Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
More adventures of Kion and his Guard; cartoon peril.
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The Lion Guard: The Rise of Scar
What's the Story?
In the longer, featured title story in THE LION GUARD: THE RISE OF SCAR -- a compilation of five episodes from Seasons 1 and 2 of The Lion Guard television series -- it's the dry season in the Pride Lands. The heat and lack of water and food threaten survival. It's up to Ma Tembo (voiced by Lynette Dupree), matriarch of the elephants, to lead all the creatures to a new water source. Janja (Andrew Kishino) and his laughing hyena sidekicks are impatient, and they menace the lions and anyone else they think would make a good meal. Young lion leader Kion (Max Charles) and his loyal guards step up and protect them all. At the same time, Rafiki (Khary Payton) introduces a new apprentice, Makini (Landry Bender), an inexperienced female mandrill who will follow him as The Knowledge Keeper. As Makini learns the responsibilities of her future role, Ushari, the snake (Christian Slater), teams up with Janja to manipulate her and her mystical Bakora staff. They hope to reach out to the mighty elephants of the past, as Kion does, using his control of The Roar, a gift that only he has been granted. Ushari and Janja are determined to resurrect Scar, the most dangerously evil lion of all. And that might prove to be a calamity that only future episodes of the show can deal with.
Is It Any Good?
If audiences don't mind the fact that this "movie" is a compilation of episodes earlier broadcast on The Lion Guard TV series, it's a treat for kids and fans of the popular Lion King franchise. The characters are, as always, well-defined and funny, and often deliver sound and significant messages to young audiences. The original songs are bright and catchy. The performances in The Lion Guard: The Rise of Scar are all strong; the story is intriguing; the animation is first-rate. Still, despite the well-earned acclaim of this Disney entry, it's not appropriate for little ones who are not yet able to distinguish real from pretend. Beloved characters are often in danger, villains are noisy and threatening, and action is plentiful.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the fact that studios, especially those marketing products for kids, choose to build their DVD inventory with compilations of episodes from television programs. What are your thoughts about this corporate concept? Did you know that The Lion Guard: The Rise of Scar was a collection of previously aired segments?
What do you think is meant by the statement: "The hardest part of listening is finding the quiet to hear." How did the story demonstrate this concept?
Do you know the meaning of the film term "cliffhanger"? In what way is the ending of the Rise of Scar tale a cliffhanger? What do film companies gain by ending their movies this way?
What character strengths and skills are emphasized in this movie? What did Makini learn by the end of the Scar story?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : January 9, 2018
- Cast : Max Charles , Diamond White , Andrew Kishino
- Director : Howy Parkins
- Studio : Disney Junior
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Adventures , Animals ( Wild Animals ) , STEM
- Character Strengths : Teamwork
- Run time : 141 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Award : NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : March 21, 2026
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