Simba is an Ideas Disney animal introduced in 2024.
Description
Simba has three versions to date: a single-piece animal figure and two brick-built versions.
Background
Simba was born to Mufasa, King of the Pride Lands, and his wife Sarabi. Heir to his father's throne, he was betrothed to Nala, a lioness who would be his best friend in childhood. Unfortunately, Mufasa's brother Scar resented Mufasa and believed himself more worthy of the throne. Scar's disdain extended to Simba, and Scar sought to eliminate both his brother and nephew in order to clear the way for his own ascension to kingship.
Simba was tricked into going to an elephant graveyard with Nala, where they were set upon by three of Scar's hyena allies. Fortunately, Mufasa arrived in time to rescue both of them, though he would reprove Simba for the prince's reckless actions. Afterwards, Mufasa taught Simba about the Great Kings of the Past who watched over them from the sky, promising that they-and Mufasa himself-would always be there to watch over Simba. Tragically, Scar would soon trick Simba again, and though Mufasa was able to save Simba from a stampede the king was killed himself due to Scar's treachery.
Finding his father's body, Simba was heartbroken, and his sorrow was soon joined by guilt when Scar blamed Mufasa's death on Simba. Overcome by his feelings, Simba heeded Scar's counsel to flee the Pride Lands, and was pursued by the hyenas once again. Managing to escape, Simba traveled out into a nearby desert and only escaped dying of thirst due to being found by Timon the meerkat and Pumbaa the warthog. The duo became unlikely guardians to Simba, who grew up in their lush jungle home doing his best to forget his old life.
The past would catch up with Simba, quite literally, when his old friend Nala arrived in the jungle after fleeing the Pride Lands, which were suffering under Scar's rule. Old affection between the two soon blossomed into romance, but their happiness was marred when Nala begged Simba to return to the Pride Lands and assume his rightful place as king. Haunted by the belief that he was responsible for Mufasa's death, Simba refused, clinging to the carefree existence he had maintained since meeting Timon and Pumbaa. He and Nala quarreled, and Simba parted ways with Nala only to run into another old friend from the Pride Lands: Rafiki the mandrill.
Rafiki led Simba to an encounter with the spirit of his father Mufasa, who appeared in the sky above Simba. Mufasa echoed Nala's assertions that it was Simba's duty to return to the Pride Lands and take up his birthright as king. With further counsel from Rafiki, Simba finally did so, arriving to find his homeland a barren waste after Scar's misrule. Joined by Nala, Timon, and Pumbaa, Simba soon confronted Scar and was reunited with his mother Sarabi. Unfortunately, Scar would soon openly accuse Simba of causing Mufasa's death and succeeded in driving Simba over a nearby edge to cling helpless above a lightning-ignited fire.
However, Scar overplayed his advantage and revealed that he was the one who had truly killed Mufasa, filling Simba with a rage that allowed the younger lion to leap back onto Pride Rock. After forcing his uncle to confess, Simba and his allies became embroiled in battle with Scar's followers. Pursuing and confronting Scar, Simba offered his uncle the chance to do as Simba himself had once done: flee the Pride Lands with no intention to return. Rather than accept this mercy, Scar attempted to kill Simba once again, but was thrown down and perished at the teeth and claws of his own minions, whom he had betrayed in an attempt to save his own life.
Simba was thus freed to assume the throne he had been born to take, and to lead the Pride Lands into a new age of prosperity. Nala became his queen, and the two would soon welcome a child of their own to carry on their legacy.