Obasi is a supporting character in the 2024 Disney photorealistic CGI film Mufasa: The Lion King. He is a male lion who is the mate of Eshe, the father of Taka, the adoptive father of Mufasa and the leader and the king of his Pride.
Background
Personality
Obasi is considerably lazy and sedate, believing it was a king's job to do nothing and let others serve him. He also believed that deceit was the trait of a great king. Aggressive and hostile, he is especially loath to accept outsiders and strays, as he did everything short of driving Mufasa away when taking in the young cub. Despite being borderline paranoid about outside threats, his fears ended up proving true when his entire pride were killed by the Outsiders.
Despite his flaws, Obasi did genuinely care for his family, as he was relieved when Eshe emerged unharmed from the Outsiders' attack. Additionally, he was grateful to Mufasa for having saved her life and keeping Taka's bloodline safe, despite the tension in their relationship.
Physical appearance
Obasi is a large and powerfully built lion. He has golden fur, with a thick, bi-colored mane of brown and gold. His eyes are yellow. Despite his build, he is not physically capable, as evidenced by his inability to climb a tree.
Role in the film
After a young Taka saved Mufasa from two crocodiles with help from his mother Eshe, the young Mufasa was brought to Obasi, who identified him as a stray cub whom his pride should avoid associating as he gave his order, accusing him of being an outsider. Although he declared Mufasa to be an outcast separated from Afia and Masego, Mufasa claimed that he was fast. This led Obasi to start a proposal that Mufasa should race with Taka giving him a deal that if he won, he would join the pride and if he lost, he would be killed. After Mufasa won the race with Taka coming in last, Obasi accused Mufasa of cheating, reprimanding Taka that he lost to him, forcing Mufasa to live with the lionesses of his pride instead of the males.
Several years later, when Mufasa and Taka grew up as adolescent lions, they pranked the males of the pride with warnings about an elephant stampede while they were napping. Panicked, they scaled a nearby tree, except Obasi, who cowered at its base. Upon realizing their trick, Obasi declared that Mufasa was not his son and ordered him to leave the tree. Although Taka gave interest to Mufasa so that he would join the hunt with his mother, Obasi feared that Mufasa would betray him, ordering him to act like a proper king.
Afterwards, Eshe and Mufasa were ambushed by two white lions while on a hunt. Mufasa leaped to Eshe's defense, killing one of them, while Taka fled. Once safe, Eshe and Mufasa reported back to Obasi, explaining what they had witnessed, and he lamented that the rumors about hostile "Outsiders" were in fact true. He then thanked Mufasa for having saved Eshe's life, which made Taka jealous. That night, Obasi urged Taka to lie that he had been brave and not run away from the Outsiders, emphasizing that deceit was the trait of a great king.
The next day, Chigaru, a member of Obasi's pride, reported that the Outsiders had twice their own numbers and were coming for them. Fearful that his bloodline would be snuffed out, Obasi sent Taka away and told Mufasa to accompany him and to pledge loyalty to him. Shortly after the two young lions had fled, the Outsiders confronted Obasi's pride and killed all of them.
Gallery
Trivia
- Unlike other character names in The Lion King franchise, Obasi is not of Swahili origin but Igbo (Nigerian), and roughly translates to "in God's honor/service".[2]
- In The Lion King: Six New Adventures, Mufasa and Scar are biological brothers and their father's name is Ahadi.[3] However, in Mufasa: The Lion King, Obasi is Mufasa's adoptive father and Masego is Mufasa's biological father.
References
- ↑ ""Mufasa: The Lion King new casts"". Hollywood Reporter (June 18, 2024).
- ↑ Obasi. The Bump. Retrieved on December 20, 2024
- ↑ Simmons, Alex. A Tale of Two Brothers (1994). ISBN: 0717283488.
External links
- Obasi on Lion King Wiki.
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