Simba's childhood: good or bad?

[Carl]

Simba's childhood was both good and bad. He had a loving family at Pride Rock, he lost it, and then he had great friends in Timon and Pumbaa. The loss of his father to his uncle and being chased away from his home was undoubtedly the most devastating thing that could happen to a cub. However, the times before that and the times after were good because he was surrounded by people who loved him. So, I'm definitely saying it was both.

[Meskhenet]

I think Simba had a bad childhood. He and Nala almost got eaten by Shenzi, Banzai and Ed. He got caught in the middle of a wildebeest stampede. He watched his father fall into the stampede after his father saved him. His uncle accused him of his father's death then he was exiled by Scar. Later he was chased by the hyena trio again and he nearly died in the middle of the desert and become vulture food. Yep Simba had a lousy childhood.

[SlayerOfLight]

well I'd say simba's childhood is both light and dark. Even though he lost his father, it still could be worser because at least Timon and Pumba took care of Simba, rather then Simba being forced to live on his own

It started all good, but then it went horribly wrong when Scar murdered Mufassa and made it look like it was Simba's fault. Simba got emo for a while untill he met Timon and Pumba and accepted the ''Hakuna Matata'' idealogy which changed the view on his life and made him let go his past what happend. from then on, things went straight upwards when he growned up took the kingdom back from Scar, produced kiara with Nala, etc...

[Khanu]

His childhood was unfairly cut short. He had to go for like 4 or 5 years without his parents. For other disney movies, the main character just has to suffer for some days or a week at most. I guess the only good side is that Simba got to live a carefree lifestyle, but it's sad that he didn't get to be with his dad or mom for much time

[Tora]

[quote="Abigail Beatty"]I think Simba had a bad childhood. He and Nala almost got eaten by Shenzi, Banzai and Ed. He got caught in the middle of a wildebeest stampede. He watched his father fall into the stampede after his father saved him. His uncle accused him of his father's death then he was exiled by Scar. Later he was chased by the hyena trio again and he nearly died in the middle of the desert and become vulture food. Yep Simba had a lousy childhood. [/quote]
I completely agree. He definitely did not have a good childhood. He undoubtedly sat up at night in Hakuna Matata and thought about all that happened and his father.

[DGFone]

Simba's childhood cannot be looked as one piece. It really is two parts: the first being before Mufasa's death, and the second one after.

Before Mufasa's death: Simba is a cocky and very arrogant... little prick. Okay, somewhat. He loves to break the rules, and if he's not breaking them, he's pushing the edges. Doing anything to make himself look more 'kingly'. It also doesn't help that he probably is forced to spend more time with Zazu than with Mufasa or Sarabi. So while his parents might be much more lacking than say, Nala, Simba still gets along well with them, and is by no means in a bad relationship with his parents, or anyone else in the Pride Lands for that matter. So while he is quick to get on people's nerves, Simba has a good life, if only what he describes as a little boring.

After Mufasa's death: Not only is Simba run off away from home, being blamed for the responsibility of Mufasa's death really took its toll on Simba's moral. Living with Timon and Pumbaa probably helped him a lot more than anyone else who might have found him, because Simba didn't want to talk about his past, and they didn't really want to listen (well, Timon at least). Plus, the Hakuna Matata lifestyle is probably the best short-term solution that Simba could have asked for. Sure, he would eventually need to grow up and face his past, but until then, it might be best for him to ignore it until he is ready. So by no means was Simba's childhood good at this point, is was rather bad I would assume, but living with Timon and Pumbaa made it at least... livable.

[cleargreenwater]

It was grand til Pops went crunch.

[Immortal Lioness]

Simba saw his own father die, thought it was his fault! Got nearly killed by hyenas for the second time. Straight after the death of his father. Scar told Simba 'what would your mother think.' Making Simba scared, he was basically without a pride. All alone and being only just a cub. But then he met Pumbaa and Timon who took him in and raised him. Told him not to worry about life, the past. So he did settle but, he of course always thought about his father. As they were close, he missed his family but, just couldn't go back. Imagining what the lionesses, his own mother would think if she found out. If Scar revelead the secret of course, which wasn't true. But Simba didn't know that.

Simba's childhood was good at one point.

[Lauren]

I give Simba's childhood an 85% for bad and a 25% for good. Not only did his father die when he was a child, but was murdered by his own uncle who manipulated him into believing that he caused his own father's death, which is scary to live with. His traumatizing past scarred him for life growing up into an adult and even affects him in Simba's Pride, which is still scary because it's not easy to cope with a murder. As a king, he still obtains his childhood innocence. On the other hand, Timon and Pumbaa found him and saved him from dying of heat exhaustion and shared their home with him in the jungle. He found two new friends that stood sides with him since he was a cub and that's very sweet. Before meeting T&P, he had a touching relationship with Mufasa and his childhood friend, Nala, who was also fun like him and went places with him. It was even sweeter that Simba and Nala fell in love as adults.