Makuu

"You're afraid of them! But I'm not afraid of anyone."

- Makuu to Pua, The Rise of Makuu

Makuu is a crocodile and the current leader of a float of crocodiles. He lives in the Pride Lands.

Appearance
Makuu is a large crocodile with bright green scales and a light green underbelly. He has several dark green scales running along his back and on his tail. He has some light green spots running along his back, and small black claws. Makuu has a long snout, and his iris are black surrounded by yellow. Physically, he is very strong.

Personality
Makuu is young and courageous, but is very prideful. He is very boastful about his successes. Makuu is tough and strong but is somewhat disrespectful towards others and always eager to pick a fight, believing that physical strength is the most important part of being a leader. He has been described as a show-off. Though physically strong, Basi notes that his fighting technique is inferior to that of Pua's. He believes that only weak and cowardly leaders are afraid to fight.

Makuu does, however, know when he cannot win a fight, and will back down if so. However, he is a bit of a coward using Nala as shield to protect himself from Kion's roar.

The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar
Makuu is seen sleeping peacefully in the water near some hippos. However, Bunga leaps over his head whilst playing Baobab Ball, waking him up promptly after he lands on his nose. As Kion approaches shortly after his friend leaps away, Makuu turns and growls, startling the young cub.

The Rise of Makuu
Pua approaches Basi and asks if the fish in Big Springs are ready, but he asks him to swing by next week since there aren't enough for the whole float. Makuu disagrees with Pua for agreeing with Basi to return later when they were promised fish at Big Springs that day. He believes that Pua is weak, and challenges him to a Mashindano, which Pua accepts. At sunset, the two go into battle. Even though Makuu's techniques are poor, his strength and youth secure him his victory. Makuu becomes the new leader, and watches with great delight as Pua is banished from the Crocodile Float, taunting him as he leaves.

After becoming leader, Makuu takes over Big Springs, which causes the rest of the animals to scatter throughout the Pride Lands. Kion and the Guard try to reason with Makuu but he refuses to listen and demands a fight. When Kion refuses to fight, Makuu assumes that Kion is afraid, which Kion denies.

But with Mufasa's words of wisdom, the Lion Guard return to the crocodile leader telling him that if he wants a fight, then the Lion Guard will bring it. After Makuu sees Kion demonstrating the Roar of the Elders in the Grove of Trees, he and the rest of the crocodiles leave Big Springs. Before they clear out, Basi tells Makuu that he is welcome back once the fish have repopulated.

The Kupatana Celebration
During the song Jackal Style, the jackal pups snatch a fish away from Makuu, who splashes back into the water.

Makuu is later seen at The Kupatana Celebration standing next to another crocodile before allowing a jerboa to pass by him.

The Call of the Drongo
Though Makuu does not appear in this episode, a drongo bird named Tamaa imitates his voice multiple times throughout the episode.

Never Roar Again
Makuu overhears Kion tell Bunga that he has plans to quit using the Roar forever. When they leave, Makuu has an idea. When another member of his float asks if they're going back to Big Springs, Makuu informs him that they're going for something else.

Soon after, Makuu and his float take over The Flood Plains, driving all the other animals out by force, including a mongoose and Thurston. The mongoose bumps into Fuli and relays the information to her, and soon she, Bunga and Beshte arrive at the scene. They order Makuu to leave and, when he refuses, Fuli tackles him whilst Bunga and Beshte deal with two other crocodiles. Fuli is nimble enough to avoid most of Makuu's attacks, but soon falls prey to his technique. When she falls into the water and scurries onto Beshte's back, he reveals that the rest of his float are present, surrounding the trio.

Kion and his mother Nala approach Makuu soon after, having heard from Ono of the problem. They explain that Makuu is free to share The Flood Plains, but he is not entitled to all of it. He responds by forcing Nala into the water, and getting his float to surround her. With the belief that Kion won't use his Roar to avoid hurting his mother, he taunts the lion cub. Kion then tries something new, which saves his mother from the crocs. He assertively demands Makuu leave, and uses the Roar of the Elders to throw Makuu out of The Flood Plains.

The Day of the Crocodiles
When a storm causes a flood in the Pride Lands, Makuu's Float take advantage of the water around them, going so far as to trap Zuri on a rock. Kion approaches Makuu and asks him and his float to leave, but Makuu reminds Kion that his territory is anywhere where there is water. He leaves Kion with a difficult decision on how to proceed.

Trivia

 * Makuu was misnamed Mapu on an official Disney site, even mistaking him as an alligator, despite alligators not being native to Africa. Although his name was corrected on the site, his species was not.
 * It should be noted, however, Makuu's teeth are more similar to an alligator's in that the only upper teeth sticks out when he closes his mouth. Being a crocodile, his lower teeth should also be sticking out.
 * Makuu was the first villain besides Janja in the series