Zuri (The Lion Guard)

Zuri is a supporting character in the 2015 TV film The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar and a recurring character in it's 2016 follow-up series The Lion Guard (both of which serve as sequels to the 1994 film The Lion King).

She is a young lioness cub later adolescent lioness who is a member of the Pridelanders, a pride of lions who reside at Pride Rock in the Pride Lands alongside King Simba and Queen Nala. Zuri alongside Tiifu, is a friend of Kiara, Simba and Nala's daughter and the princess of Pride Lands.

She was voiced by Madison Pettis.

Appearance

As a cub, Zuri had burnt orange fur, blue eyes with a spot underneath both of her eyes, a small tuft on her head and sharp claws.

As an adolescent, Zuri's appearance remains the same.

Personality

Zuri is as sassy, easily upset, melodramatic, and sensitive, despite being a predator, she doesn't like to hunt, preferring others to hunt for her. She has a considerably poor memory. Zuri has also displayed a complimentary and appreciative side after being saved by Kion. However, she also was snobby and ungrateful when, in an alternate ending of the comic, "The Day of the Crocodiles", Kion saved her but got mud all over her fur. Strangely enough, Zuri doesn't like the taste of gazelle, which she considers to be "hyena food".

History

The Lion Guard: Return of The Roar

Zuri first appears when she gets her claws stuck in a log (as she was sharpening them, which she did to every tree she passed to keep them shiny), but is freed by Timon and Pumbaa, but ends up being knocked off the log by Bunga (which results in Zuri wounding her paw and breaking a claw) and uncovers a lair of bugs, to the delight of Timon and Pumbaa. Zuri is grossed out by the bugs but is comforted by Kiara and Tiifu. She along with Kiara, Tiifu, Kion, Timon and Pumbaa dance to Bunga's song "Zuka Zama". Afterward, Kiara sends Zuri back to Pride Rock to rest up.

The Lion Guard

In the episode The Rise of Makuu, Zuri along with Tiifu joins Kiara when she, her family, The Lion Guard and several other animals, watch the mashindano between crocodiles Makuu and Pua, which Makuu wins.

In the episode Can't Wait to be Queen, Zuri and Tiifu acted as Kiara's "advisers" during her temporary queenship forcing others to acknowledge Kiara as Queen. They later fail on the job when they let Kiara go to a meeting with Janja by herself. This causes Kion to go after his sister, but not before berating Zuri and Tiifu for not doing their jobs.

In the episode Fuli's New Family, Zuri along with Tiifu joins Kiara in being trained how to track by Nala. Unlike the others, Zuri is uninterested in hunting (which she considers overrated) and when Tiifu becomes jealous of Fuli hunting next to Kiara, Zuri replies that they should let Fuli hunt for them. After the training is over, Zuri leaves with Nala, Kiara, and Tiifu.

In the episode Baboons, Zuri and Tiifu try to make Kiara look her best for the Royal Buffalo Wallow, which she is to open on Simba and Nala's behalf. However, the trio end up stranded on a island when a flood strikes the Pride Lands. With the help of the Lion Guard, the trio get off the island and go to the wallow.

In The Rise of Scar, Zuri along with Tiifu, Kiara, Simba and Nala, meets Rafiki's new apprentice Makini, who will serve as Royal Mjuzi when Kiara becomes queen. When Kiara and Makini go to help Ma Tembo find water, Zuri and Tiifu attempt to follow them, saying that Kiara can't go looking for water without them. However, Nala (who wishes for Kiara and Makini to get to know each other) stops them and invites them to spend the day with her, to which they agree.

In the Season 3 opener "Battle for the Pride Lands", Zuri is among the many animals to watch the Lion Guard leave the Pride Lands to search for the Tree of Life in order to heal Kion and Ono, who had been injured during the final battle against Scar's spirit.

Zuri reappears in the final episode "Return to the Pride Lands" as a young adult where she witnesses the wedding and coronation of Kion and Rani at the Tree of Life.