Timon and Pumbaa rewind the clock to reveal the hilarious "true" story behind the legend, showcasing their origins and their secret involvement in the biggest events of the Pride Lands.
Synopsis
Long before Simba began his journey, a misfit meerkat named Timon left his colony in search of a life free from digging and duty. Along the way, he befriends a lonely warthog named Pumbaa, and together they embark on a quest to find the perfect dream home. This comedic retelling runs parallel to the original classic, showing how the duo was unwittingly present at every major event—from the presentation of the cub to the stampede—revealing the chaotic and funny side of the story that history missed.
Information |
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Language |
English |
Country |
United States |
Premiere date |
February 10, 2004 |
Running time |
77 minutes |
Genre |
Animation
Adventure Comedy Family |
Budget |
N/A (Direct-to-Video) |
Box Office |
$182,000,000 (Video Sales) |
Crew |
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Directed by |
Bradley Raymond |
Produced by |
George A. Mendoza |
Written by |
Tom Rogers |
Music by |
Don Harper |
Cinematography |
N/A (Animation) |
Edited by |
Joyce Arrastia |
Production Co. |
DisneyToon Studios |
Distributed by |
Walt Disney Home Entertainment |
Top Cast |
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Official Trailer |
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Movie Collection |
Movie Order: #03 in The Lion King Collection
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The Plot
Mystery Science Theater: The Meerkat Cut
The film opens in the silhouette of a dark movie theater, where Timon the meerkat and Pumbaa the warthog are seated to watch the original The Lion King. Impatient with the "Circle of Life" opening number, Timon uses a remote control to fast-forward the film to the middle, insisting on skipping to the part where they finally appear. Pumbaa, a purist at heart, argues that films should be watched in their proper order and attempts to rewind back to the beginning. A chaotic struggle over the remote ensues, with the film flying backward and forward, until they settle on a compromise: they will show the audience their side of the story. They decide to take the viewers back to before the beginning, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the events of the original classic, frequently interrupting the narrative with Mystery Science Theater 3000-style commentary to break the fourth wall.
Tunnel Vision and the Sentry Duty Disaster
The story shifts to a meerkat colony located far from Pride Rock, where Timon struggles to fit in. Despite the constant encouragement of his mother, Ma, Timon is a misfit who cannot seem to master the essential meerkat duties. While working as a digger, his attempt to innovate by creating a skylight results in the catastrophic collapse of the colony's tunnel system. Desperate to prove himself, he takes a shift as a sentry. However, his daydreaming leads to a near-fatal incident where his Uncle Max is almost devoured by the hyenas Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed. This failure is the final straw; feeling like he does more harm than good, Timon decides to leave the colony forever to find his true place in the world.
Before he gets far, he encounters the wise mandrill Rafiki, who advises him to seek "Hakuna Matata" and to "look beyond what you see." Taking this advice literally, Timon observes the landscape and spots the majestic Pride Rock in the distance, deciding that this must be his destination. Back in the theater, Timon pauses the movie to comment on the convenience of an omniscient monkey appearing right on cue, though Pumbaa reminds him that "when the student is ready, the teacher appears."
The Warthog and the Ceremony
On his journey to Pride Rock, Timon wanders into long grass and screams upon encountering a stranger—Pumbaa. After a brief panic, realized in the theater as a discussion on the importance of first impressions, the two strike up a friendship and set out together to find a "dream home." Their path leads them directly to Pride Rock just as the presentation of the newborn Prince Simba is taking place. Arriving amidst the massive gathering of animals, the duo pushes their way through the crowd. Overcome by the intensity of the moment, Pumbaa accidentally passes gas with such potency that the animals standing directly behind him faint and collapse. The animals in front, seeing the collapse, assume it is a bow of respect and follow suit, creating a domino effect where the entire herd bows. From the summit, King Mufasa is puzzled by the premature gesture, but Zazu assures him they are bowing to his son, unknowingly crediting Pumbaa's flatulence for the kingdom's reverence.
The Collapse of the Animal Tower
Timon and Pumbaa settle at a watering hole near Pride Rock that resembles a miniature version of the king's home. However, their peace is short-lived. One morning, they are disturbed by a cacophony of noise. Investigating the racket, they discover young Simba, Nala, and a parade of animals singing "I Just Can't Wait to Be King." Desperate to stop the noise so he can enjoy his dream home, Timon marches out and whacks the leg of an elephant that is supporting a massive tower of animals. The startled elephant jumps, causing the entire formation to collapse—a revelation that explains the tumbling disaster seen in the original film. With their home ruined by the chaos, Pumbaa suggests a legendary "dream home" in the jungle, but Timon stubbornly ignores him.
The Elephant Graveyard and the Stampede
Continuing their search, the duo wanders into the Elephant Graveyard. From a hiding spot, they witness the intense moment where Mufasa and Zazu rescue the cubs from the hyenas. Back in the theater, the tension is broken briefly when the screen switches to a shopping channel because Pumbaa sat on the remote, mistaking it for a brownie. Once the film resumes, night falls, and the pair watches in terror as an army of hyenas marches to the opening strains of "Be Prepared." Realizing the danger, they silently escape into the gorge, only to find themselves in the path of a massive wildebeest stampede—the very same tragic event where Mufasa loses his life. Running for their lives, they fall down a massive waterfall. Surviving the plunge, they find themselves on the shores of a lush, insect-filled paradise: the true dream home Pumbaa had described all along.
The Karaoke Years
In the jungle, Timon and Pumbaa embrace their new philosophy. The iconic "Hakuna Matata" sequence is reimagined as a karaoke sing-along, complete with a bouncing ladybug to help with the lyrics. In the theater, a brief pause occurs when Timon notices his grub snack is missing, only to realize Pumbaa ate it. The montage reveals the duo's antics over the years and the unexpected struggles of parenthood after they rescue an unconscious Simba. Timon questions the freeze-frames showing him looking terrified while raising the cub, but they eventually settle into a rhythm. They engage in snail-slurping contests and sleep in a heap, living the good life until Nala reappears as an adult, threatening to dismantle their trio.
Can You Feel the Interference Tonight?
Terrified that Nala will take Simba away and ruin their "Hakuna Matata," Timon and Pumbaa launch a campaign of sabotage during the "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" sequence. They spy on the lions, setting traps and trying to interrupt the romantic mood. In a slapstick reveal, it turns out they were responsible for tripping Simba and Nala with a vine, causing them to tumble down the hill in the original movie. Despite their best efforts to intervene, they fail. However, they are briefly relieved when they see Simba and Nala arguing. They watch Simba run off into the grasslands and mistake the appearance of Mufasa's spirit in the clouds for bad weather, deciding to retreat to their jungle to sleep.
Friendship over Paradise
The next morning, Nala informs them that Simba has returned to Pride Rock to challenge Scar. Timon is furious, feeling abandoned, and refuses to leave the comforts of the jungle. Pumbaa argues that "Hakuna Matata" is meaningless without Simba, but Timon stubbornly insists they had paradise before the lion arrived. Accusing Pumbaa of betrayal, Timon stays behind while the warthog leaves to help their friend. Alone in luxury, Timon finds himself miserable. Rafiki appears again, leading Timon to a profound epiphany: his "Hakuna Matata" wasn't a place, but the company of his friends. Realizing his mistake, Timon chases after Pumbaa, reconciles with him in the desert, and together they race to Pride Rock to join the battle.
Tunnels, Traps, and a Proposal
At Pride Rock, Timon reunites with Ma and Uncle Max, who are shocked to see him. Together, they devise a plan to help Simba. Ma and Max dig a network of tunnels beneath the hyenas, while Timon and Pumbaa serve as the ultimate distraction. To keep the hyenas' attention, they perform a frantic medley of acts, ranging from spinning plates and doing the Can-Can to breakdancing. In a final, desperate move, Timon proposes marriage to Shenzi, leaving the hyenas in a state of amazement, horror, and disgust. The diversion works perfectly; the tunnels are completed, and the ground collapses, sending the hyenas plummeting into the depths just in time for them to corner and kill Scar after his defeat by Simba.
Paradise for Everyone
With the war won and Simba installed as King, order is restored. Timon tells Ma that he has finally found his place, but he realizes something is still missing: his family. Rather than staying at Pride Rock, Timon and Pumbaa lead the entire meerkat colony back to the jungle paradise. The meerkats are introduced to a life free of digging and sentry duty, where they can live safely and enjoy the "Hakuna Matata" lifestyle. Timon is hailed as a hero by his people, having secured them a safe, work-free home.
The Crowded Theater
As the movie concludes, the scene returns to the dark theater. Pumbaa immediately insists on watching the film again. Timon protests, citing exhaustion, but is interrupted when Ma arrives, eager to see her son on the big screen. She grabs the remote and begins rewinding the entire film. She is soon joined by Uncle Max, Simba, and Rafiki. The theater rapidly fills up as a host of Disney characters—including Mickey Mouse, Snow White, Stitch, and many others—pour in to catch the screening. Resigned to his fate, Timon agrees to play the movie again, while Pumbaa nervously remarks that he still doesn't "do so well in crowds" as the screen fades to black.
