In the remake, they'll be voiced by Florence Kasumba, Eric Andre and Keegan-Michael Key in live-action format, although Banzai and Ed were renamed Kamari and Azizi, respectively. And it's a credit to the film that they're not relied upon too much to keep the younger audiences engaged.

And when it comes to recognizable character design, enjoyable antics and even a bit of a menacing threat in one key moment, these three hyenas aren't the best of the bunch, but they're certainly distinctive and entertaining in the right moments. Voiced by Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin and Jim Cummings, respectively, in the animated film, The Lion King has an assortment of wonderfully odd and kooky characters throughout the pride. Thankfully, however, they still know how to make people entertained - particularly the younger audiences in the crowd. Their screeching laughs might make them a bit grating for a few audience members, but since they're working with the bad guys, they're not supposed to be the most likable characters in the world. Scar's dim-witted, deeply unreliable group of hench-animals don't necessarily do their job well, but they're certainly reliable when it comes to providing laughs and entertainment value. But since Sarabi is going to be played by the great Alfre Woodard in Jon Favreau's new film, there's a good chance she'll play a bigger, more prominent role in the newest film.īecause honestly, how can one rank any of these three hyenas over the other? They're a trio, and since they're almost always lumped together, it only makes sense they're ranked by each others' sides. But when it comes to the characters you think back on when you fondly remember The Lion King, the same fact of the matter is that Sarabi doesn't instantly come to mind, which is why she ranks lower.Īgain, there is nothing necessarily wrong with her character, other than she could've arguably been a bigger part of the story, but when there are so many great characters in The Lion King, it's hard to say that Sarabi deserves a higher ranking than a number of the characters who will be listed soon. She is loyal, kind, caring and considerate, and she develops these traits into her son, Simba, and plays a big role into why he is such a great king by the end of the movie. Unfortunately, however, when it comes to Sarabi's character, she isn't quite as memorable or well-defined as the rest of the character who walk among the pride. She is a great mother and a dependable supporter of her son's journey, particularly when it comes time for Simba to fight Scar for the throne. During his rise into kingdom, Sarabi, voiced by the late Madge Sinclair) is there to support her son and care for him through thick and thin. Where would Simba be without his mother? Nowhere, and that's an undeniable truth. Just because a character is placed at 10 opposed to three does not make that character any less lovable. All these characters come together to tell a great story, and the movie would not be the same if one or another was taken out of the picture. Just remember: this movie is a classic for a reason. If you'll indulge us, it's going t be a lot of fun to rank the characters from The Lion King, and I'll explain - to the best of my ability - why one character might go above another. And it's never easy to rank one against the other. Before that film strolls into theaters on July 19th, let's take a look back at the 1994 classic, shall we? Specifically, all the great, lovable characters. That's not to say that it'll be bad it's just damn-near impossible to top the original Lion King. Chances are, Jon Favreau's latest movie may not match the expectations and rise up to the high status of the original. There's no telling yet if The Lion King (2019) will live up to the original.

Lion king characters