The imminent release of ‘The Lion Guard’ will do something that will make one of my friends very happy indeed. What it will do is return us to Pride Rock; the setting of the 1994 Disney classic ‘The Lion King’ This was a delightful film about herds of animals who have been convinced to worship their apex predators. All because the Lions convinced them that one day, they (the Lions) will turn to grass and they can get their own back.
The Lion Guard is an upcoming animated series that serves as a sequel to both the original Lion King and the direct to video sequel, ‘Simba’s Pride’. While ‘Simba’s Pride’ focused on Simba’s daughter Kiara, The Lion Guard will star Simba’s youngest child; his son Kion.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKna2EJLK0A[/embedyt]
[gap height=”15″]
Kion, with his special power of… roaring loudly I guess?… must assemble a team of animals to defend the Pride Lands from… something or other.
The word ‘assemble’ is a pretty good one to use as ‘The Lion Guard’ has been described as ‘The Lion King meets the avengers‘. Quite what Kion and his team will be fighting to stop is unclear, as well as why it’s up to him instead of his Dad or his older sister. This presumably has something to do with the glowing symbol that appeared on him in the trailer.
Still, the question of why Kion is a relevant one because the cast of the two films will all be appearing. From Simba and Naala (obviously) to Kiara to (unfortunately) Timone and Pumba; the last two having already starred in their own spin-off series.
So if you’re desperately nostalgic for your childhood, or you’ve got a kid or younger cousin who watched the Lion King on DVD, this might be just the show you’re looking for.
The Lion Guard will debut with an hour-long tv movie special on November 22nd.