Kion and Mufasa

[kyomon]

I know most of the Lion King fandom is probably fed up with Mufasa popping out of the clouds to give Kion some advice when he calls for him. But here's my two cents on the look of it

As an example, if anybody has seen 'Avatar: Last Airbender' Aang, the next Avatar and the strongest being in the Avatar world, is able to spiritually connect with the past life Avatars. What if the same goes for Kion? It was stated in 'Return of the Roar' that Kion posses the power 'roar of the elders' in which the kings of the past roar alongside him when he uses it, in that case, maybe Kion has a stronger connection to the spiritual life than Simba, Nala, Kiara, and even Rafiki, that's why Mufasa can show up at anytime but only to Kion.

Hows that sound? What do you think?

[Rollo]

Someone else on Tumblr made a post similar to this, basing it around the knowledge that children are more susceptible to the spiritual world, and I have to agree that it'd be a neat explanation.

Here's my take on Mufasa's reappearance from one of my recent reviews (just copying and pasting for the sake of not wasting time!):

I will admit, being the Mufasa fan that I am, I was disappointed to see his re-appearance yet again. For me it really takes away the importance of TLK’s spirituality, the idea that something lives in you as opposed to ‘oh, you rang? here I am!’ We don’t know if Simba’s encounter with his father was a hallucination or not in the first film, though I like to think it was. I dislike the idea that Mufasa comes to Kion whenever he’s needed, but I have realised over the course of this episode that I’m just being an obsessive TLK fan, regarding canon as the ultimate necessity. I think the real message with Mufasa is actually very simple: he is Kion’s guide, albeit spiritual and, er, sort of dead.

Not to [censored] on Simba, who I love regardless of how OOC he can be in this, but his life will naturally revolve around preparing Kiara for the throne. His father wasn’t able to do that completely with him, so naturally he wants to ensure Kiara does not face the hardship he did in adjusting to the responsibility of the kingdom. He’ll focus more on Kiara and perhaps not have time to guide Kion in the same way because he’s unfamiliar with the way of the Guard. Even though he’s wise for his age and seems to be able to handle the role of leader, please remember that Kion is still a little kid. He needs an adult to turn to and ask for help, and it’d make sense for it to be his grandfather. Mufasa is simply guiding Kion the way Simba guides Kiara. And who knows if it’s all in Kion’s head? To me, it’d make sense for the grandfather to help the leader of the Guard while the father helps the next-in-line. But who knows… maybe it’s just me.

[TheLionPrince]

That theory could work, and it's similar to how children in supernatural horror films attract themselves to supernatural entities like demons (The Exorcist), the light (Poltergeist), and ghosts (the Paranormal Activity films). However, Mufasa's ghost re-appearing multiple times is still a problem concerning why he picks and chooses whom he decides to appear before. How come Mufasa's ghost didn't appear before Simba when he needed him for guidance about accepting Kovu? The writers need to let Kion make his own decisions and his own mistakes, and learn from them.

[kyomon]

[quote="TheLionPrince"]That theory could work, and it's similar to how children in supernatural horror films attract themselves to supernatural entities like demons (The Exorcist), the light (Poltergeist), and ghosts (the Paranormal Activity films). However, Mufasa's ghost re-appearing multiple times is still a problem concerning why he picks and chooses whom he decides to appear before. How come Mufasa's ghost didn't appear before Simba when he needed him for guidance about accepting Kovu? The writers need to let Kion make his own decisions and his own mistakes, and learn from them.[/quote] i agree, Mufasa reappearing is getting kinda annoying, and we're only three episodes in. But like i said, Kion probably has a stronger connection to the spiritual world than Simba. Mufasa is still there when Simba is asking him for guidance, its just that he can't see him, so he lets himself be known he's there by a breeze in the wind or the sunlight shining down on him or something. I didn't think Simba needed any guidance for accepting Kovu, since, to me, all he needed was Nala.

@lelizwe: you make a good point. who knows if Kion is just hallucinating or not, but if he is, he sure does it a lot xD

[gothprincesskiara]

My pro is on this as I have said on the other post, right now im thinking of it as a way of praying to the kings I guess but in this case Mufasas is Kions guardian, but could have been Simbas too.

My con on this is I would think it would be a bad example to kids, because depending on type of the young viewer of the show, they see Mufasa answering to Kions Problems but then they will think oh so if I call out to my passed away granddaddy or grandparents or what ever passed away relative, then I will see them in the sky when I am troubled? its possible to give kids the wrong idea

This is another mystery where we will have to wait and see when they explain why they did what they did in the behind the scenes and I hoping for good answers but I worry at the same time

[Amadi_the_Guard]

I think I'll go with Kion having some kind of a spiritual power, too, along with the roar.

It feels kinda weird, as Mufasa didn't appear all that available back in the original movie or SP. He only appeared once to Simba in order to get him to go back, but had to go away pretty quickly too, almost as if his time was limited. In SP he did appear a few times but it mostly looked like nobody could even see or hear him, asides from Rafiki. I know he was supposed to contact Kiara too in order to get her to go back with Kovu and stop the war, but it was scrapped so who cares.

I personally feel that Kion uses his ability to communicate with his grandfather, as well as his majestic roar, way too much, and that both things lose their importance over time.

Speaking of Mufasa, I suppose everyone noticed, but I find it fun how Mufasa's ghost changes once Simba defeats Scar. He has pupils and appears much happier.

[SimbasGuard]

I like the Idea of Kion being able to talk to Mufasa as a side benefit of The Roar of The Elders.

Although I do hope that Mufasa's appearances subside eventually.

[KiovuLove]

I honestly was thinking about this and was pretty fed up about it. I mean it's happened in almost every episode and the latest one was for a very short talk that was very unnecessary. I think they just want to make older fans happy, seeing mufasa more and giving the voice actor more spotlight.

but now that you mention it, it makes sense. he has the power of all his ancestors in a roar. i guess he could call upon him easier...i think it would be a bit interesting if simba was there with him at least one time. just a thought.

[SimbasGuard]

[quote="KiovuLove"] make older fans happy, seeing mufasa more and giving the voice actor more spotlight.[/quote]

Actually James Earl Jones only voiced Mufasa in Return of The Roar. Gary Anthony Williams has voice Mufasa in every appearance since then. Gary Anthony Williams has a good voice and does an incredible job considering who he is trying to fill in for. However Mufasa being voiced by anyone other that James Earl Jones is the most annoying thing about Mufasa showing up so often.

[Lauren]

As much as I love Mufasa, it's actually been getting on my nerves as to how much he's been occurring in the show so far. Mufasa's spirituality that occurred in the original film and in SP was one of the best elements of the films since it showed how powerful his presence was even after he died.

Having Kion calling for his grandfather like a landline takes away his powerful presence drastically and seems like he can just talk to him about anything, which was defiantly not something Simba was able to do during the first movie since his issues were much more severe, emotional, and difficult. It upsets me even more due to the fact that Kiara never even got a scene with her being able to talk to her grandfather in the second movie. It's kinda unfair for her.

Though the idea of Kion possibly calling for an ancestor before Mufasa would be so awesome to see. And yes, I'm familiar with that similar concept from Avatar: The Last Airbender since I love that show a lot.