Rumors of the Cub at the end of The Lion King

[SimbaSam]

We can only hope based on the fact their isn't any real confirmation on Kopas death weather it was murder or not, writers can do anything! Just because Kopa wasn't referenced in TLKSP doesn't mean his character doesn't exist. For example Tojo, he was never referenced but was written into the TLK universe. We can only hope if Kopa is in a TLK3, if one is made, he doesn't make an aperence as a flashback...

[imvula]

As people have said, I don't think Disney had any plans for the cub. The books were just a spin-off and were not even written by Disney themselves. They were actually written by Grolier Enterprises, Inc and they were permitted by Disney. So those books are basically fanfiction. The other interesting point is that the books were denied by the film makers in 1995 and 2003 on the commentary track of the film. My theory is the cub at the end of TLK was just the continuation of the circle of life (as PrincessKiara has said). The cub is infact genderless and all the arguments whether the cub is male or female is simply the fans speculation.

Although, I'm happy to say it's female..

[SimbasGuard]

As people have said, I don't think Disney had any plans for the cub. The books were just a spin-off and were not even written by Disney themselves. They were actually written by Grolier Enterprises, Inc and they were permitted by Disney. So those books are basically fanfiction.

Being the the Lion King Six New adventures, was actually published, have Disney characters in them, and most importantly have the Disney name on them. They can not be considered fanficton.

[SummerSnowLeopard]

*Has no idea where to start XD*

I've said this before and I'll say it again: I think the cub at the end of TLK is Kopa. And even if it wasn't Kopa, the colors are what I'd see as a male.

Simba:
Kopa/Fluffy:
Kiara:

The fact that baby Simba and "Fluffy" have similar colorings is what convinces me that Fluffy is a male. I know it's not a really good reason but it makes sense to me.

[Misiziri]

Meh. I think it's Kiara but I really don't care what people think about it. I'm not too fond of either of the characters.

[SweetNala]

The theory that Kopa is Kiara bothers me. The opening sequences are different, so why would they present them at different times? Kopa and Kiara look totally different. Kopa is the only non-movie character that I believe is canon

[KentuckyWildcat]

This discussion really comes down to whether you favor the books, SP, or both as sources since neither were made by the same people behind the original film. I've personally never read the books, so I prefer to think that the cub is Kiara and any differences can be chalked up to the producers not having a sequel in mind at the time.

I can respect those who think the cub is Kopa, but I do not believe that he is in any way alluded to in SP. Some of Simba's overprotective behavior could possibly be explained by the previous loss of his son, and it makes for a nice explanation of why the Outlanders were exiled, but Nala's behavior is inconsistent with such theories. Surely the theoretical loss of Kopa would also affect her in some way since she would have been his mother, yet she doesn't share Simba's overprotective nature in parenting Kiara or in any other way seem haunted by any past tragedy. Therefore, I think it is most likely that Simba's behavior can be attributed to his own traumatic childhood and that Kopa never existed as far as SP is concerned.

[SimbasGuard]

Nala's behavior is inconsistent with such theories. Surely the theoretical loss of Kopa would also affect her in some way since she would have been his mother, yet she doesn't share Simba's overprotective nature in parenting Kiara or in any other way seem haunted by any past tragedy. Therefore, I think it is most likely that Simba's behavior can be attributed to his own traumatic childhood and that Kopa never existed as far as SP is concerned.

Absolutely brilliant theory, I had never considered how Nala would be emotionally affected by losing Kopa. You make a very valid point that is had to dispute in any way. I doubt that Nala could have blocked such an incident from her mind.

[Simbasdaughterrocks]

This is funny to me everyone is talking about Kopa but Kopa was on the tv shows and in lion king you can see that she is a girl because the marking on her head... Males have a marking on their forehead when they are shown and the females do not... I looked twice the first time a saw them

[TheLionPrince]

This is funny to me everyone is talking about Kopa but Kopa was on the tv shows and in lion king you can see that she is a girl because the marking on her head... Males have a marking on their forehead when they are shown and the females do not... I looked twice the first time a saw them

What TV show? Kopa, as far as I'm concerned, appeared only in The Lion King: Six New Adventures. Lastly, the anointing paint on the cub's head is an interesting theory, as both "Fluffy" and Kiara were presented with no anointing until after the presentation in Kiara's sake. However, I consider this a theory because nowhere in the films does it state whether the anointing paint is placed or not on the cub's head would confirm the cub's gender.

As for the topic, the cub's gender in The Lion King remains genderless and "Fluffy" canonwise, but the official entity is Kiara. You have to deny Simba's Pride as a whole in order for Kopa to be the cub since the two stories cannot be fused together without there being time inconsistenties (and character inconsistenties as mentioned by KentuckyWildcat).