#zazu

The image is actually this amazing piece by raccoon_on_caffeine for their webcomic Little Starling. And these are Zazu and Vince.

[ Referencing this manga update! ]

In the recent chapter of the Episode of Savanaclaw, we get to see Leona as a child! He appears to be wearing a similar necklace as Cheka, with a feather in its center.

We unfortunately don’t have an official explanation as to why Sunset Savanna royal children seem to wear this. The Magical Archives does mention that the necklace itself is "an amulet with a GPS tracker" in it (for security purposes, I'm guessing), but I'm assuming the tracker isn't the feather but rather the silver disc above it.

If I had to make my best guess, I’d wager the feather is a symbol of still being in boyhood and/or having to be monitored by the Grand Chamberlain (ie Kifaji/Neji).

Leon’s dorm leader staff bears two feathers on with similar patterning as the necklace feathers. In one voice line, he remarks that the feathers are meant to be symbolic of the King of Beasts’ advisor (presumably Zazu).

In the original Disney film, Zazu is, of course also the one chaperoning Simba and Nala. This is similar to the role Kifaji plays in Cheka and Leona’s lives. It’s Kifaji who frets when Cheka vanishes and Kifaji who seemingly raised Leona in lieu of his own parents. In fact, it is implied Kifaji also raised other princes, so that list probably includes Falena too.

Since neither Falena or Leona wear those necklaces with a feather on it as adults (and/or as a teenager, in Leona’s case), I can only assume the feathers is associated with youth and immaturity. They may shed the feather once they’ve grown into adolescence/adulthood and start “growing their manes out”, as we see with Leona and Falena. The princes now wear multiple necklaces, but none with any feathers.

In Kifaji’s own design, he has many feathers. These feathers are also in a smooth gradient rather than clearly color blocked like Cheka and kid!Leona’s feathers. Maybe this represents his allegiance to the royal family and his duty to look after the “fledglings” (single feather child) as their guardian (fully feathered adult) until the kids can come into their own.

So recently while I was browsing the Lion King Wiki I discovered that Zazu was originally going to get a love interest named Binti in the sequel and they were going to have eight chicks (if you scroll down the page you can see concept art of the chicks) but they were eventually cut out. Of course that made me want to draw them all together lol.

Why this mf catching birds in flight class

RESIDENTOBER DAY 15: Meme reference - leon & zazu (👁_👁) staring contest

I was going through some of my old DeviantArt storage, looking at stuff I hadn’t seen in years. I think some of these still hold up

(blood warning on the one that’s under the cut)