Uncle Max

―Max[src] | ”

**Max** was a male meerkat. He was the uncle of Timon.

Max was a member of a meerkat colony, whom he served as a sentry and tunnel builder. He attempted to teach his nephew, Timon, how to be a proper sentry, but Timon failed, allowing hyenas to nearly eat Max. However, when Timon was in need during the battle of Pride Rock, Max came to his aid, along with Ma. Together, the meerkats dug a trap tunnel to defeat the hyenas. After the battle, Max joined his colony in moving to the jungle.

## Biography

### Early life

Max lived on the edge of the Pride Lands as a member of a meerkat colony. He had a nephew named Timon.

### Hyena attack

—Max and Timon on meerkats[src] | ”

One day, while helping his colony dig tunnels, Max ran into Ma, who asked him if he had seen Timon. Max replied that he had not and gleefully pointed out that there had been no accidents or injuries. Just then, a crack formed overhead, and the whole tunnel network collapsed. After emerging from a pile of dirt, Uncle Max yelled Timon's name, and Timon confessed that he had been trying to build a skylight.

Shortly afterward, Max intruded on Ma's conversation with Timon by insisting that meerkats only existed as food for other animals. Though Timon thought Max was crazy, Ma admitted that he was right and tried to think of a way for Timon to fit in. No sooner had she said this when she overheard Max asking the colony whose turn it was for sentry duty and got the idea to nominate Timon for the position.

When Ma proposed her idea to Max, he commented sarcastically that she should save him the trouble and let the hyenas kill him right then. However, when Ma pointed out that the only other option was for Timon to rejoin the digging crew, Max relented and taught Timon how to "scurry," "sniff," and "flinch." Timon mocked Max for his zealous fear of hyenas, but Max retorted that Timon would not be able to clap when he did not have any hands.

On his own, Timon got distracted and failed to warn his colony of an attack by Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed. Max nearly got eaten by the hyenas but escaped down a hole just in time. Once the colony was safe, they gathered angrily around Timon, who tried to make excuses for having gotten distracted. Max muttered that he had trusted Timon, after which the colony filed away, leaving Timon alone in the midst of the tunnel.

### Ma's encounter with Rafiki

―Max to Ma, after she suggests they go looking for Timon[src] | ”

After Timon left his colony, Rafiki found Ma and told her that he had told Timon to "look beyond" what he saw. Terrified that her son would take Rafiki's advice literally, Ma called for Max to help her find Timon. However, Max asked her if she was "nuts," and Ma sarcastically remarked that it was nice to have a supportive family.

### Battle of Pride Rock

―Max[src] | ”

During the battle of Pride Rock, Max and Ma met up with Timon, who was wearing a hula outfit. While Ma embraced Timon, Max eyed his nephew's hula outfit critically, to Timon's embarrassment. Timon then introduced his best friend, Pumbaa, to Max and Ma. Just then, the group noticed Scar pinning Simba on the promontory of Pride Rock. Intent on helping his friend, Timon ordered Max and Ma to dig a trap tunnel while he and Pumbaa lured the hyenas away from Simba. As Timon rode away on Pumbaa, Ma commented that something was different about him, and Max yelled that he was wearing a dress.

Shortly afterward, Timon and Pumbaa lured the hyenas to where Uncle Max and Ma were digging a trap tunnel. With some stalling from Timon and Pumbaa, Uncle Max and Ma completed their work and set off the trap, only for it to get stuck and not collapse the ground. Helpless to escape, Uncle Max and Ma cowered beside Timon and Pumbaa as the hyenas advanced on them. Just before the hyenas could harm them, Timon jumped in-between Shenzi's legs and finished the trap tunnel, which sent the hyenas plummeting to the base of Pride Rock.

After Scar's defeat, Uncle Max attended Simba's coronation.

### Move to the jungle

―Max, as he does tai chi[src] | ”

After Simba's coronation, Timon led his colony to the jungle. There, Max demonstrated tai chi to a group of meerkats.

### Death

―Max's last words to Timon[src] | ”

Years later, Max called Timon, Pumbaa, and Ma to him when he felt his time coming. He complimented Timon for everything he had done, dying peacefully.

After Max's death, his funeral was held at the Great River.

## Physical appearance

Max was a somewhat short and portly old meerkat. He had dull brownish-gray fur, with a pale gray underbelly, dark brown fingers and toes, and a gray flattop. His eyes were black.

## Personality and traits

―Uncle Max[src] | ”

Max was easily spooked and skittish. He believed that meerkats only exist as food for other animals and that the world is "fraught" with danger. Unlike his nephew, Timon, Max took his duties as a tunnel digger and a sentry seriously and practiced constant vigilance. Whenever he tried to pass on his skills to Timon, he spook and behaved erratically and excitably, to the point that Timon will often comment on his uncle's sanity.

Though Max was critical of Timon's lackadaisical ways, he was fiercely loyal to his family. He was willing to journey to the Pride Lands to find Timon and fought bravely against the hyenas in the ensuing battle. Upon moving to the jungle, Max became more easygoing and relaxed, and even took up tai chi.

## Relationships

* Timon - Nephew

Allies* Pumbaa
* Simba's pride
	+ Simba
	+ Nala
	+ Sarabi
* Rafiki †
* Zazu
	+ Shenzi - Attempted Killer
	+ Banzai - Attempted Killer
	+ Ed - Attempted Killer
	+ Kamari
	+ Azizi
* Scar †

## Appearances

* *The Lion King: Revisited*
	+ "New Acquaintances for Timon"
	+ "Raising Simba"
	+ "Battle for Pride Rock"
	+ "He Lives in You"
	+ "Battle for the Pride Lands" (death)