Mufasa

Mufasa is a fictional character in Disney's The Lion King franchise. A wise, benevolent lion, the character first appears in the animated film The Lion King (1994) as the King of the Pride Lands and devoted father to Simba, who he is raising to inherit the throne. Mufasa is murdered by his younger brother, Scar, who kills Mufasa to usurp rulership. Mufasa's death forces Simba to flee the Pride Lands in exile, but his ghost appears to an adult Simba to convince his son to return home and confront his responsibilities as rightful heir, ultimately defeating Scar and restoring the Pride Lands. Mufasa was voiced by actor James Earl Jones, who approached his performance as a "dopey" father figure, rather than a regal character.

Created by screenwriters Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts, and Linda Woolverton, Mufasa underwent several changes during production of The Lion King, namely making him related to Scar to enhance the film's plot, and having the character reappear as a ghost to provide Simba with a compelling reason to return to Pride Rock. The filmmakers strongly debated whether showing Mufasa's death on-screen was suitable for a children's film. While some writers suggested that he be killed off-screen, director Rob Minkoff insisted on exploring Mufasa's death in detail, which was unprecedented for an animated film. The filmmakers then decided to alleviate the tone of the film by incorporating more comedic material after Mufasa dies. Mufasa was animated by supervising animator Tony Fucile, who drew inspiration from Jones's mannerisms and smile.

Jones received acclaim for his performance. Both critics and audiences were initially divided on whether Mufasa's death was too frightening for a children's film, many of whom compared it to the death of Bambi's mother in Disney's Bambi (1942). In retrospect, Mufasa's death is widely regarded as one of the most memorable on-screen deaths in film history, and has been noted for its particularly strong impact on millennials. Jones voiced the character in the 2019 remake of The Lion King, the only main cast member from the original film to reprise their role. Actor Samuel E. Wright originated the role on Broadway in the stage adaptation of The Lion King (1997), for which he was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. A prequel, entitled Mufasa: The Lion King, is scheduled to be released in 2024 and will explore Mufasa's background.