Mtoto

—Mtoto and Beshte[src] | ”

**Mtoto** is a male elephant. He is a member of Ma Tembo's herd.

Mtoto deeply admired the Lion Guard, particularly Beshte the hippopotamus. One day, Beshte invited Mtoto to train with the Lion Guard, but Mtoto continually ruined the exercises. Though disheartened, Mtoto was encouraged to embrace his inner hero by Beshte. Later, when Mtoto was attacked by Janja and his cronies, Cheezi and Chungu, Beshte saved his life, and Kion bestowed on him an honorary Lion Guard shoulder marking.

During the Savannah Summit, the Lion Guard had suspicions about Makuu, the crocodile leader. They employed the help of Mtoto, who used his incredible hearing to keep tabs on Makuu and inform the Lion Guard if there was any trouble. Eventually, Mtoto and the Lion Guard uncovered a plot to hurt Makuu but were able to stop it in time.

Later, the Army of Scar attacked Kilio Valley, which left Mtoto and his herd without a home. Though they tried to move in with other herds, they were continually rejected and forced to move on. Eventually, Ma Tembo deduced that the elephants must leave the Pride Lands, as they were an unwanted burden. However, after the elephants helped save the galagos from a fire, Laini invited them to move into Ndefu Grove with her group.

## Biography

### Early life

Mtoto was born to an unnamed female elephant. He lived in the Pride Lands as a member of Ma Tembo's herd. At some point in his life, he became friends with Gumba, Kambuni, Kwato, and Shauku. The friends often played "Lion Guard" together. Mtoto formed a particular admiration for Beshte, the Strongest member of the Lion Guard.

### Calfhood

#### Bunga the Wise

When Bunga gained an entourage of followers, Mtoto began to follow him around, fanning him. The Lion Guard approached, which caused Mtoto to pause, but Bunga encouraged him to continue. Not long after this, a dam broke. Even so, Mtoto continued to fan Bunga until the honey badger took off after his friends.

Mtoto scrambled after Bunga, following him into a canyon. Bunga yelled encouragement to him as he raced to escape the rushing water. Once Mtoto caught up with Bunga, the two followed the rest of the animals to a dead-end, where Kion was forced to use the Roar of the Elders to blast away the oncoming floodwaters. With the flood no longer a threat, Mtoto joined the other animals in enjoying a new water hole that had been created by the floodwaters.

#### Training with the Lion Guard

―Mtoto[src] | ”

When the Lion Guard was alerted to a hyena attack, Mtoto and his friends emerged from the thicket, explaining that they had simply been playing "Lion Guard." Kion gently explained to them the dangers of pretending to be hyenas, and the young animals vowed to never play in such a way again.

After the promise was made, a shy Mtoto approached his idol, Beshte, and suggested that the real Lion Guard play with them. The other young animals were excited by this idea, but Kion admitted that they had business elsewhere. However, Mtoto begged Beshte to stay, and the hippopotamus invited Mtoto to watch the Lion Guard train. On their way to the training grounds, Mtoto gushed about his love for Beshte and admitted that it was because of Beshte that he liked the Lion Guard so much.

Once at the training grounds, Beshte told the team that he had brought along Mtoto, and Kion agreed to let the young elephant train with them. First, the team did an obstacle course, but when it was Mtoto's turn to dash through the water, he got water in his trunk and sprayed it all over Fuli. After Mtoto's mistake, Kion decided to run a stealth-surround drill, during which the team attempted to sneak up on him without alerting him to their presence. However, as they were drilling, Mtoto accidentally fell down a steep cliff and landed on an unsuspecting Bunga.

After the disaster, Beshte volunteered to walk Mtoto home. On their way home, Beshte encouraged Mtoto to embrace his inner hero. After Beshte left, Mtoto returned to his friends, more ready than ever to play a game of "Lion Guard." Since they were no longer allowed to play as hyenas, the friends instead began to chase hyraxes. However, in doing so, they inadvertently alerted the hyenas to their presence, and Janja instructed his cronies to follow them.

Eventually, the hyenas caught up to Mtoto and his friends, and the young animals fled. After a brief skirmish, the hyenas targeted Mtoto as the slowest. Having escaped the hyenas, Mtoto's friends rushed up to Beshte and begged him to save Mtoto. Just in time, Beshte showed up to save Mtoto from the hyenas, and the two escaped into a river. Together, Beshte and Mtoto managed to avoid the hyenas, who skulked on the edges of the water, trying to catch a bite of them as they passed. However, the two ran into a float of crocodiles, and Beshte encouraged Mtoto to be stealthy as they snuck past.

Ono happened to catch sight of Beshte and Mtoto, and raced back to alert the team. Too late, Beshte and Mtoto were spotted by the crocodiles, and Mtoto fended them off by spraying water with his trunk. Just then, the rest of the Lion Guard appeared and dispatched of the crocodiles. In the chaos, the hyenas were knocked into the river, where they were chased in circles by the crocodile float.

After the rescue, Mtoto related his tale of rescue to his friends, who reacted with amazement and awe. Kion approached and volunteered to give each of them a muddy mark of the Lion Guard. In response, the young animals crowded around him eagerly. Mtoto, who bore his muddy mark proudly, proclaimed to Beshte that he was his hero, and Beshte in turn proclaimed that Mtoto was his.

#### Rafiki's tale

―Mtoto[src] | ”

Mtoto and a group of young animals gathered at Rafiki's tree to hear a story about the Zimwi, a legendary beast that roamed the Pride Lands during the full moon. Mtoto and his friends were frightened by the story, but Kion assured them that no such beast existed.

After the story, Mtoto wondered if the Zimwi was real, but Kion once more asserted that it was just a story. He then suggested that Mtoto and his friends sleep together that night in order to feel safe. The young animals took Kion's advice. As they were sleeping, they were frightened by rustling in the bushes and rushed off to get the Lion Guard. After hearing the young animals' story, the Lion Guard set off in search of the fabled Zimwi, which turned out to just be the porcupine brothers.

#### Royal Mud Print Ceremony

—Mtoto and Beshte, after the former gives up his seat[src] | ”

Mtoto hid from his friends by submerging underwater. He then sprang out of the water and sprayed his friends. Just then, he asked the two if they had heard something, after which they spotted a large flock of birds gathering nearby. The Lion Guard arrived on the scene, and Mtoto exchanged cheerful greetings with his hero, Beshte.

Later, before the Royal Mud Print Ceremony, Mtoto graciously gave up his seat in the front for some birds. Beshte praised him for his kindness, and Mtoto commented that Beshte would always be his hero.

At twilight, Mtoto attended Ono's Royal Mud Print Ceremony.

(To be continued)

## Physical appearance

Despite his small size, Mtoto is rotund, with a medium blue-gray hide and a pale underbelly. He has blue eyes, a wisp of dark hair on his head, and the beginnings of small tusks.

## Personality and traits

Mtoto is innocent and playful. Though he does not intend to harm others, his mischievous nature often gets him into trouble. Like his friends, he deeply respects the Lion Guard, especially Beshte.

## Relationships

Allies* Ma Tembo's herd
	+ Ma Tembo - Leader
	+ Zito
	+ Johari
	+ Zigo
* Night Pride
	+ Kion
	+ Beshte - Hero and Savior
	+ Bunga
	+ Ono
	+ Fuli
	+ Anga
* Pride Landers - Former Teammates
	+ Gumba - Close Friend
	+ Shauku - Close Friend
	+ Young rhino - Close Friend
	+ Kambuni - Friend
	+ Kwato - Friend
	+ Makuu
	+ Bupu
	+ Mbeya
	+ Twiga
	+ Vuruga Vuruga
	+ Porcupine brothers
* Royal Mjuzis
	+ Rafiki †
* Timon
* Pumbaa
* Jasiri's clan
	+ Jasiri
	+ Janja - Former Attempted Killer
	+ Cheezi - Former Attempted Killer
	+ Chungu - Former Attempted Killer
	+ Nne - Former Enemy
	+ Tano - Former Enemy
* Simba's pride
	+ Simba
	+ Nala
	+ Kiara
* Lion Guard - Teammates and Friends
	+ Hamu
	+ Juhudi
	+ Baby baboon
	+ Ona
	+ Reirei
	+ Goigoi
* Kiburi's float
	+ Kiburi - Attempted Killer
	+ Tamka
	+ Nduli
* Army of Scar
	+ Scar †

## Appearances

* *The Lion King: Revisited*
	+ "Return of the Roar"
	+ "The Rise of Scar"
	+ "Snow Day"
	+ "Hyena Resistance"
	+ "The Ultimate Showdown"
	+ "Battle for the Pride Lands"
	+ "Return to the Pride Lands"
	+ "Epilogue: An Important Coronation"
	+ "Lion Guard: Wild Schemes and Catastrophes"

## Trivia

* Mtoto was voiced by Justin Felbinger.

* Mtoto's name means "child, kid, offspring, baby" in Swahili.