The Lion Guard

The Lion Guard is an American animated series based on Disney's The Lion King. The show features five main heroes who protect the Pride Lands: Kion, Bunga, Fuli, Beshte and Ono.

The series kicked off in 2015 with the direct to television film, The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar which served as the sequel to Disney's The Lion King and prequel to the animated series.

The first season was originally going to consist of 24 episodes, which was later extended to 26. Each episode features a song that 'balances authentic African sound with kid-friendly pop'.

Season 2 began airing on July 7th, 2017. It consists of one special (Rise of Scar) and 29 episodes.

Disney have recently commissioned a third season. Season 3 wil air in August 3rd 2019, as stated by Ford Riley.

Plot
The series centers around Kion, the son of Simba and Nala who is tasked with the daunting duty of leading the Lion Guard, a group tasked with the perseverance of the Pride Lands. In doing so, he defies tradition by assembling a group of various animals, as opposed to a group of lions. These animals are Fuli the cheetah, Beshte, the hippopotamus, Ono, the egret and Bunga, the honey badger.

During his adventures, Kion also receives advice from the spirit of his grandfather, Mufasa.

As of Season 2, Kion's evil great-uncle Scar has returned, offering advice to enemies of the Lion Guard. He is assembling and uniting every animal in the Outlands with the sole intention of reclaiming the Pride Lands. As of Divide and Conquer, Kion has seen Scar yet is unaware that it is his infamous uncle that he saw through the blaze.

In The Fall of Mizimu Grove, Scar reveals himself to all Pridelanders after his army has successfully destroyed Mzimu Grove. He threatens Simba that it's only a matter of time before all of the Pridelands belong to him once again. Luckily the Lion Guard can drive Scar's minions back to the Outlands with the help of King Simba and all animals that Kion brought together in Pride Landers Unite! to fight united against Scar.

After everyone is shocked that Scar is back King Simba admits that Kion kept secret about this fact because he ordered him to do so. Knowing that the greatest fear of the King was that some animals would start to worry and wouldn't any longer feel safe in the Pridelands. But after his son, Kion shows everyone that Makini's planted little baobab sapling had survived the attack of Scar all regain hope, that they as well are able to survive as well somehow. Kion assures them that they can do it as long as they stand united and emphasizes that last time there wasn't a Lion Guard around, but now there is.

To celebrate that hope everyone gathers in Mzimu Grove, now destroyed, to plant Makini's sapling into the earth as part of her Mpando Mpaya.

In the season 2 finale, The Lion Guard manages to claim a victory against Scar's army by driving out his vultures with the help of a Martial Eagle named Anga, Ono, and Hadithi. Together they avoid firesticks thrown from the vultures to catch fire and wreak more havoc in the Pride Lands. A new ally is won because Anga states "I could get used to it" after Ono asks her about working together with him and the Lion Guard in the future.

The Lion Guard

 * Kion, voiced by Max Charles: Simba and Nala's son, Kiara's younger brother, leader of the Lion Guard, and the main protagonist.
 * Fuli, voiced by Diamond White: Kion's king cheetah friend and a member of the Lion Guard.
 * Beshte, voiced by Dusan Brown: Kion's hippopotamus friend and a member of the Lion Guard.
 * Ono, voiced by Atticus Shaffer: Kion's cattle egret friend and a member of the Lion Guard.
 * Bunga, voiced by Joshua Rush: Kion's honey badger friend and a member of the Lion Guard.

The Lion King alumni

 * Simba, voiced by Rob Lowe: Nala's mate, Kion and Kiara's father and king of the Pride Lands.
 * Mufasa, voiced by Gary Anthony Williams: Simba's father, the older brother of Scar, and Kion and Kiara's grandfather, who lives on in spirit.
 * Kiara, voiced by Eden Riegel: Simba and Nala's daughter, Kion's older sister and princess of the Pride Lands.
 * Kovu, voiced by Jason Marsden: An Outsider lion cub.
 * Nala, voiced by Gabrielle Union: Simba's mate, Kion and Kiara's mother and queen of the Pride Lands.
 * Nuka, voiced by Andy Dick: An older outsiders lion.
 * Timon, voiced by Kevin Schon: Simba's wisecracking and kindhearted meerkat friend.
 * Pumbaa, voiced by Ernie Sabella: Simba's and Timon's warmhearted warthog friend.
 * Rafiki, voiced by Khary Payton: A wise old mandrill who serves as a shaman of the lions of Pride Rock.
 * Scar, voiced by David Oyelowo: The younger brother of Mufasa, the uncle of Simba, the great-uncle of Kion and Kiara, and a former Lion Guard leader until he abused his power. Kion unintentionally summons Scar, who appears in the flames of a volcano after Kion uses the Roar of the Elders in anger. Which was part of Janja and Ushari's plan to takeover the Pride Lands, take down the Lion Guard and Simba, who remained unaware that Scar has returned.
 * Vitani, voiced by Lacey Chabert: An outsider lioness cub.
 * Zazu, voiced by Jeff Bennett: A red-billed hornbill who serves as Simba's majordomo.
 * Zira, voiced by Nika Futterman: The Leader of the Outsiders.

Other Characters

 * Ajabu, voiced by Ron Funches: A shy okapi.
 * Askari, voiced by Michael Luwoye: A deceased lion as the original leader of The Lion Guard.
 * Aminifu: A deceased wise African bush elephant.
 * Anga, voiced by Bryana Salaz: A helpful and kind Martial Eagle.
 * Azaad, voiced by Behzad Dabu: a unspecified unknown species.
 * Baby Baboon, voiced by Dee Bradley Baker: A mischievous chacma baboon.
 * Badili, voiced by Jack McBrayer: A friendly African leopard.
 * Basi, voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson: A wise hippo and the father of Beshte.
 * Big Baboon, voiced by Dee Bradley Baker: A confident olive baboon.
 * Bupu, voiced by Michael Dorn: A stubborn sable antelope.
 * Boboka, voiced by Erica Luttrell: A honestly female sable antelope.
 * Chura, voiced by Kari Wahlgren: A free spirited African toad.
 * Chama, voiced by Jacob Bertrand: An touched nail African bush elephant.
 * Chuluun, voiced by Kimiko Glenn: A cunning snow leopard.
 * Dhahabu, voiced by Renee Elise Goldsberry: A Golden striped plains zebra.
 * Fikiri, voiced by Christopher Jackson: A male mandrill who is Makini's Father and leader of Fikiri’s Troop.
 * Furaha, voiced by Mekai Curtis: A Joyless red colobus
 * Genet, voiced by Jessica DiCicco: A worried common genet.
 * Gumba, voiced by Jacquez Swanigan: A spirited olive baboon infant.
 * Hadithi, voiced by John O'Hurley: A legendary African hawk-eagle.
 * Hafifu, voiced by Phil Lester: A mountain gorilla prince.
 * Hamu, voiced by Lyons Luke Mathias: A playful, friendly plains zebra foal and the son of Muhimu.
 * Haya, voiced by Ogie Banks: A nervous aardwolf.
 * Hodari, voiced by Justin Hires: A tiny William's dwarf gecko.
 * Jasiri, voiced by Maia Mitchell: A friendly hyena.
 * Juhudi, voiced by Ivy Bishop: A baby Masai giraffe calf and the daughter of Twiga.
 * Johari, voiced by Ace Gibson: An African bush elephant.
 * Kulinda, voiced by Elise Allen: A friendly hamerkop.
 * Kuchimba, voiced by AJ McLean: A blind golden mole.
 * Kwato, voiced by Lyons Luke Mathias: A playful plains zebra foal.
 * Kambuni, voiced by Mckenna Grace: An innocent ostrich chick.
 * Kifaru, voiced by Maurice LaMarche: A poor-sighted white rhinoceros.
 * Kongwe, voiced by CCH Pounder: A wise old African spurred tortoises.
 * Kiazi, voiced by Meghan Strange: A Playful and friendly baby hippo.
 * Kitendo, voiced by Heather Headley: A female mandrill who is Makini's mother and mate of Fikiri.
 * Laini, voiced by Meghan Strange: A skittish galago.
 * Ona: A curious baby hamerkop.
 * Ma Tembo, voiced by Lynette DuPree: A kindhearted and peaceful African bush elephant.
 * Madoa, voiced by Maisie Klompus: Jasiri's sister.
 * Mbeya, voiced by Howy Parkins: A wise old black rhinoceros.
 * Majinuni, voiced by Dan Howell: A  mountain gorilla prince.
 * Mekundu Bats, voiced by Dee Bradley Baker: A colony of panicky Botswanan long-eared bats.
 * Makuu, voiced by Blair Underwood: A Nile crocodile leader.
 * Male Crocodile, voiced by Gerald Rivers: A Nile crocodile member.
 * Makini, voiced by Landry Bender: A young mandrill who is training as Rafiki's young appreciate.
 * Mbuni, voiced by Russi Taylor: An easily-startled ostrich.
 * Mtoto, voiced by Justin Felbinger: An admiring young African bush elephant.
 * Mtoto's Mom, voiced by Virginia Watson: An African bush elephant as Mtoto's mother.
 * Mjomba, voiced by Charlie Adler: A grumby aardwolf.
 * Muhanga, voiced by Russi Taylor: A territorial aardvark.
 * Muhangus, voiced by Khary Payton: A fierce aardvark.
 * Muhimu, voiced by Kari Wahlgren: A trusting zebra mare.
 * Mwenzi, voiced by Rhys Darby: A snappy red-billed oxpecker.
 * Mwevi and Mwizi, voiced by Dee Bradley Baker: A pair of comedic Yellow baboons.
 * Mzaha, voiced by Cade Sutton: An adolescent sable antelope.
 * Masikio, voiced by Dee Bradley Baker: a Red Rock Hare.
 * Nyuni, voiced by Nolan North: a Yellow Wagtail.
 * Ogopa, voiced by Marieve Herington: A bubbly aardwolf.
 * Porcupine Brothers, voiced by Phil LaMarr and Cam Clarke: Two African crested porcupines.
 * Pua, voiced by Gerald Rivers: A former Nile crocodile leader.
 * Raha, voiced by Rico Rodriguez: A siblings plains zebra
 * Rani, voiced by Peyton Elizabeth Lee: A brown lioness as the leader of the Night Pride.
 * Shauku, voiced by Jacob Guenther: A quiet banded mongoose pup.
 * Sable Antelope # 1, voiced by Ace Gibson: A stubborn sable antelope.
 * Swala, voiced by Tunisia Hardison: A short-tempered Thomson's gazelle.
 * Sokwe, voiced by John Rhys-Davies: The king of a troop of mountain gorillas.
 * Shingo, voiced by Phil LaMarr: A kind Masai giraffe.
 * Starehe, voiced by Raini Rodriguez: A sibling plains zebra.
 * Shujaa, voiced by Christopher Jackson: A massively strong mountain gorilla who is the member of King Sokwe's troop.
 * Thurston, voiced by Kevin Schon: A foolish plains zebra stallion.
 * Tamaa, voiced by C.J. Byrnes: A deceptive drongo.
 * The Bellow Fellows, voiced by Khary Payton, Ace Gibson and Kevin Schon: A group of chorus hippos.
 * Tiifu, voiced by Sarah Hyland (Season 1) and Bailey Gambertoglio (Season 2): A young lioness cub.
 * Tunu, voiced by Crimson Hart: A hyena pup.
 * Twiga, voiced by Alex Cartañá: A friendly giraffe.
 * Tumbili, voiced by Ace Gibson: The Leader of the red colobuses.
 * Wema, voiced by Fiona Hart: A hyena pup.
 * Uroho, voiced by Sinbad: A comedic yellow baboon.
 * Vuruga Vuruga, voiced by Virginia Watson: A warmhearted and trustful cape buffalo.
 * Young Rhino, voiced by Kari Wahlgren: A anxious black rhinoceros calf.
 * Yuki, voiced by J. Elaine Marcos: A leader of the matriarch of a snow monkey troop.
 * Zuri, voiced by Madison Pettis: A fashionista lioness cub.
 * Zito, voiced by Nick Watt: A sturdy African bush elephant.
 * Zigo voiced by Marieve Herington: A sturdy and calm African bush elephant.

Other Animals

 * Baby Baboon's Mother, voiced by Virginia Watson: A motherhood baboon.
 * Boboka's Son, voiced by Kari Wahlgren: A worried sable antelope calf.
 * Female Duck, voiced by Kari Wahlgren: A panicked African black duck.
 * Female Hare, voiced by Kari Wahlgren: A helpful African bush hare
 * Female Mouse, voiced by Jessica DiCicco: A rudely four striped grass mouse
 * Female Monkey: A peaceful monkey
 * Female Serval: A mother serval.
 * Female Wagtail, voiced by Erica Luttrell: Fast talking yellow wagtail.
 * Gumba's Mother, voiced by Kari Wahlgren: a female olive baboon.
 * Hyrax, voiced by Dee Bradley Baker: a rock hyrax.
 * Jerboa, voiced by Jessica DiCicco: an anxious Lesser Egyptian jerboa.
 * Klipspringer: a scared klipspringer.
 * Little Monkey, voiced by Sam Lavagnino: a playful monkey.
 * Male Bushbuck, voiced by Nick Watt: a charming bushbuck.
 * Male Eland, voiced by Dee Bradley Baker: A helpful giant eland.
 * Male Mongoose, voiced by Phil LaMarr: a peaceful banded mongoose.
 * Male Oryx, voiced by Phil LaMarr: a panicked East African oryx.
 * Male Porcupine, voiced by Khary Payton: a grumpy African crested porcupine.
 * Male Serval, voiced by Dee Bradley Baker: a scared serval.
 * Male Turtle, voiced by Cam Clarke: a helpful turtle.
 * Young Rhino's Mother, a motherhood black rhinoceros.
 * Young Aardvark, voiced by Kari Wahlgren: a small aardvark.
 * Young Hare, voiced by Dana Davis: an excited African bush hare.
 * Young Hedgehog, voiced by Cam Clarke: a baby four-toed hedgehog.
 * Young Serval, voiced by ViviAnn Yee: a young several.

Antagonists

 * Cheezi, voiced by Vargus Mason: A crazy but dim-witted spotted hyena.
 * Chungu, voiced by Kevin Schon: A tough but dim-witted spotted hyena.
 * Dogo, voiced by Jacob Guenther: A little black-backed jackal pup and the son of Reirei and Goigoi.
 * Dogo's Siblings, voiced by Jacob Guenther (young) and Khary Payton and Alex Cartañá (adult): numerous jackal pups of Reirei and Goigoi in Season 2 they become adult jackals.
 * Goigoi, voiced by Phil LaMarr: A foolish black-backed jackal and the mate of Reirei.
 * Janja, voiced by Andrew Kishino: A cunning spotted hyena.
 * Janja's Clan: A clan of spotted hyenas that live in the Outlands and disrespect the Circle of Life.
 * Kijana, voiced by Amber Hood: A little black-backed jackal pup.
 * Kiburi, voiced by Common: An arrogant and prideful Nile Crocodile.
 * Kenge, voiced by Kristofer Hivju: A ferocious Rock Monitor Lizard.
 * Reirei, voiced by Ana Gasteyer: A scheming jackal and the mate of Goigoi.
 * Lioness, voiced by Erica Luttrell: A dangerous lioness of the Outsiders.
 * Mpishi, voiced by Carla Hall: A foodie harrier hawk.
 * Mwoga, voiced by Cam Clarke: A sneaky old white-backed vulture and a member of Mzingo's Parliament
 * Male Vulture, voiced by Dee Bradley Baker: A doofus white-backed vulture and a member of Mzingo's Parliament
 * Mzingo, voiced by Greg Ellis: A majordomo white-backed vulture.
 * Makucha, voiced by Steve Blum: A fierce African leopard.
 * Mapigano, voiced by Jorge Diaz: A fierce African leopard who bullied Badili.
 * Njano, voiced by Ford Riley: A blue tongued yellow skink.
 * Nyeusi, voiced by Dee Bradley Baker: A stealthy black skink.
 * Nduli, voiced by Jorge Diaz: A dangerous Nile crocodile.
 * Nyata: a slim violet skink.
 * Shupavu, voiced by Meghan Strange: A sneaky red skink.
 * Sumu, voiced by Ford Riley: a venomus Tanzanian red clawed scorpion who order by Scar to stinging Simba with a deadly venom.
 * Nne, voiced by Beau Black: A cunning and stout hyena.
 * Tano, voiced by Dee Bradley Baker: A devious and sloping hyena.
 * Tamka, voiced by Nolan North: An unintelligent Nile Crocodile.
 * Ushari, voiced by Christian Slater: A sneaky and vengeful Egyptian cobra.
 * Waza, A keen blue skink.

Seasons

 * Season 1
 * Season 2
 * Season 3

Specials

 * The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar
 * The Lion Guard: The Rise of Scar
 * Battle for the Pride Lands

Episodes
(see also: Episode List for more information)
 * Never Judge a Hyena by Its Spots
 * The Rise of Makuu
 * Bunga the Wise
 * Can't Wait to be Queen
 * Eye of the Beholder
 * The Kupatana Celebration
 * Fuli's New Family
 * The Search for Utamu
 * Follow That Hippo!
 * The Call of the Drongo
 * Paintings and Predictions
 * The Mbali Fields Migration
 * Bunga and the King
 * The Imaginary Okapi
 * Too Many Termites
 * The Trouble With Galagos
 * Janja's New Crew
 * Baboons!
 * Beware the Zimwi
 * Lions of the Outlands
 * Never Roar Again
 * The Lost Gorillas
 * The Trail to Udugu
 * Ono's Idol
 * Beshte and the Hippo Lanes
 * Ono the Tickbird
 * Babysitter Bunga
 * The Savannah Summit
 * The Traveling Baboon Show
 * Ono and the Egg
 * Let Sleeping Crocs Lie
 * Swept Away
 * Rafiki's New Neighbors
 * Rescue in the Outlands
 * The Ukumbusho Tradition
 * The Bite of Kenge
 * Timon and Pumbaa's Christmas
 * The Morning Report
 * The Golden Zebra
 * The Little Guy
 * Divide and Conquer
 * The Scorpion's Sting
 * The Wisdom of Kongwe
 * The Kilio Valley Fire
 * Undercover Kinyonga
 * Cave of Secrets
 * The Zebra Mastermind
 * The Hyena Resistance
 * The Underground Adventure
 * Beshte and the Beast
 * Pride Landers Unite!
 * The Queen's Visit
 * The Fall of Mizimu Grove
 * Fire from the Sky

Production
The series was announced by Disney on June 9, 2014 on the run up to the first film's 20th anniversary that month and has been described as "The Lion King meets The Avengers".

Attention to detail and care to the storytelling is a key component to the series, as wildlife education experts at Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park will serve as consultants on stories for the show, and author and Swahili expert Sarah Mirza is the language and cultural advisor. Led by Jill Mellen, education and science director, Disney's Animal Kingdom reads the scripts and makes suggestions for the show. For example, the script of one episode called for a cobra to menace songbirds. The Animal Kingdom folks thought that was more like a boomslang or vine snake than a cobra, resulting in the detail being changed.

Ford Riley and Howy Parkins decided to retain the visual qualities of the original Lion King film. Riley received permission to use 2D animation for the show. Parkins and Riley also discussed the colors in the series. Throughout the first season, the backgrounds will be colored with a variety of green hues, reflecting the rainy season of the African savanna. As the series progresses, the color scheme will shift to reflect the dry season.

The Lion Guard has been able to take facts about animals that live in the Serengeti and incorporate them into the plots of the episodes.

Development
The series' announcement came after a meeting between Disney Junior general manager Nancy Kanter and Disney chief executive Robert Iger. Iger suggested to Kanter that Disney Junior should consider producing content to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of The Lion King in 2014. Disney has shown early footage to young test audiences, who were able to make suggestions, such as adjusting the look of the hyenas. Disney Consumer Products is to launch a line of toys to tie into the television series. Many new books inspired by the series will be released in late 2015 and early 2016. A full list can be accessed here.

A sneak peek of the show was given at Disney's D23 Expo from August 14–16, 2015.

Reception
The Lion Guard has received mostly positive reviews from critics, though some older fans have criticized the show for being too child friendly in comparison to its predecessor, The Lion King. In 2016, it was the #1 series across preschooler networks both in viewers and kids aged 2-5.

International releases
For information about international dubs and releases, click here.