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.

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
 * Dusan Brown as Beshte
 * Atticus Shaffer as Ono

Supporting

 * Rob Lowe as Simba
 * Gabrielle Union as Nala
 * Eden Riegel as Kiara
 * Khary Payton as Rafiki
 * Jeff Bennett as Zazu
 * Kevin Schon as Timon
 * Ernie Sabella as Pumbaa

Recurring

 * Gary Anthony Williams as Mufasa (James Earl Jones in Return of the Roar)
 * David Oyelowo as Scar
 * Greg Ellis as Mzingo
 * Cam Clarke as Mwoga
 * Madison Pettis as Zuri
 * Sarah Hyland as Tiifu
 * Andrew Kishino as Janja
 * Vargus Mason as Cheezi
 * Kevin Schon as Chungu and Thurston
 * Beau Black as Nne
 * Dee Bradley Baker as Tano
 * Blair Underwood as Makuu
 * Maia Mitchell as Jasiri
 * Kevin Michael Richardson as Basi
 * Ana Gasteyer as Reirei
 * Phil LaMarr as Goigoi and Shingo
 * Jacob Guenther as Dogo and Shauku
 * Christian Slater as Ushari
 * Lynette DuPree as Ma Tembo
 * Michael Dorn as Bupu
 * Alex Cartana as Twiga
 * Kari Wahlgren as Muhimu and Young Rhino
 * Tunisia Hardison as Swala
 * Justin Felbinger as Mtoto
 * Russi Taylor as Mbuni and Muhanga
 * Khary Payton as Muhangus
 * Virginia Watson as Vuruga Vuruga and Mtoto’s Mom
 * Nick Watt as Zito
 * Howy Parkins as Mbeya
 * Maisie Klompus as Madoa
 * Fiona Hart as Wema
 * Crimson Hart as Tunu
 * Landry Bender as Makini
 * Lyons Luke Mathias as Hamu and Kwato
 * Meghan Strange as Laini and Shupavu
 * Sinbad as Uroho
 * C.J. Byrnes as Tamaa

Guest

 * Jason Marsden as Kovu
 * Andy Dick as Nuka
 * Lacey Chabert as Vitani
 * Nika Futterman as Zira
 * Erica Luttrell as Boboka and Lioness
 * Renée Elise Goldsberry as Dhahabu
 * Common as Kiburi
 * Gerald C. Rivers as Pua
 * Jacquez Swanigan as Gumba
 * McKenna Grace as Kambuni
 * Steve Blum as Makucha
 * Ron Funches as Ajabu
 * Jack McBrayer as Badili
 * Jorge Diaz as Mapigano
 * Carla Hall as Mpishi
 * Charlie Adler as Mjomba
 * Marieve Herington as Ogopa
 * Ogie Banks as Haya
 * John O'Hurley as Hadithi
 * John Rhys-Davies as King Sokwe
 * Dan Howell and Phil Lester as Majinuni and Hafifu
 * Maurice LaMarche as Kifaru
 * Rhys Darby as Mwenzi
 * Amber Hood as Kijana
 * Ivy Bishop as Juhudi
 * Ace Gibson as Tumbili
 * Elise Allen as Kulinda
 * Jacob Bertrand as Chama
 * Mekai Curtis as Furaha
 * Cade Sutton as Mzaha
 * Kristofer Hivju as Kenge

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 incarnation, 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".
 * Unlike any of the previous productions in The Lion King franchise, this TV series usually does not include any cartoon sound effects entirely (due to having a more realistic theme), although "Rafiki's New Neighbors" did, however, include a head bonk sound effect (which temporarily counts as a cartoon sound effect).