Simba

Lion King 1994Lion King 2Lion Guard
**Simba** is the King of Pride Rock and the son of Mufasa and Sarabi. He is the mate of Nala and they both have two cubs. The eldest Kiara who will be the future queen and the youngest Kion who will be the leader of the Lion Guard. Simba became king after he defeated Scar for the throne.

## Physical Appearance

Simba is a young lion with gold fur and a red well groomed mane. He has a lighter muzzle and underbelly. Simba has red eyes and nose and has 4 whiskers on his snout and a tuft of fur on his elbows.

In the Lion Guard, Simba got older and more stockier and his mane also got bigger.

In Lion King 2 Simba's Pride, Simba got older and he is very much larger and his mane has gone all the way to his torso and got thicker. His fur also got darker.

## Personality

As a cub, Simba was very adventurous and reckless, he would even disobey his father just so he can check out the elephant graveyard.

When he got older Simba became more careful but carefree, that is until he saw what Scar did to the Pride Lands. Simba became enraged and more serious, and he took down his uncle.

In the Lion Guard, Simba became more serious and responsible. He was no longer carefree and would always tend to his royal duties first.

In the Lion King 2 Simba's Pride, Simba became overly protective of his daughter Kiara. Simba would always have Timon and Pumbaa watch over her, much to the cubs annoyance. ￼

## Biography

### Lion King

Simba was born in Pride Rock. After he was born, his father Mufasa held a ceremony for him which all the animals attended, all but his uncle.

Months passed, Simba got older and more adventurous. He then woke up his sleeping father so he can get his King lessons. Mufasa told him about how he must protect and watch over everything the light touches, and must always stay away from beyond the borders of the Pride Lands.

Simba then went to the fields to watch some antelopes and the other animals. Zazu then came and told Mufasa about the morning report, Simba then decided to have fun and pounce on him, which he did. After Zazu left, Simba and Mufasa played, but then Zazu informed them that their are Hyenas in the pridelands. Simba was sent home and went to meet his uncle.

After meeting with his uncle, Simba went to the elephant graveyard with Nala. When they got chased by hyenas, Mufasa saved them and ridiculed Simba for disobeying him.

Scar then took Simba to the gorge where his hyenas started a stampede and killed Mufasa. Scar then banished Simba from the Pride Lands and sent his hyenas to kill him. Simba survived and went on to live in the jungle.

When he got to the jungle, he met Timon and Pumbaa, and the three became best friends and the Timon and Pumbaa raised Simba in the jungle. He then met Nala who told him he must go back to the Pride Lands to challenge Scar.

Mufasa convinced his son and Simba raced back to the Pride Lands and challenged Scar. After the fight, Simba was crowned the new King of the Pride Lands and had a cub with Nala.

### Lion King 2 Simba's Pride

Together, Simba and Nala reared two cubs: a son, Kion, and a daughter, Kiara. One morning, Rafiki called the Pride Landers to Pride Rock. Once they had assembled, Simba walked onto the promontory alongside Nala, who was holding Kiara by her scruff. Rafiki gently took the cub into his arms, then presented her to the gathered Pride Landers. Simba and Nala watched the ceremony proudly. Afterward, Rafiki anointed Kiara, and her parents nuzzled her affectionately.

One day, Kiara attempted to leave Pride Rock, but Simba stopped her and asked where she was going in such a hurry. Kiara told her father to let her go, then began to absently chase a butterfly. Simba stepped on her tail to get her attention and reminded her that accidents could happen. He started to list ways that she could get hurt, but Kiara cut him off by repeating each example that he was listing. Just then, Nala approached and told Kiara to mind her father.

Simba warned Kiara to stay away from the Outlands, and Zazu arrived to add that there was nothing there but "backstabbing, murderous" Outsiders. Simba added that one should never turn their back on an Outsider, which confused Kiara. Instead of clarifying what he had meant, Simba told her to run along, and she reluctantly let the matter go. As Kiara left Pride Rock, Simba called after her to stay on the path that he had marked for her.

Once Kiara was gone, Nala asked Simba who Kiara reminded him of. Confused, Simba asked Nala whom she meant, and she clarified that Kiara acted exactly as Simba had when he had been a cub. Simba pointed out that they had gotten themselves into many dangers, to which Nala reminded him that he had been the one who had gotten them into trouble. She assured him that Kiara would be fine, then strode back into the den of Pride Rock. Despite his mate's reassurances, Simba called for Timon and Pumbaa, and instructed them to keep an eye on Kiara.

Later, when Kiara met an Outsider cub named Kovu, Simba emerged from the underbrush and roared at Kovu. This caused Kovu's mother, Zira, to emerge and roar over her own offspring. The two lions faced off, and Zira nearly attacked Simba until she noticed that he had brought Nala, Timon, Pumbaa, and several lionesses with him. Zira argued that the Pride Lands belonged to Scar, but Simba reminded her that he had banished her to the Outlands. Instead of acquiescing to Simba's command, Zira introduced Kovu as Scar's protégé and hand-picked heir, which caused Simba to growl at him.

Zira lamented the poor conditions of the Outlands, but Simba reminded her of the penalty for returning to the Pride Lands. Zira claimed that Kovu had not known but offered him up to Simba even so. After a beat, Simba commanded Zira to leave with Kovu and said that they were finished. Zira contended that they had barely begun and laughed menacingly at Kiara. Afterward, Zira departed for the Outlands with Kovu, while Simba and his pride left for Pride Rock with Kiara.

Once the pride had neared Pride Rock, Simba stayed behind to reprimand Kiara. He lectured her on how she had almost been killed and confessed that he would not know what to do if anything happened to her. He went on that he would not be there someday and that it would be Kiara's responsibility to take his place in the Circle of Life. Kiara merely repeated what he had said in annoyance. Simba persisted that she was the future queen, but Kiara angrily declared that she did not want to be the queen, for it was not fun. Simba told her that it was in her blood, as he was, since they were part of one another. In answer to her rebuff, he teasingly shoved her off the rock that she was standing on, then grinned at her. This softened Kiara and prompted her to nuzzle him affectionately. Afterward, Simba taught her that they were "one," during which they ran across the Pride Lands together and observed various Pride Lander families.

On the day of Kiara's first hunt, Simba gathered with his pride at Pride Rock. Kiara strode in-between the assembled lionesses until she reached her parents. After nuzzling Nala, she told Simba to promise that she could hunt on her own, and he reluctantly agreed. Overjoyed, Kiara embraced him, then took off into the savanna alone. Simba watched her leave, then subtly ordered Timon and Pumbaa to follow her and ensure that she did not get hurt.

During Kiara's hunt, Simba paced nervously on Pride Rock while Zazu assured him that his daughter would be fine. Suddenly, Simba noticed smoke on the horizon and yelled Kiara's name. As he and the pride raced toward the distant fire, Simba ordered Zazu to fly ahead and find Kiara.

Eventually, Simba found Kiara talking to a male lion, whom he confronted and roared at. Kiara reminded Simba that he had broken his promise to her, but Simba retorted that he had made a good decision. He then forbid her from taking any more hunting trips. Kiara protested vehemently, but when she inadvertently mentioned Kovu's name, Simba turned his ire on Kovu instead. Nala admonished Simba for his ferocity.

Just then, Rafiki appeared on a nearby ridge and asked Kovu why he had saved Kiara's life. Surprised, Simba asked Kovu why he had saved Kiara, and Kovu requested permission to join the Pride Landers. Initially, Simba refused and reminded Kovu that he had been banished alongside the other Outsiders, but Kovu claimed to be a rogue and questioned if Simba would blame him for a crime he had not committed. This caused Simba to growl and pace back and forth. As he did so, Nala reminded him that Kovu had saved Kiara's life, and Zazu added that royal protocol demanded that they repay any debts they owed. Out of respect for his father's law, Simba allowed Kovu the chance to join his pride, though he reserved judgment on the rogue's character.

That night, when Kovu attempted to follow the pride into the den at Pride Rock, Simba snarled at him and intimidated him away from the entrance. As a result, Kovu opted to sleep by a rock on the promontory of Pride Rock. Later that night, Simba had a nightmare about the stampede in which Mufasa had died. Though he tried to save his father, Scar grabbed him and prevented him from helping Mufasa up the cliff. As a result, Mufasa slipped and fell to his death. Simba turned accusingly on Scar, but the villain slowly morphed into Kovu, then threw Simba into the gorge after Mufasa.

At sunrise, Simba left Pride Rock and drank from a nearby water hole. From the shadows, Kovu readied himself to fight and kill Simba but was interrupted by an oblivious Kiara. Though frustrated by his failed mission, Kovu reluctantly left the scene. That day, he bonded with Kiara, to the point that the two began to feel romantically toward one another.

After stargazing together, Kovu and Kiara embraced while Simba watched from a nearby ridge. After a time, he spoke to his father's spirit about how Kovu was Scar's heir and thus untrustworthy. Nala soon approached, and Simba explained that he had been seeking wisdom from the Great Kings of the Past. Nala gently told Simba that, though he wanted to walk the path expected of him, Kovu might not want to do the same. She then encouraged Simba to give Kovu a chance.

The next morning, Simba pulled Kovu aside to speak with him. The two lions traveled to an area of the Pride Lands that was still burned-down and ravaged from Scar's reign. While there, Simba told Kovu the story of Scar, and Kovu admitted that Scar had truly been a killer. Simba remarked that fire was a killer but that the next generation could grow better than before if given the chance.

No sooner had Simba said this when the Outsiders emerged out of the smoke and surrounded the pair. Zira congratulated Kovu on getting Simba alone, and Simba turned on Kovu accusingly. Zira then ordered an attack, and the Outsiders swarmed Simba until he tumbled into a nearby gorge. With the Outsiders in pursuit, Simba raced through the gorge and began to climb up a pile of logs that reached to the rim of the gorge. Nuka followed Simba up the pile and managed to seize him by the ankle, but a log dislodged under Nuka's back legs, which caused him to slip and get crushed by the pile. Meanwhile, Simba escaped to safety.

After limping away from the gorge, Simba was spotted by Kiara, Timon, and Pumbaa. Immediately, Kiara ordered Zazu to fetch help, after which she rushed to her father's side. Weakly, Simba blamed Kovu for an ambush, then collapsed onto his side. This horrified and saddened Kiara. Meanwhile, Pumbaa picked Simba up in his tusks, while Timon held on to Simba's tail. The two then carried him back to Pride Rock, with Kiara striding worriedly alongside them.

While Simba recovered on Pride Rock, Kovu reentered the Pride Lands and came before Pride Rock, where many Pride Landers had assembled. Upon noticing Kovu, Simba growled at Kiara to stay back, then demanded to know why Kovu had returned. Despite Kovu's insistence that he had not been involved in Zira's ambush, Simba asserted that he did not belong in the Pride Lands and silenced Kiara's attempts to defend him. Finally, Simba pronounced his judgment on Kovu: exile. In answer to Simba's decree, the Pride Landers drove Kovu from the kingdom, to Kiara's horror.

Once Kovu had been driven away, Kiara begged Simba to reconsider his decision, but he simply told her that she could not go anywhere without an escort from then on. He went on that Kovu had used her to get to him, but Kiara insisted that Kovu loved her for who she was. Simba surmised that Kovu was following in Scar's pawprints, then stated that he himself must follow in Mufasa's. To Simba's dismay, Kiara declared that he would never be Mufasa, then fled into the den.

Later, Simba entered the den himself, only to be told by Timon and Pumbaa that Kiara was gone. Before he could react, Zazu arrived with news that the Outsiders were on the attack. Simba ordered Zazu to find Kiara while he, Timon, and Pumbaa assembled the lionesses. Together, Simba and his pride met Zira near the gorge, where Simba told Zira to go home. However, Zira asserted that she was already home and ordered her pride to attack. The two groups charged toward one another and began to fight.

In the midst of the battle, Simba and Zira began to fight one another one-on-one. Just before they could deliver the first blows, Kovu and Kiara leaped in-between them and stopped the fight. Simba told Kiara to step aside, but she reminded him of what he had said to her so long ago: "We are one." She then implored him to see the Outsiders from a different perspective. As she spoke, the sun came out, and Simba's ferocity melted away. Through relieved smiles, he and Kiara embraced.

Moved by Kiara's words, Vitani and the other Outsiders joined Simba's pride and thus left Zira alone on her side of the divide. In a last desperate attempt to avenge Scar, Zira leaped at Simba, but Kiara intercepted the attack, and the two lionesses rolled down into the gorge. A fearful Simba dove into the gorge after Kiara. He managed to reach her just as Zira fell to her death in the floodwaters below. The two then climbed to safety, where they were met by a relieved Nala.

Kovu soon approached and embraced Kiara. Simba admitted that he had been wrong about Kovu, for he did belong with the pride, then implored the Outsiders to come home with the Pride Landers. As one, the united prides journeyed to Pride Rock, where they witnessed the marriage of Kovu and Kiara. Afterward, the royal couples strode to the edge of Pride Rock's promontory and roared over their kingdom. From the heavens, Mufasa praised Simba and declared, "We are one."

## Relationships

Click here to view Simba's relationships.

## Trivia

* Simba was voiced by the following:
	+ In *The Lion King*, he was voiced by Jonathan Taylor Thomas as a cub and Matthew Broderick as an adult. Jason Weaver provided his cub singing voice, while Joseph Williams provided his adult singing voice. Evan Saucedo provided his cub singing voice in the "The Morning Report" musical sequence.
	+ In *The Lion King II: Simba's Pride*, he was voiced by Matthew Broderick. Cam Clarke provided his singing voice.
		- Clarke also voiced Mwoga and one of the porcupine brothers in *The Lion Guard*.
	+ In *The Lion King 1½*, he was voiced by Matt Weinberg as a cub and Matthew Broderick as an adolescent and adult.
	+ In *The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar*, he was voiced by Rob Lowe.
	+ In *Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable*, he was voiced by Cam Clarke.
	+ In *The Lion Guard*, he was voiced by Rob Lowe.
	+ In *The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa*, he was voiced by Cam Clarke.
	+ In *Disney's Active Play: The Lion King II: Simba's Pride*, he was voiced by Cam Clarke.
	+ In *Disney's Activity Center: The Lion King*, he was voiced by Ryan O'Donohue.
		- O'Donohue also voiced Kovu in *The Lion King II: Simba's Pride* and *Disney's Active Play: The Lion King II: Simba's Pride*.
	+ In *Kingdom Hearts II*, he was voiced by Jonathan Taylor Thomas as a cub and Cam Clarke as an adult.
	+ In *Simba's Mighty Adventure*, he was voiced by Shaun Fleming as a cub and Cam Clarke as an adult.

* Simba was animated by the following:
	+ In *The Lion King*, he was animated by Mark Henn as a cub and Ruben Aquino as an adult.
	+ In *The Lion King II: Simba's Pride*, he was animated by Ian Harrowell.
		- Harrowell also animated Nala and Nuka in *The Lion King II: Simba's Pride*.
	+ In *The Lion King 1½*, he was animated by Bob Baxter.
		- Baxter also animated Pumbaa, Rafiki, Timon, and Zazu in *The Lion King II: Simba's Pride* as well as Pumbaa and the hyenas in *The Lion King 1½*.

* The role of Simba in the stage musical version of *The Lion King* was originated by Scott Irby-Ranniar (cub) and Jason Raize (adult).

* Simba's name means "lion" in Swahili.

* In the stage musical version of *The Lion King*, Simba has three additional songs: "The Morning Report", "Endless Night", and "He Lives In You (Reprise)".

* According to *Mouse Under Glass*, the directors themselves are unsure how Simba grew to such a large size on a diet of insects.

* In *The Brightest Star*, Simba has a great-grandfather named Mohatu.

* In *The Lion King: Six New Adventures*, Simba's paternal grandparents are named Ahadi and Uru, and he has a son named Kopa.

* In *An Unusual Choir*, Simba has an uncle, an aunt, and two cousins.

* In Issue 62 of *The Lion King: A Nature Fun and Learn Series*, the "Puzzles" section states that Simba has a cousin named Mtoto.

* In Disney's *Ralph Breaks the Internet*, a screenshot of Simba, Timon, and Pumbaa is seen in the *Oh My Disney* area.

* Archive footage of Simba is played during the "I Am With You" episode of *At Home With Olaf*.

### In development

* Simba's original name was Rego.

* In the 1989 draft of *The Lion King*, Simba was raised by a baboon named Kwashi and a mongoose named Mabu. He was enemies with a jackal named Ndogo.

* In the 1990 drafts of *The Lion King*, Simba was cousins with Nala. Thus, their relationship was incestuous.

* In the May 1990 draft of *The Lion King*, Simba lost his tail while fleeing the hyenas.

* In the May 1990 draft of *The Lion King*, Zazu joined Simba in exile after Mufasa's death.

* In the May 1990 draft of *The Lion King*, Simba defeated Scar by suffocating him.

* In a 1991 draft of *The Lion King*, an adolescent Simba remained too preoccupied with his love for Nala to listen to Mufasa's advice on how to be king.

* In a 1991 draft of *The Lion King*, Scar lured Nala's brother, Mheetu, into a stampede, and Simba tried to save him. Mufasa ended up saving both young lions.

* In a 1991 draft of *The Lion King*, Mufasa saved Simba from a flood rather than a stampede.

* In a 1991 draft of *The Lion King*, Simba refused to go on patrol with Mufasa. Alone, Mufasa got attacked and killed by Scar. With Mufasa dead, Scar became the king, and Simba was expected to assume the throne once he was old enough. However, when the time came, Scar denounced Simba as unfit to rule.

* In a 1991 draft of *The Lion King*, Rafiki accused Scar of murder, and Scar ordered his hyenas to chase Simba and Rafiki out of the kingdom. The two took refuge with Timon and his family, and Rafiki trained Simba to take back his kingdom.

* According to Brenda Chapman, screenwriter Linda Woolverton intended for Simba to be a slovenly, lazy character who did not deserve the throne. Chapman believed that this made it hard for the audience to like Simba.

* An alternate ending of *The Lion King* had Scar say, "Good night, sweet prince," to Simba before lunging at him. However, Simba flipped Scar away, and Scar barely caught on to the edge of Pride Rock. From his prone position, Scar begged Simba for mercy, and Simba started to acquiesce, only for Scar to throw him off Pride Rock. Scar then laughed maniacally as he was engulfed in flame. The line was meant to be a nod to *Hamlet*, the Shakespearean play on which *The Lion King* was based.

* During early production of *The Lion King*, Simba had several childhood friends, including Bhati, Daabi, Lemuta, and Mheetu. Timon and Pumbaa were originally conceived as Simba's childhood friends as well.

* In an early draft of *The Lion King II: Simba's Pride*, Simba had a son named Chaka.