The Lion King References in The Lion Guard

This is a list of references made in The Lion Guard to The Lion King films.

The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar

 * Simba and Kiara observing the sunrise from the peak of Pride Rock, and their discussion mirrors the scene in the first film featuring Simba and Mufasa.
 * Mufasa appears to Kion when he is in doubt, just as he appears to his son shortly before Simba returns to reclaim his birthright.
 * After Rafiki informs Simba of Kion's readiness to face his destiny, he uses a quote of his from the original movie, "It is Time".

The Rise of Makuu

 * When Kion consults his family after Makuu challenges Pua to a Mashindano, Nala reminds him that his father had fought Scar in order to reclaim the throne.

Can't Wait to be Queen

 * The episode title is a reference to the song "I Just Can't Wait to be King" from The Lion King.

The Search for Utamu

 * Timon makes a reference to the original Lion King film before he and Pumbaa adopt Bunga. Timon mentions that they already raised a lion, referring to how they had raised Simba.

The Call of the Drongo

 * The scene where Janja, Cheezi and Chungu watch the impalas from underneath a rock formation, as well as the scene of them overlooking the escaping impalas, is likely a reference to the original Lion King movie.

Bunga and the King

 * The episode contains a couple of throwbacks to the original Lion King movie. These include the song Hakuna Matata as well as the scene where Simba falls into the sinkhole (which is very similar to how Mufasa, falls to his death in The Lion King).

Lions of the Outlands

 * The way Zira fiddles with a jerboa as she sings "Lions Over All" is similar to Scar's behavior with a mouse in The Lion King.

The Trail to Udugu

 * At the beginning of the episode, Kiara pins Kion to the ground in the same way that Nala pinned Simba to the ground in The Lion King.
 * The end of the episode shares similarities to the ending of the Lion King 2: Simba's Pride, in which the camera zooms away from Pride Rock with four characters on the peak.