Kion/Relationships

The relationships of Kion from The Lion Guard.

Family

Simba

Simba and Kion

Simba and Kion have a close and affectionate father-son relationship. He loves his father immensely and will do anything to make his father happy.

Initially, Simba was against informing his son about his destiny, however, he agreed after Nala and Rafiki explained the importance of Kion's abilities. When Simba heard of Kion's choices for members of the Guard, he (incorrectly) assumed that Kion wasn't taking his responsibilities seriously. His opinion changed after Kion and his friends rescued Kiara from a stampede set by Janja.

Simba often gives Kion advice and comfort whenever he needs it. He also helped Kion defeat Reirei in "The Kupatana Celebration".

Nala

Kion and Nala

Kion and Nala have a loving and affectionate mother-son relationship. He cares about her safety and becomes deeply concerned about her whenever she's in danger, as seen in "Never Roar Again".

Unlike Simba at first, Nala accepted that it was time for Kion to lead the Lion Guard, and showed immense pride in him when he and the Lion Guard defeated Janja and his clan. She often gives Kion the maternal advice and support he needs.

Kiara

Kiara and Kion

Kion has a typical sibling relationship with Kiara. They do hold affection for each other, but are occasionally prone to sibling rivalry. Over the course of the series, they appear to be on better terms with each other.

Unlike his granduncle, Scar, Kion doesn't hold resentment or jealousy towards his older sister, and in fact seems content that she is the heir to the throne instead of him, suggesting he is happier for it.

Mufasa

Due to his death before Kion was born, Kion never physically interacted with his paternal grandfather. However, Simba apparently told him about Mufasa's legacy, as Kion automatically recognized and correctly identified Mufasa's spirit. Kion holds an intense amount of respect and love for his grandfather. When Kion doubted his position as the new leader of the Lion Guard, Mufasa comforted him and gave him the support he needed. Throughout the series, Mufasa continues to guide Kion and show him the correct path. He understands that Scar didn't have Kion's genuine ability to love and care for others and gently reminded Kion of this fact.

Scar

Due to his death before Kion was born, Kion never physically interacted with his paternal granduncle. However, Simba apparently told him about Scar, as Kion holds his granduncle in low esteem. In fact, Kion's worst fear is that he'll end up being like Scar. When encountering Scar's spirit, Kion starts to despise his granduncle for his crimes against the Pride Landers, and for trying to kill his father. After saving his father's life, Kion starts to make it his mission to defeat Scar and stop him from taking over the Pride Lands and breaking The Circle of Life.

Bunga

Kion, Fuli and Bunga

Before Kion discovered his destiny as the Leader of the Lion Guard, he and Bunga would play together at Pride Rock, or throughout the Pride Lands, having been best friends since they were young children.

One day, while playing Baobab Ball, Kion and Bunga unintentionally disrupted Kion's older sister, Kiara's lesson with their father, Simba. At Simba's suggestion, Bunga leads Kion into the heart of the Savannah.

After Bunga becomes captured by Cheezi and Chungu, Kion uses the Roar of the Elders to protect his best friend.

Later, the duo returns to Pride Rock, to find Kion's parents and Rafiki waiting for him. After Simba explains the history of the Guard, Kion and Bunga head into the Pride Lands to assemble Kion's team.

After Bunga's subtle attempts at convincing him, Kion agrees to assign Bunga a position on that Guard as the bravest member, Kion and Bunga then meet up with Fuli, Ono, and Beshte, Kion explains the situation and at Bunga's insistence agrees to do a demonstration of the Roar. The attempt fails and Simba approaches to scold his son.

Later, Bunga rushes to inform Kion of a stampede set by Janja, and Kion rushes to the scene. Together, Kion and his friends come up with a plan to rescue Kiara and defeat Janja, their plan is successful, and Simba accepts Kion's decision.

In The Lion Guard, Bunga assists Kion in preserving the Circle of Life, and protecting the Pridelands.

In "Bunga and the King", it is revealed that Bunga is the adoptive uncle of Kion and Kiara.

Friends and Allies

Fuli

Kion and Fuli

After Kion becomes the leader of the Lion Guard, he appoints Fuli the position as the fastest member of the group. Initially, Fuli is distrustful of Kion's team, and laments on the importance of lions in the Pride Lands. Later, Kion and Fuli watch as Janja invades the Pridelands, and Kion formulates a plan to defeat Janja's Clan. He gifts Fuli with the Mark of the Guard, and the two exchange a fond glance, before rushing into action.

In The Lion Guard, Fuli continues to aid Kion in defending and protecting the Pride Lands. She often assumes a position of leadership whenever he is absent, as if she is his second-in-command.

Beshte

When Kion becomes the leader of the Lion Guard, he appoints Beshte the position as the strongest member of the group. Kion understands Beshte's personality and traits better then their friends do, as he understood that Beshte wouldn't make things up, and defended him when Ono and Bunga criticized him.

Ono

Beshte, Kion, Ono and Fuli

When Kion becomes the leader of the Lion Guard, he appoints Ono the position as the keenest of sight member of the group.

Timon and Pumbaa

Timon and Pumbaa are good friends of Kion.

It appears that Kion gets on well with Timon and Pumbaa as they cared for his father when he was a cub and that they are the adoptive uncles of his best friend Bunga.

Jasiri

At first, Kion distrusted Jasiri because she was a hyena, believing that all hyenas were evil. However, they eventually warmed up to each other with Kion learning that not all hyenas are bad.

When Jasiri was threatened by Janja and his clan, Kion returned to save his new friend, before parting on good terms from her.

Kion later came to Jasiri's aid when the Outsiders took over her clan's waterhole.

Pua

Like his family, Kion holds Pua in high esteem for his wise leadership.

Makuu

Kion and Makuu initially started out as enemies, due to Makuu's arrogance as well as the fact that he had treated the Circle of Life as a joke, because of this, he held the latter in low esteem, the two have also classed in each of their encounters, however, during "The Savannah Summit", Makuu has changed his ways, but Kion was initially wary and distrustful of the latter, due to their previous encounters, however, after some encouragement from his grandfather, Mufasa, Kion comes to trust and respect Makuu.

Acquaintances

Tiifu

Tiifu, like Kion is a member of the Pridelanders and is best friends with his sister Kiara. The two clashed in "Can't Wait to be Queen" when Tiifu, along with Zuri, served as an adviser to Kiara during her temporary queenship and made a snide remark at Kion because he wasn't as quick thinking as Kiara and she immaturely relished in her "power" as an advisor. Later, Kion was disgusted with Tiifu and Zuri when they allowed Kiara to meet with Janja alone as they believed she would be okay on her own.

However in "Fuli's New Family," Kion is seen smiling at Tiifu as she practices hunting, perhaps hinting that Kion and Tiifu made up with each other after he and Kiara returned to Pride Rock.

Zuri

Zuri is another member of the Pridelanders and like Tiifu, is a friend of Kiara's. In "Can't Wait to Be Queen", Zuri served as an "advisor" to Kiara and laughed when Tiifu made a snide remark at Kion for not being as quick thinking as Kiara. Later, Kion was disgusted when Zuri and Tiifu allowed Kiara to go and meet Janja alone and berates them for this. However, Zuri (out of arrogance) doesn't care about what Kion said as he's not the queen.

In the comic "The Day of the Crocodiles", if the reader chooses Fuli's idea, Kion would save Zuri from Makuu and his float. Afterwards, Zuri nuzzles a uncomfortable Kion, saying that she thinks he will grow into a big, strong and brave lion someday, perhaps hinting that she has developed romantic feelings for him.

Enemies

Janja

Janja is the arch nemesis of Kion. Ever since they first met, Kion and the Lion Guard have faced and defeated Janja and his clan members as they have no respect for the Circle of Life and keep trying to hunt the animals that live in the Pride Lands. Every time he confronts Kion directly attacks Janja.

Cheezi and Chungu

Cheezi and Chungu join their leader Janja and the other members of their clan in hunting the animals of the Pride Lands, but are always stopped by Kion and the Lion Guard.

Reirei

Reirei, her mate Goigoi and their sons tricked Kion and the Lion Guard into thinking they were nice and convinced them to let them stay in the Pride Lands for Kupatana, to which Kion reluctantly agreed.

However, after Reirei and her family attacked the other animals during Kupatana, Kion saw through her trickery and demanded that she and her family return to the Outlands. But Reirei tried to get Kion to give her and her family another chance, but fled when Kion's father Simba roared at the jackals.

Zira

Kion first meets Zira after learning from Jasiri that the Outsiders were not sharing the waterhole with Jasiri's clan. After learning that Kion possesses the Roar of the Elders (like Scar once did), Zira tried to get Kion to side with the Outsiders; if he didn't, he would never leave the Outlands alive. She also told him that she knew Scar lost his Roar because he used it on his fellow lions, making Kion reluctant to use it on the Outsiders, when they surrounded him.

After learning that Zira was mistaken about the Roar and that Scar had actually lost his Roar because he used it for evil, Kion declared that Zira was not welcome in the Pride Lands or Outlands and used the Roar to blast the Outsiders to a different part of the Outlands.

Kiburi 

When Kion first met Kiburi, he attempted to attack the impalas but before he could Kion got behind his back and the two fought until Simba and Makuu confronted him. Later Kion ruins Kiburi's plan to kill his father by defeating his 3 crocodiles. The four evil crocodiles were then banished from the Pride Lands as a punishment for their crime.