Azaad/Behind the Scenes

## Inspirations

Azaad's name, personality, and livery are all based on the character of the same name from *The Lion Guard*.

Azaad is a young male cheetah. In his introduction, Fuli encountered Azaad, who was confused as to why Fuli had friends, since cheetahs, in general, are ordinarily solitary, while looking for tuliza.

Since she was in his territory and showed the fire of a cheetah in her heart, Azaad challenged Fuli to a race, promising to help her locate the tuliza, if she should win. During the race, Fuli tripped and falls at the very end, causing her to lose the race. She challenged Azaad to a rematch since he knew the route better than she does. He accepted, and the rematch began. Fuli overtook Azaad to the point where he was unable to catch up to her unless he used a shortcut.

He quickly thought about it and then decided to make the decision of using the faster route to be faster than Fuli. As he did so, he failed to grab the platform after leaping across a ravine and started to lose his grip. To his surprise, Fuli forfeited the match and returned to help him, and explained that it's what friends do. Azaad was shocked to hear that Fuli already considered him a friend, and agreed to deliver the tuliza to her friends with her.

They returned to Flamingo Beach each with a branch of tuliza blossoms just in time to avoid Kion roaring at the flamingos. As the Lion Guard and Makini continued on their journey, Azaad bid Fuli farewell and told her of his hopes that they would meet again in the future. He sped away, leaving Fuli to gaze towards her new friend. She also replied that she would like to meet him again, giving him a smitten, shy and almost dreamy-like expression as Azaad sped off into the distance.

Later, Ullu swiftly flew in and alerted Fuli and Rani that a cheetah made it's way through the mountain pass, whom both they recognized as Azaad. He led Janja and Jasiri quickly on their way towards to the Tree of Life. There, to Fuli's surprise, Rani revealed that she knew him and that Azaad had been to the Tree of Life before, after an “unexpected fall.”

Then Azaad showed the Lion Guard the fastest way to the Pride Lands. Making their way through the pass at night, Kion thanked Jasiri for getting him and the others, though Jasiri claimed she was just returning the favor after all the help he gave her in the past. A few ways behind them, Azaad talked to Fuli about the hyenas, finding it unlikely she would be friends with them, though she assured him that they've earned their trust. Outside the pass, Ono revealed he still remembers all of the landmarks from Rafiki's map, recalling the first on their way back to be the frozen lake. However, they soon realized that, even with the map, the road back to the Pride Lands would take time. Azaad then revealed he knew another way to the Pride Lands, having traveled enough to know the fastest routes to all the Great Lands. However, Azaad pointed his shortcut only to work for cheetahs, putting some of the Guard at a disadvantage. Wanting to take a look, Kion and the others followed Azaad to the shortcut: an incredibly narrow passage through a canyon. Realizing Beshte won't fit, the group considered going back to the slow route, though Kion refuses. Telling everyone to get behind him, including a confused Azaad, Kion used the Roar to widen the passage, allowing them all to take the fast route.

The next day, Azaad led the group to a deep and wide ravine, saying they would have to cross it to get to the Pride Lands. While a cheetah could just leap across, Azaad noted the others will have to cross the land bridge, though the nearest one will take days to reach. Wanting to go as fast as possible, Kion used the Roar to summon a small twister and carry Bunga across, surprising Janja and Jasiri. When Kion asked who's next, Janja started to panic despite the others' attempts to reassure him that the Roar is safe. In the end, Jasiri got to Janja by saying he is scared, with Janja wanting to prove otherwise.

Kion then used the Roar to move the hyenas and Besthe across, with the three enjoying the experience. While Fuli and Azaad jumped across the ravine and Anga and Ono flew over to the others, Kion used the Roar to lift himself up in the air and make his way across. With everyone now on the other side, the group continued on their journey to the Pride Lands. Along the way, Bunga and Beshte saw that Fuli and Azaad were just as close as Kion and the Queen, causing Kion to think back to Rani. Coming across a dried river bed, Azaad told them they would have to turn and follow the river bed to its mouth. However, Azaad revealed the way to the mouth is far, saying they could get there by sunset if they were all cheetahs. Claiming they can get there before sunset, Kion claimed his plan involved getting a dead tree into the river bed. When Beshte moved to knock it down, though, Kion stopped him and brought the tree down himself, with Bunga pointing that Kion's new Roars made him a one-lion Lion Guard. Revealing they would ride the tree down the river, Kion used the Roar to conjure up some storm clouds, briefly scaring Janja as he revealed he is scared of lightning, much to Jasiri's amusement. The Roar caused a flood to appear in the distance, with Kion telling the others to get on the tree and hold on tight. When Azaad began to hesitate, Janja mocked him for being afraid of water, though Azaad argued that cheetahs and waters just don't get along. Climbing aboard the tree, the group braced themselves as the water reached them, carrying them across the river. While most of the group enjoyed the log ride, Janja got seasick while Fuli tried to comfort Azaad about the water. While Azaad admitted to enjoying being on the land, he was glad to share this particular adventure with Fuli. Soon after, the log flew over a waterfall, splashing everyone with water as they reached the mouth of the river. With the log ride now over, the group decided to continue the rest of the way on foot.

Over the next days, the Guard passed by all of the landmarks they faced on their journey to the Tree of Life. However, Kion's new Roar powers helped them move on through obstacles with ease, allowing them to move at a much faster pace than they initially did. After traveling for a while, the Lion Guard soon came across what Azaad called the Great Stone Wall, noting they're not so far from the Pride Lands now.

Though Azaad suggested going around the Wall, an overconfident Kion considered using the Roar to create another path as Bunga cheered him on. Fuli, on the other hand, tried to stop Kion, pointing out that the Roar could not solve everything and they still did not know what was on the other side of the Wall. However, Bunga rebuffed her, saying that it did not matter, and Kion agreed, thinking Zira's pride may have already attacked the Pride Lands by now and thus they needed to get there as fast as they could. As the group began to stand back, Fuli asked Anga to fly and take a look as Kion summoned lightning on the Wall, cracking the stone ridge above the Wall.

Flying above, Anga realized that the Wall is actually holding back a great big lake and, horrified, trief to get Kion to stop roaring. Unfortunately, the roar was too loud for Kion to hear her pleas, as Kion broke the ridge, causing large amounts of water to rush through. Shocked, Kion quickly dispelled the water away with the Roar. Unfortunately, this did not solve the problem, instead of making Kion the only thing holding the water in place for the time being. Looking around, Anga spotted small herds of klipspringers and hyraxes in the fields around them and realized they would all be in danger if the water floods the valley.

Taking over for the still roaring Kion, Fuli had Ono and Beshte help fix the Wall while she and the others moved the herds, needing to clear the valley in case the Wall could not be saved. Analyzing the situation, Ono came up with an idea and told Beshte to gather up all the rocks the Roar made when it smashed the Wall. As the rest of the Guard moved the herds to safety, Ono told Kion to keep on roaring as Beshte pushed rocks onto the Roar's path, holding them in place alongside the water. Having moved the herds to a hill above the field, the others made their way back to Kion. By this point, Kion had begun to tire out from the constant roaring, hoarsely telling Ono he could not hold on much longer. The rest of the Guard arrived and, helping Beshte, moved more rocks in the Roar's path. With the rocks in place, Ono told Kion to stop roaring, allowing the rocks to fall over the hole and block the leak.

Turning to the others, Kion thanked them for their help and apologized for almost causing the flood, having thought he could solve all their problems in his arrogance. However, Kion now knew that nothing could replace the Lion Guard working together as a team, not even the Roar. As Kion realized they would have to take the long way around, after all, Azaad told him to not worry, saying the Pride Lands were not far from them. Moving on ahead, the Guard soon came across the plains with a view of the Outlands Volcano, with Azaad declaring they had reached the Outlands. After spotting Pride Rock in the distance, making them all realize they're almost home, however, Kion reminded them they could not stop now: they needed to find Zira and stop her. Chanting their catchphrase, the Lion Guard started the final trek back to the Pride Lands, their home, and the end of their journey.

Finally, Azaad arrived at the Pride Lands with the Lion Guard and introduced himself to King Simba and Queen Nala.

When the Lion Guard was reuniting with their friends and family, Fuli showed Azaad around the Pride Lands and they ran into the baboons. When Kion's Lion Guard and Vitani's Lion Guard were arguing over how to get the dimwitted Thurston out of a hole, Azaad solved the problem by telling Thurston to just walk backward and Thurston was out of the hole instantly. During the contest between the two Lion Guards, he was right that Fuli would win the contest to see who was the fastest, as she beat Kasi. Azaad attended Kion's coronation as King of the Tree of Life, standing next to Fuli.

Azaad's *The Lion Guard* counterpart
## Design

### Basis

Azaad is based on a Great Eastern Railway D56 Class "Claud Hamilton", classified as D15 by the London and North Eastern Railway, with a Belpaire firebox and the smaller 'water-cart' tender. Claud Hamiltons under the classes S46/D14, D56/D15 and H88/D16 were built at Stratford Works from 1900 to 1923. Under the LNER, most members of the class were rebuilt into the Gresley designed D16/3 sub-class. Members of this class pulled the Royal Train from Wolverton to the Sandringham Estate for several decades. The last D15 was withdrawn in 1952, while the last rebuilt Claud was withdrawn in 1960. None are preserved, though there are plans to construct a replica of D16/2 No. 8783 which is to be named *Phoenix*. Azaad, however, lacks a tender. Molly is also a member of this class.

Azaad's Basis
### Livery

Azaad's original Wooden Railway model, custom made by KnapfordFan23 from a Molly model, was painted bright yellow with black stripes and a white cab roof.

His *Stories From Sodor* design featured him painted golden yellow with black stripes and a black cab roof.

Azaad's original Wooden Railway model made by KnapfordFan23A sprite of Azaad made by Jacobacranmer
## Appearances Throughout the Years

Azaad made his *Stories From Sodor* debut in the series' final miniseries, *Friends Around the World*.

After being absent from *Jacob and Friends:All Grown Up*, Azaad returned in the first *Stories From Sodor:Future* special, "*One World, Many Adventures*". He would go onto appear in 4 of the series' subsequent specials.

He would then go on to appear in *Jacob, Kevin, and Friends:Past Adventures*. His sole appearance came in the third season episode "*Meeting Azaad*".