Scar

* Spirit
* Adult
* Teenager

Scar's Lion Guard (formerly)

Outsiders

Outlanders

Evil Lions of the Past

Army of Scar (currently)

Leader of the Lion Guard (formerly)

Surprisingly skilled fighter

Roar of the Elders (formerly)

“*As Mufasa's brother, Scar was next in line to take the throne until Simba came along. Scar's lack of physical prowess is more than made up for by his devious cunning as he plots to take back his birthright with his henchman hyenas by his side. He is a selfish and greedy leader, nearly destroying the pride and the land in which they lived.*”
―Scar's official synopsis[1]
**Taka**, better known as **Scar**, was the main antagonist of *The Lion King* and *The Lion Guard* and a minor antagonist in *The Lion King II: Simba's Pride* and *The Lion King 1½*. He was Simba's arch-nemesis and paternal uncle, Mufasa's younger brother and arch-rival, Shenzi, Banzai and Ed and the hyenas' former leader and boss, and Zira's friend.

Scar is also the main antagonist of Season 2 ahead of Janja and Ushari.

## History

Before Simba was born, Scar was tasked with leading the Lion Guard and was bestowed a power called the "Roar of the Elders" by the Great Lions of the Pastwhich, when used, would cause the lions of the Pride Lands past to roar with him. However, that power went to Scar's head, and he believed that with this power he should be the king instead of Mufasa. So he planned to dethrone Mufasa, by using the Roar of the Elders. When the rest of the Lion Guard refused to aid him in his plot, Scar destroyed them by using the Roar of the Elders, and as a result, Scar became weakened by this event, losing the Roar forever by using it for evil. In the years that followed the Lion Guard's downfall, Scar focused his life on plotting for his brother's throne and continued to devise schemes with the hyenas to rule the Pride Lands.
After Simba was born, Scar plotted to kill both him and his brother. In the end though, he was able to murder Mufasa, and convince Simba to run away; however, when Simba came back as a young adult, he battled his uncle and reclaimed the Pride Lands. Scar then apparently died in a fire that broke out during the fight.[1]

Sometime prior to his death, Scar selected Kovu to be the next King. Kovu is the son of one of Scar's followers, Zira, whom Scar had a close relationship with and had informed about the Roar of the Elders.

## Physical appearance

Scar is elegant and poised, but also unkempt and wild looking. He also speaks with an English accent. He is perhaps the most evidently feline lion in the film, lithe and melanistic in appearance with a sleek, black mane, brownish-orange fur and distinctive, almond-shaped green eyes. He has large, tan paws with long, curving black claws that unlike those of other lions in the film are always bared and never retracted, perhaps alluding to his vicious nature.

Scar also sports a white goatee beard, characteristic of villains, particularly the evil twin archetype which is fitting given his relationship with Mufasa. Finally, Scar has a small, thin, red scar over his left eye, thus earning him his namesake (which happened during his younger days). Some of his physical traits were also based in part on his original voice actor, Jeremy Irons.

As a fiery spirit, Scar has dark orange-brown coloring with a yellow nose and markings on his ears and the edge of facial fur. He has pale yellow eyes. His scar is shown as being pure white.

## Personality

Scar was known to be very resentful of Mufasa and Simba because Simba's birth ruined any chance of him becoming king, suggesting why he envies both Mufasa and Simba. His resentment and anger towards Mufasa was strong enough that, after he usurped Mufasa's place on the throne by murdering him, he outlawed Mufasa's name being uttered, especially not in a favorable light. He seemed to possess somewhat of an inferiority complex, which presumably also acted as another reason for his resentment for Mufasa, as evidenced by his sad resignation to the fact that he was passed over in the gene pool regarding brute strength.

Scar is egotistical and prides himself on his intelligence, saying "As far as brains go, I got the lion share" and was somewhat of a narcissist, the latter trait being especially prevalent when plotting the murder of Mufasa after the hyenas' failed attempt at murdering Simba at the Elephant Graveyard where he mentions that when he becomes king, they will see him "for the wonder I am." He has some odd quirks that he is aware of, as, when Simba affectionately states "You're so weird," Scar tells Simba "You have no idea" (although this specific line was an intentional in-joke referring to *Reversal of Fortune*, in which Jeremy Irons utters the same line).

Scar was heavily sardonic, frequently replying to attempts at conversation with sarcasm and subtle insults. After taking over Pride Rock, his overall demeanor took a turn for the worse, becoming somewhat deluded, if not in self-denial, in believing that he is still an efficient ruler despite clear evidence to the contrary, apparently being unwilling to admit even to himself that Mufasa was a better king or finding fault in his own leadership.

He seemed to also develop serious paranoia after Simba returned regarding what Simba was going to do with him, as he attempted to attack Simba after Simba repeated the same words Scar told him when Simba planned to exile Scar for murdering Mufasa due to fear that Simba would pull a similar stunt that Scar himself pulled on Simba after he said those words. In addition, when Simba first revealed himself upon his return to Pride Rock before Scar realized it was Simba, Scar backed away while in disbelief that Mufasa survived, fearful that his role in Mufasa's death would be exposed. Scar was a coward at heart, preferring to run away from violence and manipulate others into fighting his own battles for him although when backed into a corner, he would fight back, although this could also be because he would lose everything if he lost. In the face of his cowardice, he was really strong-willed and determined, defending his throne to his last breath. Scar was highly intelligent as he himself liked to boast, easily able to manipulate situations and conversations to his advantage. However, he was lazy, hedonistic and self-centered, causing him to be a desperate ruler. He liked to pretend to be physically weak stating "When it comes to brute strength, I'm at the shallow end of the gene pool" in order to get his opponents to underestimate him. Despite this, he was actually a fierce fighter who held his own against the bigger and much younger Simba and came very close to killing him. However, Scar will not hesitate to cheat in a fight, as seen when he flings embers into Simba's eyes, temporarily blinding him, to gain the upper paw. Scar was a very charismatic individual, able to inspire the hyenas to follow his cause and gain fanatical loyalty from Zira and her pride of lionesses, even in death.

Regarding his treatment of Shenzi, Banzai and Ed, he was somewhat harsh with them, as evidenced by his berating them regarding their failure to kill Simba, and his angrily throwing them out after they made the mistake of mentioning Mufasa. Despite this, however, he seemed to value them as friends, as evidenced by his remark when he finds the hyenas waiting for him before he realized they intended to kill him for his remarks, as well as his attempts at apologizing to them falling on deaf ears when he realized it was too late to ask for forgiveness.

He was also a sadist, convincing his own nephew he was responsible for Mufasa's death and then taunting him for it further. Despite his negative traits, he did attempt to encourage Zazu to sing a more "bouncy" song, other than "It's a Small World After All", which he apparently finds to be extremely annoying (like a lot of people do in real life), because when Zazu starts to sing it, Scar snaps at him, telling him to stop ("NO, no! *Anything* but that!").

## Appearances

### ***The Lion King***

Scar remained bitterly jealous of his elder brother, but was allowed to live in the Pride Lands. He did not attend Simba's presentation, much to Mufasa's disgust. During this time, he also tried to eat a mouse, although he was ultimately forced to let the mouse escape when Zazu told him off for missing Simba's presentation, causing Scar to attempt to exact revenge on Zazu by eating him instead until Mufasa interfered, forcing him to spit Zazu out. Scar also implied when Mufasa warned him not to walk away that he might attack Mufasa should he be distracted. He also briefly lamented that he may be cast out of the gene pool anyways before leaving Pride Rock dejected. As some time passed, Scar rapidly became jealous of his nephew Simba's position as the next king of Pride Rock, and started plotting to kill him in order to take out the competition for the throne himself. He started to recruit hyenas, primarily Shenzi, Banzai and Ed, to build an army. He used bribes of food to get them on his side.
The first attempt the hyenas made was to kill Simba after tricking the cub into entering their territory with his best friend, Nala. When Mufasa foiled that plan, Scar saw the whole scene with great unhappiness. Later, Scar admonishes the hyenas for failing to kill Simba, even when it was clear that Simba only survived due to Mufasa's interference. However, he ends up getting the idea to kill both Mufasa and Simba, after feeding them a zebra's leg when Banzai sardonically asked whether Scar should kill Mufasa to get the throne. He promises that under his rule, they will never go hungry again, a promise which he clearly could not (and ultimately failed to) keep.

With their help, he engineers a wildebeest stampede meant to kill both Simba and Mufasa, tricking Simba into waiting in a gorge under the notion that Mufasa has a 'marvelous surprise' for him. Scar then sends Mufasa to save Simba. Mufasa manages to save his son and ends up clinging to a cliff where he spots Scar and pleads with his brother to help him. However, Scar instead viciously grips Mufasa's paws with his claws and, grinning evilly, throws his brother off the cliff to his death with the mocking words, "Long live the king".

Scar finds that Simba is still alive, and makes him believe that it is his fault Mufasa is dead. He then convinces Simba to run away, and never return. Scar then sends the hyenas to kill Simba. They fail this task, though Shenzi felt that allowing the cub to flee into the desert would kill him eventually and they would kill him if he did survive and come back. Thus, they let the cub escape, and lied to Scar. Scar then took over the Pride Lands, using the hyena clan as muscle to ensure his reign goes undisputed. Under his rule, the Pride Lands were over-hunted by the hyenas, and the excess of predators drove the herds away, while a drought deprived them of water. Likewise, he also enacts a law that says the subjects can not mention Mufasa at all, especially not in a more favorable light. If they do, he'd kill them.
Even with the hyena clan and the Pride on the brink of starvation, Scar refuses to allow anybody to leave or do anything about it, descending into madness and insisting that he is still a mighty king. He later questions Sarabi, Simba's mother and Mufasa's widowed queen, as to why she and the rest of the lions aren't hunting for food to which she replies there's nothing left and suggests they leave Pride Rock to survive. However, Scar rejects to the idea, in which she tells him that he's sentencing everyone to death. Scar condones to the fact and declares that as king he can do whatever he wants. With Sarabi pushed beyond composure, she openly compares Scar to Mufasa in a condescending manner, angering Scar to the point of violence against Mufasa's widowed queen. Just as this occurred, Simba, alive and well, returns and confronts the anxious Scar, who initially mistakes his nephew for Mufasa's ghost. Simba orders Scar to resign as king or engage in battle for the throne. Knowing he lacks the physical strength for battle as a result of his age, Scar initiates a trial against Simba, blaming him for Mufasa's death in an attempt to turn the pride against him. Simba, still thinking it was he who was responsible for his father's death, admits his "crime", allowing Scar to execute him as punishment.
Before he does so, Scar admits to Simba that it was he who was truly responsible for Mufasa's death, enraging the younger lion. Simba furiously tackles Scar and threatens to kill him unless he confesses his crime, and with no other choice, Scar reveals the truth to the observing pride. This leads to a battle in which the lionesses, Timon, Pumbaa, and Rafiki, work together to defeat the hyenas. Scar tries to escape, but Simba corners him on the top of Pride Rock, and Scar, knowing he is not strong enough to defeat Simba, is hesitant to fight. Instead of owning up to his actions, he tries to blame everything on the hyenas, not knowing that Shenzi, Banzai and Ed have followed him and heard him, resulting in them angrily backing away and alerting the defeated hyenas to his betrayal. When Simba chooses to exile Scar rather than kill him, Scar appears to concede, but then blinds his nephew by brushing embers into his face. Scar attacks his nephew and they engage in a fierce fight, the elder lion eventually knocking Simba onto his back.

However, as Scar leaps to deliver the deathblow, Simba uses his hind legs to flip Scar over the edge, sending him flying off Pride Rock and tumbling down the cliff. Scar survives the fall and as he slowly gets to his feet, the hyenas arrive. At first, Scar is relieved to see his "friends," but to his horror, they reveal they overheard Scar blaming his crimes on them, and, in their hunger and vengeance, they begin to surround their treacherous fallen master. Scar begs for mercy and attempts to explain his earlier statements, but the hyenas ignore him; they surround Scar with wide grins and close in, leaping on Scar and viciously mauling him to death, as flames engulfs them, killing them too.

### ***The Lion King II: Simba's Pride***

Despite his ultimate demise, Scar maintained the loyalty of the Outsiders, a pride of lionesses led by a lioness named Zira, who were banished to the Outlands by Simba. Zira was fanatically loyal to Scar and intended to install her son Kovu as King of Pride Rock, as he was chosen by Scar to be his heir. They would continue to create trouble for Simba in the following years.

Scar also appeared in Simba's dream. Mufasa clings to the high cliff above the stampede and an adult Simba tries to save his father. However, Scar grabs Simba's paw stopping from reaching him and Mufasa falls off the cliff, Scar morphs into Kovu and throws Simba into stampede. In addition, Scar was also mentioned by Simba when he explains to Kovu the true history of the fight between Scar and him. He also implies during this time that, in addition to the Hyenas exacting revenge on Scar, Scar also ended up burned alive by the wildfire.

Scar makes another brief appearance when Kovu is exiled from the Pride Lands by Simba, he stops by a lake where he sees Scar's reflection instead of his own as Mufasa did to Simba.

In the end, Scar's dying wish would be fulfilled (Kovu becoming the king of the Pride Lands) since Simba would choose Kovu to become king. However, unlike Scar's plan, Kovu ruled for the benefit of all his subjects, and not for his own sake.

### ***The Lion King 1½***

In the direct-to-video "parallel film" *The Lion King 1½*, Scar makes a few brief, non-speaking appearances in the scenes for which he was present in the original*Lion King* film.

Scar's song, "Be Prepared" is heard briefly as Timon and Pumbaa tour Scar's lair as a possible new home, commenting on how it is quiet, secluded and with no uninvited visitors. The shadows of the goose-stepping hyena army are then seen marching in front of them, though they haven't started singing yet.

He is also mentioned by Nala when tells Timon and Pumbaa that Simba needs their help in order to defeat Scar. Later, he is shown making Simba fall over Pride Rock's peak and fleeing from Simba after admitting he murdered Mufasa, where the hyenas were protecting him. Finally, after Timon, Ma, Pumbaa, and Uncle Max defeat the hyenas, Simba kicks Scar over the side of Pride Rock's summit, into the hole the hyenas fell into, and to his death.

### ***The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar***

When Kion learns that he has the Roar of the Elders, Rafiki takes him to the Lair of the Lion Guard, where he tells Kion that Scar once led the Lion Guard. Thinking himself better than Mufasa, Scar attempted to overthrow the monarchy, but his team refused to help him, and so he destroyed them with the power of the Roar. Seeing Scar's abuse of power, the Great Kings of the Past took it from him forever, and he was left deprived of his former glory.

###### "The Rise of Makuu"

Scar is mentioned when Kion is talking about the crocodiles' leadership methods to his family, questioning why they must fight to secure the position of leader. Nala reminds Kion that Simba had had to fight Scar to reclaim his leadership, implying that sometimes fighting is the only way. Scar's name is mentioned again when Kion refrains from using the Roar of the Elders. He tells his friends that he doesn't want to lash out in anger with his power, as Scar had.

###### "Can't Wait to be Queen"

Scar is mentioned by Simba when the king recounts how Aminifu had been the first animal willing to return to the Pride Lands after Scar's defeat.

###### "Eye of the Beholder"

Scar's portrait is seen briefly in the Lair of the Lion Guard as Rafiki reveals the paintings of the Lion Guard's past.

###### "Lions of the Outlands"

When Rafiki learns that Kion has encountered the Outsiders, he relates the story of Scar and Zira to the rest of the Lion Guard. He explains that Simba had banished the Outsiders to the Outlands after they had retained loyalties to Scar. Zirahad insisted that her son Kovu be king since he was Scar's chosen heir, but Simba had asserted that Scar was not the true king. The two had engaged in a battle and Simba had banished Zira and her followers to the Outlands after a crushing defeat. Rafiki warns the Lion Guard that there will be trouble if Zira finds out that Kion is Simba's son and the team takes off to save their friend.

Later, Zira tells Kion that he cannot use the Roar of the Elders against lions, or else he will lose it, as Scar did. She then blames Simba for Scar's fall from the throne of the Pride Lands, and Kion yells that Scar was never the real king. Furious, Zira orders an attack on Kion. However, just before the Outsiders can hurt him, Zira offers to forgive him if he will join her, and leaves him in the care of her pride while she goes to fetch her cubs.

During the final fight between the Outsiders and the Lion Guard, Bunga urges Kion to use his Roar, but Kion worries that he will lose the Roar as Scar did for using it against other lions. Despite Kion's fears, Bunga insists that Scar did not lose his Roar because he used it against other lions, but because he used it for evil. Kion then uses the Roar successfully and blows away all the Outsiders.

###### "Never Roar Again"

After Kion gets so angry that he uses the Roar of the Elders in a destructive manner, he takes to looking at Rafiki's paintings of Scar. Bunga comments that Scar is the worst lion ever and says it is a good thing that Kion now possesses the Roar instead of Scar. Kion only reluctantly agrees.

Later, Kion seeks advice from Mufasa. He explains what had happened when he had used the Roar in anger and confesses his fear that he will turn out like Scar. In answer to this, Mufasa points out that Scar had only ever cared for himself. He then asks Kion why he had used the Roar and Kion explains that his mother had been in danger. Mufasa reminds Kion that Scar had never cared for anyone the way Kion cares for Nala, and he encourages Kion to speak to her about the incident.

### ***The Lion Guard: The Rise of Scar***

When Ushari the snake learns that Kion can communicate with the Great Kings of the Past, he decides to find a way to contact Scar. He enlists the help of Janja's clan, and together, they spy on the Lion Guard and Rafiki, learning that ancient evil lions can be communicated with using the power of the bakora staff and the Roar of the Elders.

Ushari and Janja decide to use what they have learned to summon Scar. They decide to get the bakora staff of Rafiki's apprentice Makini since she is too inexperienced to be a threat and to attack one of Kion's loved ones and bring them there, since Kion's Roars are at their most powerful when he's angry.

The hyenas kidnap Kion's sister, Kiara, and take Makini's bakora staff. While the rest of the Guard rescues her, Janja tricks Kion by getting him to use the Roar out of anger, causing the volcano to erupt. When Janja throws Makini's staff into the volcano, Scar is successfully summoned, giving the Lion Guard's enemies their own spirit guide.

###### "**Let Sleeping Crocs Lie**"

When Makuu leaves with the Lion Guard to speak to Simba about new sleeping arrangements, Kiburi seizes control of the float, inspiring them to join him in taking over the water holes in the Pride Lands. From afar, Shupavu the skink watches in fascination and resolves to speak with Ushari and Scar about the proceedings.

In Janja's den, Scar praises Ushari for his spies' work and orders the skinks to continue monitoring the situation.

When Kiburi calls for a mashindano and Makuu accepts, Shupavu reports the proceedings to Scar, who questions Ushari as to whether the royal family will attend the event. When Ushari confirms Simba will likely be present, Scar plans to use the mashindano as a distraction. He orders Ushari to convince Kiburi that he can become ruler of the Pride Lands, and Ushari agrees to the plan.
However, the plot is thwarted by the Lion Guard, and Kiburi and his followers are banished to the Outlands.

As Kiburi and his followers leave the kingdom, Kiburi corners Ushari and accuses him of having caused his downfall. Ushari calmly promises Kiburi much more than he had before and leads the crocodiles to Janja's den, where they meet the ghost of Scar. With all his onlookers watching, Scar sings "I Have A Plan", in which he revels in his future plot to overtake the Pride Lands and become king.

###### "Swept Away"

In Janja's den, a skink arrives and informs Janja and his allies that Beshte is alone in the Outlands. Though Janja tries to dismiss the situation, Scar appears and orders his henchmen to eliminate Beshte. When Cheezi and Chungu wonder how they might accomplish this, Scar declares that he has a plan.

Janja and his clan fail to destroy Beshte, however, and Ushari arrives promptly to tell the hyenas that an unhappy Scar wishes to speak with them.

###### "**Rescue in the Outlands**"

Scar sends Janja, Cheezi, and Chungu to seek out Reirei and her family and convince them to join his side.

Janja and his crew are forced to back down by Jasiri, however, and the hyenas return to Janja's den empty-pawed. Janja blames Jasiri for his failure, which piques Scar's interest and causes him to suggest adding her to their collective. Janja protests vehemently, singing "The Worst Hyena We Know", in which he laments Jasiri's respect for the Circle of Life and her friendship with the Lion Guard. Hearing this, Scar orders his minions to drive Jasiri from their territory so that she is no longer a threat. As they leave, Scar coldly warns Janja to not disappoint him again.

###### "**The Bite of Kenge**"

Janja and his lackeys enter their den, where they tell Scar and Ushari about how the Lion Guard prevented them from stealing some takiti melons, which were intended for a herd of elephants. Scar deduces that destroying the melon supply could offset the Circle of Life, as it would dehydrate the elephants, and orders the hyenas to return to the fruit patch.

Janja protests the idea as foolishness, since the Lion Guard is waiting for them there, but Ushari volunteers to connect them with a powerful friend of his who can help them.

###### "The Morning Report"

Scar orders Janja and his cronies to kidnap Zazu in the hopes that he will give them important information. When Zazu has been successfully abducted, Scar orders Janja to interrogate the hornbill, but his plan is foiled at the last second by the Lion Guard.

###### "The Little Guy"

Scar is mentioned by Shupavu when she muses that Hodari would make a good ally to Kiburi, one of Scar's followers.

###### "Divide and Conquer"

In the Outlands, Janja and Reirei come before Scar, who tells them to attack Rafiki, the knowledge-keeper of the Pride Lands, who can sense the presence of the Lions of the Past. Janja and Reirei proceed to argue over which faction should take on Rafiki, but Scar ends the fight by selecting Janja to eliminate Rafiki, while Reirei creates a diversion elsewhere.
Later, the Lion Guard has joined forces with Rafiki and defeated the entirety of Janja's clan. With defeat eminent, Janja tries to flee into the fire, but Scar rises up from flames, demanding that Janja face his enemies instead of run like a coward. Janja protests that they are outnumbered, but Scar points out to him that the jackals are closing in to help finish off the Lion Guard. Unknown to Scar, Kion has witnessed part of their conversation.

After the battle dies down and the jackals and hyenas are defeated, Rafiki approaches the Lion Guard and thanks them for their help in saving his life. He then notices Kion approaching the site of the fire, which has died down to embers and burned grass. Rafiki joins him and notices a strange mark carved into the dirt, which he believes represents a great evil. Greatly troubled, Rafiki decides to consult the paintings of the past about the matter.

###### "**The Scorpion's Sting**"

Scar plots with his army in the Outlands to defeat both Simba and the Lion Guard. He explains to his followers that he will be using Sumu the scorpion to take down Simba. He then relishes the irony of taking the day of the Kumbuka celebration and making it into the day that he defeated Simba and the Lion Guard.

At Pride Rock, the Pride Landers sing "Good King Simba" in honor of the Kumbuka celebration. However, in the midst of the festivities, Sumu stings Simba's tail and then banks a hasty retreat as Simba collapses to the ground.

Back in the Outlands, Scar gets word of Sumu's success and directs his army to intercept the oncoming Lion Guard. The plan works, with Kiburi, Reirei, Janja, and their respective clans slowing down the Lion Guard's progress through the Outlands. At last, the Lion Guard reaches the inner volcano, where Makini places a pinch of the cure, volcano ash, in her gourd.

As the team turns to leave, Scar arises from the flames and reveals himself to Kion, admitting his part in the plan to kill Simba. Despite Scar's admission, Kion directs his team to leave, as he is worried about arriving too late to save his father. Scar then calls his army forward, and they corner the Lion Guard at the edge of the lava.

### "**The Wisdom of Kongwe**"

Scar is mentioned when Simba and Kion consult the spirit of Mufasa about Scar's return. Mufasa admits that he is unsure how to deal with the problem, but assures his descendants that the answer lies within the Pride Lands.

Taking Mufasa's advice, Simba sends for Kongwe, the wisest animal in the Pride Lands. At Pride Rock, Kongwe assures her audience that the answer to defeating Scar will come in time.

### "**The Kilio Valley Fire**"

In Kilio Valley, a recent fire dies down as the Army of Scar celebrates their victory. They begin to bicker among themselves, arguing over who had performed the best, when Scar suddenly arises from a still-burning ember and orders the army to remain in Kilio Valley. He then reveals that he plans to take over the Pride Lands piece by piece.

### "**Undercover Kinyonga**"

Scar tasks Janja with carrying out his latest plan, blocking the river at Hakuna Matata Falls. When Kinyonga accidentally reveals herself to the Outlanders, an enraged Scar tells his army to stop her.

###### "Cave of Secrets"

Scar appears in a painting in the Lair of the Lion Guard.

### "**The Zebra Mastermind**"

Scar is mentioned by several members of his army.

### "**The Hyena Resistance**"

Jasiri tells her clan that Scar has returned but that they will help the Guard defeat him by forming a Hyena Resistance. Elsewhere in the Outlands while preparing to attack Mizimu Grove, Janja's clan gets blocked by a rock slide caused by the Hyena Resistance. When Scar hears the news, he gets super mad and fiercely roars at Janja,knocking him away.
Scar almost grows angry at Kiburi too, who save himself by stating that the problem was that the plan did not go as planned. Scar then orders Kiburi's Float to take over Big Springs. However, the Hyena Resistance stops them. Then, he orders Reirei's Pack to take over Ukuni Woods. The Hyena Resistance watch above, and roll down a large boulder to the front of the cave, sealing Reirei's pack in before they can leave.
Later, Janja and the Skinks report back to Scar and reveals that Jasiri and her Hyena Resistance are behind all of this. After hearing that Janja lied to him about eliminating Jasiri on their previous encounter, Scar is furious and demands that he takes care of her and her clan for good, by playing them at their own game. He tells Janja to announce that he and his clan will be attacking Mizimu Grove again, but will instead attack her and her clan while the Lion Guard is at the grove. Janja gets confused initially, but Scar soon makes it clear. After telling him to also bring the jackals and crocodiles with him and his clan, Scar coldly warns Janja not to let him down again.

### "**The Underground Adventure**"

After hearing From Shupavu and Njano that Kion, Bunga, Kiara, Tiifu, and Zuri are at the mud pots at the edge of the Pridelands, Scar orders Njano to fetch him a vulture, who will be delivering a gift of fire to Kion and his companions.

###### ”**Beshte and the Beast**”

Scar is furious when he hears that Janja's clan, Reirei's pack and Kiburi's float were defeated again. They then explain that it was actually a very big and strong gorilla named Shujaa who defeated them, not the Lion Guard and that he was able to tear apart the landscape easily. Scar's fury turns into interest and excitement upon learning this. Since the gorilla is destroying the Pride Lands while he's trying to help the Lion Guard, Scar orders his army to keep attacking so the gorilla can make more damage.

###### “**Pride Landers Unite!**”

Scar finds out that the Pride Landers are working together to defeat him.  When Janja finds this funny, Scar tells him that Pride Landers forming an alliance would mean problems for his plan. However, since Kion's friendship with Makuu was being Swayed, He orders his army to take over Makuu's Watering Hole, something that ignites excitement in Kiburi.

### “**The Fall of Mizimu Grove**”

Scar orders his army to ruin the event after hearing the news of Makini's Mpando Mpaya from the skinks. During the battle, small flames fall from the sky, setting Mizimu Grove on fire and destroying it. Scar then appears in the flames, making himself known to of all the Pride Landers and confronts Simba for the first time since his return. When Simba demands to know what Scar wants, Scar taunts his nephew by calling him naive and listing his success in destroying first the Kilio Valley, then the Mizimu Grove, and now Big Springs. He then leaves laughing after declaring that soon all the Pride Lands will be his again. However Simba tells him that he already lost his home by letting him take over the Pride Lands from a long time ago but he won't let him do it again. Scar disagrees because the Pride Lands will belong to him again. Terrified to learn that Scar has returned, the Pride Landers panic and consider leaving the Pride Lands.

### “**Battle for the Pride Lands**”

Several months into the war with The Lion Guard, Scar hears from his skinks that Janja is considering defecting from his army. Scar summons Janja and tells him that Kion is powerful enough to defeat him and could do so if he uses his most powerful roar in the caldera. Scar then orders Janja to go distract the Lion Guard by luring them into their lair at Pride Rock and not letting them escape. However, Janja doesn't realize that the plan wasn't just meant to eliminate the Lion Guard and the Royal Family, this was also Scar's plan for eliminating a potential hyena revolt. While Janja and the hyenas are distracting the Lion Guard inside their lair, the other Outlanders start a fire on Pride Rock and Janja barely escapes the lair before the main exit is blocked off. Janja realizes Scar betrayed him and goes to find Jasiri for help while the Lion Guard and hyenas escape the lair using the underwater entrance to Beshte's pond. Scar appears on top of the fire on Pride Rock and sees that Kion survived the fire. Scar tells Kion to lead the animals out of the Pride Lands since Kion isn't powerful enough to defeat him and to come to the caldera if he wants to make an attempt at defeating him before disappearing. Having defected to the Pride Lands, Janja tells Kion what Scar told him that the only way to defeat Scar is to use the most powerful roar at the caldera.

Back at the Caldera, Scar tells Ushari that he anticipated that Kion would survive and lied to Janja about how he could be defeated by Kion's roar. Even though Kion's roar could defeat Scar, if Kion were to use his most powerful roar in the Caldera, it would cause a massive volcanic eruption that would turn the Pride Lands into a wasteland and kill all of Scar's enemies at once. For the next part of his plan, Scar tells Ushari how he actually got his Scar. In a flashback, an adolescent Scar is patrolling the Pride Lands, when a strange lion walks up to him. Knowing that he has the Roar of the Elders, the strange lion suggests that Scar should be the king of the Pride Lands. But then he meets a strange cobra and the snake gives him a scar on his left eye with venom, that causes his darker desires for the throne to emerge out in force. Soon afterwards, The Lion Guard arrives at the Outlands Volcano, where Scar has Ushari attack Kion, who is left with a scar over his left eye identical to his great uncle's. When Scar declares that he and Kion are the same, Kion replies that he forgives Scar for what he has done, much to his horror. Kion then summons the Great Lions of the Past with a gentle blow of air, who then summon rain over the volcano. Being made of fire, Scar's spirit is extinguished by the water of the rain. Scar then curses Kion and insists to him that the Roar of the Elders is a curse and that he will see that they are the same before vanishing completely. The lava then hardens into igneous rock, destroying the Mark of Evil, finally ending Scar's threat to the Pride Lands forever.

**FRIENDS TO THE END**

Whilst Kion and the Lion Guard are en route to the **Tree of Life**, Scar appears as an hallucination in a pool of water to Kion, telling him that they are the same. However, Kion rejects the claim and slaps against the water, dissolving the image of Scar.

**LONG LIVE THE QUEEN**

After Queen Janna's funeral, Kion talks to **Rani** about his grandfather Mufasa and what his great-uncle Scar did to him. Rani responds stating she already heard it from **her grandma**, also mentioning she learned what "Sisi ni sawa" means from her grandmother Janna.

### Other Roles

#### The Stage Musical

In the musical, Scar is portrayed by a human actor in an African-style costume with a lion-face headpiece mask that comes down over the actor's face using a hidden remote control. Scar also uses a cane. Scar was originally portrayed in the Broadway production by John Vickery.

Scar's role is much the same, but expanded upon with the song "The Madness of King Scar." In the song, Scar begins to doubt his reign, fearing he might be losing the respect of the lionesses and that he needs a queen. He tries to seduce Nala, who rebukes him by scratching his face.

#### Literature

##### *The Lion King: Six New Adventures*

###### *A Tale of Two Brothers*

Scar is first mentioned by Rafiki, who cryptically refers to him by his scar. The animals who are gathered to hear his story immediately know who he is talking about, and recall how Scar had killed his brother Mufasa and blamed the crime on Simba. The Pride Lands had soon fallen into disrepair and Simba had been forced to return and defeat Scar, taking his place as the rightful king.

Before becoming chief adviser of the Pride Lands, Rafiki was a wanderer. After he is saved from hyenas by Ahadi, the king of the Pride Lands, he is taken to Pride Rock for safety. There, he gets to know Mufasa and his younger brother Taka, who is resentful of his older brother for getting the title of future king. After overhearing Taka's plan to get Mufasa in trouble with his father, Rafiki rushes to set things straight. Before long, however, Taka has convinced a buffalo named Boma to attack Mufasa, who was just trying to help his father. While Boma is busy with Mufasa, the other buffalo in his herd attack Taka and give him a ravaging scar across his left eye. After trapping Boma in a ravine, Mufasa rushes back to help his brother. At the same moment, Ahadi comes with a group of Pride Landers and takes Taka back to Pride Rock. Under Rafiki's care, the young lion heals, though his scar remains. Burdened by what he's done, Taka asks to be called Scar from then on, and his family agrees. Relieved that his sons are safe, Ahadi decides to appoint Rafiki chief adviser of the Pride Lands. When the story is complete, Simba decides to take Kopa to the top of Pride Rock to fulfill his promise.

###### *A Snake in the Grass*

Scar is mentioned when Kopa recounts how his father Simba had returned from self-exile to defeat Scar and take his place as the rightful king of the Pride Lands.

#### Video Games

##### *Kingdom Hearts II*

Besides appearing in various *The Lion King* video games, Scar (スカー, Sukā?) also appears in the Disney and Square Enix game *Kingdom Hearts II* as the main antagonist of the Pride Lands world, voiced by James Horan. Much like in the film, Scar murders Mufasa to become king, and under his reign, the Pride Lands suffer a drought, and food becomes scarce.

Prior to Sora, Donald, and Goofy's arrival at the Pride Lands, Pete (in the form of a lion) offers Scar use of the Heartless to maintain his hold on the throne. Sora (in the form of a lion cub, a change brought on by his magical clothes) attempts to confront Scar in order to save the world but is turned down by Rafiki due to the latter's prophecy. Soon afterwards, they are confronted by Scar. Scar attempts to persuade the lionesses to hunt and kill Sora, Donald, and Goofy, and nearly attacks them himself but is pinned down by Nala, allowing Sora and his friends some time to escape.

Later, Sora locates Simba and brings him back to the Pride Lands so he can challenge his uncle for the throne. The confrontation between Scar and Simba that follows is almost identical to that in the original film, starting with Scar's overconfident confession that *he* killed Mufasa, the only noteworthy exceptions being no hyenas for most of it and Sora and his group replacing the lionesses. Sora's group saves Timon and Pumbaa from the hyenas, while Scar and Simba fight. As in the film, Simba eventually triumphs over his uncle. Though Donald initially wants to help him, Sora prevents him from doing so, believing that it is Simba's fight, and they should not interfere.

Thinking Scar to be defeated, the heroes are surprised when, as Pete explains, Scar returns to battle once again as a Heartless. Scar's anger and jealousy were so strong that they lingered after death and consumed him. During the battle, Scar uses a series of swift and strong physical attacks and powerful magic against Sora and company. Sora and his friends defeat Scar again. Scar is the only character in the *Kingdom Hearts* universe - excluding Xehanort - to keep his original form as a Heartless. Whether or not a Nobody will be fleshed out in Kingdom Hearts continuity is debated.

By the time Sora returns to the Pride Lands to see how Simba is faring, rumors of Scar's ghost haunting the Pride Lands have driven Simba into doubt. But once he overcomes this problem, the "ghost" is revealed to be the interaction of Simba's lack of confidence and Scar's spirit. Multiple copies of Scar's "ghost" then combine to form a gigantic Heartless that is eventually killed by Simba and Sora.

##### *Epic Mickey*

Scar appears as a stained-glass portrait in the Mad Doctor's laboratory, along with Maleficent and Captain Hook. There are also two lion statues in the courtyard of Dark Beauty Castle that bear resemblance to Scar.

##### *Disney Universe*

Scar appears as an unlockable costume character in the game. A mechanical version of him is the boss of the last level of the *Lion King* universe, where the player rides on a train for transportation to battle him with a cannon.

##### Extreme Skate Adventure

Scar is the main antagonist of *The Lion King* story of Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure. He is the only one of the main Disney villains that appears on each of the levels of his story.

At Pride Rock, Scar has started to cause trouble by clogging up the springs on Pride Rock, cutting off the Pride Land's water supply. After unclogging the springs, the skater (either Simba, Nala, Timon, Pumbaa, Rafiki, or a custom skater) must grind a log holding back a huge boulder. Once this is completed, the rolling boulder chases Scar right out of the Pride Lands.

At the Elephant Graveyard, Scar returns to test the skater once more by scattering the letters of S-K-A-T-E around the Elephant Graveyard. Upon completion of this goal, Scar mocks the skater and leaves the Elephant Graveyard.

The final showdown with Scar occurs at the Gorge (known as Scar's Canyon in the game). After Nala revives an old, dried-out water hole, Scar makes his presence known once more. The skater must then grind away several boulders in order to scare away Scar's hyena guards. Once this is accomplished, Scar is left open. Thinking quickly, Scar challenges Simba (the player has no choice in the character for this goal) to a race for control of the Pride Lands. Scar is fast, but Simba's skating abilities are faster and Simba is named the true king of the Pride Lands. Defeated, Scar runs away and never returns.

##### *The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa*

Despite the fact that the series takes place after The Lion King, Scar makes a few cameos throughout the show. He is seen when Timon tries to revive Pumbaa's memories after the warthog is struck by lightning in Around the World with Timon & Pumbaa. Scar is later seen in "Zazu's Off-by-One Day" when Zazu cleans out his trash can. Though, it should be noted that in the series, Scar doesn't speak and he doesn't actually move. So it's possible that it might be his dead body.

##### *House of Mouse*

Scar makes a few minor cameos. In "Ask Von Drake," Scar can be briefly seen being held by Rafiki just as Simba was in the first film. In "Jiminy Cricket," Jiminy used Scar as an example of temptations. In "Goofy's Valentine Date," Scar was seen along with the other guests.

#### Bloopers & outtakes

In the bloopers, at the end credits of the Diamond Edition of The Lion King, Scar and other characters are represented as live actors. In this sequence, Scar appears twice. The first time, he prepares to bring Simba to remorse for Mufasa's death, before the final battle. He dramatically sneaks around Simba and the lionesses, but when he needs to say the word "responsible," he gets confused and starts to spit, trying to remember the correct pronunciation, but when it fails, he catches his forehead and says, "I don't know what I'm doing." The second time, he utters his line, "They think I'm the king," correct, but Nala then forgets her line.

## **Family**

* **Simba** (nephew)
* **Ahadi** (father; deceased)
* **Uru** (mother; deceased)
* **Mohatu** (grandfather; deceased)
* **Mufasa** (older brother; deceased)
* **Sarabi** (sister-in-law)
* Nala (niece-in-law)
* **Kion** (great-nephew)
* **Kiara** (great-niece) daughter in law
* **Zira** (Wife)
* **Kovu** (Adoptive Son)
* **Nuka** (Potential Son)
* **Vitani** (Adoptive daughter)

## **Friends**

* **Shenzi** (formerly)
* **Banzai** (formerly)
* **Ed** (formerly)
* **Zira** (Love Interest)
* **Nuka**
* **Vitani** (formerly)
* **Outsiders**
* **Janja** (formerly)
* **Ushari**
* **Chungu** (formerly)
* **Cheezi** (formerly)
* **Nne** (formerly)
* **Tano** (formerly)
* **Janja's Clan** (formerly)
* **Reirei**
* **Goigoi**
* **Dogo's Siblings**
* **Shupavu**
* **Njano**
* **Nyeusi**
* **Waza**
* **Nyata**
* **Shupavu's Group**
* **Kiburi**
* **Tamka**
* **Nduli**
* **Kiburi's Float**
* **Kenge**
* **Mzingo**
* **Mwoga**
* **Male Vulture**
* **Mzingo's Parliament**
* **Sumu**

## **Enemies**

* **Simba**
* **Nala**
* **Mufasa**
* **Sarabi**
* **Sarafina**
* **Kiara**
* **Zazu**
* Pridelanders
* **Rafiki**
* **Shenzi**
* **Banzai**
* **Ed**
* **The Hyena Clan**
* **Kovu**
* **Strange Lion**
* **Strange Cobra**
* **The Bravest (Scar's Guard)**
* **The Strongest (Scar's Guard)**
* **The Fastest (Scar's Guard)**
* **The Keenest of Sight (Scar's Guard)**
* **Kion**
* **Bunga**
* **Fuli**
* **Beshte**
* **Ono**
* **Makini**
* **Kinyonga**
* **Jasiri**
* **Jasiri's Clan**
* **Shujaa**
* **Dhahabu**

* **Makuu**
* **Aminifu**
* **Ma Tembo**
* **Mtoto's Mom**
* **Mtoto**
* **Basi**
* **Thurston**
* **Laini**
* **Bupu**
* **Muhangus**
* **Muhanga**

* **Kifaru**
* **Mbeya**

* **Janja**
* **Cheezi**
* **Chungu**
* **Nne**
* **Tano**
* **Hadithi**
* **Anga**

## Songs

* **Be Prepared**

* **I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts**

* **I Have A Plan**
* **When I Led the Guard**
* **We're the Same (Sisi Ni Sawa)**

## Trivia

* Scar is based on Claudius from *Hamlet* who was a prince who murdered his brother the king for the sake of his throne. However, unlike the completely evil Scar, Claudius had a kind side and genuinely believed that he could make the country a better place and was a highly competent king whereas Scar cared only for himself. Like Scar, Claudius was cunning, intelligent, manipulative, charismatic and cowardly. Unlike the completely evil Scar, Claudius repented from his wrongdoings, but did not reveal the secret about his brother's murder to his nephew.
* Technically, Scar would still be king if he didn't kill Simba, since Simba was too young to be king.
* Scar's birth name Taka is the Swahili word for "want". Fitting considering his desire to rule the Pride Lands.
* He is also similar to the Shakespearean villain Iago from *Othello*, being sadistic, charming, smooth-talking, bitter, envious and narcissistic.
* While Jeremy Irons voices Scar for most of the movie, he blew out his voice recording "Be Prepared" (Specifically the line "You won't get a sniff without me!"), and the rest of the song is sung by Jim Cummings. Ironically, "Be Prepared" is also where Ed (also voiced by Jim Cummings) has his only line that is not laughter.
* Scar is one of the most popular and favored Disney villains.
* In an original draft for the ending of *The Lion King*, Scar was to be shown burned alive when Simba hurls him off the ledge, with Scar laughing as he did so (presumably due to completely losing his sanity over losing everything), which also results in Pride Rock's destruction. This ending was cut presumably because of the ending's dark nature for a Disney film. Although it was ultimately cut, *Simba's Pride* nonetheless implied that fire was partially involved in Scar's death. Ironically, the final version of his death (see below) was based on an alternate ending of *Beauty and the Beast* that was cut for the same reasons why the original ending was cut.
* Originally, Scar was going to send adult Nala away from Pride Rock because she ignored his romantic approaches, after which she finds Simba alive and well with Timon and Pumbaa. This idea was ultimately abandoned, as sexual harassment (and sexual advances in particular) was considered improper in a family movie at the time. However, the stage musical adaptation includes this plot development as part of director Julie Taymor's efforts to expand the female characters' presence in the story. This deleted scene can be seen in the Blu-ray's special features.
	+ The same scene, The Madness of King Scar, also gave further credence that he held remorse for murdering Mufasa, where he was often haunted by his ghost a'la *Macbeth*, something that was subtly implied in the final film itself when Scar initially mistook Simba for Mufasa and backed away in disbelief.
* Originally, Scar would have chase Simba out of the Pride Lands himself.
* Originally, Scar would have been a rogue lion who was not related to Mufasa.
* The final version of Scar's death (being killed by the Hyenas in revenge for pinning the blame of Mufasa's murder on them) was based on an original draft for Gaston's demise in *Beauty and the Beast*, in which the Wolves would have attacked him after surviving the fall from the Beast's castle with a broken leg.
* Scar's death is perhaps one of the most graphic Disney deaths ever, even with the flames obscuring the screen as the hyenas tear him apart with them burning alive as well.
* During Scar's final battle against Simba, Scar actually draws Simba's blood; if you look closely at the scene during when Scar's paw hits Simba's face in slow motion before he violently knocks him down, drops of blood sprays from Simba's mouth. This makes Scar one of the few Disney villains to physically draw someone's blood in an animated film, along with Gaston from Beauty and the Beast, Dr. Facilier from the Princess and the Frog (he needed a few drops of Naveen's blood to maintain his voodoo spell), Sabor from Tarzan, Shan Yu from Mulan and the Gwythaints from The Black Cauldron.
* Scar apparently hates the song It's a Small World After All, as he tells Zazu "No, no. Anything but that" when he tries to sing it.
* Scar is the first Disney villain to be biologically related to one of the protagonists in the Disney canon. The previous villains such as the Queen and Lady Tremaine were related to the main protagonists only by marriage, and although Ursula was intended to be Ariel's aunt and Belle was originally supposed to have an antagonistic aunt named Marguerite, the concepts relating to them were cut, and in the case of Ursula, it is now only considered semi-canon due to the musical.
* Scar is one of the few Disney villains in the *Kingdom Hearts* series, and the only Disney villain in *Kingdom Hearts II*, to not use the Heartless as his minions.
* When he murdered Mufasa, he was originally supposed to say "Good night, sweet prince!" immediately before throwing him off, referring to the Shakespearian play *Hamlet*. However, it was changed to Scar smugly saying "Long live the king!" to Mufasa because the former line seemed too "self-aware" to be taken seriously. In the alternate ending, Scar also was supposed to say the former line when attempting to finish off Simba.
* Malcolm McDowell, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Ray Liotta, and Tim Curry were once considered for the role of Scar.
* Scar's greed for power is very similar to Adolf Hitler when he stands on a cliff and look on his Hyena "army" in "Be Prepared". It shows the classic Nazi-Germany influence with hundreds of "soldiers" on the march when their "dictator" is watching on at the moment of power.
* Scar makes a nod to an earlier film starring Jeremy Irons. When Simba remarks that Scar is weird, Scar replies*"You have no idea".*The character played by Irons makes exactly the same response to this statement in the film,*Reversal of Fortune,*although this would probably not be realised by younger viewers