Mufasa

Mufasa is the overarching protagonist of Disney's The Lion King franchise, serving as the overarching protagonist of Disney's 32nd full-length animated feature film The Lion King and the posthumous overarching protagonist of both its 1998 sequel The Lion King II: Simba's Pride and its 2016-2019 spin-off series The Lion Guard. He is the father of Simba.

Why He's A Great King Of The Past

 * 1) He is well known for his first scene during the "Circle of Life" sequence where Rafiki blesses the newborn Simba and presents the future king to his assembled subjects.
 * 2) He is a good father and mentor for Simba, as shown when he teaches him about being king.
 * 3) He took down Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed, who threatened Simba and Nala. He even sternly warns them not to come near his son again.
 * 4) He selflessly sacrificed himself to save Simba from the stampede.
 * 5) Even though he can be stern and serious, he is shown to have a playful side to him as well, such as when he gives Simba a pouncing lesson.
 * 6) It is shown that he loves and cares about his kingdom.
 * 7) Even after his death, he continues to offer advice to other characters as a spirit, such as when he encouraged Simba to return to the Pride Lands and take his place as the rightful king, convinced Rafiki to unite the Pride Landers and the Outsiders, and whenever he gives advice to his grandson, Kion, in The Lion Guard.
 * 8) James Earl Jones does an absolutely perfect job voicing him.
 * 9) *His voice by Gary Anthony Williams in The Lion Guard, while not as good as his voice provided by James Earl Jones, is still pretty good and sounds almost exactly like James Earl Jones' voice.
 * 10) *James Earl Jones also reprised his role in the 2019 remake.
 * 11) His death is one of the most realistic and saddest ones in Disney history. He's one of the few main characters in a Disney movie to permanently die.
 * 12) He makes a posthumous appearance in The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, during the presentation of Kiara, Simba's daughter, Mufasa appeared in the clouds and watched the proceedings with a smile.

Trivia

 * Mufasa is the only character in the franchise whose voice actor reprised their role from the 1994 film for the 2019 remake.
 * The role of Mufasa in the stage musical version of The Lion King was originated by Samuel E. Wright.