The Lion Kingis one of Disney’s most popular and successful franchises, recently expanding with a prequel movie, but 29 years before it, the franchise’s best spinoff was released. Between 1989 and 1999, Disney went throughthe Disney Renaissance, the period in which the studio produced commercially and critically successful animated movies again, starting withThe Little Mermaid.
Among the Disney Renaissance movies isThe Lion King, consideredthe first Disney original animated movie. Directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff,The Lion Kingtells the story of King Mufasa and his young son, Simba. When Mufasa is murdered by his ambitious brother, Scar, he forces Simba to leave the kingdom, and the young lion grows up in exile.
Years later, Simba returns to reclaim the throne, but has to confront Scar and his followers. The success ofThe Lion Kingled to a franchise with sequels, short films, and even stage musicals, but one of its best spinoffs was a TV show, and it wasn’t centered on Simba.
The Lion King’s Timon & Pumbaa Is One Of Disney’s Best Animated Spinoff Shows
Timon & Pumbaa Seized The Pair’s Comedic Nature
Just one year after the theatrical release ofThe Lion King, the franchise expanded to TV with a spinoff animated show – the big difference is that it wasn’t centered on Simba or any other lion. Instead,the show was all about Simba’s friends and parental figures, Timon and Pumbaa, with the show simply titledTimon & Pumbaa.
Ernie Sabella returned to voice Pumbaa, while Nathan Lane voiced Timon for 10 episodes and was replaced by Quinton Flynn and Kevin Schon.
Timon & Pumbaafollowed the title characters on different adventures beyond the Pride Lands, always living according to their“hakuna matata” lifestyle. Throughout three seasons (and a total of 85 episodes), Timon and Pumbaa faced different predators and enemies, but also met various allies and made new friends. The pair’s adventures took them from the jungles of Africa to Costa Rica, Saskatchewan, France, Yukon, and more.
The tone ofTimon & Pumbaawas different from that ofThe Lion King, beingmore slapstick comedy-orientedand leaving drama and tension completely out, which fits the title characters.Timon & Pumbaasucceeded thanks to this and the charm of its title characters, as well as the creativity of the adventures and conflicts they got into.
How Timon & Pumbaa Fits Into The Lion King Timeline
The Lion King Timeline Can Be Messy Sometimes
With movies likeThe Lion King II: Simba’s PrideandThe Lion King ½, theLion Kingtimeline can be messy – luckily,Timon & Pumbaahas a clear place in it.Timon & Pumbaais set after the events of 1994’sThe Lion King, so Timon and Pumbaa were free to come and go as they pleased, as Simba was finally king by then.
Timon & Pumbaa Is Not The Only Lion King TV Show
The Lion King Has Expanded On TV
Timon & Pumbaais the bestLion Kingspinoff and animated TV show, but it’s not the only TV show in the franchise.In 2016,The Lion Guarddebuted on Disney Jr., with the first two seasons set within the time gap inSimba’s Pride, with the rest of the third (and final) season happening parallel to the movie’s second act.
The Lion Guardfollows the title group, which serves to protect the circle of life. The guard is traditionally led by the king and queen’s second-born, and so Simba and Nala’s son, Kion, has to take the role.The Lion Guardreceived mixed reactions and ended in 2019.
