Timon and Pumbaa hit the rewind button on the greatest story ever told to reveal what really happened behind the scenes of Simba's journey. In this irreverent retelling, we discover Timon's origins as a outcast in his colony, his fateful meeting with Pumbaa, and how the duo were secretly present at every major event in the Pride Lands. It is the hilarious, untold story of how two best friends helped save the savanna—while trying to find their own dream home.
Information |
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Language |
English |
Country |
United States |
Premiere date |
February 10, 2004 |
Running time |
77 minutes |
Genre |
Animation Comedy Adventure Family |
Budget |
$20,000,000 |
Box Office |
$185,000,000 (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 Walt Disney Animation Australia |
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
Remote Control Wars
The film opens in a silhouette-style movie theater, where Timon the meerkat and Pumbaa the warthog take their seats to watch the original The Lion King. As the "Circle of Life" begins to play, Timon grows impatient, insisting that they aren't in the beginning of the movie. Using a remote control, he fast-forwards the film to the middle of the story where he and Pumbaa make their first appearance. Pumbaa, however, argues that films should be watched in their proper order and uses his own remote to rewind back to the opening credits. A chaotic struggle ensues as the duo battles over the remote, fast-forwarding and rewinding repeatedly. Finally, they reach a compromise: they will watch the film, but they will rewind it to "before the beginning" to tell their side of the story, revealing the events that transpired behind the scenes of the known legend.
Life at the Colony
The story shifts to a time before Simba’s birth, at a meerkat colony located far from Pride Rock. Timon is a misfit within his community, unable to fit into the regimented life of digging tunnels to escape predators. During an attempt to build a skylight, he inadvertently collapses the colony's entire tunnel network ("Digga Tunnah"). While his mother, Ma, remains sympathetic and encouraging, his Uncle Max is mortified by his nephew's incompetence. Desperate to prove himself, Timon is given a job as a sentry duty by Uncle Max.
The new responsibility ends in disaster when Timon, daydreaming about a better life and singing "That's All I Need," fails to spot the approach of the hyenas: Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed. The predators attack, and Uncle Max narrowly escapes being eaten. Having lost the little respect the colony had left for him, and feeling completely out of place, Timon shares a heartfelt goodbye with his mother. He decides to leave the colony for good, venturing out into the world to find his true place.
The Journey and a Fated Meeting
Wandering alone through the tall grass, Timon encounters the mystic mandrill Rafiki. Seeking guidance, Timon is told that he seeks "Hakuna Matata" and is advised to look "beyond what he sees." Timon takes this metaphorical advice literally and observes Pride Rock in the distance, believing that the majestic landmark is his destined home. During his journey toward the rock, he wanders into long grass and finds himself terrified by a towering presence.
He screams, causing the stranger to scream back; it is Pumbaa the warthog. After the initial fright, Timon realizes Pumbaa is harmless and alone. observing that predators likely avoid the warthog, Timon decides to keep Pumbaa as an "acquaintance" for protection. Pumbaa, eager for a friend, readily agrees to accompany him. Together, they set off to find Timon's dream home, bonding over their shared status as outcasts.
The Presentation of Simba
Timon and Pumbaa arrive at Pride Rock just as the presentation of the newborn Simba is taking place. The area is crowded with animals, and the duo struggles to make their way through the throng. Suddenly, Pumbaa's demophobia triggers his severe flatulence problem. The noxious gas causes a group of animals nearby to faint and collapse instantly. The animals standing further in front, seeing the row behind them fall, assume they are bowing to the new prince and follow suit. This chain reaction causes the entire gathering to bow, a gesture that King Mufasa views with delight, unaware that the reverence was sparked by a gas cloud rather than respect.
The Collapse of the Tower
Believing Pride Rock is too crowded, Timon and Pumbaa seek a new residence. They find a scenic cave near the rock, and despite Timon's initial desire for solitude, he allows Pumbaa to move in. Their peace is short-lived. The next morning, they are awakened by the noisy musical number "I Just Can't Wait to be King," performed by Simba, Nala, and the other animals. Irritated by the disturbance, Timon marches outside and kicks the leg of an elephant that happens to be at the base of a towering stack of animals. The elephant jumps in surprise, causing the entire animal tower to collapse—an unexplained event from the original film now revealed to be Timon's doing. With their home ruined by the chaos, the pair decides to move on.
Graveyards and Stampedes
The search for a home leads them to the Elephant Graveyard. While hiding, they witness Mufasa and Zazu rescuing the cubs from the hyenas. Later that night, venturing deeper into the graveyard, they stumble upon an army of hyenas marching in formation to the tune of "Be Prepared." Terrified by Scar's conspiracy, they flee the scene. Their escape leads them into a gorge where they encounter a massive wildebeest stampede. In a desperate bid to survive the same stampede that kills Mufasa, they fall over a waterfall and nearly drown.
Washed up on a riverbank, Timon is ready to give up, his spirit broken. However, Pumbaa reveals that he, too, is an outcast, and suggests they search for the place he calls home. Reaffirming their friendship ("Friends stick together to the end"), they fall asleep. They wake up to discover they have arrived at a lush, green jungle paradise. Recalling Rafiki's advice, they embrace the philosophy of "Hakuna Matata." Back in the theater, the duo interrupts the film for a karaoke sing-along of the famous song, complete with a bouncing ladybug, before settling into their carefree life of eating grubs.
Parenthood and Interference
Years pass in the jungle. One day, while "bowling for buzzards," Timon and Pumbaa discover a collapsed lion cub in the desert. They rescue him, and despite Timon's reluctance to harbor a predator, they adopt young Simba. A montage reveals the struggles of parenthood: the duo keeps Simba out of trouble, comforts him during nightmares, and endures his energetic playfulness. As Simba grows into a young adult, he fully embraces their lifestyle, even defeating Timon in a snail-slurping contest.
Simba's life in the jungle is interrupted when he reunites with his childhood friend, Nala. Fearing that romance will destroy their "Hakuna Matata" trio, Timon and Pumbaa conspire to break them up. During the "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" sequence, the duo employs slapstick tactics to sabotage the date, including tripping the lions with a vine—explaining why Simba and Nala tumble down a hill in the original movie. Despite their efforts, they fail to stop the romance. Timon is initially relieved when he sees Simba and Nala arguing, assuming the relationship is over, but he and Pumbaa are terrified when they mistake the ghost of Mufasa in the clouds for bad weather and retreat to their shelter.
The Separation
The next morning, Nala and Rafiki inform the duo that Simba has returned to the Pride Lands to challenge Scar. Pumbaa immediately wants to help their friend, but Timon refuses, feeling betrayed that Simba would leave them. He stubbornly insists that he has everything he needs in the jungle. Pumbaa, however, chooses loyalty over comfort and leaves to follow Simba. Alone in the jungle, Timon tries to enjoy his solitude but finds it hollow. Rafiki appears again, and Timon finally realizes that "Hakuna Matata" isn't a place, but being with his friends. He chases after Pumbaa, reconciling with him in the desert, and together they race toward the Pride Lands to join the battle.
The Tunnel Trap
Arriving at Pride Rock, Timon and Pumbaa distract the hyenas to help Simba reach Scar. During the chaos, they are cornered but are saved by the sudden arrival of Ma and Uncle Max, who have been searching for Timon. It is a joyful reunion, and Timon introduces his family to Pumbaa. Seeing Simba cornered by fire and hyenas while fighting Scar, Timon devises a plan. He instructs Ma and Max to dig a network of tunnels beneath the hyenas while he and Pumbaa create a diversion.
Timon and Pumbaa launch into a series of frantic distractions, ranging from the Can-Can to breakdancing, culminating in Timon getting down on one knee and proposing marriage to Shenzi. The shock and disgust of the proposal freeze the hyenas long enough for the trap to work. The ground beneath the hyenas collapses into the tunnels dug by the meerkats, sending the clan plummeting just as Simba defeats Scar, throwing the usurper off the cliff.
Paradise Found
With Scar defeated and the Pride Lands restored, Simba ascends as the rightful King. He thanks Timon and Pumbaa for their bravery and loyalty. Timon tells his mother that he has finally found his place, but he realizes that his true home includes his family. In the aftermath, Timon and Pumbaa return to their jungle paradise, but this time they bring Ma, Uncle Max, and the entire meerkat colony with them. The meerkats are overjoyed to have a safe, predator-free home where they no longer have to work constantly. Timon is hailed as a hero by his colony.
The Final Screening
As the movie concludes, the scene returns to the theater silhouette. Pumbaa enthusiastically asks to watch the film again, but Timon refuses. Suddenly, Ma, Uncle Max, Simba, and Rafiki enter the theater, demanding to see the movie. They are soon followed by a massive crowd of Disney characters, including Mickey Mouse, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Stitch, and many others. Resigned to his fate, Timon restarts the film. As the credits are about to roll and the theater fills to capacity, Pumbaa nervously remarks that he still isn't used to crowds.
