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| Hyenas | |||
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| Physical characteristics | |||
| Hair color |
Black, gray, pink, and purple | ||
| Eye color |
Black, blue, and brown | ||
| Distinctions |
Spots | ||
| Sociocultural characteristics | |||
| Habitat |
Savanna | ||
| Dominions |
• Outlands | ||
| Diet | |||
| Notable members |
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Hyenas are a species of animal native to the Outlands. They feed on antelope, elephants, giraffes, jackals, and zebras.
History
Shenzi's attack on Timon's colony
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One day, Timon was assigned to sentry duty by his colony but got distracted by singing. Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed managed to sneak up on him and shoved him aside. They then attacked the colony, and the meerkats scattered in terror. Though the hyenas nearly caught Uncle Max, he escaped down a hole, after which they walked away, guffawing.[1]
Shenzi's alliance with Scar
| “ | Banzai: What were we supposed to do? *gulps* Kill Mufasa? Scar: Precisely.
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One day, a mole reported to Zazu that there were hyenas in the Pride Lands. Zazu, in turn, passed on the news to King Mufasa, who departed immediately to drive them off.
Later, a young Simba and his best friend, Nala, journeyed to the Elephant Graveyard against Mufasa's wishes. While there, they were confronted by Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed, who accused them of trespassing. Though Zazu claimed that they were only there by accident, Shenzi recognized him as Mufasa's majordomo, and Simba revealed that he was the future king of Pride Rock. Once more, Zazu attempted to lead the cubs out of the Graveyard, but Shenzi stopped them in their tracks and commented that she would love them to stick around for dinner. The hyenas began to joke about how they would eat the cubs, during which Simba and Nala escaped alongside Zazu.
The hyenas pursued the cubs, eventually catching up to and capturing Zazu. They then stuffed him into a geyser and laughed hysterically as he got blasted into the sky. At that moment, Simba confronted them, and they attacked him and Nala. The cubs fled from the hyenas, only to get cornered against a wall in the Graveyard. As the hyenas advanced on them, Simba roared feebly, and Shenzi dared him to do it again. To the hyenas' shock, Simba seemingly roared like an adult lion. A moment later, Mufasa revealed himself and subdued the hyenas, threatening them to never come near his son again. Terrified, they fled.
Later, Banzai lamented the injuries he had sustained from his fight with Mufasa, and he and Shenzi ranted about how much they hated lions. No sooner had they done this when Scar appeared and chided them for having failed to kill Simba and Nala. Despite his disappointment, he gave them a zebra haunch. Shenzi pointed out that the cubs had not been alone, and Banzai asked if they had been expected to kill Mufasa. To their surprise, Scar answered, "Precisely." He then plotted with his minions to kill Mufasa and Simba, and give them free reign of the Pride Lands.
Come daytime, Scar lured Simba to the gorge, then signaled Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed to trigger a wildebeest stampede. The plot worked, with Scar using the event to throw Mufasa to his death in the gorge. He then ordered the hyenas to kill Simba, but the cub escaped into the desert, and the hyenas lied to Scar that they had killed him. That night, Scar delivered a eulogy to his pride and formally allowed the hyenas into the Pride Lands, to the lionesses' horror.
Over the seasons, the Pride Lands fell into disrepair, and the herds moved on to better prospects. Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed confronted Scar over the lack of food, but he refused to take responsibility for the state of his kingdom. He then ordered them to leave his den.
Later, a full-grown Simba returned to the Pride Lands and challenged Scar's right to rule, exposing the hyenas' lie about his fate. Scar, however, refused to abdicate the throne, and a battle broke out between the hyenas and the lionesses.[2] During the fight, the hyenas pursued Simba up Pride Rock but were distracted by Timon and Pumbaa. Though the hyenas attempted to eat Timon and Pumbaa, the duo outsmarted them by digging a tunnel underneath them and sending them plummeting to the base of Pride Rock.[1]
Atop Pride Rock, Simba confronted Scar, and he blamed the hyenas for everything, unaware that Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed were in earshot. Scar eventually lost his fight with Simba and got thrown to the base of Pride Rock, where he was confronted by the hyenas. Disillusioned and betrayed, they advanced on him and devoured him alive amidst a fire.[2] Afterward, the surviving hyenas ran off, vacating both the Pride Lands and the Elephant Graveyard.[3]
Janja's attack on Ono's egg
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One day, an infant Fuli reported to Kion that a hyena was stealing an egg from the Pride Lands. Rallying his friends, Kion confronted the hyena, Janja, who revealed that Cheezi and Chungu were helping him. Together, Kion and his friends defeated the hyenas, drove them back into the Outlands, and saved the egg.[4]
Formation of the Lion Guard
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One day, while Kion and Bunga were playing Baobab Ball, their ball rolled into the Outlands. Though Kion thought they should give up the game, Bunga ventured into the Outlands to retrieve their ball. Before he could leave, he got attacked by Cheezi and Chungu, who resolved to bring him to Janja for lunch. Enraged, Kion used the Roar of the Elders reflexively, which shocked the hyenas and gave Bunga time to escape.
Later, Cheezi and Chungu reported the incident to Janja, but he doubted their claims. At that moment, Mzingo approached and reported that Kion was forming a new Lion Guard, per Simba's instructions. Realizing that the Lion Guard would prevent the Outlanders from hunting to their hearts' content, Janja resolved to strike the Pride Lands that very night, before the Lion Guard could be formed.
Together, Janja and his clan invaded the Pride Lands and attacked a herd of gazelles. However, Kion and his newly formed Lion Guard fought them off and expelled them to the Outlands with the Roar of the Elders. Before retreating with his clanmates, Janja vowed that Kion would not win so easily next time.[5]
Kion's friendship with Jasiri
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One day, Janja, Cheezi, and Chungu attacked a herd of oryxes in the Pride Lands, only for the Lion Guard to drive them off. As Kion was ensuring that the hyenas had entered the Outlands, he crossed a log, which snapped beneath his weight and sent him tumbling into the river below. Eventually, he made it to shore but found himself stranded in the Outlands.
Alone, Kion attempted to navigate the strange terrain, during which he ran into a female hyena named Jasiri. She immediately recognized him as the leader of the Lion Guard, and he was surprised to learn that she was not part of Janja's clan. She questioned why he was in the Outlands, and he explained that he was trying to reach Flat Ridge Rock so that he could return to the Pride Lands. Despite his hostility toward her, she warned him that he was going the wrong way, but he ignored her advice, distrustful of her intentions.
As Kion kept navigating the Outlands, Jasiri warned him again that he was heading in the wrong direction. Before long, he reached the end of a trail and fell off a high ledge into a patch of thorns below. To his shock, Jasiri helped free him. Once out of the thorns, he accused her of having hidden that the trail was about to end, and she agreed with him, laughing. However, as he began to head off again, this time with a distinctive limp in his step, she felt guilty that he had gotten hurt and offered to help lead him home.
Along the way, Kion lectured Jasiri on the Circle of Life, but she retorted that most hyenas respected the Circle of Life, as they were scavengers who cleaned up what larger predators left behind. She then insisted that lions and hyenas were the same deep down. At first, Kion argued with her, but as she explained her respect for the Circle of Life, he changed his mind and resolved not to judge her so harshly.
Eventually, the two reached the edge of the Outlands and parted ways. On her way back to her territory, Jasiri was confronted by Janja for being on his clan's turf. Overhearing Jasiri in trouble, Kion doubled back to help her, and they fought off Janja's clan together. Kion then finished the fight with the Roar of the Elders, which impressed Jasiri. At that moment, the rest of the Lion Guard approached, intent on fighting Jasiri, but Kion explained that she was a friend. He and Jasiri then exchanged fond farewells and parted ways.[6]
Janja's trap for Kiara
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While spying in the Pride Lands, Mzingo learned that Simba and Nala were away from Pride Rock and that Kion and his sister, Kiara, were squabbling. He passed on what he had heard to Janja, who decided to take advantage of the family struggles and deliver Kiara a special message. Per Janja's orders, Mzingo offered Kiara a "peace proposal" and told her to meet Janja at Broken Rock to discuss the terms.
Later that day, Kiara met with Janja against Kion's advice. To her shock, Janja surrounded her with his clanmates and resolved to use her as leverage against her father. At that moment, the Lion Guard arrived to defend Kiara, and the hyenas fled. Kiara then admitted to Kion that he had been right to not trust Janja.[7]
Janja's trap for the Lion Guard
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One day, Janja, Cheezi, and Chungu started a wildebeest stampede in the Pride Lands. Unable to see through the thick dust, the Lion Guard relied on Ono to find the hyenas and lead his teammates to them. Eventually, the Guard pinpointed the hyenas and chased them into the Outlands. However, as Ono was ensuring that the hyenas had left the Pride Lands, he got dust in his eye, severely injuring it.
Later, Janja overheard Mzingo's parliament discussing Ono's injury. Hoping to take advantage of the Lion Guard's weakened state, he resolved to lead them into a trap. Together, he, Cheezi, and Chungu entered the Pride Lands and dropped boulders into a ravine to confine the Lion Guard. With the team out of commission, the hyenas moved in to attack a herd of zebras. However, Ono warned the zebras to move, and Kion used the Roar of the Elders to free the Guard from the ravine. Their plan a failure, the hyenas retreated to the Outlands.[8]
Janja's attack on Dogo
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When Dogo, a jackal pup, intruded on Janja's clan's den, they chased him through the Outlands. Before they could harm him, the Lion Guard intervened. To the Guard's surprise, Janja happily let them take the pup.[9]
Janja's attack on Mtoto
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One day, Mtoto and his friends were playing "Lion Guard," during which they pretended to be hyenas and inadvertently scared some nearby Pride Landers. The Lion Guard arrived on the scene and, upon realizing the truth, warned the young ones not to pretend to be hyenas, as it set the Pride Landers on edge.
Later, Janja, Cheezi, and Chungu invaded the Pride Lands and attacked Mtoto and his friends. While the others managed to escape, Mtoto kept getting chased, as he was the slowest. The young animals warned Beshte of Mtoto's peril, and Beshte raced to the rescue, escaping with Mtoto into a nearby river. As Beshte and Mtoto swam, the hyenas attempted to catch them from the shore, to no avail. Eventually, the rest of the Lion Guard arrived, and the hyenas got knocked into the river, where they were chased in circles by crocodiles.[10]
Janja takes Tamaa hostage
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One day, Tamaa the drongo imitated Janja's voice in order to scare Muhangus away from his food. Though the Lion Guard searched for Janja, there was no trace of him in the Pride Lands. Eventually, the Guard realized that Tamaa was the true perpetrator. Shortly afterward, they overheard the real Janja and followed his laughter to where he, Cheezi, and Chungu were chasing a herd of impalas in the Pride Lands. They quickly put a stop to the attack and chased the hyenas back into the Outlands.
However, the hyenas soon returned to the Pride Lands, and Janja schemed to use Tamaa's voice mimicry for his own gain. Holding the drongo hostage, Janja forced him to mimic Kion's voice and order a herd of impalas to enter the Outlands. The plan worked, until Tamaa began scaring the hyenas by mimicking the voices of the Lion Guard. Before long, Janja caught on to Tamaa's scheme, but before he could hurt the drongo, the real Lion Guard approached and chased off the hyenas. They then escorted the impalas back into the Pride Lands.[11]
Janja's attack on Thurston's herd
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One day, Janja schemed to attack Thurston's herd in the Pride Lands. Alongside Cheezi and Chungu, he attacked the zebras, but the Lion Guard arrived to stop them. While Kion took on Janja, the rest of the Guard handled Cheezi and Chungu. However, as Kion attempted to climb a branch in order to ambush Janja, Bunga tackled him, and they both fell on top of Janja. The hyenas then fled the Pride Lands.[12]
Janja's attack on Muhimu
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When the Lion Guard was forced to lead some gazelles and zebras through the Outlands, Muhimu unexpectedly went into labor. Forced to divide his team, Kion sent Beshte, Fuli, and Ono on to Mbali Fields with the majority of the herds, while he and Bunga remained to protect Muhimu. Before long, Muhimu gave birth to a son, who brayed loudly and attracted the attention of Janja, Cheezi, and Chungu.
Seeing the prey animals in their territory, the hyenas attacked. While Bunga and Kion distracted Cheezi and Chungu, Janja attacked Muhimu and the few gazelles and zebras who had remained behind to help her. However, Muhimu's infant son kicked Janja in the face, and he fled alongside his minions.[13]
Nne and Tano's plot
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One day, Janja and his clan attempted to ambush a herd of wildebeests in the Pride Lands, but the Lion Guard intercepted them, and Kion blasted them away with the Roar of the Elders. Once in the Outlands, Janja blamed his failed plan on Cheezi and Chungu, and banished them from the Outlands. Recruiting Nne and Tano in their place, he ordered them to drive his old minions away, and Cheezi and Chungu fled to the Pride Lands.
With his old minions gone, Janja attempted to put his new cronies in their place, but they declared that they already had a plan. Using a bone and a leaf as props, they explained that they would enter the Pride Lands and bait the Lion Guard with a stampede of antelope. Then, while the Lion Guard was distracted, they would double back and attack a herd of oryxes instead. Surprised by the ingeniousness of his minions' plan, Janja agreed.
Meanwhile, Cheezi and Chungu attempted to hunt some gazelles in the Pride Lands, to no avail. Giving up, they opted to feed on leftovers instead. As they were eating, they got swept up in a mudslide, and the Lion Guard rescued them, not recognizing them through the muck. Once the mud got washed away, Kion ordered Ono to search for Janja, while Cheezi and Chungu explained that they were no longer affiliated with Janja's clan. Ono soon returned with a report that Janja was nowhere to be seen, and so, Kion ordered Cheezi and Chungu to return home without him. They protested that they would simply get exiled again, and the other members of the Lion Guard pointed out that Cheezi and Chungu were too dumb to cause much trouble. Kion questioned whether they would continue to attack the herds, but they declared that they only wanted to eat leftovers. Ono remarked that this would benefit the Circle of Life, and so, Kion reluctantly agreed to let them stay in the kingdom.
At that moment, Janja launched his plan alongside Nne and Tano, luring the Lion Guard away with a stampede of antelope. Once the Guard had calmed the herd, Kion voiced his suspicion that Janja was to blame, for he had caught a whiff of hyena scent. Across the Pride Lands, Nne and Tano betrayed Janja by forcing him over a cliff and trapping him on a high ledge. They then continued to chase a herd of oryxes through the Pride Lands.
Before long, the Lion Guard overheard Janja and followed his voice to where he was trapped. Not wanting to be implicated for Nne and Tano's crimes, he explained their plan to the Guard. While the Guard rushed off to stop Nne and Tano, Cheezi and Chungu skidded down the cliff to join Janja on his ledge. Eventually, the Guard caught up to Nne and Tano, and Kion used the Roar of the Elders to expel them from the Pride Lands. They returned to Janja, offering to help him, but he insisted that he was all right. Together, he, Cheezi, and Chungu left for the Outlands, united once more.[14]
Zira's theft of Jasiri's watering hole
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One day, Jasiri entered the Pride Lands, scaring a herd of gazelles. Though at first braced for trouble, Bunga and Kion relaxed when Jasiri emerged, as they recognized her as a friend. Kion asked her what she was doing in the Pride Lands, and she explained that a pride of lions had taken over her clan's watering hole and was refusing to share it. Confused as to why lions were in the Outlands, Kion agreed to help her sort out the problem.
On their way to meet Jasiri's clan, Jasiri admitted that she had been uncertain if Kion would side against lions, but he pointed out that the lions at her watering hole may not know that she was a good hyena. Eventually, the two reached Jasiri's clan, and Jasiri introduced Kion to her sister, Madoa. Kion tried to greet two hyena cubs, Tunu and Wema, but they fled from him in fear. Madoa explained that they were afraid because of what they knew about lions, and Jasiri added that their fright had only been reinforced by the lions who had stolen their watering hole.
Together, Jasiri and Kion set out for the watering hole, only to be ambushed by brothers Kovu and Nuka. Nuka was confused as to why Kion would side with a hyena, but Kion convinced him to bring them before his mother, Zira. Though suspicious, Kovu and Nuka led Jasiri and Kion to their mother. She, in turn, questioned them on why they were in the Outlands, and Jasiri explained that she had recruited Kion to help settle their water dispute. Pointing out that Kion could give Jasiri the water she needed, Zira coached him on how to use the Roar to turn a nearby cloud into a rainstorm. Awestruck, Kion tried to learn more, but Zira refused to speak more about the Roar in front of a hyena. Despite Jasiri's distrust of Zira, Kion opted to speak with her privately, both to learn more about the Roar and to convince her to share the watering hole with the hyenas.
Once in private, Kion and Zira argued over whether lions should rule over other species or not. Zira tried to force Kion to choose between hyenas and lions, but he told her that he would side with animals who followed the Circle of Life. Disappointed, Zira called forth her allies, who surrounded Kion, and refused to let him go free unless he sided with her pride over Jasiri's clan. Afterward, she lied to Jasiri that Kion had sided with lions, then drove her away from the watering hole.
As Jasiri left the watering hole, the Lion Guard met her in the Outlands and convinced her that Zira had lied about Kion. Together, they found Kion and fought off the Outsiders. Kion then used the Roar of the Elders to blast the enemy pride away. With the Outsiders gone, Jasiri's clan returned to their watering hole, and Madoa declared that she was glad Jasiri had Kion for a friend. Just then, Tunu and Wema approached Kion, who asked them if they were still scared of him. To Jasiri's and Madoa's amusement, the two cubs raced away and hid, and Jasiri told Kion to take it as a compliment, for he was rather fierce.[15]
Janja's attack on Nala
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One day, the Lion Guard chased Janja's clan out of the Pride Lands. However, once the Guard had left, the hyenas simply re-entered the Pride Lands. Before long, they ran into Nala, who ordered them to return to the Outlands. Realizing that they had Nala outnumbered, Janja ordered his clanmates to surround and attack her. Just then, Kion approached and, seeing his mother in danger, used the Roar of the Elders in a rage, blasting Janja and his clan back to the Outlands.[16]
Janja's attack on klipspringers
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While flying through the Pride Lands with Hadithi, Ono spotted Janja, Cheezi, and Chungu cornering some klipspringers on a cliff. Though Ono implored Hadithi to help the klipspringers, he flew away, leaving Ono to rescue them on his own. Ono attempted to use the Hadithi Spin to defeat the hyenas but fell and got his wing trapped beneath a boulder. Seeing Ono in a prone position, Cheezi and Chungu advanced on him, while Janja continued hunting the klipspringers.
Just in time, the Lion Guard arrived to save Ono. After fending off Cheezi and Chungu, Fuli attempted to free Ono's wing, but he urged her to save the klipspringers first. Meanwhile, Bunga and Kion confronted Janja, while Beshte pushed down a boulder for the klipspringers to use as a bridge. Fuli started to lead the klipspringers across the bridge, only for one to slip and fall. The hyenas advanced on the fallen klipspringer, but Ono and Hadithi flew past him, circling him and his minions until they dizzily fell off the bridge into the water below.[17]
Janja's attack on the Traveling Baboon Show
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After being driven out of the Pride Lands by the Lion Guard, Mwevi and Mwizi intruded on Janja's territory, and he resolved to eat them. Meanwhile, Uroho took to entertaining several Outlanders, including Cheezi and Chungu. During his performance, he asked if they wanted to hear a joke, then said that two hyenas went to the watering hole to take a bath. This caused both Cheezi and Chungu to laugh.
Just then, Janja ran past, chasing Mwevi and Mwizi, and ordered his lackeys to get Uroho. In order to escape, Uroho splattered Cheezi and Chungu in mud, then fled alongside his fellows. Eventually, the hyenas cornered the baboons in a cave, but the Lion Guard arrived and fought them off.[18]
Scar's resurrection
| “ | Janja: And there ain't no lion that's gonna help us hyenas. Let alone a great one! Ushari: But there was one great lion who helped hyenas.
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As the dry season intensified, Janja risked hunting elephants in the Pride Lands. However, the Lion Guard approached and drove him and his clan out of their kingdom. Despite the Lion Guard's attack, Janja simply led his clan in another assault on the elephants, this time to hunt the baboons who had started following them. Once more, the Lion Guard approached, and Kion dispatched of the hyenas with the Roar of the Elders.
After their defeat, the hyenas returned to the Outlands, where they resolved to eat Ushari instead. Before the hyenas could harm him, Ushari informed them that Kion was able to continually defeat them because he was getting advice from the spirit of Mufasa. He suggested that the hyenas start thinking like "great lions," but Janja doubted that any lion, let alone a "great" one, would want to help a hyena. Ushari retorted that Scar had. Intrigued, Janja let Ushari go so he could gather more information on if they could communicate with Scar's spirit.
After gathering intel, Ushari returned to Janja's clan in the Outlands and informed them that they could summon Scar using Kion's Roar and a bakora staff. While musing over how they could make Kion use his Roar inside the volcano, Cheezi and Chungu recalled that his roars were at their most powerful when his family and friends were threatened. Together, the hyenas and Ushari schemed to bring back the spirit of Scar by kidnapping someone Kion cared about and baiting him into using the Roar.
With Janja in the lead, the hyenas entered the Pride Lands and kidnapped Kiara, entrapping her in an area of geysers in the volcano. As predicted, the Lion Guard arrived to rescue her, and Janja confronted Kion. Though the Guard managed to save Kiara, Janja baited Kion into using his Roar by threatening to kill his loved ones. The resulting Roar caused a massive volcanic eruption. Afterward, Janja kicked Makini's bakora staff into the lava, which resurrected Scar's spirit.[19]
Janja's attack on Beshte
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Upon learning that Beshte was stranded in the Outlands, Scar resolved to get rid of him. Ushari asserted that this would weaken the Lion Guard, and Scar claimed that the hyenas could then eat whatever they wanted in the Pride Lands. Together, Janja, Cheezi, and Chungu traveled to Rocky Plateau, where the skinks had lured Beshte. They began to drop rocks on Beshte in an attempt to crush him, but he continually dodged out of the way. Just in time, the rest of the Lion Guard arrived and dispatched of the hyenas. Janja decided not to report their failure to Scar, but Ushari approached and told the hyenas that Scar wished to speak with them.[20]
Janja's attack on Jasiri, Tunu, and Wema
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While searching for the jackals in the hopes of allying with them, Janja, Cheezi, and Chungu were confronted by Jasiri. Janja protested that they were not on her turf, but she promptly marked the rock she was standing on and mocked him for having forgotten to re-mark his territory for the dry season. Furious, Janja attempted to win his turf back, but Jasiri overpowered him and drove him and his lackeys out of her territory.
Janja, Cheezi, and Chungu reported their failure to Ushari, who scoffed at the notion of a single hyena having defeated the three of them. Intrigued by the idea of a "fearless" hyena, Scar wondered if they should recruit Jasiri, but Janja protested that she was friends with the Lion Guard and respected the Circle of Life. Upon learning this, Scar ordered Janja to eliminate her, and he hesitantly agreed to the task.
Later, while Jasiri was playing with Tunu and Wema, Janja's clan attacked them and trapped them in a steam vent, where lava was steadily rising to the surface. Having witnessed the attack, Madoa appealed to the Lion Guard for help, and they agreed to rescue Jasiri and the cubs. Once in the Outlands, the Guard attacked Janja's clan and drove them away from the steam vent. Beshte then pushed a boulder into the steam vent, which Jasiri and the cubs stood on as the lava pushed it to the surface. Though the rest of Janja's clan fled, Janja refused to give in, since Jasiri was still out of the fight. At that moment, she emerged from the steam vent alongside the cubs, and he finally gave in, retreating alongside his fellows.
Once Janja's clan had gone, Jasiri thanked the Lion Guard for their help and expressed concern at how zealous Janja had been in his attack on her. Kion, however, simply blamed the dry season for Janja's aggressive behavior. The two groups then parted ways, with Jasiri leading Tunu and Wema back to their clan.[21]
Janja's alliance with Kenge
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Per Scar's instructions, Janja, Cheezi, and Chungu attempted to steal tikiti melons from the Pride Lands' elephants, but the Lion Guard stopped them and forced them to return to the Outlands. They reported their failure to Scar, who instructed them to try again. When Janja protested that the Guard would simply stop them, Ushari told them to bring along his friend, Kenge, who had a venomous bite.
With Kenge's help, the hyenas were able to defeat most of the Lion Guard and steal the tikiti melons. However, while they were rolling the melons through Embamba Canyon, Bunga confronted them. He proceeded to distract the hyenas and Kenge so that Makini could steal back the melons and hide them behind boulders. Eventually, Bunga tricked Kenge into biting his own hyena allies, paralyzing them. At that moment, the rest of the Lion Guard approached, and Kion used the Roar of the Elders to blow the hyenas and Kenge back into the Outlands.[22]
Janja's kidnapping of Zazu
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One day, Janja, Cheezi, and Chungu did Scar's bidding by lying in wait in the Pride Lands for Zazu. When Zazu landed in a thicket, they ambushed him and forcibly carried him to the Outlands, where they imprisoned him in a bone cage. Though Zazu nearly tricked Cheezi and Chungu into freeing him, Janja put a stop to his schemes and began to interrogate him for intel on Simba. Zazu, however, only revealed trivial information about the king.
Eventually, Janja got fed up with Zazu's useless information and resolved to eat him. Just in time, the Lion Guard arrived and engaged the hyena clan in a fight. During the battle, Zazu rolled his bone cage into two hyenas, only to start falling into a lava river. Before he could perish in the lava, Kion used the Roar of the Elders to clear a patch of bare rock upon which he fell and his cage shattered, freeing him. With Zazu loose, the hyenas retreated.[23]
Janja and Reirei's attack on Rafiki
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While Reirei's pack attacked some pangolins on the other side of the Pride Lands, Janja and his clan attacked Twiga and her daughter, Juhudi. Forced to split up his team, Kion sent Bunga, Fuli, and Ono to deal with the jackals while he and Beshte took on the hyenas. However, the two quickly got overwhelmed by the sheer number of hyenas, and Janja was only defeated when Twiga kicked him away from her and Juhudi. To Beshte's and Kion's surprise, Janja called the retreat, and he and his clan fled to the Outlands. As the Guard watched the jackals likewise flee into the Outlands, Ono spotted the two groups converging, and Kion deduced that they were working together.
Afterward, the hyenas and jackals reported to Scar on how the Lion Guard had handled the double Outlander attack. He, in turn, ordered them to attack Rafiki, the Pride Lands' knowledge-keeper. Though Janja and Reirei bickered over who should lead the mission, Scar put Janja in charge and promised to let Reirei take point next time. Once they had left the volcano, Janja bragged to Reirei that Scar had chosen the hyenas for the mission over the jackals, and the two groups argued over which of their species was smarter.
Later, while Reirei's pack attacked a herd of gazelles in the Pride Lands, Janja and his clan advanced on a meditating Rafiki. Ono spotted the double attack, and Kion sent Tamaa to distract the jackals while the Lion Guard protected Rafiki from the hyenas. Before the Guard could arrive, however, Rafiki defeated the hyenas himself using his martial prowess. Before long, the Guard approached and stood with him against the hyenas. In the face of such overwhelming odds, Janja tried to flee the battlefield, but Scar emerged in a nearby fire and ordered him to keep fighting.
At that moment, the jackals joined the battle, bolstering the hyenas' offensive. With the help of Rafiki and Tamaa, the Lion Guard was able to defeat the Outlanders and drive them out of the Pride Lands.[24]
Army of Scar's reveal
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After Scar sent Sumu the scorpion to sting Simba, he warned his army that the Lion Guard would come to the volcano seeking the cure, volcanic ash, and ordered them to slow the Guard's progress. The plan worked, with the hyenas, jackals, and crocodiles interfering with the Lion Guard's attempts to reach the volcano in a timely manner.
Eventually, the Lion Guard fought their way through the separate enemies until they reached the caldera. Before they could escape with the volcanic ash, Scar confronted them and surrounded them with his army, revealing the full scale of his coalition for the first time. Kion, however, defeated the Outlanders with the Roar of the Elders. Though the army tried to catch up to the Lion Guard and take the volcanic ash that they had collected, Kion continually used the Roar to blow them away.
After his army's defeat, Scar declared that the war had only just begun.[25]
Army of Scar's invasion of Kilio Valley
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When a fire broke out at Kilio Valley, the Lion Guard struggled to put it out, while Ma Tembo led her herd to safety. However, the elephants got cornered among the flames by Janja, Kiburi, Reirei, and their respective groups. Ono reported what was happening to Kion, and he resolved to save the elephants, even if it meant leaving Kilio Valley to burn in the process. Outnumbered by Scar's army, the Lion Guard was eventually forced to flee and led Ma Tembo and her herd out of the valley.
After the fire had burned out, the Army of Scar remained in Kilio Valley to hold it, per Scar's orders. Janja declared himself the leader of the "dump," but Kiburi, Mzingo, and Reirei challenged his claim to authority.[26]
Janja's attack on Hakuna Matata Falls
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One day, while spying on the Outlanders, Ono reported that Janja's clan was paying a visit to Scar in the volcano. As Ono lamented his inability to spy more effectively, Kinyonga the chameleon volunteered to spy for the Lion Guard. Using her camouflage abilities, she snuck into the volcano and overheard Scar ordering the hyenas to block up Hakuna Matata Falls so as to deprive the Pride Landers of a key water source.
That night, the hyenas started to enact Scar's plan, only for the Lion Guard to sneak up on them by camouflaging themselves as bushes, rocks, and logs. The hyenas retreated, but when Kinyonga suddenly appeared in front of them, they panicked and fell into the nearby river, eventually careening over the falls. Their mission a failure, Janja decided to lie to Scar that they had been defeated by rocks and foliage rather than the Lion Guard. Though Kinyonga harbored guilt over having frightened the hyenas, Bunga assured her that she could scare Janja and his clan, as they were enemies.[27]
Thurston's bad advice to Cheezi and Chungu
| “ | Goigoi: A party? Thurston: Yes. Because I'm an expert on the Lion Guard. The hyenas especially enjoyed hearing about their weaknesses.
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While in the Pride Lands, Cheezi and Chungu overheard Thurston bragging that he was an expert on the Lion Guard. Hoping to take advantage of his knowledge, they invited him to the Outlands for a "party." Once there, Thurston revealed that the Lion Guard sneezed uncontrollably when exposed to red flowers. After the hyenas had ran off, however, he pondered if he was thinking of himself rather than the Lion Guard.
Shortly afterward, Cheezi and Chungu attacked the Lion Guard with red flowers, to no avail. Though confused, Beshte defeated them with his strength, and they retreated to the Outlands. As they lamented their defeat, they ran into Goigoi, Tamka, and Nduli, who related similar experiences with Thurston's bad advice. Realizing that Thurston had been lying to them, they resolved to eat him. Together, they surrounded him and divvied up who would eat which part of him. Before they could harm him, however, the Lion Guard arrived and chased them off.[28]
Hyena Resistance
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After watching the Lion Guard thwart an Outlander attack in the Pride Lands, Jasiri remarked to Kion on how strange it was that the Outlanders had been banding together. He explained that they were all fighting under Scar's banner and offered her and her clan shelter in the Pride Lands. Though she thanked him for the offer, she insisted that they must protect their territory. Later, in the Outlands, she persuaded her clan to form a Hyena Resistance against Scar and his army.
Working together, the Hyena Resistance foiled several of Scar's plots. One day, they celebrated their success with the Lion Guard on the border of the Pride Lands and the Outlands, unaware that Scar's skink spies had overheard them. In an attempt to cripple the Hyena Resistance, Scar ordered Janja to lay a false trail for the Lion Guard, then attack Jasiri's clan in the Outlands. The plan went into motion, and the Army of Scar surrounded the Hyena Resistance. Just in time, the Lion Guard arrived to save them, driving the Army of Scar away. In the commotion, Janja got knocked into a lava pit, but Jasiri saved him. She encouraged him to join the Hyena Resistance, but, after a moment of hesitation, he refused and fled.
After the battle, Jasiri and Kion solidified their alliance against Scar and his army.[29]
Army of Scar's battles with Shujaa
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One day, Janja's clan attacked Basi's pod at Big Springs alongside Kiburi's float and Reirei's pack. Before the Outlanders could harm the hippos, the Lion Guard and Shujaa the gorilla arrived, and Shujaa heaved rocks and trees at the Outlanders until they fled. Upon hearing from his army how destructive Shujaa's attacks had been, Scar resolved to use the gorilla's lack of control to destroy the Pride Lands.
Together, the three groups returned to the Pride Lands and attacked a herd of sable antelope. As Scar had predicted, Shujaa caused destruction in trying to stop the Outlanders. In the midst of the fight, Kion ordered the sable antelope to get back, then used the Roar of the Elders to defeat the Outlanders.
Later, the three groups assaulted Big Springs yet again, this time setting fire to the nearby grass. Before a fight could break out between the Outlanders and Basi's pod, Beshte ordered the hippos to stay in the water while he put out the fire. Though the Lion Guard attempted to fight off the Outlanders and put out the fire, Beshte got injured, and Shujaa had to carry him to safety. Once Beshte was safe, the gorilla turned on the Outlanders and fought them off, this time less destructively.[30]
Army of Scar's attack on Makuu's watering hole
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Upon hearing that Kion's alliance with the crocodiles was fraying, Scar ordered his army to attack Makuu's watering hole. However, the Lion Guard and their Pride Lander allies arrived and defeated the Outlanders.[31]
Army of Scar's attack on Mizimu Grove
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During Makini's mpando mpaya at Mizimu Grove, the Army of Scar attacked. Though the Lion Guard and the Pride Landers worked together to defend themselves, they faltered when Scar's spirit emerged in a nearby fire and threatened to overtake the whole of the Pride Lands. Terrified, the Pride Landers fled Mizimu Grove, and Kion used the Roar of the Elders to expel the Outlanders.[32]
Battle for the Pride Lands
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Over the seasons, Jasiri's clan assisted the Lion Guard in stopping the Army of Scar's attacks on the Pride Lands. Eventually, Simba deduced that they must take the fight to Scar in the Outlands, and Jasiri pledged her clan's support.
Meanwhile, Janja guarded Kilio Valley alongside Cheezi and Chungu, during which time he pondered if they would be happier working with the Lion Guard and Jasiri's clan. Though he ultimately dismissed these thoughts, the skinks noticed his wavering loyalty to Scar. He, in turn, lied to Janja that Kion could only defeat him by using his most powerful Roar in the volcano's inner chamber. He then ordered the hyenas to distract the Lion Guard while he made his move against the Pride Landers.
That night, Janja's clan baited the Lion Guard into following them into the Lair of the Lion Guard. At the same time, the rest of Scar's army set fire to Pride Rock, trapping both the Guard and Janja's clan inside the Lair. After managing to escape, Janja realized that Scar had double-crossed them and appealed to Jasiri for help. At the same time, the Guard helped the other hyenas escape through an underwater tunnel.
After the fire had gone out and the Outlanders had vacated Pride Rock, Jasiri brought Janja before Kion and Simba, and claimed that he possessed incriminating information on Scar. Though Simba was hesitant to trust Janja, Makuu vouched for him and vowed to eat him should his information prove unhelpful. Janja then revealed what Scar had told him about Kion's Roar, and the Pride Landers resolved to invade the Outlands and use Kion to defeat Scar once and for all. Unbeknownst to Janja, Scar revealed to Ushari that he had lied about Kion's Roar, for if Kion did indeed roar inside the volcano, it would cause an eruption that would destroy the Pride Lands.
The next morning, the Pride Landers and their hyena allies invaded the Outlands and did battle against Scar's army. Eventually, they triumphed, and Kion defeated Scar with help from the Great Lions of the Past. Janja nominated Jasiri to be the queen of the Outlands and warned his fellow Outlanders that they would have to answer to him and his clanmates if they did not heed her orders. Afterward, Kion left to seek healing for a fresh scar from Rafiki, while Jasiri ensured that the Pride Landers got home safely.[33]
Janja and Jasiri's journey to the Tree of Life
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Upon learning that Zira was planning to invade the Pride Lands, Janja and Jasiri journeyed to the Tree of Life to warn the Lion Guard. Together, the Guard and the hyenas traveled back to the Pride Lands. Along the way, Kion accidentally opened a fissure in the Great Stone Wall, which began to flood a nearby valley. While Janja, Jasiri, Azaad, and Fuli helped evacuate some klipspringers who were in the floodwaters' path, the rest of the Guard threw rocks into Kion's Roar, which sealed up the dam. Afterward, the group proceeded into the Outlands.[34]
Once in the Outlands, the group reunited with Cheezi, Chungu, Madoa, and Mzingo. Together, they approached the border of the Pride Lands and the Outlands, where they were attacked by Vitani and her self-formed Lion Guard. Eventually, Kiara intervened and revealed that the Outsiders had joined Simba's pride. After the battle, Jasiri told Kion that he knew where to find them, should he ever need their help.[35]
Kion's coronation
Janja, Jasiri, Cheezi, and Chungu attended Kion's wedding to Rani at the Tree of Life.[35]
Physical characteristics
Hyenas are moderately sized animals. They tend to have gray coats with black spots,[2] though some hyenas' coats have hues of pink or purple.[15] They have large black ears, black paws, and spotted hides. Their eyes can be black,[2] blue, or brown.[15]
Sociocultural characteristics
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Hyenas are typically scavengers who pick off what is left of larger predators' prey. Some hyenas hunt rather than scavenge, which sometimes results in over-hunting. These more gluttonous hyena clans have given their species a bad name, as other species tend to assume that they do not respect the Circle of Life. Hyenas are known to eat antelope,[6] giraffes,[24] zebras,[12] and even jackals.[24] In some rare cases, they risk hunting elephants, though they typically avoid such large, deadly prey.[19]
Most hyenas live in the Outlands.[6] During Scar's reign, Shenzi's clan was allowed entry into the Pride Lands, but they were later banished by Simba for having upset the Circle of Life.[2] While Jasiri's clan lives near a watering hole, Janja's clan lived inside a volcano.[15][5] Hyena clans are territorial and tend to stay out of one another's way. However, a hyena may steal another hyena's turf if the clan leader forgets to mark their territory at the start of a new season.[21]
Hyenas live in clans that are typically led by a female.[2][15] In some rare cases, such as in the case of Janja's clan, they are led by a male. However, Janja's clan eventually merged with Jasiri's clan, and Janja submitted to her leadership.[33]
Notable hyenas
Appearances
Trivia
- Though Nuka claims that the hyenas "ran off" in The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, a promotional video for The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar claims that Janja's clan is descended from Shenzi's clan.[3][36]
References
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