirit had disappeared, Rafiki approached and passed off the experience as strange weather. Simba remarked that the winds were changing, and Rafiki stated that change was good. Simba agreed but added that it was not easy. He then admitted that he did not know how to face his past since he had been running from it for so long. Suddenly, Rafiki whacked Simba on the head with his bakora staff, and Simba demanded to know why he had done so. Rafiki merely laughed and claimed that the action was "in the past." Simba reminded Rafiki that his head still hurt, and the mandrill replied that the past could hurt but that one could either run from it or learn from it. He then tried to swing his bakora staff at Simba again, but the young lion ducked and avoided the strike. Elated, Rafiki asked Simba what he was going to do, and the young lion grabbed Rafiki's stick in his teeth and tossed it away into the grass. Afterward, he raced away and yelled over his shoulder that he was going back. A delighted Rafiki began to cheer and wave his bakora staff as Simba disappeared into the horizon.

### Battle for Pride Rock

*"The choice is yours, Scar. Either step down or fight."*
―Simba, after he returns to Pride Rock
After crossing the desert, Simba arrived in the Pride Lands and spectated the dry, barren landscape with shock and dismay. Upon spotting Pride Rock in the distance, he narrowed his eyes in determination. Just then, Nala approached and commented on how awful the Pride Lands had become. Simba admitted that he had not wanted to believe her, and she asked why he had come back. Simba replied that he had finally gotten "some sense knocked into" him, and Nala vowed to help him fight for the Pride Lands. Simba reminded her that it would be dangerous, but she replied that she laughed in the face of danger, an echo of what Simba had once said as a cub. Just then, Timon and Pumbaa approached and pledged their services to Simba. Though disgusted by the poor condition of the Pride Lands, Timon asserted that he would stand by Simba as long as the kingdom was important to him.

Together, Simba, Nala, Timon, and Pumbaa snuck into the Pride Lands and hid behind a large rock to observe several hyenas who were loitering in-between them and Pride Rock. Timon wondered how they would sneak past the hyenas, to which Simba suggested using live bait. Though reluctant, Timon and Pumbaa distracted the hyenas, and Simba and Nala were able to sneak closer to Pride Rock. Before splitting off from Nala, Simba instructed her to rally the lionesses and declared that he would look for Scar. Just then, Scar yelled for Sarabi from atop Pride Rock and began to admonish her for not catching enough prey. As Simba looked on in sadness, Scar and Sarabi's argument escalated to the point that Scar struck Sarabi across the face. Enraged, Simba revealed himself with a roar, and Scar mistook him for Mufasa.

While Scar looked on in fear and confusion, Simba rushed to Sarabi's side and nuzzled her worriedly. At first, she too believed that he was Mufasa, but when Simba denied this, she realised his true identity and wondered how he could still be alive. Simba answered simply that it did not matter, for he was home. The two then shared an affectionate embrace.

Meanwhile, Scar realised Simba's identity as well and confessed his surprise that Simba was still alive. At this, Simba stalked toward Scar and demanded one good reason for him to not tear his uncle apart. Scar attempted to blame the situation on the pressures of ruling a kingdom, but Simba retorted that such pressures were no longer Scar's. He then demanded that Scar abdicate the throne. Scar pointed out that the hyenas recognised him as king, but Nala interrupted that the pride supported Simba's right to rule. Simba then presented Scar with an ultimatum: step down or fight.

Instead of answering Simba's challenge, Scar reminded Simba of his own part in Mufasa's death. Nala asked Simba for clarification, and, after pressure from Scar, he confessed that he was to blame for Mufasa's death. Horrified, Sarabi begged Simba to deny it, but he reaffirmed his confession. Scar, in turn, accused Simba of murder. Though Simba insisted that it had been an accident, Scar pressed the point and backed Simba toward the edge of Pride Rock. Eventually, he backed Simba so far that the young lion slipped off the promontory and began to scrabble for purchase. At the same moment, lightning ignited a fire at the base of Pride Rock. As Simba struggled to keep his grip on Pride Rock, Scar looked down on him in contempt and commented that he looked just like Mufasa had before he had died. Scar then dug his claws into Simba's paws and whispered that he, in fact, had been the one to kill Mufasa. Enraged, Simba leaped back onto Pride Rock and forced Scar to confess the truth before the pride.

At Scar's confession, the lionesses leaped into battle against the hyenas. Simba soon joined the fray and managed to fight off several hyenas with the help of Timon, Pumbaa, and Rafiki.

After defeating the hyenas, Simba chased Scar to the summit of Pride Rock. Cornered and fearful for his life, Scar pled for mercy and even blamed his crimes on the hyenas. Despite Scar's pleas, Simba did not believe his uncle and claimed that everything Scar had ever told him was a lie. Scar wondered if Simba would kill his own uncle, but Simba chose to spare Scar's life because he was not like him. Relieved, Scar promised to make it up to Simba somehow and asked what he could do to prove himself. Simba simply told Scar to run away and never return. Though Scar initially seemed to acquiesce to Simba's request, he unexpectedly threw embers into Simba's eyes and attacked him.

The two lions fought atop Pride Rock until Scar managed to strike Simba to the ground. As Scar leaped toward Simba to deliver the final blow, Simba used his back paws to kick Scar over the edge of Pride Rock, which sent him tumbling down the cliff to the ground far below. There, the hyenas confronted him for his betrayal amidst a fiery blaze.

### Coronation

*It is time.*
―Rafiki to Simba, shortly before the latter's coronation

Before long, rain began to fall on the Pride Lands and extinguish the fires at its base. As the rain continued to fall, Simba descended Pride Rock and exchanged nuzzles with Nala and Sarabi. In the midst of the reunions, Rafiki rattled his bakora staff to get Simba's attention and motioned for him to ascend Pride Rock. As Simba obediently walked toward Rafiki, Timon and Pumbaa bowed before him, and he drew the two into a hug, asserting that he never could have achieved victory without them.

Simba moved on to Rafiki, who bowed to him, but the young lion drew his friend into a hug instead. After a moment, Rafiki took Simba by the shoulders and told him that it was time. Simba then ascended Pride Rock until he had reached the promontory, where he looked up at a break in the clouds that revealed a patch of stars. Mufasa's voice implored him to "remember," after which he roared over his reclaimed kingdom. The rest of the pride roared their assent.

Seasons later, when the Pride Lands had been restored to its former glory, Simba, Nala, Timon, and Pumbaa stood on the promontory of Pride Rock and looked down on the animals who had assembled below. Rafiki soon approached, cradling Simba and Nala's newborn cub, Mkuu, in his arms. The couple watched happily as Rafiki lifted the cub into the air for all the animals to see.

## Physical appearance

As an infant, Simba was small but compact. His main pelt was a rich gold, while his muzzle, paws, and underbelly were cream. His eyes were black with yellow sclerae and framed by bi-coloured eye rims; while the upper shades were darker in colour, the lower shades were lighter in colour. He had a half-grown brown stump for a tail and the beginnings of a head tuft. His nose was bright pink, and he had thin black eyebrows.

Once a cub, Simba retained his colouring but gained dark brown ear rims, light brown inner ears, elbow tufts, and whiskers. Most of his distinguishing features from his infancy grew more noticeable; his head tuft became longer and more tousled, his eyebrows grew thicker, and his tail tuft lengthened. Additionally, his eyes took on a reddish-brown hue. Due to his increase in age, Simba became taller, larger, and more compact. He was slightly bigger than his friend, Nala, who was the same age.

As an adolescent, Simba became more long-bodied, deep-chested, and muscular. His colouring remained much the same. However, his ear rims receded somewhat, with golden fur growing in around the outer edges, and he gained a bushy red mop of hair on his head. Additionally, his face became more triangular in shape, and tufts of fur grew in on either cheek. The bridge of his nose darkened to a light brown.

As a young adult, Simba was an impressive size, as he dwarfed the lionesses of his pride and had a stronger build than the full-grown Scar. He became even more long-bodied, broad-shouldered, and muscular, and was able to hold his own in the final battle against Scar and the hyenas. Though his colouring did not change, Simba lost his ear rims completely, and his nose dulled in colour. He gained a long red mane that extended from his forehead to his upper chest, and his tail tip grew longer. He was noted to look almost identical to his father, Mufasa, whom he was mistaken for by both his mother, Sarabi, and his uncle, Scar.

In his later adult years, Simba grew larger in size and build, and gained more rounded features. His mane grew to the middle of his chest, where it darkened to a more auburn colour.

## Personality and traits

*"Danger? Ha! I walk on the wild side. I* laugh *in the face of danger!"*
―Simba
As a cub, Simba was mischievous and playful, with endless energy. He loved to get into scrapes with his best friend, Nala, and was often drawn to forbidden locations, such as the Elephant Graveyard. He frequently boasted about his own fearlessness and deliberately put himself in harm's way so he could prove his bravery to himself, his family, and his friends. His curiosity often led him into trouble, something Nala commented upon well into her adult years. Additionally, Simba was quite arrogant, boastful, and prideful. He enjoyed bragging about his role as the future king of Pride Rock and used his title to push around others, most notably Zazu. He did not take into account a king's duty to his subjects but rather saw the title as a means of getting whatever he wanted. However, with some instruction from Mufasa, he came to understand that kings should only be brave when the situation demanded it.
After Mufasa's death, Simba descended into guilt, self-pity, and depression. He frequently squashed down his feelings by adopting an upbeat "Hakuna Matata" attitude and burying all memories of his past life. Even so, he occasionally lapsed into periods of reflection and grief, such as when Timon and Pumbaa made fun of Mufasa's story about the Great Kings of the Past. Because of Scar's gas lighting and deception, Simba blamed himself for Mufasa's death and refused to return home for fear of having to confront his past. Rafiki eventually taught him that one could either run from the past or learn from it, which emboldened him to return to the Pride Lands and reclaim his birthright. Despite his insecurities, Simba was brave, driven, and ferocious in his confrontation with Scar. His charisma and natural knack for leadership swayed the lionesses to his side and thoroughly intimidated his enemies. Unlike Scar, whose bitterness and jealousy drove him to murder Mufasa, Simba did not take out his rage on Scar for having murdered Mufasa. Rather, he showed his uncle mercy and told him that he could leave the Pride Lands with his life. Ultimately, Simba accepted his responsibility as the king of Pride Rock and used his understanding of the Circle of Life to restore the Pride Lands to its former glory.
As a parent, Simba was loving, kind, and supportive. He often spent time with Kiara so he could teach her how to be the next ruler of Pride Rock and even gave her opportunities to flex her independence. Additionally, he empathised with his other cubs position's as leaders or royals and encouraged them to seize their responsibilities. Despite this, Simba was not as flexible or easygoing in his parenting as Nala, as he was extremely overprotective of and strict with Kiara and did not as readily accept Kion as the new leader of the Lion Guard. He did not always trust his cubs' judgment and, as a result, often tried to influence their decisions. After his ascent to kingship, Simba continued to grapple with his past. He remained bitterly hateful of Scar and harboured a particular distrust of Kovu due to his position as Scar's heir. He refused to give Kovu a chance and could not reconcile the young lion's love for Kiara with his identity as an Outsider. Eventually, because of Kiara's intervention, Simba learned to see the Outsiders as members of his pride and came to accept Kovu as an individual who was not tied to Scar's legacy.

## Quotes

*"Everything the light touches. What about that shadowy place?"*
*"My dad just showed me the whole kingdom. And I'm gonna rule it all!"*
*"Mom! Mom, you're messing up my mane. Okay, okay. I'm clean. Can we go now?"*
*"Well, when I'm king, that'll be the first thing to go."*
*"Hey! Why don't you pick on somebody your own size?"*
*"I was just trying to be brave like you."*
*"Dad? We're pals, right? And we'll always be together, right?"*
*"Well, somebody once told me that the Great Kings of the Past are up there, watching over us."*
*"No, I'm not the king! Maybe I was gonna be, but that was a long time ago."*
*"Listen! You think you can just show up and tell me how to live my life? You don't even know what I've been through."*
*"She's wrong. I can't go back. What would it prove anyway? It won't change anything. You can't change the past."*
*"How can I go back? I'm not who I used to be."*
*"Yeah, but it's not easy. I know what I have to do, but...going back means I'll have to face my past. I've been running from it for so long."*
*"I finally got some sense knocked into me, and I've got the bump to prove it. Besides, this is my kingdom. If I don't fight for it, who will?"*

## Trivia

* Simba was voiced by the following:
	+ In *The Lion King*, he was voiced by Jonathan Taylor Thomas as a cub and Matthew Broderick as an adult. Jason Weaver provided his cub singing voice, while Joseph Williams provided his adult singing voice. Evan Saucedo provided his cub singing voice in the "The Morning Report" musical sequence.
	+ In *The Lion King II: Simba's Pride*, he was voiced by Matthew Broderick. Cam Clarke provided his singing voice.
		- Clarke also voiced Mwoga and one of the porcupine brothers in *The Lion Guard*.
	+ In *The Lion King 1½*, he was voiced by Matt Weinberg as a cub and Matthew Broderick as an adolescent and adult.
	+ In *The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar*, he was voiced by Rob Lowe.
	+ In *Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable*, he was voiced by Cam Clarke.
	+ In *The Lion Guard*, he was voiced by Rob Lowe.
	+ In *The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa*, he was voiced by Cam Clarke.
	+ In *Disney's Active Play: The Lion King II: Simba's Pride*, he was voiced by Cam Clarke.
	+ In *Disney's Activity Center: The Lion King*, he was voiced by Ryan O'Donohue.
		- O'Donohue also voiced Kovu in *The Lion King II: Simba's Pride* and *Disney's Active Play: The Lion King II: Simba's Pride*.
	+ In *Kingdom Hearts II*, he was voiced by Jonathan Taylor Thomas as a cub and Cam Clarke as an adult.
	+ In *Simba's Mighty Adventure*, he was voiced by Shaun Fleming as a cub and Cam Clarke as an adult.

* Simba was animated by the following:
	+ In *The Lion King*, he was animated by Mark Henn as a cub and Ruben Aquino as an adult.
	+ In *The Lion King II: Simba's Pride*, he was animated by Ian Harrowell.
		- Harrowell also animated Nala and Nuka in *The Lion King II: Simba's Pride*.
	+ In *The Lion King 1½*, he was animated by Bob Baxter.
		- Baxter also animated Pumbaa, Rafiki, Timon, and Zazu in *The Lion King II: Simba's Pride* as well as Pumbaa and the hyenas in *The Lion King 1½*.

* The role of Simba in the stage musical version of *The Lion King* was originated by Scott Irby-Ranniar (cub) and Jason Raize (adult).

* Simba's name means "lion" in Swahili.

* In the stage musical version of *The Lion King*, Simba has three additional songs: "The Morning Report", "Endless Night", and "He Lives In You (Reprise)".

* According to *Mouse Under Glass*, the directors themselves are unsure how Simba grew to such a large size on a diet of insects.

* Simba's original name was Rego.

* In the 1989 draft of *The Lion King*, Simba was raised by a baboon named Kwashi and a mongoose named Mabu. He was enemies with a jackal named Ndogo.

* In the 1990 drafts of *The Lion King*, Simba was Nala's maternal first cousin. Thus, their relationship was incestuous.

* In the May 1990 draft of *The Lion King*, Simba lost his tail while fleeing the hyenas.

* In the May 1990 draft of *The Lion King*, Zazu joined Simba in exile after Mufasa's death.

* In the May 1990 draft of *The Lion King*, Simba defeated Scar by suffocating him.

* In a 1991 draft of *The Lion King*, an adolescent Simba remained too preoccupied with his love for Nala to listen to Mufasa's advice on how to be king.

* In a 1991 draft of *The Lion King*, Scar lured Nala's brother, Mheetu, into a stampede, and Simba tried to save him. Mufasa ended up saving both young lions.

* In a 1991 draft of *The Lion King*, Mufasa saved Simba from a flood rather than a stampede.

* In a 1991 draft of *The Lion King*, Simba refused to go on patrol with Mufasa. Alone, Mufasa got attacked and killed by Scar. With Mufasa dead, Scar became the king, and Simba was expected to assume the throne once he was old enough. However, when the time came, Scar denounced Simba as unfit to rule.

* In a 1991 draft of *The Lion King*, Rafiki accused Scar of murder, and Scar ordered his hyenas to chase Simba and Rafiki out of the kingdom. The two took refuge with Timon and his family, and Rafiki trained Simba to take back his kingdom.

* During early production of *The Lion King*, Simba had several childhood friends, including Bhati, Daabi, Lemuta, and Mheetu. Timon and Pumbaa were originally conceived as Simba's childhood friends as well.

* In an early draft of *The Lion King II: Simba's Pride*, Simba had a son named Chaka and a daughter named Shani but the characters were cut out.