The Lion King is one of the most beloved franchises in Disney’s history. Based on the Shakespearean play of Hamlet, the original film spawned a direct-to-video sequel and a midquel told from the perspective of Timon and Pumbaa, Simba’s adoptive dads. The direct-to-video sequel, Simba’s Pride, focused on Kiara, the cub featured in the closing seconds of the first movie.
Kiara is the eldest child and heir to Simba and Nala. In the series, The Lion Guard, the audience discovers that the princess is not the only child as initially believed. She has a younger brother, Kion, who was absent during the second film.
Kiara, Future Queen Of The Pridelands
The princess is seen as the pride and joy of her father and is doted upon as the future Queen of the Pridelands. However, Simba is overly protective of her and has Timon and Pumbaa babysit her. During one of the few times she can escape her honorary uncles, Kiara runs into Kovu, the son of Zira, a devoted follower of her late great-uncle, Scar.
Years pass, and both grow up. Then, finally, Kiara goes out on her own for the first time and ends up trapped in a fire lit by Kovu’s siblings, Vitani and Nuka. The fire was lit to get their younger brother into the good graces of Simba.
Kovu’s Fall From Grace
Despite not being his son, Kova was raised to be Scar’s heir. He has also been trained to be a killer. However, this whole plan falls apart when he and Kiara fall in love. Eventually, Kovu is banished from the Pridelands after discovering he is a spy for Zira.
Kiara, forever defiant, goes after him, and he proposes they run off together. But she tells him they can’t as they need to bring their prides together, not run when their parents are feuding and on the verge of war.
Zira, wanting revenge for Scar’s death and that of Nuka, who was crushed in an attempt to assassin Simba, calls for war against the Pridelands. Upon getting wind of the battle, Kovu and Kiara are forced to intervene and break up the fight. Vitani is the first to switch sides, with other Outlanders following suit. However, Zira refuses to give in and dies after falling from a cliff.
Kovus is then welcomed into the Pridelands as the son-in-law of the King and Queen.
Kiara And The Younger Brother
As mentioned earlier, Kiara has a younger brother, Kion, who leads the Lion Guard, a group that keeps the Pridelands safe from threats.
Despite her love-hate relationship with Kion, Kiara loves her brother dearly. She often calls on his help when her friends get into trouble. Unfortunately, he loves annoying her because he doesn’t have to deal with being their father’s heir.
During the events of Simba’s Pride, Kion is the king of a different pride, becoming the mate of Rani during the last season of The Lion Guard.
