Why did Mufasa expect Scar to save him from falling off the cliff? And how did he know to find Simba and Nala at the elephant graveyard? Here's how Mufasa's backstory changed our view of The Lion King.
Category
😹
FunTranscript
00:00Why did Mufasa expect Scar to save him from falling off the cliff? And how did he know
00:04to find Simba and Nala at the elephant graveyard? Here's how Mufasa's backstory changed our
00:08view of the Lion King.
00:10Mufasa the Lion King reveals that Mufasa is actually the adopted brother of Taka, who
00:14becomes Scar. Taka is a young prince who always wanted a brother, but big events change that
00:19perspective. Seeds of resentment are sown early on as Mufasa puts his life at risk to
00:23protect those he loves, while Taka remains on the sidelines. Those feelings grow stronger
00:28as Mufasa finds love and gains the respect of the animals that will help build the Pride
00:32Lands. This all gives Scar a reason to carry a big chip on his shoulder. He wanted a brother
00:36to walk side-by-side with, but he ended up growing up in Mufasa's shadow, something that
00:40Mufasa clearly feels guilty about.
00:42What makes the situation all the more painful is that Mufasa apparently thinks that their
00:46relationship is starting to heal by the events of The Lion King, unaware of how deep Scar's
00:50hatred now runs. He seems hurt by Scar's decision to not appear at Simba's presentation. Mufasa's
00:55conversation with Zazu is even more telling of where their relationship lies. He tells
00:59his confidant that he is really trying with his brother, but Scar seems to have stopped
01:03caring. It's an unfortunate truth, given how Scar welcomed him into his family in the prequel.
01:07Those memories of early brotherhood and Mufasa's guilt over essentially usurping his adopted
01:11brother stop him from banishing Scar, despite all the red flags.
01:16Scar digging his claws into Mufasa's paws before dropping him into a wildebeest stampede
01:20is one of the most famous scenes in all of animation. The audience understands that Scar
01:24is set on killing his brother, and the shock on Mufasa's face when he realizes what is
01:28about to happen is painful to behold. So why is he so surprised when Scar sends him to
01:32his death, given all he knows about his character? It's a question thoroughly answered in Mufasa
01:36the Lion King.
01:37At the beginning of the prequel, a young Taka meets Mufasa as he's being chased by a crocodile.
01:42Mufasa throws himself onto a ledge and clings onto it for dear life. Taka digs his claws
01:46into his fellow cub, who is left in shock at the response. Taka then pulls Mufasa to
01:50safety, and a similar rescue happens later in the film. This is why Mufasa believes that
01:54Scar will once again save him when he is hanging from a cliff in The Lion King.
01:58"'Scar!'
01:59"'Brother!'
02:00"'Brother!'
02:01"'Brother!''
02:02At the beginning of Mufasa the Lion King, Taka is thrilled to welcome Mufasa to his family,
02:07despite his father's disapproval.
02:08"'Come with us. You don't have anyone.'"
02:11Taka comes to regret this as he grows up and morphs into Scar, and his plan to change things
02:15was a long time coming. The bad blood between the adopted brothers is established as Taka
02:19plans his first act of betrayal in the prequel, making it clear that Scar has been trying
02:23to undercut Mufasa for quite some time, long before the events of The Lion King.
02:27The arrival of Simba seems to catch Scar off guard, but considering the events of the prequel
02:31film, there's every chance that Scar has simply been biding his time. For Scar, an heir is
02:35an opportunity. While there's no way he could defeat Mufasa in a fair fight, he's clearly
02:39not above playing dirty, and he finds vulnerability in the young prince.
02:43His plan appears somewhat opportunistic upon first watch of The Lion King, but there's
02:47every chance that Scar was planning for this moment for many years.
02:51The elephant graveyard scene in The Lion King is an iconic misadventure that puts a young
02:55Simba and Nala in great danger as hyenas surround them. It seems as though the young lions are
02:59done for with no hope of escape. However, seconds after the cubs tumble into the graveyard,
03:04Mufasa quickly turns up, and he's ready to fight. His response is so fast that it is
03:08almost unrealistic at first glance, but Mufasa the Lion King goes some way to explaining
03:12his near-sudden appearance.
03:14As Taka's mother, Eshe, guides Mufasa through his adolescence, she realizes how strong his
03:18senses are. He can detect almost any smell, and he can hear when enemies are approaching.
03:22His ability to hone in on smells and sounds could be the reason why Simba and Nala are
03:26still alive. A subtle whiff of Simba's fur, the tapping of little paws, and a father's
03:31intuition seemingly send him into action, saving the cubs and causing the hyenas to
03:35scatter.
03:36Tootles!
03:37Mufasa and Zazu are more than work pals. They're best friends, and their deep connection shows.
03:43During the presentation of Simba, it is clear that Zazu is bowing to Mufasa not out of obligation,
03:48but rather admiration for his dear friend and this new chapter for the Pride Lands.
03:52Mufasa the Lion King explores that connection. Their introduction happens shortly before
03:56Taka expresses hatred toward Mufasa, meaning that Zazu has gotten a front-row seat to much
04:00of their conflict. The king's right hand shows the audience just how much he understands
04:04their strained relationship while making a joke at Scar's expense at the beginning of
04:08The Lion King.
04:09There's one in every family, sir. Two in mine, actually. And they always manage to ruin special
04:15occasions.
04:16It's a moment that shows how their relationship goes beyond meetings and morning reports.
04:20Rafiki is the sage character that is ready to give advice with a bit of magic for good
04:24measure, and it's clear that he's one with the spirits and nature. As such, it only makes
04:28sense that Mufasa's spirit tells Rafiki that Simba is still alive in The Lion King.
04:33Simba is silently struggling with his past around the middle of the animated classic,
04:36and he's wondering why his father is not helping him like he said he would. He falls
04:39to the ground and sends leaves and other plants into the air. The wind carries them straight
04:43to Rafiki, who uses these items to determine that Simba is still alive. The direction of
04:48these leaves seems to be all the wind's doing. However, this moment is a subtle nod to the
04:52fact that Mufasa is working in the background. He knows the strength of Rafiki's connection
04:56to the spirit world, and he knows that he will help him connect with his son during
04:59this time of uncertainty. That's why he sends the leaves to Rafiki, telling him that Simba
05:03is nearby and help is on the way for the Pride Lands.
05:06Simba? He's alive! He's alive!
05:13Deceit, anger, and wit. All of this makes up Scar's personality in The Lion King. But
05:18why is Scar like this? Well, his father Obasi is partly responsible for the way he turned
05:23out. In Mufasa the Lion King, Obasi is disgusted by the idea of Mufasa joining the family.
05:28He calls him astray and demands that he not live with the king, his heir, and the other
05:32male lions. He explains to Taka that blood is the only true bond. He also teaches his
05:36son that deceit is a major tool for any king.
05:39We do not associate with outsiders. Taka is the future king. We must protect the bloodline.
05:46These lessons result in Scar holding onto grudges against Mufasa, and he believes that
05:50deceit is key in resolving these conflicts. By the time we get to The Lion King, Scar
05:54has mastered this tactic, and he uses it to control Simba and lure Mufasa into his trap.
05:59It's sad to see, especially as there was a time when Scar wasn't this way.
06:03Rafiki and Zazu are trusted friends of Mufasa and Sarabi, so it's important that both are
06:07a part of Simba's presentation. But why doesn't Simba remember Rafiki when he's an adult?
06:12Mufasa the Lion King explains that Rafiki ends up living a solo lifestyle after his
06:15previous tribe disapproves of his connection to nature. He comes to terms with the idea
06:20of isolation as he walks away from his home and joins Mufasa, Taka, Sarabi, and Zazu on
06:25their journey to find the Promised Land called Melele. So instead of spending time on Pride
06:29Rock with Simba, he spends his time listening to nature and the spirits who will help protect
06:33the future of the Pride Lands.
06:35The relationship between Scar and the hyenas is a fickle one to begin with, but there are
06:39signs that the hyenas could have been plotting to destroy Scar way before he turned his back
06:43on them at the end of The Lion King. Following the events at the Elephant Graveyard, the
06:47hyenas say they fear Mufasa's power, but they see Scar as a friend. His familial ties to
06:51the throne don't hurt, either. Plus, the food he brings them makes him a good ally.
06:55Scar thinks he's their leader, but this is a misconception that's highlighted during
06:58the song, Be Prepared. The catching number plots Mufasa's demise, and it convinces the
07:02hyenas that his plan is to their betterment. Of course, all Scar really cares about is
07:06himself, and at first glance, the hyenas seem blind to this. But are they really?
07:11There is still hesitation as they wait for Scar's signal to start the stampede, and it
07:14is in this moment that Shenzi shows that she is the real leader of the hyenas, encouraging
07:18them to stay focused because it will work out for them in the end. When Scar tries to
07:22blame the hyenas at the close of the film, Shenzi seems to give the hyena pack her approval
07:26to attack Scar, which suggests that this was something they had discussed beforehand. It
07:31seems like this was always Plan B, and Shenzi didn't hesitate when the time came to execute
07:35it.
07:36Oh, my friends.
07:37Friends? I thought he said we were the enemy.
07:44Simba's return to Pride Rock is a big surprise for everyone, especially Scar and Simba's
07:48mother Sarabi, but their reactions are even more surprising. At first, both believe that
07:52he is Mufasa, with Scar visibly getting a chill up his spine. Simba corrects his mother,
07:56who replies that she truly thought that her son was dead. These reactions could be a way
08:00of showing Simba how much he is like his father, but it could also mean that the spirit world
08:04has been doing some work off-camera. Has Mufasa been appearing in the dreams of those he left
08:08behind?
08:09By the end of The Lion King, it is clear that Mufasa has been standing by Simba since his
08:13death, connecting him with Profiki when it's time for him to come home. Scar's fear, while
08:16mistaking Simba for Mufasa, could indicate that his brother has been visiting him in
08:20his nightmares. Mufasa was never afraid to challenge him, so it makes sense for him to
08:24challenge his brother in his dreams if he's able to. Sarabi's reaction may indicate that
08:28her late husband is visiting her dreams, maybe reminiscing about their past and telling her
08:32that everything will be okay in the end. After all, if Mufasa can reach out to Simba, then
08:36surely he's capable of visiting other members of his family, too.
08:40Rain is a welcome sight in the Pride Lands, an area that is sunny and bright most of the
08:44time. However, rain is more than just rain in The Lion King. As Mufasa the Lion King
08:49explains, the rain is more of an event because it signals that someone's destiny is upon
08:53them. Rainfall ushers in two huge moments in The Lion King.
08:56A deluge takes over the Pride Lands shortly after Simba is presented to the kingdom. This
09:00signals that the kingdom has an heir to the throne, and that it's now Simba's time to
09:04learn the ropes from his father. It could also be a foreshadowing of Mufasa's death,
09:08because his demise is yet another transition period for the kingdom, with Scar heading
09:12toward his own destiny.
09:13The rain comes again toward the end of the film. Following Scar's defeat, rainwater washes
09:17away the destruction seen across the area. Simba and the lions roar as the rain comes
09:21down, signaling that they know that a new time has come and Simba is now fulfilling
09:25his destiny as he becomes king. The rain also ties in nicely to the circle of life, as it
09:29brings growth to a land that has been depleted, giving the animals new food and scenery to
09:34enjoy.
09:35After watching Mufasa the Lion King, you'll come to appreciate the significance of the
09:38rain sequences in The Lion King all the more.