In The Lion King (1994), Simba’s father is named Mufasa. He is the reigning king of the Pride Lands and teaches Simba about responsibility, courage, and the “circle of life.”
Mufasa is voiced by James Earl Jones in the original English-language film. Jones’s deep, distinctive performance became one of the movie’s most recognizable features, and he later returned to voice the character in the 2019 photorealistic remake.
Mufasa’s main family conflict is with his younger brother, Scar, who wants the throne. Scar’s jealousy leads to a plot that causes Mufasa’s death during the wildebeest stampede. Simba survives and eventually returns to challenge Scar, reclaiming his place in the kingdom.
Mufasa is sometimes confused with other important characters because the film’s royal family includes Simba, Scar, and Sarabi. Sarabi is Simba’s mother, while Scar is his uncle and antagonist; neither is Simba’s father.