Disney’s Lion King: 5 Ways Why Mufasa Is The Best Disney Character (& 5 He Fell Short)
Mufasa is a Disney character with a long-lasting impact, but is the Lion King's father figure really as amazing as some fans think?
Mufasa is Simba's father in Disney's The Lion King and many think he is the best Disney character of all time. He has so many redeeming qualities that put him at the top of the list over other favorites like Mickey Mouse and Belle. However, he also has some faults that fans often choose to forget about when giving him this honorable title.
He wasn't perfect and he wasn't pure evil, but he tried his best to be there for Simba in any way that he could. Not everyone will agree that he is the best Disney character, although, no one can say that he doesn't at least rank toward the top!
10 Best: Knew How To Have Fun
Mufasa was a leader and a father, but he knew how to let loose from time to time. One example of this is when he gave Simba a pouncing lesson when he uses Zazu as the prop for him to practice his new skills, which is why this bird isn't the most intelligent in the movie. It made him the best as it showed an alternate side to his personality that made him more than a one-dimensional character.
9 Fell Short: Didn't See The Jealousy In Scar
Scar was jealous of his brother's power and position, but Mufasa chose to neglect to take any action against it. Instead, he would make a big show of bravado and never follow through on his threats, which ultimately ended in Mufasa's death. If he had just seen how deep Scar's jealousy ran then it could have become an entirely different story, even though it did lead to some amazing quotes.
8 Best: Gave His Life To Save Simba
Mufasa gave his life to save Simba from the herd of stampeding wildebeest that would have crushed him. This was Scar's plan all along, but it still made Mufasa the best as he gave his life to save that of his son's, although it did open the door for a plot hole. He could have let him die, although, he knew there would be no way he could live with himself if he had let that happen.
7 Fell Short: Refused To Tell Simba About The Elephant Graveyard
When Mufasa showed Simba the land he would one day rule, he neglected to tell him about the Elephant Graveyard. All he said was that he was never to go there, rather than giving him an explanation as to why he was barred from traveling to this land.
It opened the door for Scar to lure Simba into this area, to try and have him killed by the Hyenas. This could have all been avoided if Mufasa had just trusted his son with the information and explained it to him so he could understand why it was such a dangerous place.
6 Best: Prepared Simba To Take The Throne
Mufasa's goal was to prepare Simba for his role to one day take his place as the King of their pride, and he succeeded. He began to educate him on the lands and how to be a good leader from an early age, which is part of the reason Simba made the decision to return and why he is the most likable character in the movie. He understood that it is what his father would have wanted as it was ingrained in his mind the images of the lessons he was taught by watching his father.
5 Fell Short: Didn't See His Son's Need To Prove Himself
Simba felt this need to prove himself and it often did more harm than good, but Mufasa neglected to see this side of his son. All he wanted was praise, although, after each of his mistakes his father reprimanded him and failed to let him see his fear and help his son understand it was okay to feel this way. He should have helped him understand he needed to speak the truth, rather than hide away from it.
4 Best: Simba Is Taught Several Lessons
Simba is taught several important lessons throughout the movie as Mufasa would pull him aside to share his wisdom. He taught him how to be a king, a son, and a friend which are all things he needed when it came time for him to take his place as leader of the pride.
He could have let Simba run wild or simply yelled at him for his mistakes, but he used them as teaching moments. Simba became a better lion because of it, especially since the lessons didn't stop even after his passing even if this didn't make sense in the movie.
3 Fell Short: Scar Was Not Treated Like His Brother
Mufasa treated Scar like dirt when they were supposed to be brothers, and this is not how family members are supposed to act. It was Mufasa who originally gave him the cruel name of Scar in A Tale of Two Brothers and this only continues to grow worse as they grow older. It set a bad precedent for Simba on how to treat family and goes to show that Mufasa's heart isn't as pure as fans think it is.
2 Best: Always Makes Sure Simba Knows He Is Loved
Simba might have fallen short of his father's expectations more than a few times, but Mufasa always made sure that Simba knew he was loved. It didn't matter what the situation or what he had done as at the end of the day Mufasa was always there to pick him back up again. It is something all fathers should model as it created a strong bond between the two and it is one of the ways the original is better than the live-action version.
1 Fell Short: He Created His Own Worst Enemies
Mufasa's biggest fault was that he was the only one responsible for his death as he created his own enemies. The treatment of Scar drove him to become jealous and resort to treachery, but the same can be said of the hyenas. Mufasa said that there was balance across the land although he banished the hyenas to the Elephant Graveyard as outcasts rather than working them into the peaceful ecosystem he had created.