Nala (The Lion King)
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Nala is a fictional lioness character who first appeared in Disney's popular 1994 animated feature film The Lion King. As a cub she was voiced by Niketa Calame and as an adult she was voiced by Moira Kelly. Laura Williams and Sally Dworsky provided her singing voice as a cub and adult respectively.
Nala and Simba have a son named Kopa in the book set The Lion King: Six New Adventures, but Kopa is non-existent in the The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, and no mention is made of him. Instead, he is replaced with the female cub Kiara.
Kiara is, technically, not Nala's successor. Nala is Queen consort, Kiara is Queen regnant. Kiara succeeds Simba as a monarch. Kiara is Simba's heir to the throne. Nala is Simba's wife.
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[edit] The Lion King
Nala is the daughter of Sarafina. Her father is unknown; the implication is that her father is either Scar or Mufasa, the only male lions shown, but this is not mentioned in the film, due to the incest taboo.
It is debated whether Nala is first seen in the cave before Mufasa tells Simba of "the Circle of Life". However, it is certain that Nala is seen as a cub, being bathed by her mother Sarafina after Simba's first shown dialogue with Scar. Her best friend and Mufasa's son, Simba, appears and asks Sarabi and Sarafina to let them go to the waterhole. Unknown to the cubs, Simba had been lured by Scar to go the elephant graveyard, and wanted Nala to go there with him too. They are permitted to go, but not without being accompanied by Zazu, the majordomo hornbill. Along the way, the cubs plot to distact Zazu. The cubs' plan succeeds and they reach the graveyard. While exploring they encounter the three hyenas Shenzi, Banzai and Ed (who were secretly controlled by Scar) who try to kill them. After a frantic chase, the cubs are finally rescued by Mufasa.
Later on, Scar engineers a wildebeest stampede that kills Mufasa. Scar causes Simba to believe that he was the reason for Mufasa's death, and tells the cub to run away. Simba does so and Scar assumes the throne. He rules tyrannically and mistreats the lionesses. Angered by this, Nala runs away from the Pride Lands to seek help. She spots a warthog, Pumbaa, and attempts to hunt and eat him, but an adult lion arrives and fights with her. The lion is no match for Nala and she pins him to the ground. The lion is Simba, and he instantly recognizes Nala as she had always pinned him to the ground when they were young. They are overjoyed to see each other again, and also begin to realize that their friendship has blossomed into love. However, Simba, burdened with an agonizing misapprehension that he killed his father, refuses either to take his responsibility and go back to the Pride Lands with Nala or explain his reasons, which leads to a quarrel.
Fortunately, Simba decides to reclaim his rightful throne after Rafiki's guidance and an encounter with his father's ghost. Nala, Timon and Pumbaa join him and an intense battle with the hyenas takes place while Simba battles Scar. In the end, Scar is killed by his own hyenas and the Pride Lands are restored, with Simba as the new King. Nala also becomes Queen, and later she and Simba have a new-born cub who is presented in a ceremony at the end of the film.
[edit] The Lion King II: Simba's Pride
Nala has a slightly smaller role in this film, and her eyes have changed colour. In the first film her eyes were green (they appeared blue due to the lighting in some scenes) however in this film they remained deep blue for the entire film. In Simba's Pride, Nala has visibly aged; her frame is heavier and larger. She is still young, she and Simba being a whole generation younger than the villain Zira. Her character is also different after becoming Queen – she is calm, mild-mannered and motherly, in contrast to the fierce, brave young Nala of the first film.
Simba and Nala now have a headstrong and rebellious daughter, Kiara. Nala's parenting approach contrasts with Simba's constant need to know that his daughter his safe, in that she is believes that Simba's concerns are groundless and somewhat paranoic.
Nala first appears in the film as she looks on proudly at Kiara who is being presented to the animals by Rafiki. Nala appears in the most of the first scene in which she tells Kiara to mind her father. She then has a discussion with Simba and lovingly pounces on him. However, Nala's advice is ignored and Simba sends Timon and Pumbaa after Kiara despite Nala's reassurances. She then appears when she and Simba come to rescue Kiara from the Outlands. When Simba stops to have a 'talk' with Kiara, Nala continues home.
When Kiara is a young adult and about to embark on her first hunt, Nala comes down through the rows of lionesses to sit by Simba. She is followed by Kiara, who asks Simba to promise not to send Timon and Pumbaa to follow her. Nala gives Simba a playful warning look when he seems to hesitate, and makes sure that he promises. She also talks to Kiara, nuzzling her.
She next appears when Kiara is rescued by Kovu, and reminds Simba that he owes Kovu Kiara's life due to royal protocol. She is present that night when Simba has a nightmare, but is asleep and therefore remains silent.
As Kiara and Kovu spend time together in the grasslands the next night, she finds Simba on a hill desperately trying to seek advice from the great kings of the past. She consoles the worried king, seeing the good in Kovu that Simba cannot see past Kovu's links to Scar.
Nala is present in the final battle where she fights Vitani, and afterwards gives directions as Simba leaps into the gorge to rescue Kiara, who is stranded above the swollen river. Once peace has been restored to the Pride Lands, she journeys back to Pride Rock and stands atop the promontory with Simba, Kiara and Kovu, roaring alongside them.
[edit] The Lion King 1½
Nala plays a minor role in this midquel. She is only seen twice: Once during the Can You Feel The Love Tonight sequence and in an extension of the scene in the original film where she explains to Timon and Pumbaa about Simba's whereabouts. Although a minor role, Nala was still voiced by Moira Kelly in this film.
[edit] Kingdom Hearts II
In the 2006 Disney/Square Enix video game Kingdom Hearts II, adult Nala is the first lion that the game's main protagonists (Sora, Donald Duck and Goofy) encounter (young Nala is never seen). She is first seen running from two Heartless, causing Sora to leap forward and defend her. After the battle she briefly explains the situation in the Pride Lands, asking Sora, Donald and Goofy to meet her at Pride Rock where Scar reigns as king with assistance from Pete (taking a lion form). Scar and his hyenas attempt to kill the main protagonists but Nala stops Scar in time and escapes with the party to the jungle. They later arrive at the oasis and encounter Simba, Timon and Pumbaa. The seven characters return to Pride Rock together to defeat Scar, Pete and the hyenas. During the second visit to the Pride Lands, Nala asks for Sora, Donald and Goofy's help in bringing back Simba's confidence in the face of Scar's "ghost", and also reveals herself to be pregnant.
Vanessa Marshall replaced Moira Kelly as Nala's voice in the game.
[edit] The Lion King musical
In the musical based on the film, Nala's role is considerably expanded, with the events leading up to Nala leaving the Pride Lands under Scar's tyranny depicted in detail. In the scene "The Madness of King Scar," the mentally ill (and lonely) Scar decides to take Nala as his mate, despite the fact that she is angrily opposed to the idea. This leads to the song scene "Shadowland" (sample ) where Nala's character sings the lead about her need to leave the Pride Lands and find help. The other lionesses sing supporting choir and Rafiki sings a blessing.
Tony Award-winning actress Heather Headley portrayed her in the original Broadway cast. In the London West End production, she was originally portrayed by Paulette Ivory.
The song "Shadowland" was based on the song "Lea Halalela (Holy Land)" from the Rhythm of the Pride Lands CD.
| The Lion King | |
|---|---|
| Films | The Lion King | The Lion King II: Simba's Pride | The Lion King 1½ |
| Characters | Ahadi | Kiara | Kopa | Kovu | Ma | Mohatu | Mufasa | Nala | Nuka | Rafiki | Sarabi | Sarafina | Scar | Shenzi, Banzai and Ed | Simba | Timon and Pumbaa | Tojo | Uncle Max | Uru | Vitani | Zazu | Zira |
| Songs | "Circle of Life" | "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" | "Be Prepared" | "Hakuna Matata" | "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" |
| Books | The Lion King: Six New Adventures | The Lion King: The Brightest Star |
| Games | The Lion King | Timon & Pumbaa's Jungle Games |
| Other media | Original motion picture soundtrack | Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable | Rhythm of the Pride Lands | The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa | Broadway musical | Festival of the Lion King | Festival of the Lion King soundtrack |
| Misc | Kings of the Pride Lands | The Lion King family |
| See also | "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" | Kingdom Hearts II | Kimba the White Lion controversy |
