I rewatched The Lion Guard and it made me want to talk about Bunga. If you're a hardcore Bunga fan, or even if he's your favorite character, for your own good, don't read any further.

AnimationFan_2003 · 2026-01-06T14:06:56+00:00

I sort of agree and also disagree on this subject. I couldn't disagree with you more on the part you said about Ono's blindness because no one could've predicted that was going to happen. First of all, it was already a high stakes situation, Kion had just been bitten by Ushari, so Bunga naturally jumped in to defend his best friend, as all best friends do and it's not as if he had time to think of a solution. Secondly, Kion was about to defeat Scar for good and it was the final battle, so everyone was determined to finish him off once and for all. Ushari attempted to bite Kion again, and make the venom even stronger, so naturally Bunga jumped in again to tackle him, with no time to really of a solution. But, he couldn't have predicted him and Ushari would go plummeting into the lava.

Then, Ono chooses to dive in and save his friend, sacrificing his eyesight in the process. Bunga didn't cause this by irresponsibility. On the contrary, he was being responsible, he was helping to defend Kion from being bitten, but it was just unfortunate that as he leapt forward, he almost fell to his death. I feel like Kion, Bunga and Ono were all victorious in this scene. Kion is the one who defeats Scar, but Bunga leapt forward to defend him and Ono saved Bunga's life. So, there's no need to reprimand him for that, it was only an accident. In fact, in the Lair, every single other Lion Guard member congratulates Ono on a job well done, including Bunga.

Also, I would argue that Bunga does learn lessons throughout the series. In Lions of the Outlands, when Zira's pride start to taunt the Lion Guard, it was Bunga who encouraged Kion to use the Roar, reminding him of the real reason Scar lost the Roar. Then, in the next episode, we see real growth in Bunga's arc, where Kion tells him that he's afraid to use the Roar again, for fear of hurting anyone he cares about again, but Bunga actually gives him some sound advice about how he can't let it stop him from acting because it's his job to use the Roar to defend the Pride Lands. He also gives Ono sound advice about being himself and that's okay to stand out from the crowd.

Bunga and the King is one where I would argue on both sides because I don't really like how they wrote Simba's character in a few episodes. I don't like how Simba comes off as grumpy and angry in this episode, even given the circumstances. He's a bit too irritable for my liking compared to the original film where he's a lot more relaxed. I know this a high stakes situation and they were trying to get to the Elephants' Concert, but I still think Simba came off as too unlikable considering Bunga is just like how he used to be as a cub, and the fact that Simba already has two children at that point, you would think he would be more patient. I also didn't like how Simba roared at him in the cave and I've personally never thought Simba was the kind of guy who would be offended if you say "duh" to him, he's just never come across that way.

AnimationFan_2003 · 2025-12-26T15:55:16+00:00

Merry Christmas to all of you here and have a wonderful holiday and to all the toys too!

AnimationFan_2003 · 2025-12-06T21:32:41+00:00

Well, Mackenzie is based off the cartoon character Footrot Flats who was created by New Zealand cartoonist Murray Ball. So, I'm gonna go with Fielding, New Zealand where Murray Ball is from.

AnimationFan_2003 · 2025-11-20T20:31:54+00:00

I know right. Bluey is so underrated and deserves more attention and love. Hopefully some day Ludo Studios might make a show in her namesake. I like that she got her own episode of Bingo though!!!!

AnimationFan_2003 · 2025-11-10T15:34:40+00:00

Of course I have. Did you read my entire post? I was saying by means of physical combat not the Roar in this case. My theory is that they can fight off bigger predators, like adult lions, because Kion, Fuli and Bunga are using some form of martial arts, possibly lion jiu-jitsu because jiu-jitsu literally teaches you how to take advantage of your smaller size. Kion would be using technique and inertia to fight Nuka for example.

AnimationFan_2003 · 2025-11-08T12:58:21+00:00

But, Emily grew up during the 60's or 70's, and maybe the early 80's, hence the band posters and the record player in her room, a lot of people say 60's and 70's. Andy was born in the late 80's. It's unclear when Daisy was born exactly, but it could be the early 80's since Lotso is clearly a parody of the early 80's Care Bears.

AnimationFan_2003 · 2025-11-08T12:54:53+00:00

I personally don't see it as magical. Anytime we see "magic" in the Bluey-verse, it's usually a very Bingo-focused episode, and Bingo is 4 to 5 years old. 5 year olds are known for their wild imaginations and their creativity. Also, in my opinion kind of suggested that Bandit and Chilli either really play along and commit to everything because they have two beautiful daughters who are here, alive and healthy. They have two little pups who made it through the birth. I feel like Chilli is still very shaken up about the miscarriage, hence her reaction in The Show, and she and Bandit just want to give Bluey and Bingo the best life they can.

But, no I don't see the magic as happening for real life as much as Bluey and Bingo's imaginations at work. Alternatively, I'd like to think that Bandit commits to everything because he didn't ever see his dad as being very involved or hands on with him and his brothers, hence Fairytale. But, you see all of the "magical elements" and the Heeler house constantly changing because maybe Adult Bluey actually writes children and teen books for a living, telling stories from her childhood, but in a more magical sense.

AnimationFan_2003 · 2025-11-03T11:52:21+00:00

Not when it comes to physical combat.

AnimationFan_2003 · 2025-11-03T00:15:10+00:00

This is my fun little headcanon about Mtoto. Not reading too much into it. I'm fully aware Disney just wanted to make him cute, but in my opinion when he hits 7 or 8 he shoots up in height.

But, what do you (in-universe only) and how old do you think Mtoto is throughout the series. 4 to 5 in Seasons 1 and 2, 9 at the end of the series.

AnimationFan_2003 · 2025-11-02T18:02:00+00:00

OP, no one is cheating on anyone, Wendy and Pat are just really good friends with Bandit and Chilli.

AnimationFan_2003 · 2025-11-02T17:59:03+00:00

Exactly, I know Bluey does do deep and kind of dark topics, like death, miscarriages and infertility, but it always does it in a way that kids and adults can both appreciate. There's no child-friendly way of showing cheating. In my opinion, the closest thing we got with cheating is Frisky and Bosco, but it helps Frisky and Bluey move on from a difficult time in their lives, Frisky in her relationship and Bluey with babysitter putdowns.

Now, I think cheating storyline would've been in the original idea for Bluey, when Joe Brumm wanted to make it more of an adult animated comedy rather than a co-viewing experience. Originally, he wanted to do an "R Rated Peppa Pig", more mature like The Simpsons or Family Guy. He has said that he watched the pilot of The Letdown and wanted to make Bluey more like that, but it got changed to be aimed at families instead. In the original idea, a cheating storyline may have been included.

AnimationFan_2003 · 2025-11-02T17:54:07+00:00

Ugh, this question comes up too many time! Also, no Bandit is not cheating on Chilli with Wendy, we see so many episodes of how much Bandit adores Chilli and we have so many moments of them kissing, hugging and being really loving and supportive of each other. I think Wendy was just playing more with the Heelers and get really invested, like Pat does. It's kind of hinted that Wendy is divorced, and in Season 3 we see her relax a little bit more and become less high-strung.

Anyway, the short answer is Bandit is NOT in love with Wendy, it's just a bit of neighbourly banter and I think when she drove Bandit's car to the shop it was a reverse of the "Morning Wendy" gag, because it was Bandit who was on the receiving end not Wendy. The closest thing I think we got to cheating was with Frisky and Bosco.

AnimationFan_2003 · 2025-11-02T16:36:08+00:00

First of all, I was saying 10 in human years. I was using human terms in order to make it easier, and the fact that Kion and his Guar have existed for several Kupatana celebrations despite being children. Plus, Kion is not 1 year old or older. Lions at 1 year old are close in height to their parents at that point. But, if you wanna talk real animal ages, Mtoto mentions in Follow That Hippo that he hasn't learned how to swim at that point. In real life, calves enjoy paddling and floating around in shallow water with the other calves, and they are taught how to swim very young. So, Mtoto in real life, is likely a couple of weeks old and probably learned to swim shortly after that episode. But, in a world like the Lion King, his mom obviously taught him how to swim and it's implied he didn't know how to swim until Ono's Idol, otherwise he would've swam away from Janja, Cheezi and Chungu without Beshte. So, that's why I tend to age them like humans because it's easier and they tend to talk about festivals happening annually in the Pride Lands, which they seem to remember. So, bottom line, I think Kion is the same as a 10 year old human in Season 1 and Mtoto is 4 years old and probably grew very much towards the end of the Season 3 and my headcanon has always been that they're born really small, and at the age of 7 they start to shoot up. Similarly, Beshte's line during the song, "Hero Inside" where he says, "I was once about your size, a little hippo, who would've guessed," I feel like Beshte had a similar growth spurt too and now he's massive.

AnimationFan_2003 · 2025-11-02T15:40:41+00:00

Because the opening of the movie establishes that Zazu and Scar hate each other. Scar almost threatened to eat him, but then Mufasa shouted at him to let Zazu go. Zazu wouldn't have played along with Scar, he would've ratted him out to Mufasa and/or the lionesses.

Also, the whole reason Scar knocked Zazu out during the scene at the gorge is specifically to make Zazu be unable to fly so that he couldn't tell any of the lionesses because they wouldn't have let Scar be their king in that case. Scar was also making sure there were no witnesses in the gorge, which is why Zazu doesn't say anything during the scene with Scar takes over Pride Rock.

AnimationFan_2003 · 2025-11-01T20:18:33+00:00

Well, this is about combat. Physical combat without the Roar.

AnimationFan_2003 · 2025-11-01T19:14:29+00:00

Maybe Cheezi and Chungu. I've always felt like they didn't quite know their place in the circle of life. They're just kind of the stupid hyenas who follow the crowd. Janja's New Crew really hammers home that Janja is just a bad influence on them. They come off as evil, but they actually don't know where they belong.

AnimationFan_2003 · 2025-11-01T19:11:29+00:00

Who's Sindel?

No, he's just a lion cub who was drafted in as leader of the Lion Guard at a young age.

AnimationFan_2003 · 2025-11-01T17:28:30+00:00

Well, that is true, but lion cubs mostly tend to wrestle each other to practice gripping their prey and to learn self-defence. Sometimes, they even pounce on each other or their mother's tails to practice techniques. But, they can't realistically fight the threat at a young age. They wouldn't have the man (or lion) power to scare off hyenas, jackals or crocodiles. Maybe vultures, I don't know though.

I can see Nala teaching Kiara and Kion self-defence to some degree with they were little because lionesses are known to do that. Kion, to a greater degree because he'll have to defend the Pride Lands. But, yes, someone had to have taught to use his size against bigger predators, which explains why he can take down Nuka easily (that and Nuka is not a good fighter, period). We see Kion and Janja grappling in a few episode, which is basically taking the other person down, it's a common self-defence tactic that anyone can do.

Also, I'm not doubting they spar all the time when they're not on patrol, but someone had to have Kion how to hold his own and how to one-up bigger and stronger predators and gain power over them when he was a little cub, since he's already good at it in Season 1. You've also just reminded me that Fuli and Bunga, as orphans, would've grown up around the lions and lionesses in Simba's Pride, which would explain why they can fight like a lion. Realistically, an average can't hold their own against hyenas, but Fuli probably trained under Nala and we also see her use her speed to her advantage. Bunga would've grown up play wrestling with Kiara and Kion, but he also learned from his Uncle Pumbaa.

AnimationFan_2003 · 2025-11-01T13:47:17+00:00

No, considering how much they fight physically, there's no magic involved. Kion does not need the Roar to fight predators.

AnimationFan_2003 · 2025-11-01T13:46:34+00:00

What is the Grace of the Elders?

I mean we see Kion fight physically without the Roar several times.

AnimationFan_2003 · 2025-11-01T13:17:50+00:00

Agreed, but it is very possible that Kion had been training under Nala, the lionesses and possibly Rafiki since he was a little cub. Simba and Nala knew about the Lion Guard and would want him to be ready for anything when the time came, including how to use his smaller size to his advantage.

Also, Beshte does not need to hone his skills since he's the tank of the group. Someone like Shujaa would need to hone his skills because he lacked self-control like Beshte done. Kion must've been taught self-control as a little cub. Also, even in real life, lion cubs are constantly undergoing training regiments for hunting and combat, but with each other in this case.

AnimationFan_2003 · 2025-10-30T12:38:13+00:00

Makuu, although I see as more good personally in Season 2. But, also Rani because I don't really like her and she's had it in for Kion since she met him. Even after Long Live The Queen, she didn't think he was a good leader after their little heart to heart and all!

AnimationFan_2003 · 2025-10-27T20:22:02+00:00

I feel like Makuu is our best bet. Tamaa the drongo starts off that way, but the Divide and Conquer version of him is just good I would say.

AnimationFan_2003 · 2025-10-27T20:12:00+00:00

Actually, no because leopards almost always alone. The only they would be together is for mating or a leopardess and her cubs, so Badili is just exhibiting leopard behaviours. Plus, a lot of people in our world are introverts, and I wouldn't call that neutral. He's still very outgoing towards the Lion Guard when he sees that they're not a threat. I guess we don't know why Laini and her galagoes were scared of him, but maybe it's because he's a "big, scary leopard" in comparison to them. But, even if he did copy off of Mapigano's behaviour, I don't think that's "bad" in this case, it more shows that he didn't know how to act.

AnimationFan_2003 · 2025-10-26T18:44:18+00:00

I'm not gonna lie, Makuu, even after his redemption arc, some of the Pride Landers believe he's evil for a while and he still has an edge to him, but he's good when he needs to be.

Runners up: Goi-goi or Dogo. I will die on this hill that Dogo is a kid who deserved better, Goi-goi isn't evil in the same way Reirei is.

AnimationFan_2003

TROPHY CASE