Makuu

"I came to the summit to show I'm a good leader, to help my float and the Pride Lands, but none of you gave me a chance. Instead, for my efforts, I get this. This plot... Worthy of a crocodile."

- Makuu's reformation, The Savannah Summit Makuu is an adult male crocodile that resides in the Pride Lands. He is the current leader of his float. He serves as one of the two main antagonists in Season 1 alongside Janja, and later a reformed character in Season 2.

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 eyes are yellow. Physically, he is also very strong.

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

- Makuu to Pua, The Rise of Makuu Makuu is young and courageous, but also very prideful and arrogant. He is very boastful about his successes. Makuu is tough and strong, but he is somewhat blasphemous and 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 and powerful, 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 a shield to protect himself from Kion's roar. He can also be somewhat sacrilegious and impolite of the rules especially when it comes to the Flood Plains. He does happen to have a bit of disrespect for the hippos since they follow the rules of the Pride Lands.

As the dry season comes near, Makuu becomes more responsible, wanting to ensure the survival of his float. He appears to have gained respect for the Circle of Life, and the monarchy. He is willing to negotiate peacefully for the benefit of his float and the other Pride Landers. He will also show respect towards those that behave as his species does, and he also will express gratitude if his life is saved.

He is now very intolerant of anyone in his float going against his direct orders and disrespects the Circle of Life and Makuu shows that he is able to forgive those that make a mistake. He also views the safety of his float as being more important than his own wellbeing. A sign he has grown well into his new role.

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 the 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.

Beshte and the Hippo Lanes
Makuu and one of his float members locate Young Rhino, who is trapped among the reeds of the Flood Plains. He is sure no one will find him in the mess, but Beshte arrives just in time. Makuu thinks he has the upperhand with a two on one fight, but Basi arrives and then Makuu swims away saying that the hippos always follow the rules.

Later during the day, another rainstorm breaks out and Makuu plus four of his float members locate a wounded Basi in the Flood Plains. He believes that taking out the hippo will mean no more rules to follow, and he starts to approach him when suddenly Beshte returns to defend his father. Makuu reminds them that they're outnumbered and that they're crocodiles, showing no fear. However, Beshte and Basi create a new Hippo Lane behind them. Makuu is adamant that they won't get away so easily and he orders his float members to follow them. They chase after the hippos which leads the float to Bupu's Herd as they stampede down the lane. He commands them to dive but despite diving, the crocodiles are trampled by their hooves. When the injured crocodiles surface, Beshte orders them to leave and they do so, in too much pain to try another attack.

Ono the Tickbird
After Mwenzi the tickbird falls out with his best friend, Kifaru the rhinoceros, he perches near a lake. Ono approaches him, and warns him that Makuu and his float frequent the area, but Mwenzi refuses to leave, untrusting of the egret. As the two speak, Makuu notices the pair nearby, but remains silent. Once Mwenzi has warmed up to Ono and the pair decide to leave, Makuu strikes the branch and Mwenzi, sending the tickbird soaring. Ono is able to save him from Makuu's jaws and places him on a high branch, but Mwenzi's wing has become injured. When Ono flies away to get help, Makuu laughs below.

Makuu starts to smash his tail against the tree continually, hoping to knock the tickbird from his perch. Mwenzi is confident that he cannot be reached, but Makuu is adamant that he has a trick up his sleeve. He dives underwater and pounces up, snapping away a large portion of Mwenzi's branch. With the tickbird panting rapidly, Makuu assures him that he won't be so lucky next time. But before he has a chance to try a second time, Kifaru arrives to save his friend. But without his tickbird, the rhino races straight past Makuu and into a tree.

Seeing a great opportunity, Makuu calls for the rest of his float. They approach the rhino, but are distracted by the Lion Guard's arrival. Annoyed by their presence, Makuu warns Kion to stay out of their business. When he refuses, Makuu pins the lion cub to the ground. With Makuu and the other crocodiles distracted, Mwenzi leaps down and starts to instruct Kifaru on how to get loose. Once free, the rhino knocks away the other crocodiles. With the danger rising, Makuu decides to give up, claiming the meal not to be worth it. But Kifaru, still furious, charges and knocks Makuu away himself. The crocodiles then retreat.

The Savannah Summit
As Makuu is the leader of the crocodiles, he heads over to Pride Rock after receiving an invitation from Simba to attend the Savannah Summit. But before Makuu can announce his arrival, he is pounced upon by Kion, refusing to let him ruin the summit. But the crocodile tells him to calm down as he was invited, to which Simba confirms. Makuu assures the King that he is grateful for the invitation and wishes to prove that he's serious about his leadership duties, leaving the other leaders weary. Then, he and the other leaders head to Mizimu Grove for the summit, with Zazu and Simba assuring him and everyone else that everyone is welcome. Once there, the Guard is impressed that the event is going well and that even Makuu is behaving himself. However, they soon realise that he's already missing, and Mtoto alerts them to Makuu's presence down at the watering hole.

Then, Makuu is trying to make negotiations with Bupu by the Watering Hole. He explains that he and his float sleep during the dry season, and wish to do so near his Watering Hole. But Bupu refuses to compromise and takes a strike at Makuu, who strikes back in retaliation. The Lion Guard arrive on the scene, and try to work out the situation by placing Beshte between the quarreling pair. As Makuu explains what he was trying to do, Bupu attempts to strike him again, and Makuu retaliates again. Kion warns Makuu that he won't allow him to ruin it and Makuu slinks away, mentioning that he has no desire for a fight. Later, Makuu tries to negotiate with Bupu again at Pride Rock with Simba's help, but Kion pounces on him again, believing him to be starting another attack. When his father reveals the truth, Makuu refuses to continue the negotiations since nobody will trust him. Simba assures Bupu that they will try again, but he too, refuses, claiming that negotiating is clearly not the crocodile way before leaving the king and his son.

At sunset, the Lion Guard locate Makuu in a clearing, having heard an animal plan an attack on him. Although they explain that they're trying to protect him, Makuu scoffs at their attempt, asking what they could possibly save him from since he's a crocodile. He then crosses over some leaves and branches that were concealing a hole, and almost falls in. Beshte grabs him by the tail, and the rest of the Guard soon assist Beshte in getting Makuu back up. Makuu thanks Kion and, after discovering that the pit was full of rotten fruit, wonders out loud who would do such a thing. Kion then devises a plan to find out. At the summit, Kion stands before the other animals with his father watching nearby. He announces that Makuu fell into the pit but struggled to get out and completed his journey through the Circle of Life. With the animals starting to feel bad at how they treated Makuu, Twiga turns to Vuruga Vuruga and states out loud that they never meant for him to get hurt, and how they just wanted him to fall into the pit of the rotten fruit. After their confession, Makuu turns up. Makuu states that he joined the summit to be a good leader and to help his float, plus the Pride Lands, and mentions how badly he was treated. Even Kion bows his head in shame at his words. Much to their relief though, Makuu finds the plot amusing, and worthy of a crocodile. He then declares that the summit will go on. After his speech, Bupu finally allows the crocs to sleep next to his watering hole. But Vuruga Vuruga decides that they should sleep near her herd's mud wallow, and the two start to fight over where Makuu's float should stay, prompting Simba's intervention.

The Lion Guard: The Rise of Scar
Makuu and his float are seen entering a cave to begin their hibernation, closely monitored by the Lion Guard, who prevent animals from disturbing them.

Let Sleeping Crocs Lie
As Makuu and his float sleep, the Lion Guard unknowingly drives a herd of antelope into a canyon close to their sleeping cave, which awakens the crocodiles. After Kiburi questions him, Makuu denies knowing what is happening, but states his determination to find out. He walks out of the cave, and is greeted by Bunga. Kion approaches him, and questions him, to which Makuu reveals the situation. He explains the crocodiles way of hibernating during the Dry Season. Ono states his responsibility for the dilemma, and after Kiburi threatens him, Makuu assists Kion in defending the egret. Trying to figure out what to do, Kion suggests that Makuu talk to Simba, and he agrees. Makuu tells his float to stay near the cave until he gets back. Kiburi tries to protest until Makuu asserts his leadership and Kiburi submits. During the talk, Makuu tries to tell Simba the importance of the water that he and his float needs, and Simba understands and assures him that he'll that have it. Makuu is grateful, wishing to resolve the matter peacefully. But then he is alerted by Ono that his float is scattered everywhere, which angers Simba, who is under the impression that Makuu wants to solve the matter peacefully. Makuu promises that he does, and he comes to the conclusion that someone defied his direct order. But just as he starts to leave to round up his float he is stopped by Simba saying that they are so close to a solution, and suggests that the Guard rounds up the crocodiles to which he agrees too. Then, he breaks up the fight between Kiburi and Kion asking his float member what is he doing. Kiburi responds by saying what he should have told them to do. Makuu reminds Kiburi that he was going to talk to Simba about their predicament, and how he found a solution to their problem; however when Makuu sees that Kiburi isn't satisfied with the conditions the crocodile tries to reason with him, but suggests that Kiburi tries the same actions in the Outlands.

Makuu is challenged by Kiburi to a Mashindano, and Makuu reminds him of the tradition. But Kiburi already knows and awaits at Lake Matope at sunset. Then, the duel begins. Kiburi puts up a good fight but ultimately taps out, with Makuu winning the duel. He hears Kiburi boasts about his plan about defeating King Simba. But when the king returns unharmed, Makuu says he had no idea of this scheme and Simba believes him. Seeing that Kiburi has lost, Makuu states that he and his followers aren't welcome in his float and allows the King to decide their punishment. He watches as Kiburi and his friends get banished to the Outlands. Back at their new dry season home, Ono apologizes to Makuu about waking the crocodiles up, listening to Ono apologize Makuu tells the egret that he needs to make an example of him. Ono believes that Makuu was trying to eat him but instead, the crocodile leader forgives him and swims with his float but before he goes Simba asks Makuu if this the new crocodile way and he replies so it is.

Rafiki's New Neighbors
Whilst resting with his float, Makuu is disturbed by Chama, Furaha, and Mzaha.

The Morning Report
Kion remembers the day when he first met Pua and his float. After ditching Zazu, he and Bunga make their way over to Pua's watering hole, where Bunga shows his bravery by ordering the crocodiles to move out of their way while Kion remains cautious of their presence. Makuu and the rest of his float laugh but Bunga refuses to leave, challenging Makuu by mistake. When Kion also steps up to save his friend, Makuu and the crocs start to circle around the pair until Zazu drops down to introduce Kion as Simba's son. Pua is shocked at this revelation, but Makuu states that they challenged him. Pua agrees that rules are rules, and even Simba respects the ways of the crocodiles. Zazu agrees and states that he, too, understands their ways, and offers himself in exchange for Kion's freedom, by leaping into Makuu's mouth. This surprises Makuu, and Pua is impressed by such bravery. So, not wishing to upset the King, he allows the three to go free. Makuu reluctantly obliges to his leader's orders, grumbling that he wasn't that hungry anyway.

The Little Guy
Makuu is training his float, when the Lion Guard notice and start to intervene, believing them to be fighting without a cause. A gecko named Hodari halts their actions, explaining how the crocodiles are merely training to improve their techniques. Ono dejectedly confesses that he forgot, and the Guard apologize to Makuu, who promptly resumes training.

Just then, Ono notices a herd of buffalo stampeding towards them. Kion warns Makuu, who in turn orders his float to move to higher ground, on a nearby cliff. Although everyone gets away from the herd, their stampeding causes a rockslide. When a large rock collapses onto the tail of a crocodile, Makuu swiftly removes the rock to save him, but is hit by another falling rock, injuring his foreleg. With the herd calmed down, Makuu comments that his float is safe, and that's what matters. He thanks the Lion Guard nonetheless. Makuu orders his float to continue sparring, while the Lion Guard return to their Morning Patrol. As they continue, Beshte and Hodari approach him, with the hippo explaining how his gecko friend has a question he'd like to ask. After stuttering, Makuu orders him to spit it out, eager to continue training. Hodari does so, and asks him if he can join his float, and to Give a Little Guy a Chance. But Makuu laughs him away, wondering what a tiny gecko can do to help a crocodile. Much later, Makuu discovers from the Lion Guard that Kiburi and his float have recently been spotted in the Pride Lands. They offer him some help, but he refuses, stating that crocodiles can take care of themselves.

Not too long after, Kiburi's float approaches Makuu's, and the two engage in combat. Having learned all their moves from Hodari, Kiburi's float are easily able to counter the moves from Makuu's float members. With Makuu still injured, Kiburi quickly takes the upper-hand in the fight. Hodari reminds Kiburi that the crocodile way is for a Mashindano to take place, but he is swiped by Kiburi's tail into a tree. Makuu admits that the gecko is right, but Kiburi strikes Makuu again. Ono soon spots the ongoing attack, and, although Makuu never wants assistance, the Lion Guard decide that on this occasion he needs it. They approach the battle scene, and start defending Makuu's float from their attackers. Kion tries to save Makuu, but is stopped by Tamka.

Hodari notices that Makuu is in peril, and asks Beshte to get him close, hopping onto his snout. When close enough, Hodari hops onto Kiburi's snout and calls for Makuu to use the Wide Tail Spin, allowing him to be free. Makuu uses his tail again to knock Kiburi away. With all of Kiburi's float in front of them, Kion proceeds to use the Roar of the Elders to send them home. Having seen Hodari's immense bravery, Makuu commends the little gecko and offers him a position in the float if he is still interested. When he accepts, Makuu announces him as an honorary crocodile, leaving Hodari to swell up with pride as his new float members chant his name in unison.

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.

An Enemy In Trouble
When Reirei starts to float down into the swamp, Makuu and his float await her. Depending on the path chosen, either Beshte or Ono guide her away from the crocodiles to safety.

Makuu's Trap
A herd of wildebeests seek the help of the Lion Guard after Makuu chases them away from the river and they leave their baby behind.

On Ono's path, Makuu overhears the Lion Guard searching for the baby wildebeest and decides to pounce after they find him. Makuu becomes confused when Ono talks in code to avoid them detecting the baby wildebeest.

On Bunga's path, Makuu and his float trap a baby wildebeest and use him as bait to lure the Lion Guard there.

When the Guard try to rescue the baby, the crocodiles surround them. Kion warns Makuu to let him go but Makuu refuses, claiming it to be his land. But Beshte arrives to save his friends, throwing mud into the mouths of the float members, causing them to back down.

Friends

 * His float
 * Hodari
 * Male Crocodile
 * Simba
 * Nala
 * Zazu
 * Kion
 * Bunga
 * Fuli
 * Beshte
 * Ono
 * Bupu
 * Ma Tembo
 * Twiga
 * Vuruga Vuruga
 * Mbeya
 * Big Baboon
 * Pua (formerly)
 * Kiburi (formerly)
 * Tamka (formerly)
 * Nduli (formerly)

Enemies

 * Pua
 * Kion (formerly)
 * Bunga (formerly)
 * Fuli (formerly)
 * Beshte (formerly)
 * Ono (formerly)
 * Basi (formerly)
 * Nala (formerly)
 * Young Rhino (formerly)
 * Bupu (formerly)
 * Thurston (formerly)
 * Kwato (formerly)
 * Male Mongoose (formerly)
 * Twiga (formerly)
 * Vuruga Vuruga (formerly)
 * Reirei
 * Goigoi
 * Dogo
 * Dogo's Siblings
 * Chama
 * Furaha
 * Mzaha
 * Kifaru
 * Mwenzi
 * Kiburi
 * Tamka
 * Nduli
 * Zazu (formerly)

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 is the first reformed villain in the show.
 * Makuu was confirmed to be returning in Season 2 ahead of time along Jasiri, Reirei and Ushari.