Fan CastingThe Lion Queen

The story of The Lion Queen takes place in an African queendom called the Pride Lands, where a lioness rules over the other animals as queen. At the beginning of the film, Ramla, a mandrill shaman, anoints Sithembile, the newborn cub of Queen Mudiwa and King Sango, and presents her to a gathering of animals at Pride Rock. Meanwhile, Mudiwa's younger sister, Saalinge, who decided not to be at the ceremony, is annoyed that she is no longer the heir to the throne. Mudiwa confronts Saalinge about not attending the ceremony and says to not turn her back on her when she tries to leave. When Saalinge says Mudiwa should not turn her back on her and Mudiwa asks her if it is a challenge, Saalinge replies that she would not dream of it as she lacks brute strength. After Saalinge leaves, Mudiwa wonders what to do with her. A few years later, Mudiwa shows a young Sithembile the Pride Lands and explains to her the responsibilities of queenship and the "circle of life", which connects all living things.