The Characters
Simba is the main character of the movie. He grows up learning about the Circle of Life and how important he is to it. Simba "just can't wait to be king", and he and his best friend Nala explore the forbidden elephant graveyard. When caught by Mufasa, Simba explains that he was just trying to be brave, and get a lesson about the stars. Mufasa then dies, and Simba runs away. He grows up learning Hakuna Matata by his frineds Timon and Pumbaa. He then reunites with Nala. They fall in love and Nala begs Simba to return. After a lesson from Rakifi, Simba returns to Pride Rock and takes his rightful place as king.
Nala
Nala is Simba's best friend and one true love. As cubs, She and Simba were the inseparable troublemakers, in whihc they got caught sneaking around the elephant graveyard. When the news of Simba's "death" reaches Nala, she weeps. As the years pass, Nala leaves to find help for the pride, and runs into Simba. They fall in love, and she begs Simba to return to the Pride Lands. When he refuses, they argue and she leaves him. Realizing how much she cares, she goes to find him, and discovers Simba has returned to claim his kingdom. She goes off to fight by his side. When Simba reclaims his throne, she rules along side him as queen.
Scar
Scar is the villain of the story. He is Simba's uncle and Mufasa's brother. When Simba is born, he sulks and whines on how much he deserves to be king. As Simba grows up, Scar tricks him into going into the elephant graveyard, a trap so that he could kill him. He then starts to plan on how to kill Mufasa and Simba. He succeeds with Mufasa by knocking him off a cliff, but Simba gets away from him. Scar then takes the throne and Pride Rock, and leaves it in ruins. Simba comes back to reclaim the position as the Lion King, and he and Simba have a fight for royalty. Scar betrays the hyenas, who were his "allies", and when Simba pushes him off a cliff, the hyenas kill Scar.
Mufasa
Mufasa is the original Lion King and father of Simba. He teaches Simba the meaning of the Circle of Life and how important Simba is a part of it. When Simba gets into trouble in the elephant graveyard, he saves him and tells him that he was afraid of losing him. he tells Simba about the great kings of the past and how they looks down from the stars. He then goes on to try to save Simba from a wildebeast stampede, and ends up being killed by Scar, his brother. Later in the movie, he appears in the sky and reminds Simba of his place in the Circle of Life.
Sarabi
Sarabi is Simab's mother, Mufasa's wife, and Queen of the Pride Lands. She guides Simba through the Circle of Life as well, and she takes care of him and loves him like any mother does. With the news of her husband and son's death, she weeps and forces herself to be nice to Scar. At the end of the movie, she bravely tells goes against Scar, for she still loves Mufasa.
Timon and Pumbaa
Timon and Pumbaa are Simba's most trusted friends in the movie besides Nala. They teach him about Hakuna Matata: no worries and no problems. Simba grows up with them, and when he leaves to reclaim the throne, Timon and Pumbaa follow him to fight by his side.
Rafiki
Rafiki is the wise baboon in the Lion King. He is Mufasa's trusted friend, and anoints Simba during the Circle of Life sequence. He watches out for Simba, and convinces him to return to Pride Rock when he is older. Rafiki tells Simba that Mufasa is still alive after his death; he lives in Simba. This convinces Simba to face the past and challenge Scar to the place as the Lion King.
Zazu
Zazu is a hornbill that remains loyal to Mufasa and Simba throughout the movie. He helps Mufasa out during the wildebeast stampede, and forces himself to like Scar when Scar rules over Pride Rock.
The Hyenas
The Hyenas are Scar's sidekicks. They help in suceeding to murder Mufasa. To get out of a jam, Scar lies and betrays the hyenas. They in turn betray and kill him in the fire of Pride Rock.