Fluffy, Kopa, and Simba’s Pride

            Who is Fluffy? Why aren’t Fluffy and Kopa in Simba’s Pride (SP)? I’ll be exploring multiple fan theories surrounding these questions.

How Sarabi Died

            Sarabi, Simba’s mother and Mufasa’s mate, is one of the most well-loved characters in the Lion King universe. The real-world reason that she doesn’t appear in Simba’s Pride (SP) is that the woman who voiced her died and, out of respect to her, they didn’t attempt to find a replacement. However, within the Lion King universe there are multiple fan theories about why she is no longer there by the time SP starts. Unfortunately, all of the realistic explanations involve Sarabi dying. I’ll be discussing some of these theories.

Where the Hyenas Went

            It’s canon that all of the hyenas have left the Outlands by the time of Kiara’s first hunt. The question is: what happened to them all? I’ll be talking about some fan theories that explain how the Outlands’ hyena population went from what it is during The Lion King (TLK) to what it is in Simba’s Pride (SP). I will also be referencing characters from The Lion Guard (TLG) and talking about why the hyena population is lower in TLG than it is in TLK.

How Scar and the Hyenas Got So Tight

            Throughout The Lion King (TLK), Scar is working with the hyenas that live in the Outlands. He uses them to start the stampede that ultimately kills Mufasa and as an army when Simba comes back into the Pridelands. There are so many unanswered questions about when, how, and why Scar and the hyenas teamed up but I’ll be discussing some fan theories that attempt to answer some of them. I will be using Taka, the name Scar was given at birth, to talk about him before the accident in which he got his scar. I will be referencing characters and events from the Six New Adventures books and The Lion Guard (TLG).

Nuka’s, Vitani’s, and Kovu’s Parentage

            Nuka, Vitani, and Kovu are the Outlander cubs from Simba’s Pride (SP). Kovu is Scar’s heir but is canonically not Scar’s cub, which begs the question: where did he come from? Nuka’s and Vitani’s parentage are also both hotly contested so I’ll be addressing multiple fan theories about all three of these cubs. I will be working on the assumption that Nuka and Vitani are Zira’s biological cubs, even though this is more of a personal headcanon than an actual canon fact, because Zira doesn’t seem to be the type of lioness who would care for cubs who weren’t hers unless they were special (like Kovu, who was hand-chosen by Scar).

Why Kion Isn’t In Simba’s Pride

           Kion is Kiara’s younger brother and the main character of Disney Junior’s new TV spin-off series The Lion Guard (TLG). He’s not in the second Lion King movie, Simba’s Pride (SP), and I’m going to be looking at some fan theories about why. While most people agree that Kion wouldn’t be in the beginning of the movie because he is younger than Kiara and likely hadn’t been born yet, there are many different possible explanations for why he isn’t in the end of the movie.