Vitani

―Vitani to Kopa[src] | ”

**Vitani** was a female lion. She was the scout and second-in-command of the Outsiders until she reformed and joined Simba's pride. She currently served as the leader of the Lion Guard. She was the daughter of Zira, the sister of Kovu and Nuka, and the girlfriend of Imara.

Due to Zira's loyalty to the late king of Pride Rock, Scar, Vitani and her family were exiled to the Outlands by Simba. There, she and her brothers were raised to believe that the Pride Landers were their enemies and that Kovu was the rightful king of the Pride Lands. However, during the final battle between the feuding prides, Kiara swayed Vitani to switch her allegiance and join Simba's pride.

In Kion's absence, Vitani formed her own Lion Guard. However, when Kion returned to the Pride Lands with his Lion Guard, the two groups engaged in an official competition so they could determine which Lion Guard had the right to protect the Pride Lands. During her showdown with Kion, Vitani called for a mashindano and declared that she did not need the Roar of the Elders to lead the Lion Guard. This ultimately swayed Kion to forfeit his position as the leader of the Lion Guard to Vitani and allow her team to take over defense of the Pride Lands.

## Biography

### Early life

Vitani was born to Zira. She had an older brother, Nuka, and a younger brother, Kovu. The cubs lived under the reign of Scar, who chose Kovu to be his heir and protégé. However, when Simba returned to the Pride Lands and deposed Scar, he rejected Kovu's claim to the throne. Infuriated, Zira attacked Simba, but he defeated her easily and exiled her, her family, and her followers to the Outlands.

While in exile, Zira raised her cubs to hate the Pride Landers and blame Simba for Scar's death. They considered Kovu to be the "Chosen One."

### Cubhood

#### Zira's plot

—Vitani argues with Nuka[src] | ”

One day, Vitani wrestled with a dry tree root near the termite mounds. Nuka approached and asked her where Kovu was, after which he snapped her root with a claw. As she went flying backward, Nuka laughed at her. Upon regaining her feet, Vitani paced toward Nuka and asked if he had left Kovu on his own again. Nuka pointed out that it was "every lion for himself" in the Outlands and that Kovu had to learn to look after himself. Vitani retorted that Zira would be angry with him, for she had told him to watch Kovu, but Nuka complained that he should have been the Chosen One and that he could be a leader if Zira would just give him a chance. Vitani expressed her doubt, then sarcastically told him that now was his chance.

No sooner had Vitani said this when Zira approached with Kovu, and Vitani challenged her younger brother to a fight. Shortly afterward, Zira plotted to use Kovu to infiltrate Simba's pride, assassinate Simba, and become the new king of Pride Rock. Vitani expressed genuine enthusiasm for Kovu, while Nuka only did so reluctantly.

#### Skirmish with Jasiri's clan

―Vitani on Kion's friendship with Jasiri[src] | ”

When the Outsiders drove a clan of hyenas from their watering hole, the clan's leader, Jasiri, appealed to her friend, Kion, for help. Kion and Jasiri entered the Outlands together, and Kovu and Nuka escorted them to Zira. Upon learning that Kion was Simba's son, Zira introduced herself and Vitani to him, and Vitani expressed skepticism about his friendship with a hyena.

Eventually, Kion and Zira left the watering hole to discuss the Roar of the Elders. After her talk with Kion, Zira returned to her children and lied to Jasiri that Kion had allowed the Outsiders to keep the watering hole. She then took her cubs to where she had surrounded Kion with her lionesses.

During the ensuing confrontation, the rest of Lion Guard arrived to help Kion fight the Outsiders, and Fuli pinned Vitani to the ground. Eventually, the Lion Guard backed the Outsiders up against a wall, and Kion used the Roar of the Elders to blast them away. The Outsiders landed near the termite mounds, and Zira declared that the area was their new home.

#### Battle for the Pride Lands

Having teamed up with the Outsiders, including Vitani, the spirit of Scar invaded the Elephant Graveyard and attacked Shenzi's clan of hyenas. Vitani ate Kamari alive, but Banzai fled his territory.

### Young adulthood

#### Kiara's first hunt

―Vitani to Nuka[src] | ”

As part of Zira's plot to disrupt Kiara's first hunt, Vitani and Nuka traveled to the Elephant Graveyard. Once there, the two overlooked the area, and Vitani scoffed at Nuka's discomfort. She proceeded to approach a section of geysers, one of which she used to set a shoot ablaze. Prompting Nuka to hurry, she picked up her fiery shoot and bounded away.

Once in the Pride Lands, Vitani and Nuka spotted Kiara hunting and set the nearby grasslands ablaze. In the midst of setting the savanna on fire, Nuka accidentally surrounded himself in flames and leaped away. As he laughed over his near-escape, Vitani grabbed him and pulled him away from the scene.

#### Ambush on Simba

―Vitani witnesses Kovu's failure to kill Simba[src] | ”

Following Kovu's acceptance into Simba's pride, Vitani spied on Kovu and Simba as they walked into the den of Pride Rock. At first, she urged Kovu on in the hopes that he would attack Simba, but when the two entered the den peacefully, she fled to the Outlands and reported what she had seen to Zira. Furious, Zira asked Vitani if she was sure of what she had witnessed, and Vitani confirmed that she had watched Kovu's betrayal with her own eyes.

Later, when Simba took Kovu to the edge of the Pride Lands, the Outsiders surrounded them, and Zira mocked Simba for being "so alone." She then praised Kovu for doing as they had always planned, which infuriated Simba and made him believe that Kovu was a traitor. Though Kovu insisted that he had not been part of the ambush, Zira ordered an attack, and the Outsiders converged on Simba. Kovu attempted to defend Simba from the Outsiders, but Vitani kicked him into a rock, which rendered him unconscious.

Eventually, Simba got overwhelmed by the Outsiders and fell down a ridge into a gorge. The Outsiders raced after him and chased him through the gorge until he reached a pile of logs. As Simba began to clamber up the log pile, Kovu appeared on a ridge above the logs and ignored his mother's orders to finish off Simba himself. In Kovu's stead, Nuka climbed up the log pile to attack Simba, but he lost his footing and got crushed and killed by falling logs.

Following Nuka's death, Vitani mourned alongside her mother. An infuriated Zira slashed Kovu across the face in retribution and blamed him for Nuka's death. Distressed, Kovu ran away, but Zira ordered the Outsiders to let him go. She then reminded them that Simba was injured and weak, and that it was therefore the perfect time to attack. She finished her speech by asserting that they would take the entire Pride Lands by force, which caused the Outsiders to rear onto their hind legs and roar in agreement.

#### Pride Lander-Outsider battle

―Vitani mocks Nala during the Pride Lander-Outsider battle[src] | ”

Together, the Outsiders invaded the Pride Lands and faced off against Simba's pride near the gorge. Though Simba gave Zira one last chance to leave, she refused and ordered an attack. As the prides leaped into battle, Vitani approached Nala, mocked her about Kiara's absence, and pounced on her.

#### Union of the Outsiders and Pride Landers

―Vitani defies Zira[src] | ”

In the midst of the battle, Kovu and Kiara appeared and argued that the prides should stop fighting, as they were "one." Though Simba listened to the two's call for peace, Zira spurned Kovu and instead ordered Vitani to attack. To Zira's surprise, Vitani refused and stated that Kiara was right. She then marched across the field to stand next to Kovu and implored her mother to stop the fighting. Zira merely told Vitani that if she would not fight, then she would die as well. Disgusted, the remaining Outsiders abandoned Zira and joined Simba's pride on the opposite side of the field.

After the union of the prides, the Outsiders attended Kovu and Kiara's wedding at Pride Rock. Along with the Pride Landers, they bowed as Simba and Nala, then Kovu and Kiara passed them on their way to the promontory. Upon reaching the promontory, the monarchs roared over their kingdom, and the combined prides roared in answer.

#### Battle of the Lion Guards

―Vitani[src] | ”

After hearing that Zira was planning to attack the Pride Lands, the Lion Guard returned to their homeland to help defend against the invasion. Not recognizing Kion because of his scar, Vitani believed the Lion Guard to be enemies and ordered her own Lion Guard to attack them. As the fight between the two Lion Guards escalated, Kion readied to use the Roar of the Elders on Vitani and her lionesses, but Kovu and Kiara intervened and revealed that the Outsiders had joined Simba's pride.

The next day, Kion's Lion Guard entered the Lair of the Lion Guard, only to find Vitani's Lion Guard already inside. Vitani explained that, as the future king's sister, she believed that it was her responsibility to protect the Pride Lands, while Kion argued that he was the future queen's brother and had the mark of the Guard along with the Roar of the Elders. Despite Kion's assertions, Vitani and her teammates refused to back down.

Just then, Laini rushed into the Lair of the Lion Guard, yelling for the Lion Guard. When both Vitani and Kion answered her, she looked between them in confusion, then told them that there was an emergency that required their attention. After some arguing, the two Lion Guards agreed to help Laini together. Following Laini, the Lion Guards found Thurston trapped in a hole, but they spent so much time arguing with one another that Azaad had to step in and save Thurston himself. Kion pointed out that they could not protect the Pride Lands with so much conflict between them, and so Thurston advised them to have a formal competition to determine whose Lion Guard had the right to protect the Pride Lands.

Heeding Thurston's advise, the Lion Guards engaged in a formal competition to decide which of them was more worthy to defend the Pride Lands. After each side earned two wins, Vitani called for a mashindano against Kion. Shocked, Kion told Vitani that she did not stand a chance against him, as he had the Roar of the Elders, but Vitani insisted that she did not need the Roar because she was fierce enough to lead the Lion Guard without it.

Realizing that Vitani was worthy to lead the Lion Guard, Kion forfeited his title to her and bestowed the mark of the Guard on her. Vitani then used the Roar of the Elders, and her lionesses each got their mark of the Guard. Afterward, Askari's spirit appeared in the heavens and commended Kion for his mastery of the Roar. Vitani asked Kion what it meant to master the Roar, and Kion demonstrated by using the Roar to lift Pride Rock. Impressed, Vitani echoed Kion's catchphrase, "Hevi kabisa!"

#### Meeting Kopa

After Vitani mastered the Roar of the Elders, she renewed a peace treaty with Reirei, Kiburi, and Madoa, and professed her love to Imara. Later, seeing a fire ravaged over the grasslands, Vitani and her teammates met Kopa, the rogue son of Simba and Nala, who authorized a peace talk to proclaim his identity as Pride Rock's prince heir. During the night, Vitani was attacked by Makucha, who sought revenge on Kion. Makucha's army abducted the Lion Guard and invaded the Pride Lands while Kopa escaped.

#### Battle of Mount Kilimanjaro

The next day, Kopa and Kiara traveled to the Elephant Graveyard, where they found Vitani and the Lion Guard imprisoned in a bone cage. Unbeknownst to them, Mama Binturong had sent Makucha, Jiona, and Fahari to set a trap, luring a large herd of wildebeest into a stampede that trampled the Lion Guard. Kiara seemingly took her life, allowing Vitani, her teammates, and Kopa to safely retreat back to the Pride Lands.

Later, Vitani was contacted by Azaad and Janja to help fight in the battle against a resurrected Scar, Zira, the Outsiders, Ushari, Shupavu, Fisi's clan, and Makucha's army. With heroes united and armies rallied, Timon and Simba led the ensuing charge against Scar's army. Vitani carefully used the Roar to blast enemies with bolts of lightning.

In the thick of the battle, Ushari scarred Vitani and injected her with venom. Causing her violent mood swings, Vitani faced Scar herself and rapidly overwhelmed him by hurling enormous piles of debris with the Roar. She then suspended Scar in the air with a loss of control over the Roar, slowly tearing him apart. To save himself from her wrath, Scar was forced to call an attack from the Evil Lions of the Past on Simba's army. Vitani tried to shield herself, only to be knocked back by the blasts. Relief came in the form of Rani, Surak, Baliyo, and Nirmala, who defeated Makucha's army.

When Rani was tasked with getting a Bakora Staff to the mountain and summon the Great Kings of the Past to disintegrate Scar, Vitani, along with the other heroines, came to assist her in getting through a giant horde. The battle ultimately ended when Mufasa, at the cost of his life, used the Great Kings to drain Scar's spirit out of his body. Vitani knelt out of respect for Mufasa, and returned home with her pride.

#### Mufasa's funeral

Vitani and her pride attended Mufasa's funeral in Kilio Valley. Afterwards, Vitani reunited with Kopa, who stood by her in silence, thinking of those they had lost. When Kopa expressed his desire for Kiara to know that they were successful, Vitani assured him that Kiara did know, and comforted him.

#### Babu and Boga's presentations and deaths

Vitani reared two cubs: a son, Babu, and a daughter, Boga. One morning, Babu and Boga were presented and anointed. Over the course of the year, while hunting for antelope, Babu, Boga, and Vitani struggled in a barren desert. Despite Vitani's prayers to Zira, Babu and Boga died. A grieving Vitani sought answers in Red Cliffs, where she was corrupted by the snake venom in her scar.

#### War against Kopa

##### Summoning the Zimwi

The Zimwi was discovered by Vitani, enthralled to capture Celia, a lioness with the ability to travel through the spiritual plane. The Zimwi was sent to capture her in the Pride Lands, but was thwarted by Kopa and the Lion Guard.

##### Attack on New Pride Rock

After Celia explained that beings were hunting her, Kopa consulted Vitani for help, but realized that she is responsible for the attacks. Vitani believed that controlling Celia will allow her to enthrall Babu and Boga, to overthrow Kopa for rulership. When Kopa refused to surrender Celia, Vitani attacked New Pride Rock, killing many members of Kopa's pride. Before Vitani could succeed, Celia accidentally knocked Kopa aside, sending them both tumbling into the Astral Dimension.

##### Massacre of Kaliban's fleet

Vitani forced Tazama, Shabaha, Kasi, and Imara to lead her to Red Cliffs to establish her dreamwalk through Babu and Boga, resurrecting her cubs. Concurrently, before Kaliban's council could proceed further for Kopa's fate, Vitani attacked their den, brutally killing Boma, Ahadi, Adah, Zuzu, and Mohatu. Kopa subdued Kaliban, fleeing with help from Celia and Zola.

##### Battle of Red Cliffs

The threesome entered the volcano of the Astral Dimension to find volcanic ash, but Vitani appeared and destroyed their gourd containing her cure. She then seized Celia, using her to send Kopa and Zola into a sandstorm. However, with the Lion Guard's help, Kopa saved Celia from Vitani, encouraging her to use her agility. Celia attacked Vitani near grasslands, where Babu and Boga, freed from Vitani's possession, recoiled from her in fear. Realizing the error of her ways, Vitani relented and used the Roar to bring down Red Cliffs, sacrificing herself in the process.

## Physical appearance

As a cub, Vitani was small, lanky, and thin, with a skinny neck and a scanty build. She was slightly smaller and more scruffy-looking than her brother of a similar age, Kovu. Like her mother Zira, she has sharp facial features and the distinctive curved nose of the Outsiders. Her main pelt is tangerine, while her muzzle, paws, and underbelly are cream. She has several distinctions, including dark eye shades and inner ears, thin black eyebrows, a head tuft, and a light brown tail tip. Her eyes are lavender.

Once older, Vitani's likeness to Zira intensified. She grew larger and rangier, though she retained her angular features and gaunt frame. However, she proved to be a powerful fighter, as she held her own against the full-grown Simba and managed to kick her brother Kovu into unconsciousness. As she grew older, her pelt dulled to a brownish-tan, and both her eyebrows and head tuft grew longer. Additionally, she sported several new features, including dark ear rims and freckles on her muzzle.

After rejoining Simba's pride, Vitani gained muscle and weight, with her fur becoming less mangy, giving her a much healthier and more groomed appearance. Later, after becoming the leader of the Lion Guard, Vitani gained a red lion's head marking on her left shoulder.

## Personality and traits

―Vitani[src] | ”

Even as a cub, Vitani displayed aggressive and vicious characteristics, taking enjoyment in taunting and fighting her brothers. Despite her more violent tendencies, Vitani is known to be a stickler to the rules, following her mother without question and not doubting Kovu as Nuka so often did. Her attitude, even as a cub, is confident and spunky, and she was not afraid to outwit her larger and older brother. Unlike Nuka, who hated Kovu for being treated specially by their mother, Vitani is on good terms with her younger brother and often played with him. She also scolded Nuka if he neglected his duty to watch over their younger brother, and protected him if Nuka bullied him.

Vitani picked up a sarcastic nature from her mother, which she tended to use against Nuka. Even as a young adult, she was shown picking on Nala for the disappearance of Kiara. She seemed to take great enjoyment in fighting and chasing Simba during the ambush, grinning maniacally throughout the chase. Her overconfidence was shown when she recklessly leaps at Nala, a much larger and more well-built lioness than herself.

Like her mother and the rest of her pride, Vitani disliked and was distrustful of hyenas. When she first met Kion, she was skeptical of his friendship with Jasiri, but did display some curiosity over it.

Vitani's soft side showed through when she was saddened by Nuka's death and grieved for him, showing that despite their strained relationship, Vitani still cared for her older brother. She was also the first of the Outsiders to join Simba's pride. This daring action showcased her courageous side, as she was not only willing to stand up to her mother, but to her entire pride. Brash and vicious as she was, Vitani was level-headed and not nearly as cruel as her vindictive mother. Despite being raised to fight and kill, Vitani saw the appeal and reason in peace, and was willing to take a stand for what's right.

After joining Simba's pride, Vitani's violent and ruthless tendencies diminished greatly. She became much friendlier and less aggressive with other animals, and was no longer as mocking of others as she once was. This included hyenas, a species she treated with disdain as a cub. It is also shown that even after Zira threatened her, Vitani still loved her mother, as she was visibly saddened when the subject of Zira's death was raised. Her forgiving side was shown again when she reconciled with Kovu despite having previously blamed him for Nuka's death. However, she still retained her fondness for combat, keeping her manic smile when fighting.

As the leader of the Lion Guard, Vitani displayed strong leadership qualities and great camaraderie with her teammates, being able to effectively lead them into battle and forming close friendships, bordering on sisterly bonds, with them.

Vitani still remained brash, however, as she was quick to attack the Lion Guard when they enter the Pride Lands. She was also stubborn, as she refused to back down, insisting that her Lion Guard deserved to exist over Kion's. Her self-confidence was shown again when she challenged Kion to a mashindano despite him having an advantage with the Roar of the Elders. Her confidence and determination impressed Kion so much that he willingly forfeited the match. Vitani also displayed signs of humility and humbleness, as she was grateful to Kion for honorably surrendering his position, and displayed no envy or frustration over his superiority with the Roar, only pleasant astonishment.

## Relationships

* Kovu - Adopted Brother and Temporary Enemy
* Nuka † - Brother
* Kiara - Sister-in-Law and Former Enemy
* Babu - Son
* Boga - Daughter

Allies* Simba - Former Attempted Victim and King
* Nala - Former Attempted Victim and Queen
* Lion Guard - Former Teammates, Close Friends, and Temporary Enemies
	+ Kopa - Former Attempted Victim
	+ Imara - Partner
	+ Tazama
	+ Kasi
	+ Shabaha
* Night Pride
	+ Kion - Former Enemy, Former Rival, and Predecessor
	+ Bunga - Temporary Enemy
	+ Fuli - Temporary Enemy
	+ Beshte - Temporary Enemy
	+ Ono - Temporary Enemy
	+ Anga - Temporary Enemy
	+ Rani
	+ Surak
	+ Nirmala
	+ Baliyo
* Jasiri's clan
	+ Jasiri - Former Enemy
	+ Janja - Recruiter
	+ Cheezi
	+ Chungu
	+ Madoa
* Timon - Temporary Enemy
* Pumbaa - Temporary Enemy
* Azaad - Temporary Enemy and Recruiter
* Mzingo's parliament - Temporary Enemies
	+ Mzingo
	+ Mwoga
* Pride Landers
	+ Laini - Friend
	+ Thurston
	+ Ma Tembo
	+ Makuu
	+ Bupu
	+ Hadithi
	+ Zito
* Royal Mjuzis
	+ Rafiki †
	+ Makini
* Reirei's pack
	+ Reirei - Former Attempted Victim and Friend
	+ Goigoi
* Kiburi's float
	+ Kiburi
	+ Tamka
* Pua - Former Attorney
* Chuluun - Former Enemy, Former Captor, and Savior
* Mufasa † - Resurrector
* Sarabi
* Tiifu
* Zuri
* Pinguino's rookery
	+ Pinguino
* Timon's colony
* Shujaa
* Varya
* Binga
* Ma
* Celia - Former Attempted Victim and Former Attempted Thrall
* Zola † - Former Attempted Victim
* Wema
* Dhahabu's herd
	+ Dhahabu
	+ Starehe
	+ Raha
* Shenzi's clan
	+ Shenzi †
	+ Banzai
	+ Kamari † - Victim
	+ Azizi †
	+ Ed †
* Outsiders - Former Allies
* Final Army of Scar
	+ Scar † - Former Superior and Attempted Victim
	+ Ushari † - Former Enthraller
	+ Shupavu
* Smun's prickle
	+ Smun
* Makucha's army
	+ Mama Binturong - Attempted Killer
	+ Makucha - Attempted Killer
	+ Fahari
	+ Jiona
	+ Ora
* Simba's pride - Former Allies
	+ Cardi
	+ Elijah †
* Kaliban's fleet
	+ Kaliban
	+ Boma † - Victim
	+ Ahadi † - Victim
	+ Adah † - Victim
	+ Zuzu † - Victim
	+ Mohatu † - Attempted Rescuer and Victim
* Chewa's flock
	+ Chewa
	+ Choyo
* Quint
* Smolder
* Great Kings of the Past - Former Allies

## Appearances

* *The Lion King: Revisited*
	+ "We Are One"
	+ "Lions of the Outlands"
	+ "Battle for the Pride Lands"
	+ "Kiara's First Hunt"
	+ "The Unwelcome Stranger"
	+ "Love Will Find a Way"
	+ "Return to the Pride Lands"
	+ "Epilogue: An Important Coronation"
	+ "Prince Kopa" (death)
	+ "Lion Guard: The Leo Dynasty"
	+ "Lion Guard: Wild Schemes and Catastrophes"

## Trivia

### General

* Vitani was voiced by Lacey Chabert.

* Vitani's name means "in war" in Swahili.

* Vitani is the first female leader of the Lion Guard, and her Lion Guard is the first whose members are all female.

* Vitani's portrayal in *Prince Kopa* was inspired by Elizabeth Olsen's performance as Wanda Maximoff in Marvel Studios' *Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness*.

### In development

* During early production of *Prince Kopa*, Vitani was to thrall her alternate self while confronting Kaliban's fleet.