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 will consist of 24 episodes, and each will feature a song that 'balances authentic African sound with kid-friendly pop'.

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.

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.
 * 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.
 * Goigoi, voiced by Phil LaMarr: A foolish jackal and the mate of Reirei.
 * Gumba, voiced by Jacquez Swanigan: A spirited baboon infant.
 * Janja, voiced by Andrew Kishino: A cunning hyena.
 * Jasiri, voiced by Maia Mitchell: A friendly hyena.
 * Kambuni, voiced by Mckenna Grace: An innocent ostrich chick.
 * 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 Outlander 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 Outlander teenage lion.
 * Makucha, voiced by Steve Blum: A fierce leopard.
 * Makuu, voiced by Blair Underwood: A crocodile leader.
 * Ma Tembo, voiced by Lynette DuPree: An peaceful elephant.
 * Mbeya, voiced by Howy Parkins: A wise old rhinoceros.
 * Mbuni, voiced by Kari Wahlgren: An easily-startled ostrich.
 * Mtoto, voiced by Justin Felbinger: An admiring elephant.
 * Mufasa, voiced by Gary Anthony Williams: Simba's father and Kion and Kiara's grandfather, who lives on in spirit.
 * 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.
 * Mwoga, voiced by Cam Clarke: A sneaky old vulture and a member of Mzingo's Committee.
 * Mzingo, voiced by Greg Ellis: A majordomo vulture.
 * Porcupine Brothers, voiced by Phil LaMarr and Cam Clarke: Two porcupines.
 * Pua, voiced by Gerald Rivers: A former crocodile leader
 * Pumbaa, voiced by Ernie Sabella: Simba's and Timon's warmhearted warthog friend.
 * Thurston, voiced by Kevin Schon: A foolish zebra stallion.
 * Rafiki, voiced by Khary Payton: A wise old mandrill who serves as a shaman of the lions of Pride Rock.
 * Reirei, voiced by Ana Gasteyer: A scheming jackal and the mate of Goigoi.
 * Scar: A deceased Lion Guard leader.
 * Shauku, voiced by Jacob Guenther: A quiet mongoose pup.
 * Simba, voiced by Rob Lowe: Nala's mate, Kion and Kiara's father and king of the Pride Lands.
 * Swala, voiced by Tunisia Hardison: A short-tempered gazelle.
 * Tamaa, voiced by C.J. Byrnes: A deceptive drongo.
 * Tiifu, voiced by Sarah Hyland: A young lioness cub.
 * Timon, voiced by Kevin Schon: Simba's wisecracking meerkat friend.
 * 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.
 * Vitani, voiced by Lacey Chabert: An Outlander lioness cub.
 * Zazu, voiced by Jeff Bennett: A hornbill who serves as Simba's majordomo.
 * Zuri, voiced by Madison Pettis: A fashionista lioness cub.

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

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.

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