Timon and Pumbaa

Template:DisneyChar Timon and Pumbaa are a fictional meerkat and warthog duo first introduced in Disney's popular 1994 animated film The Lion King. Timon was portrayed through his many appearances by Nathan Lane (in all three films and early episodes of the show), Max Casella (the original actor of the Broadway Musical), Quinton Flynn (in certain episodes of the show and in Kingdom Hearts II), Kevin Schon (in certain episodes of the show). while Pumbaa is voiced by Ernie Sabella (in all of his animated speaking appearances) and was portrayed by Tom Alan Robbins in the original production of The Lion King Broadway musical (who still plays that same role to this day). It is interesting to know that Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella first came to audition for the roles of the hyenas, but when the producers saw how well they worked together they decided to cast them as Timon and Pumbaa.

As with many characters in Lion King, Pumbaa derives his name from Kiswahili. His name means "careless". Timon's name is one of the few characters that has no meaning in Kiswahili, although it means "he who respects" in Greek. His name may also derive from Shakespeare's tragedy Timon of Athens, a reference to the Shakespearean origin of the film's plot. His last name was revealed to be Berkowitz on the Disney TV show "Timon & Pumbaa."

They are among Disney's most beloved characters for their comical antics and musical skills. Timon is known for claiming Pumbaa's ideas as his own, while Pumbaa has an unpleasant air about him - boasting a flatulence powerfully sufficient to clear an entire savanna after any given meal. However, Pumbaa is also a fierce warrior, charging into battle like a battering ram, and taking great offense if anyone who's not his friend calls him a pig (at which point he says "THEY CALL ME MISTER PIG!" - a reference to the line "They call me Mister Tibbs!" from the movie In the Heat of the Night.) It has also been revealed that Pumbaa's last name is Smith on "Timon & Pumbaa."

The Lion King

Timon and Pumbaa are played by Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella in the 1994 fim. They are the best friends and protectors of Simba, the Lion King of the Pride Lands. They found Simba as a young cub in the desert, and saved him from dying of thirst. They then raised Simba with their philosophy of "Hakuna Matata", meaning "no worries". They lived with Simba in their oasis home until Nala, Simba's childhood friend, came and found him. After learning Simba's true identity as king, the two accompanied him to Pride Rock to help him fight Scar and the hyenas.

The Lion King II: Simba's Pride

Timon and Pumbaa have taken up residence at Pride Rock. They serve as aides to Simba, and are often called upon to keep an eye on his adventurous daughter Kiara. Timon and Pumbaa also teach Kovu, Kiara's new boyfriend, how to have fun after he forgets due to years of indoctrination in hatred. They later assist in the battle against Kovu's vengeful mother, Zira, and her pride of exiled lions, although Timon attempts to sneak away.

The Lion King 1½

In this prequel/midquel/"inbetweenquel", Timon and Pumbaa are revealed to have passed by and caused some key events in the first film before their first appearance. Timon and his mother and Uncle Max were part of a group of meerkats who lived on the savannah, but he was unable to do any job properly, and almost led to the meerkats being eaten by the hyenas Shenzi, Banzai and Ed. Feeling depressed, he received counsel from Rafiki, who taught him the "Hakuna Matata" philosophy and told him to "look beyond what you see". Timon took this literally, and set off to find the ultimate paradise. Along the way, he first encountered Pumbaa, and the two became friends. On the way to find paradise, they passed by the presentation of Simba (it turns out that Pumbaa's flatulence made a few animals collapse, causing the other animals to think they were bowing and later they all bowed); Simba, Nala and animals singing "I Just Can't Wait To Be King" (it was Timon who hit an elephant's leg with a stick, causing the tower of animals to collapse); the elephant graveyard by running from Mufasa who was on the way to save Simba and Nala from the hyenas ("I see carnivores"); the hyenas marching to "Be Prepared"; and the wildebeest stampede ("Shall we run for our lives?" "Oh yes, let's"). Finally, they reach a beautiful oasis and are enjoying life when they find a collapsed Simba. In a series of humorous vignettes, Timon and Pumbaa take on almost parental roles in caring for the young Simba, with Pumbaa generally filling in as the fatherly figure as Timon subsequently acts in the role of the mother - no less, derived from his experiences with his own. It is also here that the idea of Timon's divergent sexuality is put to question and is hinted at in the dialogue, but is not altogether addressed in full.

The film also shows more of Simba's life with Timon and Pumbaa before Nala came along. Timon and Pumbaa, afraid that Nala would take away their friend, attempted to spoil Simba and Nala's date by letting out bees, a spider, and tripping the two (explaining why they fell down the hill in the first film), but all failed. Later on, they see Simba and Nala quarrelling, and mistakes the appearance of Mufasa's ghost as bad weather. After they realize Simba has gone back to take his rightful place as king, it is revealed that Pumbaa had set off to help Simba before Timon, who was indifferent and reluctant. Timon eventually came to his senses thanks to Rafiki's continued advice, and quickly followed, after which Rafiki says "My work here is done." After providing their hula distraction (shown in the first film), the two run into Timon's mother and Uncle Max, who had been searching for Timon ever since he left the meerkat colony (Uncle Max makes another remark about Timon's arguable sexuality due to the fact that he was dressed in drag. Later on during the fight, they defeated the hyenas by digging a massive tunnel network, sending the hyenas down Pride Rock where they get to take revenge on Scar who had betrayed them. At the end, Timon takes his entire meerkat colony to live in the oasis, free from threats.

Despite the appearance of Timon's mother, Ma (who was also given reference in at least one episode of Timon and Pumbaa) and his Uncle Max (believed to be his great uncle due to his age--which may be premature--and the fact that Ma also calls him 'Uncle' Max), Timon's father is never mentioned. Because Timon's actions at the colony resemble those of a spoken of meerkat in the deleted scenes called 'Fearless Buzz' who supposedly was killed when he chased off a hyena and ran into the rest of the pack, fans speculate that Buzz may have been the father of Timon and that his death helped cause Ma's protectiveness of her son (and her not wanting him to leave home) and Uncle Max's unexceeded paranoia.

The plot and characterization of Timon and Pumbaa in this film roughly parallels the play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead which focuses on two minor characters from Hamlet in a hilarious fashion.

Other appearances

A Snake in the Grass from the book series The Lion King: Six New Adventures.

The two appear on the packaging of the Kellogg's cereal "Mud & Bugs".

The two had regular appearances in the animated television series Disney's House of Mouse (2001-2003).

Timon appeared briefly in the Virtual Magic Carpet Ride game included on disc 2 of the 2004 Aladdin Platinum Edition DVD.

They reprise their roles from The Lion King in the 2006 video game Kingdom Hearts II. They charge in to battle the hyenas, and are saved by the game's main protagonists Sora, Donald Duck and Goofy. Pumbaa later shows his bravery by standing between a pregnant Nala and Scar's "ghost".

Timon and Pumbaa are also the mascots used at Disney World to help kids and parents understand safety issues in the Disney parks and resorts. They are also featured on the Disney Safety website which was created in conjunction with Animax Entertainment.

They have also appeared in their own TV program Timon & Pumbaa (TV series).

In The Hunchback of Notre Dame, two men carry a dead Pumbaa.

In Aladdin and the King of Thieves, the Genie turns into Pumbaa in a scene[1].

Timon also appears at the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts as a meetable character. Pumbaa also appears on certain floats in certain parades or shows.