The Lion Guard

The Lion Guard is an American animated television series that premiered with a one-hour movie, The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar, on November 22, 2015 which was followed by a television series on Disney Junior on January 15, 2016. It features Kion, the son of Simba and Nala.

On March 4, 2016, Season 2 was announced by Disney Junior. According to Kevin Schon, it was expected to premiere in Fall 2017 with an hour-long special. But then, it was announced as July 7th with 2 episodes, "Babysitter Bunga" and "The Savannah Summit".

In March 2017, a third season was commissioned, which premiered on August 3, 2019. On January 23, 2019, it was confirmed the third season will be the last, with production wrapping on July 19 of said year.

Premise
"Set in the African Savanna, The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar follows Kion as he assembles the members of the Lion Guard", a news release for the show reads. "Throughout the movie and the series, the diverse team of young animals will learn how to utilize each of their unique abilities to solve problems and accomplish tasks to maintain balance within the Circle of Life, while also introducing young viewers to the vast array of animals that populate the prodigious African landscape".

Main

 * Max Charles as Kion
 * Joshua Rush as Bunga
 * Diamond White as Fuli
 * Atticus Shaffer as Ono
 * Dusan Brown as Beshte

Recurring

 * Rob Lowe as Simba
 * Gabrielle Union as Nala
 * Eden Riegel as Kiara
 * Khary Payton as Rafiki
 * Jeff Bennett as Zazu
 * Kevin Schon as Timon and Chungu
 * Ernie Sabella as Pumbaa
 * David Oyelowo as Scar
 * Gary Anthony Williams as Mufasa
 * Blair Underwood as Makuu
 * Andrew Kishino as Janja, Hitashi and Ora
 * Vargus Mason as Cheezi
 * Ana Gasteyer as Reirei
 * Phil LaMarr as Goigoi
 * Johnny Rees as Mzingo
 * Christian Slater as Ushari
 * Landry Bender as Makini
 * Common as Kiburi
 * Michael Dorn as Bupu
 * Steve Blum as Makucha

Guest Stars

 * Maia Mitchell as Jasiri
 * Nika Futterman as Zira
 * Andy Dick as Nuka
 * Lacey Chabert as Vitani
 * Jason Marsden as Kovu
 * Nolan North as Tamka
 * Jorge Diaz as Nduli and Mapigano
 * Carla Hall as Mpishi
 * Sinbad as Uroho
 * Renée Elise Goldsberry as Dhahabu
 * Justin Hires as Hodari
 * Kristofer Hivju as Kenge
 * Rico Rodriguez as Raha
 * Raini Rodriguez as Starehe
 * Jacob Bertrand as Chama
 * Mekai Curtis as Furaha
 * Cade Sutton as Mzaha
 * C.C.H. Pounder as Kongwe
 * AJ McLean as Kuchimba
 * Christopher Jackson as Shujaa and Kitendo
 * Bryana Salaz as Anga
 * Peyton Elizabeth Lee as Rani
 * Heather Headley as Fikiri
 * Michael Luwoye as Askari
 * J. Elaine Marcos as Yuki
 * Kimiko Glenn as Chuluun
 * Behzad Dabu as Azaad
 * Shohreh Aghdashloo as Janna

Development
The series' announcement came after a meeting between Disney Junior general manager Nancy Kanter and Disney chief executive Robert Iger. Iger suggested to Kanter that Disney Junior should consider producing content to celebrate the 20th anniversary of The Lion King in 2014. Disney has shown early footage to young test audiences, who were able to make suggestions, such as adjusting the look of the hyenas. Disney Consumer Products launched a line of toys to tie into the television series.

At least five book titles based on the series were released in January 2016: Kion, Pride of the Pridelands, Can't Wait To Be Queen, Bunga's Big Adventure, Meet the New Guard and Kion's Animal Alphabet.

Spin-Off
In January 2016, a spin-off series called It's UnBungalievable! was released and features Bunga and Ono.

Trivia

 * This is the second The Lion King television program, the first was Timon & Pumbaa.
 * As revealed by Ford Riley in an interview for TV Daily, The Lion Guard takes place in between Kiara's first encounter with Kovu and her first hunt in The Lion King II: Simba's Pride. This statement was confirmed in the episode "Lions of the Outlands".
 * However, the last two episodes take place after the end of The Lion King II.
 * Unlike any of the previous productions in The Lion King franchise, most episodes of this TV series do not include any cartoon sound effects entirely (due to having a more realistic theme), although fewer episodes, such as Janja's New Crew and Rafiki's New Neighbors did, however, include a few cartoon sound effects, such as a coconut hit sound effect.
 * It is the first Disney Junior show to feature character deaths, being Ushari and Janna.