Zira

From The Unofficial DisneyWiki

Zira Background information Feature films The Lion King II: Simba's Pride Television programmes Video games Park attractions Actor Actress Animators Voice Suzanne Pleshette Performance model Designer Inspiration Awards Character information Other names Personality Obsessive, bitter, twisted, mad as a hatter, would do anything for power Appearance Lioness, light brown fur, reddish-brown eyes, has a small notch in her left ear Occupation Affiliations Goal Make Kovu the Pride Land's King Home Outlands Allies Scar (follower of, deceased) Enemies Simba, Nala, Kiara, basically all Simba's Pride Minions Likes Dislikes Powers and abilities Weapons Fangs and Claws Fate Falls in a river in the broken dam where Nuka died and drowns (it's implied that she deliberately let go). Quote

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Zira is a lioness and the main villain in The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, she was voiced in the movie by Suzanne Pleshette.

[edit] Role in The Lion King II: Simba's Pride

Zira is Scar's former mate and the leader of the Outsiders. She and her group of lions, including her three children (Nuka, Vitani, and Kovu) were exiled to the Outlands (a desert-like area filled with termite mounds) due to supporting Scar. According to Zira, Scar hand-chose Kovu to take his place as king of the Pride Lands. Zira planned on getting revenge for her exile by raising Kovu to kill Simba and take the throne.

Kovu eventually became friendly with Simba's daughter Kiara after the two cubs escaped crocodiles on the Outland borders. Zira caught on to the friendship between the two and plotted to use Kovu's affections for Kiara to further her own goals. Zira plotted to have Kovu save Kiara from a fire (of Nuka and Vitani's making) so he could get closer to Kiara and in turn, Simba. Then, when Simba was alone Kovu was to kill him. Zira relentlessly trained Kovu for this mission and poisoned his mind with a bitter hatred for Simba and a worship of Scar. When he completed his training, Kovu was sent on his mission.

This plan starts well, but Kiara and Kovu end up falling in love. This greatly angered Zira, who then set up an ambush for Simba, tricking Simba into believing Kovu had lured him there. Simba is knocked into the gorge were his father Mufasa was killed by Scar years earlier. He escaped by climbing out on a dam, when doing so he accidentally dislodged a few logs that fell and crushed Nuka. Zira blames Nuka's death on Kovu, and slashes him across the face, resulting in a facial wound identical to that of Scar's. She then browbeats him for causing Nuka's death, but the young lion quickly realizes his innocence and defies his mother for the first time.

On Kovu’s return to the Pridelands, he is exiled by force, much to Kiara's dismay. Zira then declared war on Simba, and lunched on attack on Pride Rock. Simba and Zira were about to fight each other when Kiara and Kovu intervened and stopped the battle, convincing the Outlanders and the Pridelanders that they are the same Zira who was still loyal to Scar, charged at Simba but Kiara got in the way and both tumble into a gorge. Kiara landed on a ledge but Zira fell and ended up hanging on to a cliff edge, Kiara attempted to save Zira, but Zira slipped and fell into the river below (which had broken through the dam) and drowned. Kiara and Kovu both show regret that it came to this end.

In an original draft of the movie, Zira was supposed to grin after Kiara states that she wants to help her, and say "No, never", and let go of the ledge, in essence committing suicide. However, Disney viewed it as being too dark for a Disney Film, so they changed it a bit (However, Zira was shown smiling a bit as she was falling down in the final cut, so she may have deliberately let go in that scene as well.)