Listed below are the characters from the movies and The Lion Guard. When applicable, the Swahili meanings of the character’s names are included in red. (Note: The characters from The Lion Guard are not added to this page yet. Please be patient.)

Simba (means “lion” in Swahili): Son of the great Mufasa, this brave lion is forced into exile when his uncle, Scar, frames him for his father’s death. In Simba’s Pride, he’s Kiara’s father. In The Lion Guard, he is Kion’s father. He also appears in The Lion King 1 1/2. 

 Nala: She is young Simba’s playmate and adult Simba’s true love. She’s also Kiara’s mother in Simba’s Pride.], and Kion’s mother in The Lion Guard. She also appears in The Lion King 1 1/2. 

Kiara: She is Simba’s and Nala’s daughter, and eventually Kovu’s mate. In The Lion Guard, she is also Kion’s sister. She first appears in Simba’s Pride.

Kovu (means “scar” in Swahili): He is Zira’s son, Scar’s adopted son, and eventually Kiara’s mate. He is also the brother of Nuka and Vitani. He appears in Simba’s Pride and The Lion Guard.

 Mufasa: He is Simba’s dad, and the kind of the Pridelands. That is, until his brother, Scar, kills him. In Simba’s Pride, he appears as an apparition/ghost, much as how he appears to Simba as an adult near the end of the original movie. He appears in some form in pretty much every movie/series.

 Sarabi (means “mirage” in Swahili): She’s Simba’s mom, and Mufasa’s wife. When Scar has control of the Pridelands, she has to face a harsh life. Sarabi only appears in the original movie.

Timon and Pumbaa (means “absentminded, careless” in Swahili): This meercat and warthog are a very musical pair. They befriend Simba when he leaves the Pridelands, and cheer him up with their no worries philosophy: “Hakuna Matata”. These guys appear in all of the movies, as well as the TV series.

Zazu: This hornbill is Mufasa’s right hand man…er…bird. Often, he has to watch over the mischievous youngsters, Simba and Nala. Zazu appears in all of the movies, and the TV series.

 Scar: This villianous lion plots to kill his brother, Mufasa, and his nephew, Simba in order to get control of the throne. He makes a fatal (for him, at least) error by not being able to kill Simba. Because he dies, he doesn’t appear in Simba’s Pride. However, you do see him in TLK 1 1/2, as it is a retelling. And, he appears in flashbacks and spirit form in The Lion Guard TV series.

 Zira (means “hate” in Swahili): Zira, who first appears in Simba’s Pride, was the now dead Scar’s mate. She is also the mother of Kovu, Nuka, and Vitani. She bears a grudge against Simba, and plots to have her son Kovu kill him. (She appears in The Lion Guard, as well.)

 Nuka (means “stink” in Swahili): Nuka, who first appears in Simba’s Pride, is Kovu and Vitani’s brother and Zira’s firstborn son. He is a true “momma’s boy” and is desperately jealous of Kovu. He dies trying to make his mother happy. (He appears in The Lion Guard, as well.)

 Vitani: Vitani, who also only appears in Simba’s Pride, is Kovu and Nuka’s sister and Zira’s daughter. (She appears in The Lion Guard, as well.)

 Rafiki (means “friend” in Swahili): This wise monkey is like an equivalent of a medicine man. He helps Simba get his life back on track. Rafiki also appears in all of the movies, plus the TV series.

 Shenzi (means “barbarous, savage” in Swahili): These laughing hyenas are Scar’s stooges. They help him with his plot to kill his brother. Shenzi is the female, and also takes the role of “leader.” The hyenas do not appear in Simba’s Pride, but as The Lion King 1 1/2 is a retelling, you see them there.

 Banzai: One of the hyenas, and otherwise known as “cactus butt.” Banzai’s name was changed for the live action movie to Kamari. (means “moonlight” in Swahili) The hyenas do not appear in Simba’s Pride, but as The Lion King 1 1/2 is a retelling, you see them there.

 Ed: The wackiest of the hyenas. Ed’s name was changed for the live action movie to Azizi. (means “precious” in Swahili) The hyenas do not appear in Simba’s Pride, but as The Lion King 1 1/2 is a retelling, you see them there.

 Sarafina: Nala’s mother. It is not actually known whether Sarafina’s character appears in Simba’s Pride or not. The person who did her voice in the first movie is not listed for the second, and no one calls her by name at all.

 Timon’s Mom: Timon’s mother does not have an official name, and only appears in The Lion King 1 1/2. She’s very overprotective over her son.

 Uncle Max: This is Timon’s uncle. He comes off kinda grouchy at times, and only appears in The Lion King 1 1/2.

***Check back here soon for character info on The Lion Guard***

Beyond the Movies

Looking for more info about characters that weren’t in the movies? There were a series of books released that told more about the characters, and even introduced new characters into the mix. Click here to find out more about the books, and the storylines and characters!