Cheezi

―Cheezi[src] | ”

**Cheezi** is a male hyena. He is a member of Jasiri's clan.

Initially, Cheezi was a member of Janja's clan, alongside his friend Chungu. The clan frequently attacked the Pride Lands and thus became enemies of the Lion Guard. Eventually, Cheezi and his clan allied with the spirit of Scar and joined his army, whose goal was to destroy the Pride Lands. However, when Scar suspected Janja of harboring traitorous feelings, he tricked his clan into entering the Lair of the Lion Guard, where Scar's allies trapped them with fire. The Lion Guard helped the clan escape, and subsequently, the hyenas switched allegiance and helped the Pride Landers defeat Scar. After Scar's fall, Cheezi and his clan members integrated into Jasiri's clan.

## Biography

### Early life

―Cheezi to Chungu on Janja[src] | ”

Cheezi lived in the Outlands as a member of Janja's clan. As a cub, he befriended Chungu and Janja. One day, the three cubs attempted to steal an egret egg. However, a young Kion and his friends Beshte, Bunga, and Fuli arrived in time to stop them. Together, they defeated the hyenas and chased them back into the Outlands, after which the egg hatched into Ono.

### First skirmish with the Lion Guard

―Cheezi[src] | ”

When Bunga strayed into the Outlands, Cheezi and Chungu were ordered by Janja to fetch the honey badger. However, they were stopped by Kion, who used the Roar of the Elders to defeat them. After the defeat, Cheezi and Chungu tried to explain what had happened, but Janja did not believe them until Mzingo corraborated their story. Because of this, Janja resolved to attack the Pride Lands with his clan. Together, the clan launched an attack on the Pride Lands, but Cheezi and his companions were defeated by the Lion Guard.

### Skirmish with Jasiri

―Cheezi, as he attacks Jasiri[src] | ”

Cheezi, along with Janja and Chungu, attacked a herd of oryx, which drew the Lion Guard to the scene. Kion ordered the rest of the Lion Guard to calm the herd while he went after the hyenas. However, during the pursuit, a log snapped under Kion's paws, and he fell into the river below, which swept him into the Outlands.

Later, Cheezi and his clan confronted a female hyena named Jasiri, who had helped Kion get to Flat Ridge Rock. Cheezi was the first hyena to attack Jasiri, but was easily defeated. Next, she was attacked by Chungu, then finally pinned down by Janja. Just then, Kion returned and saved Jasiri by using the Roar of the Elders to scare Cheezi and his clan away.

### Kidnapping Kiara

―Cheezi on Kiara and Kion[src] | ”

Mzingo reported to Janja that Kiara, Simba's daughter, had been named the temporary queen of the Pride Lands. Cheezi hovered behind his leader with Chungu, listening to the report. Later, at Broken Rock, Cheezi helped Janja surround Kiara, but the hyenas were chased off by Kion and the Lion Guard.

### Plot to trap the Lion Guard

―Cheezi[src] | ”

Cheezi instigated a wildebeest stampede with Chungu and Janja. The hyenas attempted to use the rising dust from the stampede to mask their movements, but Ono spotted them from the air and warned the Lion Guard of their location. The hyenas were driven off. Later, they overheard the vultures talking and realized that Ono had lost his sight.

Under Janja's instruction, Cheezi and Chungu helped trap the Lion Guard in a ravine. With the team trapped, they attempted to pick off a herd of zebras, but Ono once again came to the rescue, and Kion freed his team using the Roar of the Elders. Once more at a loss, the hyenas fled into the Outlands.

### Hunting Dogo

Cheezi joined Chungu and Janja in chasing Dogo, a jackal pup, due to his trespassing on their territory. However, their efforts were thwarted by Kion and the Lion Guard. To Kion's surprise, Janja willingly let the Lion Guard take Dogo away, and the hyena clan retreated.

### Bunga's trespassing

―Cheezi on Bunga, who is in the volcano[src] | ”

Cheezi was sitting outside the volcano when he spotted Bunga entering the Outlands. He immediately rushed into the volcano and informed Janja of the situation. Upon hearing the news, Janja mobilized his clan to chase after Bunga and make him into a meal. With Janja in the lead, the hyenas pursued Bunga until they had him surrounded in the midst of the volcano. In the nick of time, Fuli arrived and saved Bunga's life. In order to evade the hyenas, Bunga and Fuli rode down a river of lava, while Janja, Cheezi, and Chungu chased them from the sidelines. Before long, the rest of the Lion Guard arrived, and the hyena trio got trapped chasing Bunga and Fuli across a burning log in the midst of the lava river.

### Attack on Mtoto

―Cheezi[src] | ”

Janja, Cheezi, and Chungu managed to sneak into the Pride Lands without Ono catching them by hiding in a bush. When Cheezi and Chungu made a lot of noise, Janja reminded them that Ono could still hear them, and Cheezi agreed, pointing out that they did not call Ono the "ears in the sky" for nothing. Janja corrected Cheezi, then led him and Chungu away.

Later, the hyena trio spotted Mtoto and his friends chasing some hyraxes. The hyenas followed the young animals, and Cheezi chose to chase after Gumba. Despite the hyenas' best efforts, the youngsters managed to escape, with the exception of Mtoto. Together, Janja, Cheezi, and Chungu trapped Mtoto near a lake, and Janja asked Cheezi and Chungu which part of Mtoto they would like to eat first. Cheezi replied that he wanted to eat Mtoto's ears because they were chewy.

Just in time, Beshte showed up to save Mtoto from the hyenas, and the two escaped into the water. Together, Beshte and Mtoto managed to avoid the hyenas, who skulked on the edges of the river, trying to catch a bite of them as they passed. Eventually, the rest of the Lion Guard appeared and dispatched of the hyenas, who were knocked into the pool, where they were chased in circles by a crocodile float.

### Capturing Tamaa

―Cheezi on Tamaa's impressions of the Lion Guard[src] | ”

Cheezi, along with Chungu and Janja, invaded the Pride Lands and started chasing a herd of impalas, but the Lion Guard chased the hyenas away from the herd. After leaving the impalas behind, Cheezi and his friends happened to overhear a drongo named Tamaa and cornered him in a bush. Tamaa begged the hyenas not to eat him, and Janja assured him that he had other plans for the drongo. The hyenas then forced Tamaa to imitate Kion's voice, which sent a herd of impalas into the Outlands. The plan worked, and the hyenas held Tamaa captive as they followed the herd into the Outlands.

Back in the Pride Lands, the Lion Guard happened across a zebra who was fervently trying to escape danger. Upon being questioned, the zebra revealed that he and the impalas had heard Kion instructing them to go to the Outlands for safety. Suspicious, Kion surmised that Janja was forcing Tamaa to herd impalas into the Outlands for his own satisfaction, and the Lion Guard rushed to put a stop to the danger.

Meanwhile, Tamaa was forced to watch as Janja crept up on the herd of impalas, who had been successfully herded into the Outlands. With Janja distracted, Tamaa managed to imitate his voice and trick Cheezi into letting him go. Once free, Tamaa imitated the other Lion Guard members and scared Cheezi and his friends into a huddle. However, Janja realized that Cheezi had let the drongo go, and he cornered Tamaa in the ravine. Just in time, the real Lion Guard arrived and chased the hyenas away from Tamaa and the herd of impalas.

### Attack on Thurston's herd

―Cheezi on Thurston's herd[src] | ”

As Ono escorted a zebra herd home, they were watched from a nearby ridge by Janja and his cronies, Cheezi and Chungu. The three hyenas resolved to eat the zebra herd. Once the herd was back in their grazing grounds, the hyenas attacked, and Ono rushed off to fetch the rest of his team. Once there, Kion instructed his friends to take on Cheezi and Chungu, while he handled Janja. Beshte and Fuli managed to stop Cheezi and Chungu, who ran off to the Outlands.

### Attack on Muhimu's herd

―Cheezi[src] | ”

When Kion led a herd of gazelles and a herd of zebras through the Outlands, one of the zebras gave birth to a foal, whose loud bray attracted Janja's attention. Together with Chungu and Janja, Cheezi attempted to scatter the herd, but they stood together, protecting the zebra and her foal. Unwilling to give up, Cheezi continued fighting until the hyenas were defeated by Bunga, Kion, and Muhimu's foal.

### Banishment from Janja's clan

―Cheezi to Chungu on Janja[src] | ”

Janja led his clan to the Pride Lands and waited for the Lion Guard to clear out so that the hyenas could attack a herd of wildebeests. However, in the midst of the ambush, Janja slipped on mud and fell at the Lion Guard's paws. Cheezi and Chungu fell behind him and revealed to Kion that they had been planning to attack the wildebeests, which caused Kion to use the Roar of the Elders to banish the clan back to the Outlands.

Once back home, Janja blamed the clan's failure on Cheezi and Chungu, and banished the two from the clan. He then hired Nne and Tano to take their place, and the two new recruits barked and snarled at Cheezi and Chungu until they fled to the Pride Lands.

Safe from Janja's new crew, Cheezi and Chungu lamented being banished by Janja. To make themselves feel better, they attempted to imitate Janja and called themselves "fur-brains," his favorite nickname for them. However, this only succeeded in depressing them further. Just then, they caught sight of a herd of antelope and attempted to attack them. However, they ended up banging heads and startled the herd off.

With the antelope gone, Cheezi and Chungu began to feast on a pile of leftovers, but they were interrupted by a mudslide. The mud swept them away, and the Lion Guard arrived to rescue them. Upon realizing whom they had saved, the Lion Guard questioned them, and Cheezi and Chungu revealed that they were no longer affiliated with Janja. Kion reluctantly agreed to let them stay in the Pride Lands, as their feasting on leftovers could help the Circle of Life.

Later, the two ran into Janja, who denied wanting them back. Believing him to have been a dream, Cheezi and Chungu went back to sleep, though they were soon approached by the Lion Guard, who wanted to know where Janja had gone. Just then, the group heard Janja calling for his new minions, Nne and Tano, and they set off in search of him.

Eventually, the group met Janja, who was trapped on a ledge. Cheezi and Chungu jumped down to provide him company. Meanwhile, the Lion Guard defeated Nne and Tano, and Kion's Roar of the Elders caused the ledge to fall with Janja, Cheezi, and Chungu still on it. Upon landing, Janja invited his cronies to rejoin his crew, and Cheezi and Chungu raced after him in delight.

### Attack on Nala

―Cheezi[src] | ”

When Janja and his clan invaded the Pride Lands, the Lion Guard drove them back into the Outlands. However, once the Lion Guard departed, Janja led his clan back into the kingdom, and the Lion Guard rushed back to stop them. Before the team could reach the hyenas, the clan ran into Kion's mother, Nala, who ordered Janja to return to his territory. Instead of heeding Nala's warning, Janja surrounded her with his cronies and ordered an attack. Just then, Kion arrived and, seeing his mother in danger, used the Roar of the Elders in rage. The blast was so powerful that it blew the hyenas back into the Outlands.

### Skirmish with Ono

―Cheezi[src] | ”

While out flying with his idol Hadithi, Ono spotted a group of klipspringers being trapped on the edge of a cliff by Janja and his minions, Cheezi and Chungu. He suggested that they use the Hadithi Spin to thwart the hyenas, but Hadithi argued that Ono was not ready for such a feat. He then took off for the ceremony, leaving Ono behind to deal with the crisis.

On his own, Ono attempted to stop the hyenas by using the Hadithi Spin, but fell and got his wing trapped beneath a boulder. Cheezi and Chungu hungrily climbed up the cliffs to reach him, while Janja rounded up the trapped klipspringers.

However, before the hyenas could hurt Ono, Hadithi returned with the Lion Guard, and Fuli fended off Cheezi and Chungu. Meanwhile, Bunga and Kion confronted Janja, while Beshte pushed a boulder down for the klipspringers to use as an escape. As Fuli guided the klipspringers to safety, one slipped and fell, prompting Janja and his minions to launch an attack. Just in time, Ono and Hadithi flew past and began to circle the hyenas, making them dizzy. Eventually, they toppled off the cliffs and landed in the water below.

### Attack on the Traveling Baboon Show

―Cheezi[src] | ”

In the Outlands, Cheezi and Chungu were complaining about how hungry they were when they heard Uroho's troop playing music in the distance. They followed the sound to where Uroho was putting on a show for a meager audience of Outlanders. In the meantime, Janja began to chase Uroho's friends, Mwevi and Mwizi, in an attempt to eat them.

Cheezi and Chungu were watching Uroho's show in fascination when Janja ran by and ordered them to help him catch the baboons. The hyenas gave chase and cornered the baboons in a cavern. Just then, the Lion Guard showed up and defeated Cheezi, Chungu, and Janja, who reluctantly retreated.

### Scar's resurrection

―Cheezi on Kion[src] | ”

In the Pride Lands, the dry season came, and the Lion Guard became exceptionally busy. During their patrol, Ono informed his friends that Janja's clan was attacking Ma Tembo's herd. When the Lion Guard arrived at the scene, they were shocked that the hyenas would hunt elephants because it was a dangerous undertaking. The team then drove Janja and his clan away.

Later, Cheezi helped attack the baboons who had started following Ma Tembo's herd. The Lion Guard arrived just in time, and Kion blasted the hyenas away with the Roar of the Elders.

Cheezi and the crew returned to the Outlands, where they saw Ushari and decided to eat him. Before they could do so, Ushari asked Janja if he would like something meatier. Janja told him that he would, but could not because the Lion Guard kept driving his clan off. Ushari then revealed that that was because Kion had been getting advice from the spirit of his grandfather, Mufasa. He added that if the hyenas wanted to stop the Guard, they would need to find a way to talk to one of the Great Lions of the Past. He reminded Janja that there was one Great Lion who had always helped hyenas: Scar. He also reminded Janja that if Kion could talk to Mufasa, there was a way for them to talk to Scar.

Ushari then took Cheezi, Chungu, and Janja into the Pride Lands, where he summoned his skink friends to spy on Rafiki and find out if there was a way to talk to Scar. Janja and his crew waited as Ushari left with the skinks for Pride Rock. Ushari returned with information that Evil Lions of the Past like Scar appeared in fire if they were unleashed by the Roar and the bakora staff. The hyenas and Ushari then returned to the Outlands.

In the Outlands, Ushari and Janja decided to get Makini's bakora staff, then attack one of Kion's loved ones and bring them to the volcano, since Kion's Roars were at their most powerful when he was angry.

Cheezi and the others kidnapped Kion's sister, Kiara, and took Makini's bakora staff. While the rest of the Guard rescued her, Janja tricked Kion by getting him to use the Roar out of anger, which caused the volcano to erupt. When Janja threw Makini's staff into the volcano, Scar was successfully summoned, thus giving Cheezi and the rest of the Lion Guard's enemies their own spirit guide.

(To be continued)

## Physical appearance

Cheezi is skinnier and lankier than his fellow hyenas. His fur is pale gray, while his chest is lighter in color. His eye rims, his muzzle, and the spots on his back are dark gray. His ears, mane, and paws are black, and there are several notches in his ears. He is most distinguishable by his red nose and lolling tongue.

## Personality and traits

―Cheezi[src] | ”

Cheezi is easily excitable. He is not the brightest and is easily intimidated by his clan leader, Janja. Like Chungu, he does not always understand Janja's plans and can easily get riled up at the chance of getting a good meal. Both hyenas care for Janja and are exceptionally loyal to him, despite his rude comments about the duo. They also like his nickname for them: "fur-brains."

After the Lion Guard saved him and the rest of his clan, Cheezi became more well-intentioned and started to respect the Circle of Life. Both he and Chungu briefly returned to their villainous ways during the battle for the Pride Lands, but this was merely out of habit, as they immediately apologized. After the battle, Cheezi and his fellows submitted to Jasiri, whom they came to respect and obey.

## Relationships

	+ Jasiri - Queen and Former Enemy
	+ Janja - Former Leader and Close Friend
	+ Chungu - Close Friend
	+ Nne - Temporary Enemy
	+ Tano - Temporary Enemy
	+ Madoa - Former Enemy
	+ Asante - Love Interest
* Mzingo's parliament
	+ Mzingo - Friend and Temporary Enemy
	+ Mwoga - Temporary Enemy
* Night Pride
	+ Kion - Former Attempted Victim
	+ Bunga - Former Attempted Victim
	+ Fuli - Former Enemy
	+ Beshte - Former Enemy
	+ Ono - Former Enemy
	+ Anga
	+ Binga
	+ Surak
	+ Nirmala
	+ Baliyo
	+ Rani
* Simba's pride
	+ Simba - Former Enemy
	+ Nala - Former Attempted Victim
	+ Kiara - Former Attempted Victim
	+ Kovu - Temporary Enemy
	+ Mufasa † - Resurrector
	+ Tiifu
	+ Zuri
	+ Sarabi
* Royal Mjuzis
	+ Rafiki † - Former Attempted Victim
	+ Makini - Former Enemy
* Pride Landers - Former Enemies
	+ Ma Tembo
	+ Zito
	+ Mtoto's mother
	+ Mtoto - Former Attempted Victim
	+ Laini
	+ Mbeya
	+ Kifaru
	+ Makuu
	+ Bupu
	+ Boboka
	+ Hadithi
	+ Zazu - Former Prisoner
	+ Thurston - Former Attempted Victim
	+ Basi
	+ Twiga
	+ Shingo
	+ Muhimu
* Kenge - Former Boss
* Timon
* Pumbaa
* Shujaa - Former Attempted Killer
* Reirei's pack
	+ Reirei - Former Teammate and Temporary Enemy
	+ Goigoi - Temporary Enemy
* Kiburi's float
	+ Kiburi - Former Teammate and Temporary Enemy
	+ Tamka - Temporary Enemy
* Lion Guard
	+ Vitani - Temporary Enemy
	+ Kopa
	+ Imara
	+ Shabaha
	+ Kasi
	+ Tazama
* Pinguino's rookery
	+ Pinguino
* Timon's colony
* Great Kings of the Past
* Azaad - Recruiter
* Varya
* Ma
* Chuluun
	+ Scar † - Former Boss and Killer
	+ Ushari † - Former Teammate
	+ Dogo - Attempted Victim
	+ Nduli - Former Teammate
	+ Dogo's brothers
	+ Kijana
* Shupavu's group
	+ Shupavu - Former Teammate
	+ Njano
	+ Nyeusi
	+ Nyata
	+ Waza
* Kwato - Attempted Victim
* Shauku - Attempted Victim
* Kambuni - Attempted Victim
* Tamaa - Former Prisoner
* Hamu
* Swala's herd
	+ Swala
* Traveling Baboon Show - Attempted Victims
	+ Uroho
	+ Mwevi
	+ Mwizi
* Baboon leader's troop - Attempted Victims
	+ Baboon leader
	+ Gumba
* Tunu - Attempted Victim
* Wema - Attempted Victim
* Juhudi - Attempted Victim
* Kinyonga
* Muhangus and Muhanga's armory
	+ Muhangus
	+ Muhanga
* Outsiders
	+ Zira †
	+ Strange lion
* Makucha's army
	+ Makucha
	+ Mama Binturong
	+ Ora
	+ Fahari
	+ Jiona
* Smun's prickle
	+ Smun
* Leo

## Appearances

* *The Lion King: Revisited*
	+ "Return of the Roar"
	+ "Lions of the Outlands"
	+ "The Rise of Scar"
	+ "Snow Day"
	+ "Hyena Resistance"
	+ "Pride Landers Unite!"
	+ "The Ultimate Showdown"
	+ "Battle for the Pride Lands"
	+ "The Unwelcome Stranger" (flashback)
	+ "Return to the Pride Lands"
	+ "Epilogue: An Important Coronation"
	+ "Lion Guard: The Night Mission" (mentioned)
	+ "Lion Guard: The Leo Dynasty"
	+ "Lion Guard: Wild Schemes and Catastrophes"

## Trivia

* Cheezi was voiced by Vargus Mason.

* Cheezi's name is similar to the Swahili word "chizi," which means "crazy person."

* Cheezi is similar to Ed. Both are unintelligent hyenas who have lolling tongues and notches in their ears.