| Timon | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Physical information | |||
| Gender |
Male | ||
| Species | |||
| Hair color |
Brown, cream, red, and tan | ||
| Eye color |
Black | ||
| Biographical information | |||
| Also known as |
• Honey (by Ma) | ||
| Status |
Living | ||
| Residence |
• Pride Lands | ||
| Affiliations |
• Pride Landers | ||
| Titles |
• Sentry (formerly) | ||
| Relationship information | |||
| Family |
Ma (mother) | ||
| Allies |
| ||
| Enemies |
Banzai, Ed, Scar, Shenzi, Zira, Kovu (formerly), Nala (formerly) | ||
What's the point? All we do is dig so we can hide and hide so we can dig. I wanna be where we don't have to dig tunnels and live with our heads stuck in the sand. What's so bad about dreaming of a better home?Timon
Timon is a male meerkat. He is the adoptive uncle of Bunga and Simba.
Initially, Timon lived with his colony in a territory outside the Pride Lands. However, after he failed to warn his colony about a hyena attack, he left to find his dream home. Along the way, he met a warthog named Pumbaa, who joined him on his quest. Eventually, the two found a jungle paradise, where they settled down and adopted a "Hakuna Matata" lifestyle.
Later, when Simba fled the Pride Lands, he nearly died from exposure in the desert. Timon and Pumbaa rescued the cub and revived him in their jungle home. They proceeded to teach Simba the "Hakuna Matata" lifestyle, and he adopted it readily. Over the seasons, the three became close friends. One day, when Simba was full-grown, his childhood friend Nala found him in the jungle and implored him to return to the Pride Lands and reclaim his birthright. Timon and Pumbaa joined Simba in his quest to take back the throne and participated in the battle of Pride Rock, from which Simba and his allies emerged victorious.
In the seasons following Simba's ascent to kingship, Timon and Pumbaa became frequent babysitters of his rambunctious daughter, Kiara. Additionally, they became adoptive uncles of a young honey badger named Bunga.
Biography
Early life
And what about us meerkats? Where I come from, we didn't have nothin' to be proud of.Timon
Timon was born to Ma. He was a member of a colony of meerkats who lived in a territory outside of the Pride Lands. Growing up, he had trouble fitting in and earned a bad reputation for messing up his colony's tunnels.[1]
Hyena attack
I, uh... I guess I owe everyone an apology. All right, so I made a teensy mistake. Like we all haven't broken into song on sentry duty before.Timon, after he fails to warn his colony about a hyena attack
One day, Timon attempted to build a skylight, but his efforts caused his colony's entire tunnel network to collapse. The rest of the meerkats were furious with him, but Ma came to his defense and drew him aside for a chat. Once away from the rest of the colony, Ma chided Timon for having caused so many accidents in just one month, and Timon lamented how meerkats only ever dug and hid. He tried to impress his dream of finding a better home on his mother, but she showed him the distant Pride Lands and reminded him that it belonged to someone else. She added that it was nature's design.
Just then, Max appeared and began to rave about how meerkats were "feared by no one and eaten by all." Though Ma got annoyed by Max's excitableness, she admitted that he was right and tried to think of a way to help Timon fit in. While she was thinking, she overheard Max asking the colony whose turn it was for sentry duty, and she got the idea to nominate Timon for the job.
Ma proposed the idea to Max, but he worried that Timon would fail and get the colony killed. Ma argued that sentry duty was perfect for Timon, then asked the colony if they wanted Timon to go back on tunnel duty. In the face of their resounding refusal, she told Timon to listen to Max and urged him to make this job work.
Timon obediently followed Max to a rock on the edge of the colony's turf and listened unenthusiastically as his uncle demonstrated how to "scurry," "sniff," and "flinch." Though Timon mocked Max for his fervent attitude, his uncle clapped back that he would not be so amused when he got into danger.
Once Max had gone, Timon attempted to scurry, sniff, and flinch. However, while doing so, he began to fantasize about his dream home and failed to notice three hyenas named Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed sneaking up on him. Before long, the three had him surrounded, and Shenzi clapped sarcastically at the end of his performance. She then shoved him aside, and she and her companions dashed past him to invade the colony. Meanwhile, Timon rolled down a hill and smacked into Max, who was initially angry at him but soon realized that the meerkats were under attack.
In the midst of the chaos, Ma pulled Timon into the safety of a tunnel. Max nearly got eaten by the hyenas but managed to escape down a hole just in time. From the safety of the underground, the meerkats turned their ire on Timon, who attempted to brush off his failures. However, he wilted when Max pointed out that he had trusted his nephew. The colony proceeded to leave Timon alone in the midst of the tunnel.[1]
Departure for a new home
The Lion King 1½Timon meets Rafiki
After the hyena attack, Timon went outside and sat by himself. A concerned Ma followed him outside and assured him that he was liked. However, when Timon pointed out that no one liked him besides her, she could not refute him. Timon went on that his place was not with his colony, and though at first reluctant to let him go, she eventually told him that she hoped he would find what he was looking for. The two shared an embrace, and Timon assured his mother that he would be all right.
As Timon set out in search of his dream home, Ma continually called advice to him until she was out of earshot. Timon went on alone until he reached Rafiki's tree, where he broke down in tears and lamented that he had no idea where to go. In answer, Rafiki hung down from his tree and pointed out that it depended on where Timon wanted to go. Timon explained that he wanted to find a beautiful and carefree place where he did not have to hide or worry. Laughing, Rafiki informed him that he was seeking "Hakuna Matata" and that he must "look beyond" what he saw in order to find it.
Heeding Rafiki's advice, Timon scoped the nearby landscape and pinpointed Pride Rock on the horizon. He asked Rafiki if that was where he should go, but the mandrill had already disappeared. Timon then set off for Pride Rock, believing it to be his dream home.[1]
Meeting Pumbaa
Pumbaa, this could be the start of a beautiful...acquaintanceship.Timon, after he meets Pumbaa
While en route to Pride Rock, Timon entered a patch of tall grass. Just then, he heard a strange noise and saw a mysterious animal charging toward him. Terrified, Timon fled, only to run into the creature, who turned out to be a warthog named Pumbaa. The two began to scream in fear, each startled by the other, until Timon got down on his knees and begged Pumbaa not to eat him. Pumbaa quickly assured Timon that he was not going to eat him, and an indignant Timon demanded to know why Pumbaa had been "stalking" him. Pumbaa explained that he had seen Timon on his own and gotten worried that such a small animal would be in danger.
Timon countered that Pumbaa was alone as well, and Pumbaa admitted that many animals gave him a wide berth. Intrigued, Timon asked if this included predators, and Pumbaa confirmed this, adding that when animals saw him coming, they ran for cover. This prompted Timon to "hire" Pumbaa to deliver him safely to Pride Rock. Pumbaa readily agreed to the task and asked if they were friends, but Timon clarified that they were merely acquaintances. The two proceeded to introduce themselves, then set off toward Pride Rock. Along the way, they bonded over the fact that they both liked to eat grubs.[1]
Simba's presentation
It's a land rush. That loudmouth monkey! He must've blabbed it to the whole world!Timon on Simba's presentation
While walking toward Pride Rock, Timon and Pumbaa nearly got trampled by a crowd of animals who were en route to Simba's presentation. Eventually, the duo caught up to them, only to pull up short when they realized that the animals had formed a giant crowd at the base of Pride Rock. Enraged, Timon blamed Rafiki for the conundrum, then mused that he must look beyond what he saw in order to find his dream home. Pumbaa suggested that he look beyond the pointy rock, and Timon quickly claimed the idea as his own. Doing as Pumbaa had advised, he peered beyond Pride Rock and made out a copse of trees on the horizon.
Determined to make the copse his dream home, Timon urged Pumbaa to cut through the crowd of animals with him. Though Pumbaa protested and resisted the idea, Timon grabbed him by his tusk and towed him through the crowd. Eventually, Pumbaa grew so anxious and nauseous that he pulled away from Timon and tried to head back to the fringes of the crowd, but Timon stopped him by grabbing his tail, which caused him to release a giant burst of gas. Within moments, the animals around the duo had fallen over in dead faints.
After a moment of shocked silence, Timon complimented Pumbaa for his "special power." Pumbaa was surprised that Timon did not mind his gas, but the meerkat merely laughed the incident off. The two then set off through the crowd of fainted animals and continued on toward Timon's dream home.[1]
Searching for his dream home
The Lion King 1½Timon and Pumbaa on the jungle
Upon arriving at the copse of trees, Timon constructed a hammock and declared that his new home was all his. Disappointed, Pumbaa began to walk off into the savanna, but Timon reminded him that he did not have to go. This brightened Pumbaa's mood, and the warthog came rushing back to Timon and revealed that he had constructed two nests for them in a nearby cave. The duo entered the cave, and Timon promptly took the larger of the nests, leaving Pumbaa to squeeze into the smaller one.
One morning, Timon and Pumbaa awoke to the sound of animals dancing and singing overhead. Annoyed by the noise, Timon went outside, where he beheld a tall tower of animals. Fetching a nearby stick, he whacked at the tower, and it began to teeter precariously. Just before the animals could fall on top of Timon, Pumbaa pulled him to safety.
After the incident, Timon and Pumbaa continued searching for a new dream home. Though Pumbaa tried to tell Timon about a tropical oasis that he had once visited, Timon insisted that he was a realist and that he could not go chasing after "some fantasy." The duo continued on until they reached the Elephant Graveyard. Once there, Timon declared that he had found his new dream home. However, when he leaned against a nearby elephant tusk, the hollowed bone broke, and he fell through. Just then, Mufasa rushed past and began fighting the hyenas, while Timon and Pumbaa retreated and watched in horror from a nearby elephant skull.
Continuing on, the friends reached an area of geysers, which Timon tried to make his new home. However, when he tried to lounge back on a geyser, it erupted and sent him flying into the air. He tried to brush the incident off, but no sooner had he spoken when an army of hyenas marched past. After a moment, Timon and Pumbaa inconspicuously danced away from the danger.
Finally, Timon and Pumbaa reached the gorge. Timon decided to make the gorge his new home, only for a stampede of wildebeests to come barreling down the canyon toward them. Terrified, the duo fled until they ended up getting trapped atop a wildebeest's horns. The creature pulled to a halt, and Timon and Pumbaa got catapulted into a nearby river. The two were swept along by the current until they fell off a tall waterfall and landed in a pool of water below.
Once safely on shore, Timon lay flat on his back with a flower on his chest. Pumbaa approached and asked Timon if he was okay, but the meerkat declared that he was giving up and that Pumbaa should go home. In the face of Timon's certainty, Pumbaa confessed that he did not have a home, and Timon admitted that he was alone as well and that Pumbaa was his only friend. Delighted, Pumbaa asked if he meant it, and Timon confirmed that he did, then declared that friends stuck together to the end.[1]
Hakuna Matata
The monkey was right. We found it! The perfect life.Timon on the jungle
The next morning, Timon and Pumbaa awoke in a jungle paradise. Pumbaa reminded Timon that this was the place he had been mentioning, but Timon, misunderstanding Pumbaa, declared that the jungle was better than whatever place Pumbaa had been envisioning as their dream home. The friends proceeded to settle into their new home. At one point, Timon commented that Rafiki had been right about his dream home, but he soon realized that he had forgotten the name the mandrill had used to describe it. Though Pumbaa suggested several two-word phrases, none rang a bell until he said, "Hakuna matata. It means 'no worries.'" Immediately, the two friends exchanged incredulous glances, and from thenceforth, they lived according to the "Hakuna Matata" philosophy.[1]
Meeting Simba
The Lion KingTimon teaches Simba about "Hakuna Matata"
One day, Timon and Pumbaa went bowling for porcupines, and Timon ended up getting multiple quills embedded in his backside. After the incident, Pumbaa helped remove the quills with his teeth. No sooner had he finished when he noticed vultures gathering in the desert and urged Timon to go bowling for buzzards with him. Sarcastically, Timon remarked that there must be some part of him that had not been injured yet. Pumbaa pled with Timon to reconsider, but the meerkat continually refused until Pumbaa finally admitted defeat. However, Timon jumped into Pumbaa's mane and declared that one more run would not change their lives.[1]
Together, Timon and Pumbaa scattered the vultures. Once the birds had flown away, Pumbaa told Timon that the animal upon which the vultures had been feasting was still alive. Repulsed, Timon inspected the creature, only to flee when he realized that it was a lion. Though he urged Pumbaa to run, the warthog pointed out that the lion was cute and all alone, and asked Timon if they could keep him. A hysterical Timon pointed out that lions ate "guys" like them, but Pumbaa retorted that the cub was little. Timon proclaimed that he would grow bigger, and Pumbaa surmised that he might grow up to be on their side. Though Timon laughed the idea off, he soon claimed the proposition as his own and commented that having a lion around might not be such a bad idea. At Timon's direction, Pumbaa lifted the cub in his tusks and took off for the edge of the jungle.
There, Timon and Pumbaa splashed water on the cub and revived him. Timon asked the cub, Simba, if he was okay, and he confirmed that he was. Timon tried to take credit for the cub's rescue, but Pumbaa snorted angrily at him, so he conceded that Pumbaa had helped "a little." Getting to his paws, Simba thanked the duo for their help, then marched back into the desert. Disconcerted, Timon asked where he was going, and Simba replied that he was going nowhere.
Timon and Pumbaa watched Simba depart and noted that he looked depressed. They paced after him, and Pumbaa asked what was "eating" him. In answer, Timon joked that nothing was eating Simba, for he was at the top of the food chain. However, when neither Pumbaa nor Simba responded, he broke off his laughter and asked Simba where he was from. Simba answered that it did not matter because he could not return, and Timon deduced that the cub was an outcast. Pumbaa pressed Simba on what he had done, but the cub merely replied that he had done something "terrible" and that he did not want to talk about it. Timon proclaimed that they did not want to hear about it, but Pumbaa lambasted him for his comment, then asked Simba if there was anything they could do to help. Simba replied that they could only help him by changing the past.
At this, Pumbaa attempted to quote Timon's catchphrase. However, when he misspoke, Timon interrupted him and told Simba that the correct phrase was: "You gotta put your past behind you." He then asked the cub if there was anything one could do when bad things happened, and Simba agreed. However, to the cub's shock, Timon asserted that he was wrong and that one should turn their back on the world if the world turned its back on them. Simba explained that he had been taught differently, but Timon suggested that he learn a new lesson.
Prompting Simba to repeat after him, Timon said, "Hakuna matata." In the face of the cub's confusion, Pumbaa explained that the phrase meant "no worries." Together, Timon and Pumbaa taught Simba about their problem-free philosophy and shared the story of Pumbaa, who had been made an outcast due to his flatulence problem. Simba then embraced "Hakuna Matata" himself.
The three walked deeper into the jungle, where Timon and Pumbaa showed Simba a scenic view of their home. As they continued on, Pumbaa proclaimed that he was starved, and Simba commented that he could eat a whole zebra. Disturbed, Timon informed Simba that if he wanted to live with them, he had to eat grubs. Though initially reluctant, Simba ate a grub and remarked that it was "slimy yet satisfying."[2]
Raising Simba
Anywho, rescuing Simba was a cinch. Then came the really scary part...parenthood.Timon
Over the seasons, Simba grew up with Timon and Pumbaa. Oftentimes, the cub would get into dangerous situations, and Timon would attempt to save him, to his own detriment. Simba had a habit of waking Timon up at night for various reasons, such as needing to use the bathroom or being thirsty. One night, Simba had a nightmare, and Pumbaa invited him to sleep with them. Delighted, Simba curled up on Pumbaa's tummy and drew Timon close with one paw. The three then fell fast asleep.
Seasons later, when Simba was an adolescent, Timon told Simba that he had invented "Hakuna Matata," but Simba bragged that he had "perfected" it. In an attempt to prove him wrong, Timon asked Pumbaa who the winner of various grub-eating contests had been, but Pumbaa continually answered that it had been Simba. Finally, Timon determined that they had not had a snail-slurping contest yet.
As Timon and Simba readied themselves for the contest, Pumbaa watched worriedly from the underbrush. The contest began, and the two ate down their respective piles of snails until there was only one left each. While Simba managed to eat his last snail, Timon picked up his, only to hallucinate it turning into Pumbaa. Repulsed, Timon fainted. Meanwhile, Simba sauntered off in victory, and Timon and Pumbaa lamented how quickly he had grown up.
Simba aged into a young adult, and the three continued to spend time together. One day, the three relaxed in a hot spring until Pumbaa climbed out, and the bubbles stopped. Disgusted, Timon and Simba fled the hot spring. That night, they slept together in their usual spot in a tree's giant roots.[1]
One night, Timon, Pumbaa, and Simba stargazed in an open field. Pumbaa asked Timon if he had ever wondered what the stars were, and Timon declared that they were fireflies that had gotten stuck in "that big bluish-black thing." Though Pumbaa guessed that they were balls of gas burning billions of miles away, Timon merely jested that everything was about gas with Pumbaa. Timon and Pumbaa then prompted Simba to share his theory, and he admitted that someone had once told him that the stars were the Great Kings of the Past. This made Timon and Pumbaa break into laughter, and Timon mocked the "mook" who made up such a story. At first, Simba laughed along with his friends, but then he got up and left, which made Timon wonder if he had said something wrong.[2]
Simba and Nala's romance
Pumbaa...we can't let them feel the love tonight!Timon on Simba and Nala
One day, Timon and Pumbaa strutted through the jungle singing "The Lion Sleeps Tonight". During the song, Pumbaa got distracted by a beetle and followed it away from Timon into the underbrush. Upon noticing that Pumbaa had gone, Timon stopped singing and began to search for him. Before long, he witnessed Pumbaa being chased through the jungle, and so he raced to meet his friend. While running, Pumbaa got stuck beneath a tree root and screamed at Timon that "she" was going to eat him. Timon then noticed Nala racing through the vegetation toward Pumbaa.
Despite Timon's best efforts, he could not free Pumbaa. Just before Nala could attack the duo, Simba rushed to their rescue and began fighting Nala. However, in the midst of the fight, Simba and Nala recognized one another as childhood friends and began to joyously reconnect with one another. Confused, Timon strutted in-between the two and yelled for attention. Simba proceeded to introduce Nala as his best friend. Though Pumbaa accepted the turn of events without question, Timon pointed out that Nala wanted to eat Pumbaa and demanded to know if he had missed something.
During the resulting conversation, Nala revealed that Simba was a king, which made Timon laugh and joke that she had her "lions" crossed. He commented that Simba was no king, but then turned and questioned Simba if it was true. Though Simba denied that he was a king, Nala insisted that he was, and Timon asked Simba why he had never told them the truth. Simba insisted that he was still the "same guy," but Timon added that he had power.
Politely, Nala asked if she could speak with Simba in private, but Timon insisted that whatever she had to say could be said in front of him and Pumbaa. To Timon's shock, Simba told him and Pumbaa to leave. Reluctantly, the two strode off and watched in disapproval from the underbrush as Simba and Nala nuzzled affectionately.[2] Though Pumbaa was touched by their romance, Timon feared that Simba's relationship with Nala would destroy "Hakuna Matata," and so he convinced Pumbaa to help him disrupt the two's romantic evening. Using various tactics, such as bees, a spider, and a tripping vine, Timon and Pumbaa attempted to break up Simba and Nala, to no avail. Eventually, the two admitted defeat and sobbed over the loss of their friend.[1]
Journey to the Pride Lands
He needs us? Then he shouldn't have left us! If he wants to run off to be "His Highness," well, I say, don't let the branches hit you on the way out! Leave "Hakuna Matata" to someone who appreciates it.Timon, after Simba returns to the Pride Lands
As Timon and Pumbaa left Simba and Nala behind, Timon lamented that, despite their best efforts, they had failed to hold on to their friend. Just then, Pumbaa noticed Simba and Nala arguing, and Timon rejoiced over their relationship problems. Pumbaa pointed out that Simba looked upset, but Timon insisted that it was for the best.[1]
The next morning, Timon and Pumbaa were sleeping in the jungle when Nala approached and nudged Timon with a paw, telling him to wake up. Upon opening his eyes, Timon saw Nala standing incredibly close to his face, and so he panicked, screaming so loud that Pumbaa awoke and started screaming as well. With some shushing from Nala, the two calmed, and Timon told her to never do that again, after which he complained about "carnivores."
Nala asked Timon and Pumbaa where Simba had gone, and Timon remarked that Simba had been with her. She confirmed that he had been but that she could not find him anymore. Just then, Rafiki appeared in a nearby tree and declared that "the king" had "returned." Overjoyed, Nala explained to a confused Timon and Pumbaa that Simba had returned to the Pride Lands to take his place as king.[2] She then departed to offer her help to Simba.
Pumbaa was in favor of helping Simba as well, as he did not believe that "Hakuna Matata" would be the same without him, but Timon argued that Simba had willingly left their philosophy behind in favor of his throne. Pumbaa tried to convince Timon to help Simba, but Timon accused Pumbaa of betrayal and asked what had happened to "friends stick together to the end." Pumbaa retorted that he had been about to ask Timon the same thing. Even so, Timon refused to leave, and so Pumbaa departed the jungle on his own.
After Pumbaa's departure, Timon basked in his newfound independence. However, as he visited his and his friends' old haunts, he began to lose his enthusiasm and self-assuredness. Eventually, Rafiki approached, but before he could speak, Timon began to rave about how happy he was. His ruminations soon turned to reflection as he realized that "Hakuna Matata" was not the same without his friends. He asked Rafiki to whack him on the head, and Rafiki obliged. Timon then left to help his friends.
Timon crossed the desert until he caught up with Pumbaa. In the face of Pumbaa's shock, Timon declared that friends stuck together to the end. Sobbing, the two embraced.[1]
Battle for Pride Rock
Ma, Uncle Max, you're going to dig a trap. We're going to need — dare I say it? — tunnels. Lots and lots of tunnels. And, Pumbaa, you and me, we've gotta get those hyenas away from Simba.Timon, during the battle for Pride Rock
Together, Timon and Pumbaa raced across the desert until they had crossed into the Pride Lands and reunited with Simba and Nala.[1] Shocked, Simba asked his friends what they were doing in the Pride Lands, and Pumbaa asserted that they were at his service. Timon overlooked the Pride Lands and wondered if they were going to fight Scar for such a wasteland, but when Simba said that it was his home, Timon declared that, if it was important to Simba, then they were with him to the end.
Together, Timon, Pumbaa, Simba, and Nala snuck across the Pride Lands until they beheld a large group of hyenas that was blocking their path to Pride Rock. Timon asked Simba what his plan was, and he replied, "Live bait." Though at first annoyed, Timon acquiesced to Simba's request by dressing up in a hula outfit, while Pumbaa got an apple for his mouth. The two offered to give the hyenas a juicy meal, and the plan worked, with the hyenas chasing Timon and Pumbaa away from Pride Rock.[2] The duo promptly led the hyenas into a cave, where Pumbaa used his flatulence to flush them back out.
No sooner had the hyenas gone when Ma and Max emerged from a nearby tunnel. Delighted to be reunited with her son, Ma embraced Timon, while Max looked critically at Timon's hula outfit. Timon introduced his family to Pumbaa and vice versa. Just then, Pumbaa noticed Simba being backed to the edge of Pride Rock's promontory by Scar. Timon believed that Scar and Simba were working things out, but then Simba nearly fell off the promontory, and lightning started a fire at the base of Pride Rock. In order to help Simba, Timon plotted for Ma and Max to dig a trap tunnel for the hyenas while he and Pumbaa lured the clan away from Simba.[1]
As a battle broke out between the hyenas and the lionesses, Timon and Pumbaa charged through the crowd, knocking hyenas to and fro. Banzai ended up chasing Timon into the den of Pride Rock, where the meerkat took refuge with Zazu in a bone cage. Before Banzai and Shenzi could eat the two, Pumbaa arrived and ordered them to leave his friends alone. Banzai wondered who the "pig" was, and Timon warned him that he was in for it. Enraged by the nickname, Pumbaa charged at the hyenas, beat them up, and chased them out of the cave. After the fight, Timon, Pumbaa, and Zazu emerged from the den, whooping and cheering.[2]
Meanwhile, the hyenas began chasing Simba up Pride Rock and prevented him from reaching Scar. From a nearby ledge, Timon insulted the hyenas' intelligence, which attracted their attention and caused them to chase Timon and Pumbaa up the side of Pride Rock. Eventually, the hyenas cornered the duo against a rock wall, and the two proceeded to try various tactics to stall the clan while Ma and Max dug a trap tunnel below them. At one point, Timon got so desperate that he proposed to Shenzi, but she refused, and the clan advanced on Timon and Pumbaa to eat them.
Suddenly, Ma emerged from underground and asked if she should set off the trap. Timon gave his permission, and she sprang the trap, but one of the sticks that was needed to collapse the ground got stuck by a rock. Their plan a failure, Ma and Max cowered aboveground with Timon and Pumbaa while the hyenas walked menacingly toward them. Just in time, Timon jumped between Shenzi's legs and finished the tunnel himself, which caused the ground to give way beneath the hyenas and send them plummeting to the base of Pride Rock.
After the attack, Ma worried that Timon had gotten hurt, but he soon emerged, unscathed, and she embraced him joyfully. He then let her pat his hair into place.[1]
Simba's coronation
Oh, I promised myself I wasn't gonna cry.Timon, as Simba ascends Pride Rock
Along with Pumbaa, Ma, and Max, Timon went to the base of Pride Rock for Simba's coronation. As Simba walked toward the promontory, Timon and Pumbaa bowed before him, but he drew them into a hug instead and told them that he never could have done it without them. He then ascended Pride Rock and roared over his kingdom, while Timon and Pumbaa watched in awe and pride.
During the ceremony, Ma asked Timon if he had found what he had been looking for, and he answered that he had found a place beyond his wildest dreams but that it had not been home. He then implored Ma to go home with him.[1]
Shortly after Simba's coronation, Simba and Nala had a cub, whom Rafiki presented to the Pride Lands. Timon and Pumbaa attended the ceremony atop Pride Rock.[2]
Moving his colony to the jungle
The Lion King 1½Timon and Ma, after he brings their colony to the jungle
Timon led his colony to the jungle. Upon arrival, Ma complimented Timon for having found a place that had "everything." Timon clarified that it had everything now that the whole family was there. Together, the meerkats celebrated their new home, and Timon spent time with them as well as Pumbaa and Simba.[1]
Kiara's presentation
| “ | Timon: I'm telling ya, buddy, it's gonna be like old times. You, me, and the little guy. Rafiki: It is a girl. Timon: Girl. Timon and Pumbaa: Girl?! Oy!
|
” |
One morning, Rafiki presented Simba's daughter, Kiara, to the Pride Landers. Timon and Pumbaa attended the ceremony atop Pride Rock. Afterward, Timon began fantasizing about all the adventures they would go on with the "little guy." However, Rafiki chuckled and informed the duo that Kiara was a girl. This caused them to faint.[3]
Adopting Bunga
Keep him? No, no more kids! We already raised a lion, remember? Besides, he's a honey badger. He can fend for himself.Timon to Pumbaa on Bunga
During the wet season, Timon and Pumbaa searched for the rare Utamu grub. While they were searching, they met an infant honey badger, who began following them around. While Pumbaa was immediately smitten by the youngster's cuteness and wanted to "keep" him, Timon refused and pointed out that they had already raised a lion.
Eventually, Timon tasked the honey badger with fetching some Utamu grubs from a tall tree beside a cliff. To his shock, the honey badger did so without fear. This caused him to change his mind and allow the honey badger, whom he named "Bunga," to stick around.[4]
Babysitting Kiara
Gee, Simba. The good news is, we found your daughter. The bad news is, we dropped a warthog on her. Is there a problem with that?Timon pretends to talk to Simba after Pumbaa jumps on Kiara
When Kiara left Pride Rock to play, Simba ordered Timon and Pumbaa to keep an eye on her. They followed her across the savanna but ended up scaring her into falling into a pool of water. Pumbaa immediately jumped in after her, while Timon began to fret over how Simba would react. Upon freeing herself, Kiara returned to the bank, and Pumbaa chided her for having gone off on her own. Timon joined in and began hyperventilating about all the problems Kiara could have. Eventually, Kiara got so fed up with his babying that she asked if they would just listen to her and pointed out that her royal blood was only half of her identity.
Instead of listening to Kiara, Timon suggested that they eat some grubs. Pumbaa ended up spitting out one of the grubs that Timon offered him, which made Timon lambast him for his habit of taking a bite out of a grub, then spitting it back out. The two proceeded to argue over which type of grub was the best, with Timon asserting that "crunchy" grubs were the best and Pumbaa asserting that "slimy" grubs were the best. Taking advantage of their distraction, Kiara slipped away and went into the Outlands.
After Kiara ran into Zira, the leader of the Outsiders, Simba and his allies, including Timon and Pumbaa, arrived in her defense. During the confrontation, Timon ordered Zira to leave the Pride Lands, but she roared at him, and he hid in Pumbaa's mane. At one point, Zira pointed out that her son, Kovu, had been chosen by Scar to become the next king of Pride Rock, only for Timon to mockingly call him a "fuzzy maraca." Eventually, Timon, Pumbaa, and the pride returned to Pride Rock.[3]
Dawn of the Lion Guard
I don't like the idea of Bunga signing up for some...jungle patrol.Timon on Bunga joining the Lion Guard
One day, Timon and Pumbaa helped a lion cub named Zuri free her claws from a fallen tree. However, in the midst of the rescue, Bunga arrived and distracted Pumbaa, which caused him to accidentally yank Zuri's claws out of the log. She consequently fell into a nearby fallen tree and unearthed a bunch of grubs. Delighted, Timon and Pumbaa began to feast.
Afterward, Bunga asked his adoptive uncles for permission to join the Lion Guard. Timon was against the idea, as he disliked the idea of Bunga having to work and face danger. In answer, Bunga said that he had to join the Lion Guard because of his catchphrase: "Zuka Zama." Tiifu wondered what the phrase meant, and though Timon tried to silence her, Bunga explained that it was a philosophy about enjoying chaos and ignoring strife. Timon continued to resist Bunga's promotion until Kion mentioned that he had chosen Bunga because he was the bravest animal he knew. Touched and proud, Timon relented and accepted Bunga's position on the Lion Guard.[5]
Bunga's stink problem
And in Bunga's case, he's a stinky little honey badger!Timon defends Bunga's smell
Ono attempted to get Timon and Pumbaa to help him wash away Bunga's stink, but the two stuck up for him instead. Bunga's stench soon attracted grubs, which Timon and Pumbaa lapped up eagerly.[6]
Bunga the Wise
He's even given the Lion Guard advice. Anybody remember a little thing called the dam?Timon on Bunga
After Bunga mistakenly thought that Rafiki had called him the smartest animal in the Pride Lands, he went off to tell his uncles about it. Timon and Pumbaa immediately set him up as a sage and drew a crowd of animals to their home, Hakuna Matata Falls, so they could ask Bunga for advice.
When the Lion Guard arrived at Hakuna Matata Falls, they saw the animals lined up to meet Bunga. Timon and Pumbaa informed the Lion Guard of Bunga's new status and forced them to wait in line to see him. Recognizing the disaster for what it was, Kion attempted to talk Bunga out of his new role, but the honey badger refused to rejoin the Lion Guard. Timon then ushered the friends out of Bunga's lair, and the Lion Guard reluctantly left.
Later, the Lion Guard saw Bunga at the head of a parade of animals who were celebrating his great wisdom, including Timon and Pumbaa. Kion ran up to Bunga and once again tried to make him see reason, but Bunga pointed out that everyone loved his advice. Timon added that Bunga had fixed a dam. Just then, the dam broke, and the animals were forced to flee across the plains. Though Timon and Pumbaa called to their nephew, urging him to flee, Bunga took off after his friends.[7]
Kupatana
Timon and Pumbaa attended the Kupatana celebration.[8]
Bunga's immunity
Not this girl cheetah! Not today! You're eating with us, and I'm not taking no for an answer.Timon pressures Fuli into eating with him, Pumbaa, and Bunga
When Bunga got bitten by the venomous Ushari, Timon and Pumbaa rushed to Rafiki's tree, where they proceeded to weep over their nephew. However, to their delight, Rafiki proclaimed that Bunga was immune to snake bites. To celebrate, Timon and Pumbaa invited Fuli to eat with them at Hakuna Matata Falls. Once there, Timon attempted to serve her grubs, but she politely declined. Unwilling to let her go, he began to make conversation with her and discovered, to his delight, that her fur was incredibly soft. Uncomfortable by Timon's touching, Fuli left the celebration.[9]
Utamu season
Eh, Bunga. Utamu grubs are great. But that's not why we celebrate.Timon
While the Lion Guard searched for Utamu grubs, Bunga told his friends about the day he had met Timon and Pumbaa. Later, when Bunga failed to catch any Utamu, the Lion Guard traveled to Hakuna Matata Falls, where Bunga admitted to his uncles that he had failed. Timon gently reminded the honey badger that they celebrated not because of the Utamu, but because of their relationship with Bunga. They then revealed that Utamu grubs had fallen out of the sky, and the group shared in on the feast of grubs.[4]
Sinkhole
Oh, cruel savanna, to take both of our babies in the same day!Timon, after Bunga and Simba go missing
When Bunga and Simba got trapped in a sinkhole, Kion sent Ono to retrieve Timon and Pumbaa, as he figured that Timon could navigate Nandembo Caverns with his knowledge of tunnels. However, upon entering Nandembo Caverns, Timon and Pumbaa devolved into tears over the loss of their adoptive nephews, and Timon lamented having lost Bunga and Simba in the same day. He added that they were lost in the caverns, but Ono pointed out that they had barely entered the tunnels. Timon retorted that they were barely inside and were already lost, then continued to cry over the horrors that Bunga and Simba must be enduring. Eventually, Timon and Pumbaa managed to compose themselves, and Timon apologized for their behavior. He added to Kion that he would understand how they felt once he accepted someone into his heart.
Just then, Timon and Pumbaa heard the faraway voices of Bunga and Simba, and Timon, misunderstanding, believed that he was hearing their spirits. However, upon realizing that Bunga and Simba were alive, Timon and Pumbaa rushed off to save them. Eventually, Timon, Pumbaa, and the Lion Guard found Bunga and Simba on the other side of a ravine. In order to cross the ravine, Bunga hopped onto Simba's back, and Simba leaped across the divide. Timon and Pumbaa then had a joyous reunion with them. Timon soon turned on Pumbaa and accused him of having worried too much about Bunga's and Simba's safety, and Pumbaa apologized for having forgotten the "Hakuna Matata" philosophy.
After the reunion, Timon, Pumbaa, Simba, and the Lion Guard journeyed to Mizimu Grove just as Ma Tembo's herd finished their seasonal concert. To make up for their tardiness, the friends performed "Hakuna Matata" for the elephants.[10]
Tale of the Zimwi
See, my Ma's cousin's friend knows an ox who told him he ran into the Zimwi...and it ate him!Timon
When a group of young animals claimed to have seen the Zimwi, Pumbaa informed them that Timon was the only animal in the Pride Lands to have survived an encounter with the beast. Though Pumbaa claimed that Timon had seen the Zimwi, Timon explained that his mother's cousin's friend had known an ox who had been eaten by the Zimwi. Kion questioned how the ox could have told anyone about the Zimwi if he had been eaten, and Timon said that they would need to ask the ox. At the end of Timon's tale, the Lion Guard resolved to find the Zimwi themselves.[11]
Bunga's souvenir
It's a souvenir for Uncle Timon.Bunga on a snowball
While in the Theluji Mountains, Bunga constructed a snowball as a souvenir for Timon.[12]
Disturbed by Chama, Furaha, and Mzaha
Timon and Pumbaa were relaxing at Hakuna Matata Falls when they were interrupted by Chama, Furaha, and Mzaha.[13]
Ukumbusho
All right, Lion Guard, listen up. You may be good at stopping rock slides and vicious predators, but this is serious. Do ya hear me?Timon trains the Lion Guard on their lines
At Mizimu Grove, Ma Tembo directed her herd in preparing for the Ukumbusho Tradition. Timon and Pumbaa soon arrived to help the Lion Guard with their lines, and Pumbaa declared that no one compared to Timon when it came to theatrics. Before practice could start, Ma Tembo pointed out that the Lion Guard was traditionally composed of lions only, and Makini suggested that she paint each Lion Guard member to resemble a lion. She did so, then took off to decorate the elephants.
With Makini gone, Timon and Pumbaa took over directing the Lion Guard on their lines, claiming that they knew best how lions acted since they had raised Simba. Kion tried to pitch in his opinion, but Timon silenced him. The duo then continued to guide the Lion Guard in their practice. Eventually, Timon became frustrated with the Lion Guard for being unable to speak their lines while holding the symbolic Branch of Peace in their mouths. Timon suggested that they throw the branch away, but Kion protested that it was essential for the ceremony.
Later, Timon watched the Ukumbusho Tradition alongside Pumbaa. When a swarm of bees attacked, Pumbaa asked Timon what was going on. Once the issue got resolved, Timon and Pumbaa pushed for the celebration to continue.[14]
Christmas
You know what? I'm gonna give Christmas a pass this year.Timon
Rafiki taught his apprentice, Makini, about the holidays of the Pride Lands. One such holiday intrigued Makini, and Rafiki explained that it was called "Christmas" and that it had been brought to the kingdom by two outsiders, Timon and Pumbaa. He then launched into the tale.
In the Pride Lands, Bunga assisted Timon and Pumbaa in decorating an acacia tree with colored gourds. Timon attempted to place a star fruit at the top of the tree, but in doing so, he accidentally snapped a branch and began to plummet toward the ground. To his fortune, the Lion Guard approached at the base of the tree, and Beshte caught him on his back.
The Lion Guard inquired about the oddly decorated tree, and Bunga explained that they were decorating their tree in honor of Christmastime. He claimed that Timon and Pumbaa had made up the holiday themselves, but the two corrected him, clarifying that they had heard about it from other animals. They added that Christmas was about gift-giving and that a mysterious creature called Dandy Claws often left presents for the animals of the savanna.
Despite his enthusiasm for the holiday, Timon wept over Dandy Claws's continued absence, and Pumbaa explained that Dandy Claws only brought presents if animals performed a special song called "The Twelve Ways of Christmas" under the Christmas tree on Christmas morning. This only worsened Timon's mood, and not even Bunga and Pumbaa could cheer him up.
The next morning, Bunga hastened to Hakuna Matata Falls, where he awoke his uncles from their slumber. At first, Timon was reluctant to wake up, as he did not wish to face another disappointing Christmas, but Bunga insisted that the two must follow him to the Christmas tree. Once there, Timon and Pumbaa were met by the Lion Guard, who sang "The Twelve Ways of Christmas" along with a group of Pride Landers.
After the song, Timon and Pumbaa wept with joy, and Timon thanked the animals for having made his Christmas vision come true. Despite Timon's joy, Bunga expressed sorrow that Dandy Claws had not appeared. However, Pumbaa appeared dressed in white flowers and a gourd hat, and proclaimed that he had hoped to make Timon's Christmas better by dressing up as Dandy Claws. He then admitted that he had spent so much time assembling his costume that he had been unable to get gifts for Timon.
Timon informed Pumbaa that he was not bothered by the lack of gifts, for the Pride Landers' song and Pumbaa's costume had been more than enough of a present. He then reminded Pumbaa that the song had left them with many gifts, including berries and grubs, and the two concluded that this had been their best Christmas yet. The Lion Guard decided to make Christmas an annual holiday in the Pride Lands, and the gathered Pride Landers yelled, "Merry Christmas!"[15]
Kumbuka
The Scorpion's StingTimon, after Simba collapses
Timon attended the Kumbuka celebration at Pride Rock. During the festivities, Simba got stung by Sumu the scorpion and collapsed, which caused Timon and Pumbaa to panic and rush to their friend's aid. When the Lion Guard returned to Pride Rock, they asked Timon and Pumbaa about Simba's condition, but the two did not know how he was doing. Throughout Simba's ailment, Timon and Pumbaa stayed by his side. Eventually, the Lion Guard returned with volcanic ash, and Bunga nearly dropped the gourd within which the ash was being stored. Just in time, Pumbaa saved him. Subsequently, Simba was healed, and Timon and Pumbaa rejoiced.[16]
Scar's attack
Spread the words, kids! Nobody's gonna want to miss a show like this!Timon on Makini's mpando mpaya
Timon and Pumbaa followed a slug to Big Springs, where they encountered the Lion Guard. Pumbaa stopped to converse with the group, but Timon warned him not to stop and talk, else they would lose the slug. Heeding Timon's advice, Pumbaa bid the Lion Guard farewell and left with his friend.
No sooner had Timon and Pumbaa left when Makini arrived and showed off a plant root that would be part of her mpando mpaya, which was the traditional planting of a new baobab tree by a Royal Mjuzi. Getting an idea, Kion chased after Timon and Pumbaa, but Timon turned him away, as they were busy. However, Kion persisted and asked the duo to perform at Makini's mpando mpaya so the Pride Landers would treat it like a celebration and have their spirits raised. Timon and Pumbaa agreed to the plan, and Makini and the rest of the Lion Guard thanked them for their help. Timon told the Lion Guard to spread the word and declared that it would be a show nobody would forget. Unbeknownst to the group, Shupavu and Njano had spied on their conversation and resolved to report their findings to Scar.
That evening, the Pride Landers gathered at Mizimu Grove, and Rafiki and Simba announced Makini's mpando mpaya. Simba introduced Timon and Pumbaa, and Timon declared that when things seemed set against the Pride Landers, they should not be sad and lonely, but should instead remember a certain song: "Tujiinue". Timon and Pumbaa then performed the song for the gathered animals. However, in the midst of the celebration, the Army of Scar attacked, and the Pride Landers rose up to defend themselves. As the battle raged around them, Pumbaa asked Timon what they should do, and Timon reasoned that they should keep singing. Pumbaa agreed, and the duo continued their song as the Pride Landers fought Scar's army.
Before long, fiery embers began to fall from the sky, and Timon and Pumbaa mistook them for stage lights. However, when Scar manifested in the flames, they hid behind the rock stage. Meanwhile, Scar threatened to overtake the entirety of the Pride Lands, which frightened the Pride Landers and caused them to flee Mizimu Grove. Afterward, Timon and Pumbaa returned to Hakuna Matata Falls for beauty rest.[17]
Lion Guard's trip to the Tree of Life
When the Lion Guard departed for the Tree of Life, Timon and Pumbaa journeyed to Pride Rock to bid them farewell.[18]
Kiara's first hunt
Oh, who can keep track of her? Kiara, come back! Oh, she's gone again. Somebody's gotta get a beeper for this kid!Timon, after Kiara runs away
On the day of Kiara's first hunt, Timon and Pumbaa gathered at Pride Rock with Simba's pride. They watched as Kiara strode in-between the lionesses and nuzzled her parents, then burst into tears when she embarked on her hunt. No sooner had Kiara left when Simba ordered Timon and Pumbaa to make sure that she did not get hurt. Subtly, the two slipped away and tailed Kiara.
Along the way, Timon tried to ask Pumbaa where he was, but the warthog misunderstood the question and simply described his posture. Annoyed, Timon went back to his task and spotted Kiara hunting a herd of topi. He and Pumbaa attempted to catch up to her, but they ended up getting caught in the topi herd's stampede, and she spotted them cowering in the grass. Though Timon attempted to lie that they were merely out shopping, Kiara rightly guessed that her father had sent them. Timon pointed out that Simba only wanted to protect her, but she lamented that he would never give her a true chance. She then took off into the savanna, and Timon and Pumbaa lost her trail.[3]
Day with Kovu and Kiara
You gotta get out more often. Fun!Timon to Kovu
The next morning, Kovu attempted to teach Kiara how to hunt, only to accidentally pounce on Timon. Terrified, Timon begged Kovu not to eat him and attempted to placate him by calling Scar a "heck of a guy." Just then, Kiara approached and demanded to know what Timon was doing, and he assured her that, for once, he was not following her. He then gestured to a field of grubs and complained that a flock of birds was taking all the food. He attempted to scatter the birds, but one pecked him on the nose, and he had to give up the attack. Likewise, Pumbaa failed to scare off the birds.
In the face of their failure, Pumbaa suggested that they appeal to Kovu for help. At first, Timon dismissed the idea as ridiculous, but then he claimed Pumbaa's idea as his own and wondered if Kovu should help them. Timon addressed Kovu, asking him to roar, but Kovu did not understand what he wanted. Demonstrating, Kiara roared, and the birds scattered. Kovu caught on to Timon's plan and roared himself, after which the two lions ran alongside Timon and Pumbaa in an effort to scatter the flock.
Eventually, the friends ran into a herd of rhinoceroses. They managed to escape the angry herd by hiding in a cleft in the rock. Once the danger had passed, Timon ruffled Kovu's mane and said that he was "okay." The four then squeezed out of the cleft in the rock and walked off into the savanna.[3]
Kovu's exile
Why, I oughtta... Let me at him! Let me at him!Timon on Kovu
When Simba got injured in an ambush set by the Outsiders, Timon, Pumbaa, Kiara, and Zazu found him limping toward Pride Rock. As they gathered around him, Timon asked what had happened. Simba revealed that the Outsiders had ambushed him, then collapsed onto his side. Timon assured Simba that they were there for him, and together, he and Pumbaa carried Simba back to Pride Rock. Shortly afterward, Kovu returned to Pride Rock to beg for Simba's forgiveness. Upon seeing Kovu, Timon asked Pumbaa to hold back and yelled, "Let me at him!" again and again. Misunderstanding Timon's intent, Pumbaa let Timon's tail go, and Timon remarked that Pumbaa was missing the basic point. Simba then banished Kovu from the Pride Lands, and the Pride Landers drove him away from Pride Rock.[3]
Reunification of the Outsiders and Pride Landers
The Lion King II: Simba's PrideTimon and Pumbaa, during the battle between the Pride Landers and the Outsiders
When Kiara fled Pride Rock, Timon and Pumbaa argued over whose fault it was. The argument escalated to the point that they began to physically fight, and they only stopped when Simba approached and asked what was going on. The two then posed a hypothetical to Simba about a father whose daughter had vanished, and Simba realized that Kiara had run away. Before the conversation could continue, Zazu flew into the den and informed Simba that the Outsiders were on the attack. Simba ordered Zazu to find Kiara, then told Timon and Pumbaa to help him rally the lionesses.
Alongside Simba's pride, Timon and Pumbaa met the Outsiders in battle. As the two sides lined up to fight, Timon and Pumbaa shook their butts tauntingly at the Outsiders. Zira declared that she had dreamed of "nothing else" for years, and Timon sardonically remarked that she needed a hobby. The Pride Landers and Outsiders then charged at one another and began to fight. As the battle escalated, Pumbaa asked Timon what they should do, and Timon asserted that their motto was "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." This confused Pumbaa, who reminded Timon that their motto was "Hakuna Matata," but Timon told Pumbaa to stop living in the past and declared that they needed a new motto. The two then charged at the Outsiders, only to flee when an Outsider roared at them.
A group of Outsiders chased Timon and Pumbaa away from the battlefield and eventually cornered them against a rock wall. While Pumbaa cowered into the wall, his backside in the air, Timon looked around frantically. Upon noticing Pumbaa's tail, he jumped onto the warthog's back and pointed the tail at the Outsiders, threatening to let them "have it." Terrified, the Outsiders fled, and Timon laughed and spun Pumbaa's tail in victory.
Eventually, Kovu and Kiara intervened in the battle and convinced the feuding prides to reunite. Zira made a last attempt on Simba's life, but Kiara intercepted her attack and almost fell to her death in the gorge. Upon Kiara's safe return to the surface, Timon cheered for her victory. Simba welcomed the Outsiders back into his pride, and the combined prides gathered at Pride Rock for Kovu and Kiara's wedding. During the ceremony, Timon and Pumbaa watched the proceedings happily and sobbed hysterically, to Zazu's annoyance.[3]
Battle of the Lion Guards
Return to the Pride LandsTimon, during Bunga's competition
When Bunga returned from the Tree of Life, Timon and Pumbaa greeted him at Pride Rock. After the reunion, the three ate Utamu grubs at Hakuna Matata Falls. While they were eating, Pumbaa accidentally slurped Timon into his mouth, but Timon freed himself, and the three laughed.
The next day, Timon and Pumbaa witnessed the onset of the Battle of the Lion Guards at Mizimu Grove. The two watched several individual competitions, specifically Bunga's and Fuli's challenges. During Bunga's competition, Timon and Pumbaa cheered for him. When it came time for Kion and Vitani's competition, Vitani called for a mashindano, which shocked Timon and Pumbaa. However, when Bunga started chanting, they joined in. Timon and Pumbaa also witnessed Askari appearing in the sky and Kion lifting Pride Rock with the Roar of the Elders.[19]
Kion's coronation
Timon and Pumbaa attended Kion's wedding to Rani at the Tree of Life.[19]
Physical appearance
Timon is a tall and slender meerkat. He has brownish-tan fur, with a cream-colored underbelly, light brown stripes on his back, dark brown hands and feet, black ears, and a dark brown tail tip. He has a patch of reddish hair on his head and black eyes.[2]
Personality and traits
Well, Simba, if it's important to you, we're with you to the end.Timon, shortly before the battle for Pride Rock
In his younger years, Timon struggled to fit in with his colony, as he disliked their lifestyle of fear and hard work, and dreamed of finding a better home. He was notoriously bad at digging tunnels and would get distracted whenever he was put on sentry duty. As a result, his fellow meerkats came to resent him, and he left to forge his own path.[1] Timon has a comical and wisecracking nature, and will make light of serious situations. This sometimes causes him to be callous, such as when he laughed at Simba's story about the Great Kings of the Past.[2] He also has a tendency to ignore the wants and needs of others in favor of his own comfort. It took Pumbaa and Simba abandoning him in the jungle for him to realize that "Hakuna Matata" was not the same without them and that he needed to stand by his friends to whatever end.[1]
Though Timon considers himself to be the "brains" of the outfit, he often confiscates Pumbaa's ideas as his own and is incorrect about simple truths, such as his belief that the stars are fireflies.[2] Even so, he often takes the lead with Pumbaa and comes up with plans to defeat their enemies and save their friends.[1] He is incredibly loyal to those he cares about and was even willing to fight alongside Simba for the Pride Lands, which he considered to be a wasteland.[2] He will go so far as to put his life on the line for his friends and can achieve great feats when he is motivated to do so, such as his uncharacteristic prowess at finishing a trap tunnel to save his family from the hyenas.[1]
Both Timon and Pumbaa are rather hysterical and tend to burst into tears whenever their adoptive nephews are in danger.[9][10] They are proud of both Bunga and Simba, and work hard to help them achieve their dreams.[2][5]
Appearances
Trivia
General
- Timon was voiced by the following:
- In The Lion King, he was voiced by Nathan Lane.[20]
- In The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, he was voiced by Nathan Lane.[20]
- In The Lion King 1½, he was voiced by Nathan Lane.[20]
- In The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar, he was voiced by Kevin Schon.[21]
- Schon also voiced Iron Joe in The Lion King 1½ and Thurston in The Lion Guard.[21]
- In Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable, he was voiced by Nathan Lane.[20]
- In The Lion Guard, he was voiced by Kevin Schon.[21]
- In The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa, he was voiced by Nathan Lane and Quinton Flynn in Season 1 and Kevin Schon in Season 2 and Season 3.[20][22][21]
- In Timon and Pumbaa's Wild About Safety, he was voiced by Bruce Lanoil.[23]
- In Disney's Active Play: The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, he was voiced by Kevin Schon.[21]
- In Disney's Activity Center: The Lion King, he was voiced by Quinton Flynn.[22]
- In Kingdom Hearts II, he was voiced by Bruce Lanoil.[23]
- In Simba's Mighty Adventure, he was voiced by Kevin Schon.[21]
- Timon was animated by the following:
- In The Lion King, he was animated by Michael Surrey.[24]
- In The Lion King 1½, he was animated by Alexs Stadermann.[25]
- The role of Timon in the stage musical version of The Lion King was originated by Max Casella.[26]
- There is a continuity error in The Lion King 1½. Though Timon meets Rafiki in The Lion King 1½, he does not recognize him in The Lion King.[2][1]
- In The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa, Timon typically appears with three stripes on his back rather than his usual five. However, there are a few shots in the series where Timon does have all five of his stripes.[27][28]
- Timon and Pumbaa are similar to the Hamlet characters Rosencrantz and Guildenstern; both sets of characters were childhood friends of the main protagonist.[29] Furthermore, Timon and Pumbaa's story in The Lion King 1½ is a parallel to the absurdist play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, which retells Hamlet from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern's perspective.[30]
- A real meerkat at the San Diego Zoo served as the animator's model for Timon in The Lion King.[31]
- The scene in The Lion King 1½ in which Timon refuses to go to the Pride Lands with Simba, Nala, and Pumbaa is based on a similar scene from the 1993 draft of The Lion King.[32]
- Timon's dialogue with Pumbaa in The Lion King 1½ is a reference to a scene from the 1942 film Casablanca. "Pumbaa, this could be the start of a beautiful...acquaintanceship," is a reference to the Rick Blaine line "Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."[33]
- Timon has had various love interests, including Kataka,[34] Leslie Lambeau,[35] Lola,[36] Lulu,[37] the Princess of Pluto,[38] and Tatiana.[39]
- In the Timon & Pumbaa episode "Timon's Time Togo", it is revealed that Timon's last name is Berkowitz.[40]
- Timon is one of two characters from The Lion King to have a surname, the other being Pumbaa, whose last name is Smith.[41]
- In the Timon & Pumbaa episode "Recipe for Disaster", it is revealed that Timon's middle name is "Leslie," which is one of his secrets.[42]
- According to the Timon and Pumbaa's Wild About Safety episode "Safety Smart: About Fire!", Timon's address is 500 Buena Vista Street, which is the street address of the headquarters of the Walt Disney Company in Burbank, California.[43]
- It is a running gag that Timon is Jewish. He speaks with a Yiddish accent;[2] his mother uses the phrase "meshugenah;"[1] he sings "Sunrise, Sunset" from the Jewish-themed musical Fiddler on the Roof;[1] and in The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa, he has the Jewish surname Berkowitz.[40]
- In a Lilo & Stitch trailer that spoofs The Lion King, Rafiki holds up what is meant to be baby Simba, only for it to be Stitch. Timon, who is sitting atop Pumbaa, expresses his confusion.[44]
- During the "W-I-L-D" musical sequence in Disney's The Jungle Book 2, a monkey and warthog who resemble Timon and Pumbaa can be seen dancing before they are bounced off Baloo's backside.[44]
- Timon appears in Aladdin's Magic Carpet Adventure, a special feature included on the 2004 Aladdin Platinum Edition DVD.[44]
- Timon and Pumbaa make a brief cameo in Disney's Leroy & Stitch. They are seen among a group of aliens.[45]
- Timon and Pumbaa make a brief cameo in the "One Golden Sun" episode of It's a Small World: The Animated Series.[46]
- In the 2016 remake of Disney's The Jungle Book, a mongoose and boar who resemble Timon and Pumbaa can be seen among the jungle animals.[44]
- Timon and Pumbaa appear in the "Grub Grapple" episode of Disney Crossy Road: The Animated Series.[47]
- In Disney's Ralph Breaks the Internet, a screenshot of Timon, Pumbaa, and Simba is seen in the Oh My Disney area.[44]
In development
- Timon's original name was Timon Vandermeer.[48]
- In the January 1990 draft of The Lion King, Timon had a mate named Tesma, with whom he had several children.[49]
- During production of The Lion King, Timon and Pumbaa grew up with Simba and fled with him to the jungle. Their roles were changed to make them "strangers and fellow outcasts" so they could "take the impressionable cub under their wing."[50]
- Originally, Timon and Pumbaa sang a song titled "Warthog Rhapsody". However, the filmmakers wanted the song to move the plot along and show Simba turning his back on his responsibilities, so it was replaced with "Hakuna Matata".[50]
- Lyricist Tim Rice wrote a version of "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" that was sung solely by Timon and Pumbaa. However, when the storyboard sequence was shown to composer Elton John, he protested that the most tender moment in the film was being played as a joke. As a result, a new version of the song was written in which Timon and Pumbaa closed and opened the song, while Simba and Nala sang the rest of it.[50]
- Timon and Pumbaa were so popular at preview screenings that the filmmakers wrote in an additional scene for them: the "Hawaiian War Chant" musical sequence.[50]
- During production of The Lion King 1½, Timon's father featured in the film. According to director Bradley Raymond, he was removed from the film because there were too many characters, and so his lines were transferred to Ma and Max.[51]
References
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