Vitani

“	I don't need the Roar, Kion. I'm fierce enough to lead the Lion Guard without it.	”
–Vitani, Return to the Pride Lands

Vitani is a former Outsider that later turned into a Pride Lander lioness as part of Simba's pride. She is the daughter of Zira, and the sister of Nuka and Kovu.

She is the current leader of the Lion Guard and Kion's successor. 

Appearance

As a cub, Vitani had scruffy fur that was a dusty fulvous hue. Her fur was especially long on her head, forming a large tuft that falls towards her muzzle, though it is also considerably long on her cheeks. Her muzzle, chest, underbelly, and paws were a creamy tan color. Her nose is deep pink and angular. The tuft at the end of her tail is brown. Her eyes are a bright blue.

As a young adult, Vitani still retains the tuft on her head. Her fur is duller than her previously yellowish coat. After officially becoming leader of the Lion Guard, Vitani gains a crimson red Mark of the Guard on her left shoulder.

Personality

Vitani is a laid back and confident lioness who doesn't leap into battle unless it is necessary, though she responds fiercely when confronted. She is very confident, though it may come across as slightly being cocky. She appeared unimpressed by her brother, Nuka, whenever he tried to attack someone, showing her understanding of combat skills and her belief that she is far better than him.

Upon joining Simba's pride, Vitani becomes the leader of her own formed Lion Guard, and is devoted to the task without hesitation, although it would cause problems like when she mistook Kion, his guard and the outlanders for intruders. She showed herself to be a capable leader, commanding her Guard well and showing strong camaraderie with them, and belied a fierce courage that impressed Kion so that he acknowledged Vitani's worthiness and submitted the Mark of the Guard and the Roar to Vitani, passing the mantle onto her. Vitani displayed a humble side to Kion's gesture and the realization that she now wields the Roar though was humbled again but also impressed when she saw how apart she and Kion are in controlling the Roar.

History

Prior to The Lion Guard

Vitani, along with her siblings and mother, used to be a part of Simba's pride during Scar's rule. After Scar was defeated by his nephew Simba, her mother, Zira could not accept Simba as the true king. She struck out and, as a result, she, her family, and her followers were banished to the Outlands.

Lions of the Outlands

Vitani is resting on some rocks in the watering hole with her mother, Zira, which they had taken over sometime beforehand. Her brothers, Kovu and Nuka approach, bringing two guests with them - Jasiri, a hyena they drove out and Kion, the son of Simba. After introducing herself, Zira introduces Vitani to the pair. Vitani is somewhat skeptical of a lion and hyena, but her mother remains interested over Kion's link to the Pride Lands, explaining to her daughter that Kion is actually linked to royalty.

After a while, Zira hints towards Kion having more power than he's letting on. Vitani questions what her mother knows and Zira explains that Kion, being the leader of the Lion Guard, possesses a special power known as the Roar of the Elders. She tells Kion to roar at the cloud to help his hyena friend get some water and, reluctantly, Kion does so. This causes a brief shower to occur, whilst Vitani watches on in amazement. Zira then takes Kion away to talk privately, leaving her with her siblings and Jasiri. Her mother adds that they must play nice while she's gone.

After a while, Vitani becomes restless, questioning her mother's whereabouts. Although Nuka turns to attack Jasiri against his mother's wishes, Vitani remains in her position on a rock in the watering hole, even when her mother returns. She listens to Zira as she forces the hyena out, claiming that Kion has agreed to let them have the watering hole for themselves.

Zira then takes her children to where Kion is being held hostage, informing her children that Kion has chosen to side with the hyenas instead of them. When Nuka expresses his concerns about the Roar his mother dispells his doubts and he attacks Kion but is knocked back. Vitani shakes her head and utters his name with sarcasm and disappointment.

Zira offers Kion one last chance to join them, but she and the Outsiders become worried when they hear the rest of the Lion Guard approaching. Vitani holds her ground and enters a fighting stance, leaping towards Fuli. She is pinned to the ground by the cheetah, rendering her unable to fight, until she is eventually let go. Vitani joins her mother and stands tall, but when Kion is reminded that he can still use the Roar of the Elders without actually losing it, she is blasted away with the rest of the Outsiders (except for Kovu, who dodged the attack). She is thrown into a far away area (the Termite Mounds), which Zira declares to be their new home.

Cave of Secrets

Vitani and her family make a brief appearance as cave paintings during the song Wisdom on the Walls, where they are shown being banished from the Pride Lands.

Journey to the Pride Lands

Vitani is mentioned by Jasiri when she tells the guard that Zira's kids have fully grown.

Return to the Pride Lands

After most of the events of The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, Vitani joins Simba's pride and becomes the new leader of the Pride Lands' Lion Guard during Kion's absence.

One day, Vitani catches Kion and a group of Outlanders making an "attack" on the Pride Lands, leading to a battle between her Guard, and his Guard. The fight is eventually broken up by Kiara and Kovu, who explains that Vitani and her friends have joined Simba's Pride. Vitani then recognizes Kion from their first meeting and is surprised when she realizes that the "lion with the Mark of Evil" is actually Kion. Vitani then points out how long it has been since their last encounter before admitting she did not recognize Kion with his scar and being surrounded by outlanders. The Lion then return home after Kion thanks Jasiri, her clan, and the vultures for their help. Rafiki explains that after the events of Lions of the Outlands, Zira trained Kovu to kill Simba and take over the Pride Lands, but after getting to know Simba and Kiara, she and Kovu convinced Vitani and the other Outsiders to join the pride, whilst Zira refused and died.

Sometime later, Kion's Guard, and Vitani's Guard fight over who should be the Pride Land's Lion Guard, and as a result, they have a contest. Kion's Guard wins, leading to Vitani challenging Kion to a Mashindano. Kion, knowing that Vitani has no chance against the Roar of the Elders, warns Vitani, but is responded by Vitani telling him that she does not need the Roar to be a leader. Remembering his ancestor Askari's words, Kion hands over the role as his homeland's Lion Guard leader and bestowed the power of the Roar to Vitani. When Vitani asked Kion what he meant when he truly mastered the Roar, he showed her how powerful his Roar is by lifting and dropping Pride Rock with the Roar, leaving her amazed and astonished with her saying his catchphrase. It is unknown if Vitani is present at the marriage of Kion and Rani or if she is protecting the Pride Lands with her Guard while the Royal Family are gone.

Family

• Zira: Mother †
• Nuka: Older Brother †
• Kovu: Younger Brother
• Kiara: Sister-in-Law
• Kion: Brother-in-law

Trivia

• In a news article, Vitani is mistakenly noted to be a descendant of Scar.^[1]
  • This is false, as Scar never had children nor a mate.
• She is voiced by Lacey Chabert, the same person who voiced her as a cub in The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride.
• She is the first female leader of the Lion Guard.
• Vitani's Lion Guard is the first Lion Guard to have all the members be just female. 
  • Although Fuli and Anga are the first and second females to join any Guard, Vitani is the first female to lead any Lion Guard.
  • She is the first Lion Guard leader that's not the youngest sibling.
  • She is the first female to use the Roar of the Elders.
• In Return to the Pride Lands, Vitani recognizes the scar across Kion's left eye as the Mark of Evil. It's most likely that she learned this after she and her team settled into the Lair of the Lion Guard, indicating that they took on the role of the guard for a considerable long amount of time before Kion and his guard returned from the Tree of Life. This may also indicate that they came to learn about how Scar murdered the members of his own Lion Guard and of his true power-hungry nature, and thus abandoned all previous loyalty and respect they once held for him.

References

1. ↑ Kovu's debut

Characters in The Lion Guard
The Lion Guard Members
Kion • Bunga • Fuli • Ono • Beshte • Anga
Kion's Family
Simba • Nala • Nala's Father • Kiara • Mufasa • Askari • Sarabi • Scar
Pride Landers
Ajabu • Basi • Big Baboon • Boboka • Bupu • Chama • Chura • Fikiri • Genet • Gumba • Hadithi • Hamu • Haya • Hodari • Johari • Juhudi • Kambuni • Kiazi • Kifaru • Kinyonga • Kitendo • Kongwe • Kovu • Kuchimba • Kulinda • Kulu • Kwato • Laini • Makini • Makuu • Masikio • Ma Tembo • Mbeya • Mbuni • Mekundu Bats • Mjomba • Muhanga • Muhangus • Muhimu • Mtoto • Mwenzi • Mzaha • Nyuni • Ogopa • Ona • Porcupine Brothers • Pua • Pumbaa • Rafiki • Sable Antelope #1 • Shauku • Shingo • Swala • Tamaa • The Bellow Fellows • Thurston • Tiifu • Timon • Tumbili • Twiga • Vuruga Vuruga • Young Rhino • Zazu • Zigo • Zito • Zuri
Unnamed Pride Landers
Baby Baboon • Baby Baboon's Mother • Baby Hippo • Boboka's Son • Female Duck • Female Hare • Female Monkey • Female Mouse • Female Serval • Female Wagtail • Gumba's Mother • Hyrax • Jerboa • Klipspringer • Little Monkey • Male Bushbuck • Male Cheetah • Male Crocodile • Male Mongoose • Male Oryx • Male Porcupine • Male Serval • Male Turtle • Male Vulture • Mtoto's Mom • Timon's Ma • Young Aardvark • Young Hare • Young Hedgehog • Young Rhino's Mother • Young Serval • List of Minor Characters
Outlanders
Cheezi • Chungu • Dogo • Dogo's Siblings • Goigoi • Janja • Jasiri • Kenge • Kiburi • Kijana • Kovu • Lioness • Madoa • Mwoga • Mzingo • Nduli • Njano • Nne • Nuka • Nyata • Nyeusi • Reirei • Shupavu • Strange Cobra • Strange Lion • Sumu • Tamka • Tano • Tunu • Ushari • Vitani • Waza • Zira • Wema
Back Landers
Badili • Dhahabu • Jiona • Fahari • Makucha • Mapigano • Raha • Starehe
Other Animals
Azaad • Bambun • Bogino • Chuluun • Mouse Deer • Domog • Dughi • Flamingo Girl #1 • Flamingo Girl #2 • Hafifu • Hitashi • Kimyo • Komodo Dragon • Krud'dha • Lumba-Lumba • Majinuni • Mama Binturong • Mpishi • Mwevi • Mwizi • Nabasu • Rani • Old Civet • Ora • Pãgala • Seisou • Shujaa • Smun • Sokwe • Tafu • Tenuk • Tompok • Tupp • Uroho • Yuki