“ | The Roar is a curse, Kion! You'll see! Sisi ni Sawa! | ” |
–Scar’s final words before his death Battle for the Pride Lands |
Scar was the formerly younger brother of Mufasa, the uncle of Simba, granduncle of Kiara and Kion, and the brother-in-law of Sarabi.
In the past, Scar possessed the Roar of the Elders, led the Lion Guard, and later after having killed both Mufasa and his Lion guard, and exiling Simba, ruled the Pride Lands. He is also the main antagonist of Season 2 ahead of Kiburi, Janja, and Ushari.
He returns for Season 3 as the main antagonist of the opener Battle for the Pride Lands, in which he is defeated, but ultimately serving as a catalyst for the events of the remainder of the season, appearing as a hallucination to Kion in one episode.
Appearance

Scar as a teenager
In The Lion Guard Magazine, Scar is shown as a burnt orange lion with a black mane and paler fur on his muzzle, toes, and underbelly. Tufts of black fur are present on the elbows of his arms. The fur on his lower jaw is long, and his nose is black. He has a long muzzle, sharp features, and a thin, pink scar over his left eye.
As a fiery disembodied spirit, Scar has dark orange-brown coloring with a yellow nose and markings on his ears and the edge of facial fur. He has pale yellow eyes. His scar is shown as being pure white.
Personality
“ | Scar cared only for himself. His selfishness fueled his anger. | ” |
–Mufasa talks about his younger brother in Never Roar Again |
Scar's personality is the polar opposite of Mufasa's: he's ruthless, mean-spirited, power-hungry, jealous, cruel, pompous, manipulative, charismatic, and insane. He is quite simply, pure evil. His jealousy stemmed from the fact that his brother was chosen to be king, a role which Scar believed should belong to him for boasting more intelligence. Scar was so hungry for power that he resorted to removing his own family and eliminating the kingdom for good. Likewise, Scar had no qualms about slaughtering his Lion Guard when they refused to help him overthrow Mufasa, even smiling in satisfaction after killing them, showing that he never truly cared for them. It was his thirst for power that caused him to lose the Roar of the Elders, and stripped the Pride Lands of its protectors.
Unlike the majority of Pride Landers, he does not believe in the Circle of Life concept and cares only about himself and his own glory. He is also highly intelligent, capable of planning ingenious schemes, and has a very low tolerance for individuals who show a lack of intelligence and for failure. Scar has been known to use others to perform his deeds, keeping himself out of sight from those who may cause him harm and gets overconfident at times. During his reign, back when he was alive, Scar allowed the hyenas, lions, and other scavengers to hunt without limit, with no regard for the other animals living in the Pride Lands, which eventually forced the herds to move on, leaving the predators with nothing to eat. In spite of the obvious that there was nothing left, Scar didn't care about the Pride Lands falling into ruin nor for those under his rule, refusing to acknowledge the obvious or his own ineptitude as a ruler, and lashing out violently at the mere mention of his brother's name or being compared to Mufasa, once angrily declaring, "I'm TEN TIMES the king Mufasa was!!"
During his younger years, as leader of his Guard, Scar often did patrols on his own, showing his confidence. He was also a bit naive, as he trusted a no-account rouge that ended up double-crossing him, which ended up wounding him in the end. However, he proved to be very tactic with his intentions as after he turned traitor and slaughtered the stranger in revenge, he spun the narrative around in his favor to make him the hero of the story, showing his lust for attention.
Upon his return as a ghost, Scar became more chaotic in nature, as he was willing to break the Circle of Life and take over the entire Pride Lands by turning it into chaos as revenge for his defeat. And what’s more, he becomes more sadistic; gleefully attempting mass murder to get revenge on Simba and the rest of the Pride Lands. He tries to have the new Lion guard killed in many schemes. He even has a hot temper that's worse than before when his minions fail him. If his allies show any sign of failure, cowardice, idiocy, or weakness, he will fly into a horrible rage. His fury only rises when his multiple plots are foiled by his grandnephew, Kion, who he harbors a special loathing for (likely because Kion reminds Scar of himself and what he once had: power, respect, and his prime). His hate for Simba has grown much stronger as he uses his army to have him killed many times. Even when they meet for the first time in years he enjoys mocking his nephew reminding him how easily he fooled Simba in the past to break his sprit. He is even willing to scare the Pridelanders and assure them that their lives will be doomed. He also attenpted to have Kion use his roar on a volcano so it will cause an eruption that will devastate the Pride Lands and slay many animals in the process just for sadistic pleasure.
In Battle for the Pride Lands, it is revealed that much of Scar’s maniacal personality is a result of being ambushed by a cobra when he was younger, as well as fueled by his jealousy and resentment for his formerly older brother, Mufasa. However, the snake's venom did not turn Scar evil, as instead it brought out his darker traits and he became more willing to embrace his desires to be king. Scar still possessed enough control over himself that he could have chosen to remain as leader of the Guard, but his desires for the throne and his jealousy for his brother convinced him he was the better king. In addition, it was also revealed that Scar's descent into fury was a result of being ridiculed by a teenage Mufasa, and giving the nickname "Scar," after his facial wound, whilst Scar himself was looking for praise, showing how truly petty Scar is.
In the end, Scar has no concept of forgiveness nor compassion towards others, caring only for himself, and has no comprehension of family, clearly shown when he is surprised and dumbfounded when his grandnephew, Kion forgives him for his crimes and instead calls upon the Great Kings of the Past to judge Scar rather than destroying the evil spirit in hatred.
History
Prior to The Lion Guard

Cave painting of Scar and his guard
Scar was the second-born in the Pride Lands to the former King and Queen of Pride Rock, under the name of "Askari", who was his ancestor and the leader of the original Lion Guard, and had an older brother named Mufasa, who was destined to be the next King. As traditional for all second-born children of the royal family, Askari was tasked with leading the Lion Guard to protect the Pride Lands and defend the Circle of Life. As the leader and fiercest member of the group, Askari was bestowed a power called the "Roar of the Elders" by the Great Lions of the Past which, when used, would cause the Great Lions of the Pride Lands' past to roar with him, which made him feel powerful.
During Scar's adolescence, he had gone on a solo patrol in the Outlands where he encountered a strange lion, who offered him wisdom and power and had goaded him on into a scheme to rule Pride Rock. Scar had been intrigued by the idea and followed the lion to the volcano, only to be ambushed by the lion's cobra friend, giving him his namesake injury. The rouge had tried to blackmail him into servitude in exchange for the anti-venom, unfortunately Scar, in a fit of uncontrollable fury, killed the lion and the cobra with the Roar. Upon returning to Pride Rock Scar had received his nickname from Mufasa after informing him of what had happened.
Enraged that Mufasa ridiculed him instead of praising him for defeating the lion and cobra, Scar planned to dethrone his older brother as king with the help of his army. When the rest of his Lion Guard refused to assist him in his plot, Scar was furious and killed them by using the Roar of the Elders on them, forming Broken Rock in the process. As punishment for using the Roar of the Elders for evil, Scar became weakened by this misdeed and lost the ability to use the Roar forever, making him shriveled and horrible. In the years that followed his Lion Guard's downfall, Scar continued on into adulthood envious of his brother and continued to devise schemes with the hyena clan from the Elephant Graveyard to rule the Pride Lands.
After his nephew Simba was born, Scar and his hyenas plotted to get rid of them both and lay claim to the Pride Lands. In the end, though, he was only able to kill Mufasa using a wildebeest stampede and convinced a young Simba to run away, blaming him for Mufasa's death. However, when Simba came back as a young adult and discovered the
Scar battling Simba for the thrown
Sometime prior to Simba's return to Pride Rock, Scar hand-chose Kovu to be the next king in the wake of his demise. Kovu is the youngest son of Scar's most loyal follower, Zira, with whom he shared a very close relationship, enough to explain to her about the Roar of the Elders, and all its powers. Zira's faithfulness to Scar lead her to attempt to continue his legacy through his protégé Kovu at long last, years after Scar's defeat by the claws of Simba.
The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar

A painting of Scar and his Guard
After Kion is told that he will be the leader of the new Lion Guard, Simba and Rafiki show him the history of the Guard, using paintings within the Lair of the Lion Guard, including Scar's leadership and how he lost it by eliminating his own Lion Guard after they refused to help him overthrow Mufasa. As Kion, Bunga, Simba, and Rafiki leave, a painting is shown with Scar's head rising from a volcano, foreshadowing later events.
Later, when Mzingo informs Janja's clan of Kion's new position, Janja wonders how that could be possible, since Scar was the last lion to lead the Guard, up until he eliminated them.
The Rise of Makuu
As Kion and his family discuss Makuu's rise to power, Nala gently reminds Kion, that Simba had to fight Scar to reclaim his leadership. Scar's name was mentioned again, when Kion backed down when using the Roar in a state of fury, saying that he did not wish to become like his great-uncle.
Can't Wait to be Queen
As Simba explains the passing of Aminifu and the impending absence of himself and Nala, he explains how Amimifu helped bring the animals back to the Pride Lands after Scar's defeat.
Eye of the Beholder
A painting of Scar and Zira is seen briefly in the Lair of the Lion Guard, as Rafiki reveals the paintings of Lion Guard's past.
Lions of the Outlands

Scar and Zira
It is revealed that a group of lionesses were loyal to Scar during his reign. Among those lionesses was Zira, whom Scar trusted enough to share the secrets about the Roar of the Elders.
It is also revealed that prior to Simba's return, Scar chose Zira's youngest cub, Kovu to be his heir. Sometime after Scar's defeat, Simba banished Zira, her family and other lionesses loyal to Scar from the Pride Lands to the Outlands. Zira mentions Scar multiple times, claiming that, if it weren't for Simba, Scar would still be King. But Kion says that Scar was never the real king. Infuriated, Zira reveals her true colors and orders an attack on Kion. However, just before the Outsiders can hurt him, Zira offers to forgive him, if he will join her and leaves him under the watch of her pride, while she goes to fetch her cubs.
During the final fight between the Outsiders and the Lion Guard, Bunga urges Kion to use his Roar, but Kion worries that he will lose the Roar, as Scar did for using it against other lions. However, Bunga reminds Kion that Scar did not lose his Roar, because he used it against other lions, but because he used it for evil. Kion then uses the Roar successfully and blows away all the Outsiders.
Never Roar Again

Scar kills his Guard
A painting of Scar and how he destroyed his Lion Guard is viewed by Kion in the Lair after he uses the Roar in anger when saving his mother, Nala, from Janja's clan. When Bunga mentions how his uncles called him the worst lion ever, Kion becomes more troubled. Worried that he may be following in Scar's footsteps with his temper, Kion later talks to Mufasa, who tells him that Scar held no interest in helping others, caring only for himself.
The Lion Guard: The Rise of Scar

Learning how to summon the Bad Lions of the Past

Scar is summoned
Let Sleeping Crocs Lie

Scar speaks to Ushari

Welcoming Kiburi
Swept Away

Scar has an idea
The plan nearly succeeds, but is ultimately thwarted when the rest of the Guard arrives just in time, and Kion uses the Roar of the Elders to send the hyenas flying away. After landing near the volcano, Janja, Cheezi, and Chungu decide not to return to Scar immediately, knowing that he will be furious at them for their failure. As they begin to walk away, however, Ushari arrives and coldly informs them, that Scar wishes to see them and isn't happy. Then, a small eruption can be seen at the top of the volcano, apparently confirming this.
Rescue in the Outlands

Scar hears about Jasiri.
The Bite of Kenge

Scar hears what happened
The Morning Report

Scar's order
The Little Guy
Scar is mentioned by Shupavu and Njano, after she muses that Hodari would make a good friend to Kiburi, one of Scar's followers.
Divide and Conquer

Scar explains his plan to Janja and Reirei

Scar is seen by Kion.
The Scorpion's Sting

Scar speaks with the leaders.


Meeting the Lion Guard

Trapping the Lion Guard
The Army of Scar starts to confront The Lion Guard and slowly corners them to a small ledge in the volcano, right in front of their leader above a pool of lava. When Kion considers using the Roar, Scar warns Kion of the dangerous side-effects of using it in a volcano, but the young cub surprises him by using the Roar in a way he never thought possible, Kion is able to defeat the majority of his army.

"It seems like the war has just begun."
Looking out over his tired and defeated army, he comments darkly that the war has just begun.
The Wisdom of Kongwe
Upon learning of his evil uncle's return from his son, a concerned Simba goes with him to consult Mufasa and asks about how to defeat Scar. Although the problem is unfortunately beyond his experience, he is certain that, between his son, who has already saved the Pride Lands before from Scar and his grandson, who is the leader of the Lion Guard, that they can defeat Scar. He leaves them with the message that the wisdom is within the Pride Lands, leading both lions to believe that he could be referring to an animal. And Simba knows just who he may be referring to and sends Fuli and Makini to search for an old and wise tortoise named Kongwe. Scar is later mentioned again when, after arriving at Pride Rock, Kongwe confesses that not even she is sure how to defeat Scar, but assures everyone that they will find the solution eventually and that they just need to look. She also assures them that good will always triumph over evil, in time.
The Kilio Valley Fire

Scar commanding the villains to stay in the burnt Kilio Valley
Undercover Kinyonga

Soon after the plan has been confirmed, however, Shupavu and her group notice Kinyonga's shadow against a wall, and brings her to the attention of Scar, who then asks to know who dares to spy on him. Ushari then commands them to stop the intruder, and the skinks pursue Kinyonga out of the volcano.
Cave of Secrets

Scar's first fiery fall
Scar is mentioned and appears as a cave painting under the Lair of the Lion Guard, as they look for a way to defeat him once and for all and find a secret cave beneath the lair of the Guard.
The Zebra Mastermind
Scar is mentioned by several members of his army and the Lion Guard. It is stated that the leaders of the separate factions in his army are holding a meeting in the volcano.
The Hyena Resistance
Jasiri tells her clan that Scar has returned, but that they also will help the Guard to defeat him by forming a Hyena Resistance. Elsewhere in the Outlands while preparing to attack Mizimu Grove, Janja's clan gets blocked by a rock slide caused by the Hyena Resistance. When Scar hears the news, he gets super mad and fiercely roars at Janja,
Roar!
The Underground Adventure

Scar's newest plan
After hearing from Shupavu and Njano that Kion, Bunga, Kiara, Tiifu, and Zuri are at the Mud Pots at the edge of the Pride Lands and how easy it would be to set the place ablaze, Scar orders Njano to fetch him a vulture, who will be delivering a gift of fire to Kion and his companions. Kion and his friends barely escape the fire.
Beshte and the Beast

"The Lion Guard defeated you again!"
Scar is furious when he hears that Janja's clan, Reirei's pack and Kiburi's float were defeated again. They then explain that it was actually a very big and strong gorilla named Shujaa who defeated them, not the Lion Guard and that he was able to tear apart the landscape easily. Scar's fury turns into interest and excitement upon learning this. Since the gorilla is destroying the Pride Lands while he's trying to help the Lion Guard, Scar orders his army to keep attacking so the gorilla can make more damage.
Pride Landers Unite!
Scar finds out that the Pride Landers are working together to defeat him. When Janja finds
Scar speaks to the leaders.
The Queen's Visit

After getting information from Shupavu and Njano , Scar orders Reirei's pack to get rid of Queen Dhahabu. but then Raha and Starahe, two zebra siblings that are Dhahabu's best friends, stop the jackals and Dahabu is saved.
The Fall of Mizimu Grove

Laughing about him being an uninvited guest

Scar speaks to the Pride Landers
Fire from the Sky
Kion mentions Scar when he's wondering how his great-uncle is behind all of these fire attacks. Mzingo later mentions him, when telling Mwoga not to drop the fire until they get to the right spot.
Battle for the Pride Lands
Several seasons into the war with the Lion Guard, Scar hears from his skinks that Janja is considering defecting from his army and joining Jasiri, as well as the Lion Guard planning to assault the Outlands. Scar summons Janja and tells him that Kion is powerful enough to defeat him and could do so if he uses his most powerful roar in the caldera. Scar then orders Janja to go distract the Lion Guard by luring them into their lair at Pride Rock and not letting them escape. However, Janja doesn't realize that the plan wasn't just meant to eliminate the Lion Guard and the
Scar on pride rock

Scar as the leader of the Lion Guard

Scar's defeated
Despite Scar's downfall, the aftermath of his battle with the Lion Guard has long-lasting effects on the Lion Guard, as Ono and Kion suffer from their battle scars and ultimately end up leaving the Pride Lands in order to regain their strength.
Friends to the End

Kion tells Scar's reflection that they're not the same
Long Live the Queen
After Queen Janna's funeral, Kion talks to Rani about his grandfather Mufasa and what his great-uncle Scar did to him. Rani responds stating she already heard it from her grandma, also mentioning she learned what "Sisi ni sawa" means from her grandmother Janna.
Abilities
- Roar of the Elders (Formerly)
Family
- Nephew
- Niece-in-law
- Grandnephew
- Grandnephew-in-Law
- Grandniece-in-Law
- Distant relative †
- Male King: Distant relative †
Family Tree
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Songs
Trivia
- In a news article promoting Lions of the Outlands, Nuka, Vitani, and Kovu are described as Scar's descendants. This is not stated in the series. [2]
- In Simba's Pride, Kovu is directly mentioned not to be related to Scar.
- According to Ford Riley, Scar was originally named after Askari, the leader of the first Lion Guard. It was shortened by Mufasa to the nickname "Scar" after he got his scar.[1]
- Scar is the first known leader of the Lion Guard to become a Lion King, the second being his great-nephew Kion. However, the differences between them are that Scar became the King of the Pride Lands in the wake of Mufasa's death (which he was responsible for), and ruled on his own for deceptive and tyrannical purposes, whilst Kion left his pride, joined the Night Pride and became the King of the Tree of Life through his union with Rani, and respected the Circle of Life, whilst keeping the Roar.
- When Scar was the leader of his Lion Guard, he seems to have been the youngest member because the other lions were clearly adult and fully grown, while Scar was a teenager. Naturally, this could imply that when Scar led the Lion Guard at Kion's age, he recruited teenage members of his pride.
- When Simba was a cub, he always referred to Scar as Uncle Scar, due to the fact that he was his uncle and thus viewed him as any other family member. But when he was an adult, he only referred to Scar by his name, and he didn't say "Uncle" after seeing what kind of a monster Scar was and thus never viewed him as family.
- Scar returning as an ghost in Lion Guard may been foreshadowed from Kingdom Hearts 2 where he also returned as a ghost.
References
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