The Lion Guard

The Lion Guard is an American animated television 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 first season was originally going to consist of 24 episodes, though more wound up being used. Each will feature a song that 'balances authentic African sound with kid-friendly pop'.

Disney have commissioned a second and third season.

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 will also be receiving advice from the spirit of his grandfather, Mufasa.

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 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 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 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: The brother of Mufasa, uncle of Simba, great-uncle of Kion and Kiara, and a former Lion Guard leader.
 * Vitani, voiced by Lacey Chabert: An outsider lioness cub.
 * Zazu, voiced by Jeff Bennett: A 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.
 * Aminifu: A deceased wise elephant.
 * Baby Baboon, voiced by Dee Bradley Baker: A mischievous baboon.
 * Badili, voiced by Jack McBrayer: A friendly leopard.
 * Basi, voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson: A wise hippo and the father of Beshte.
 * Big Baboon, voiced by Ford Riley: A confident 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 toad.
 * Dhahabu, voiced by Renee Elise Goldsberry: A Golden striped zebra.
 * Genet, voiced by Jessica DiCicco: A worried genet.
 * Gumba, voiced by Jacquez Swanigan: A spirited baboon infant.
 * Hadithi, voiced by John O'Hurley: A legendary eagle.
 * Hafifu, voiced by Phil Lester: A gorilla prince.
 * Hamu, A playfully friendly zebra foal.
 * Haya, voiced by Ogie Banks[ A nervous aardwolf.
 * Hodari, voiced by Justin Hires: A handsome gecko.
 * Jasiri, voiced by Maia Mitchell: A friendly hyena.
 * Kenge, voiced by Kristofer Hivju: A grouchy monitor Lizard.
 * Kuchimba, voiced by AJ McLean: A blind golden mole.
 * Kwato, voiced by Lyons Luke Mathias: A playfully zebra foal.
 * Kambuni, voiced by Mckenna Grace: An innocent ostrich chick.
 * Kifaru, voiced by Maurice LaMarche: An elderly rhinoceros.
 * Laini, voiced by Meghan Strange: A skittish galago.
 * Ma Tembo, voiced by Lynette DuPree: An kindhearted and peaceful elephant.
 * Madoa, voiced by Maisie Klompus: Jasiri's sister.
 * Mbeya, voiced by Howy Parkins: A wise old rhinoceros.
 * Majinuni, voiced by Dan Howell: A gorilla prince.
 * Mekundu Bats, voiced by Dee Bradley Baker A panicked bats.
 * Mbuni, voiced by Russi Taylor: An easily-startled ostrich.
 * Mtoto, voiced by Justin Felbinger: An admiring elephant.
 * 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 tickbird.
 * Ogopa, voiced by Marieve Herington: A bubbly aardwolf.
 * Porcupine Brothers, voiced by Phil LaMarr and Cam Clarke: Two porcupines.
 * Pua, voiced by Gerald Rivers: A former crocodile leader
 * Shauku, voiced by Jacob Guenther: A quiet mongoose pup.
 * Sable Antelope # 1, voicedd by [[Ace Gibson]:] A stubborn Sable Antelope as Bupu.
 * Swala, voiced by Tunisia Hardison: A short-tempered gazelle.
 * Sokwe, voiced by John Rhys-Davies An king of mountain gorillas.
 * Shingo, voiced by Phil LaMarr: A kind full giraffe.
 * Thurston, voiced by Kevin Schon: A foolish zebra stallion.
 * Tamaa, voiced by C.J. Byrnes: A deceptive drongo.
 * Tiifu, voiced by Sarah Hyland: A young lioness cub.
 * Twiga, voiced by Alex Cartañá: A friendly giraffe.
 * Kwato, voiced by Lyons Luke Mathias: A playful zebra calf.
 * Ushari, voiced by Christian Slater: A cobra.
 * Vuruga Vuruga, voiced by Virginia Watson: A warmhearted and trustful cape buffalo.
 * Young Rhino, voiced by Kari Wahlgren: A anxious rhinoceros calf.
 * Zuri, voiced by Madison Pettis: A fashionista lioness cub.
 * Zito, voiced by Nick Watt: An thankful elephant.

Antagonists

 * Cheezi, voiced by Vargus Mason: A crazy hyena.
 * Chungu, voiced by Kevin Schon: A tough hyena.
 * Dogo, voiced by Jacob Guenther: A little jackal pup and the son of Reirei and Goigoi.
 * Dogo's Brothers: the numerous jackal pups of Reirei  and  Goigoi.
 * Goigoi, voiced by Phil LaMarr: A foolish jackal and the mate of Reirei.
 * Janja, voiced by Andrew Kishino: A cunning hyena.
 * Janja's Clan: A cackle of spotted hyenas that live in the Outlands and disrespect the Circle of Life.
 * Reirei, voiced by Ana Gasteyer: A scheming jackal and the mate of Goigoi.
 * Lioness, voiced by Erica Luttrell: A dangerous lioness of the Outsiders.
 * Makuu, voiced by Blair Underwood: A crocodile leader.
 * Male Crocodile, voiced by Gerald Rivers: A crocodile member.
 * Mwoga, voiced by Cam Clarke: A sneaky old vulture and a member of Mzingo's Committee.
 * Male Vulture, voiced by Dee Bradley Baker: A doofus vulture and a member of Mzingo's Committee.
 * Mzingo, voiced by Greg Ellis: A majordomo vulture.
 * Makucha, voiced by Steve Blum: A fierce leopard.
 * Mapigano, voiced by Jorge Diaz: A fierce leopard who bullied Badili.
 * Nne, voiced by Beau Black: A cunning and stout spotted hyena.
 * Reirei, voiced by Ana Gasteyer: A scheming jackal and the mate of Goigoi.
 * Tano, voiced by Dee Bradley Baker: A devious and sloping spotted hyena.

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

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 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.