How Scar got his scar in The Lion King and what it means

Warning: There are spoilers for Mufasa: The Lion King.

Mufasa: The Lion King provides a new origin story about how Scar got his scar. In fact, Scar wasn't always Mufasa's brother's name. When newer versions of Mufasa: The Lion Kingthe characters are introduced, It is revealed that Scar was originally known as Taka. He is the son of Queen Eshe and King Obasi. After Mufasa is separated from his parents, Afia and Masego, during a flood, he crosses paths with Taka, who saves Mufasa from a pair of crocodiles.

Taka and Mufasa grew up together and are brothers except by blood. However, their brotherly bond changed forever with the arrival of The Lion Kingof the white lions, known as Outsiders, led by the villain Kiros. They destroy Obasi's pride after Mufasa kills Kiros' son and continue hunting Mufasa and Taka. Mufasa: The Lion KingThe ending of Scar sees the titular lion, Taka, and his allies defending the land of Milele from the Forsaken, during which Scar suffers his injury and his new name.

Taka gets his scar from saving Mufasa from Kiros

Taka does not maintain his alliance with Kiros

Taka's jealousy of Mufasa, especially because of Mufasa's romantic relationship with Sarabi, leads Taka to forge an alliance with Kiros and the Outsiders. Taka leads the Outsiders to Milele, where Kiros nearly kills Mufasa. Just as Kiros manages to knock Mufasa down with his sharp claws, Taka jumps between them.which saves Mufasa's life and leaves Taka with a scar above and below his eye. Taka puts aside his jealousy and reneges on his alliance with Kiros, refusing to let the brother he loves die.

This is the second time Taka saves Mufasa's life. Soon after this, he saves Mufasa's life for the third time after the cave-in that kills Kiros and nearly drowns Mufasa as well. The story comes full circle when Taka saves his brother's life by pulling him out of the water, mirroring the beginning of the film when he pulled Mufasa out of the water and away from the crocodiles. These scenes are also intended to foreshadow that Scar will not pull Mufasa up and let him fall and be crushed to death. The Lion King.

Taka chooses to become known as Scar to remember his betrayal

This happens after Mufasa decides his brother's fate

After the Renegades' defeat, Mufasa becomes the Lion King and Taka's fate is decided. Mufasa decrees that as long as he is king, Taka will always have a place in his kingdom. After Taka's betrayal, however, Mufasa says he can never call his brother by his name again. Taka suggests he be called Scar as a reminder of his betrayalwhich Mufasa accepts. This decision persists, as years later, during the events of The Lion KingTaka still goes by the name Scar, and is called that by Simba and all the other characters.

Mufasa's decision to spare Taka's life and not exile him is a merciful and honorable decision that sets the tone for Mufasa's prosperous reign. Agreeing to call Taka by the name of the injury he suffered while saving Mufasa's life is a more questionable decision, especially considering how the story ends between the two brothers. The prequel doesn't place all the responsibility on Mufasa, with Taka being the one to choose Scar's name, but it's still a questionable decision on Mufasa's part.

How Mufasa's Scar Origin Compares to The Lion King

The narrative beats are similar to the original Scar story

In The Lion KingScar is considered Mufasa's brother, who wants the throne for himself. Scar's real name, Taka, and his backstory were first explored in greater depth in The Lion King: Six New Adventuresa collection of six derivative short stories released in 1994. One of these stories, “A Tale of Two Brothers”, features stories similar to Scar's origins in Mufasa: The Lion King. Both stories reveal that Scar was once called Taka and that he once betrayed Mufasa out of jealousy.

In “A Tale of Two Brothers”, Mufasa and Taka are biological brothers, both being sons of King Ahadi. Taka is jealous that Ahadi always favors Mufasa over him. This is different from the dynamics in Mufasa: The Lion Kingwhere Obasi only recognizes Taka as his son and spends most of his life treating Mufasa with resentment. In the short story, Taka is left with a scar after being attacked by a buffalo. during a plan to hurt his family that goes wrong. After this, Taka also chooses to be known as Scar in the short story.

How Mufasa: The Lion King Improves on Scar's Lion King Story

The brothers' relationship is more complex now

Mufasa: The Lion King improves Scar's story by making the relationship between Taka and Mufasa more nuanced. In The Lion King and in “A Tale of Two Brothers”, it seems that Taka has always been conniving and only cared about his own selfish desire for power. This is quickly dispelled in the character's first scene in Mufasa: The Lion King, when he takes the initiative to save Mufasa's life. He brings Mufasa into his pride and insists that he stay, even though it poses a threat to Taka's potential future power, and despite this angers Obasi.

Their relationship becomes more nuanced as they grow older, and Mufasa is the one who tries to boost Taka's confidence and sense of self-worth. Despite his jealousy and betrayal, Taka rises to the occasion and saves Mufasa when it matters most at three different points. Two of these instances involving Taka grabbing Mufasa's paws are a callback to The Lion King. These moments add more tragedy to Scar's final betrayal of The Lion KingBased on a history of similar cases, Mufasa hopes his brother will once again pull him to safety.

Instead of Scar getting the scar from a scheme gone wrong, he gets the scar from righting his wrongs. In the past, Scar's injury and his name seemed to be an eternal reminder of shame. Choosing to be called Scar instead of Taka contributes to this narrative, but it doesn't seem entirely fair since the injury is rooted in Taka correcting his mistakes. Mufasa: The Lion King deepens the relationship between Mufasa and Scar, making it less clear, while also planting the seeds for Scar's ultimate betrayal that is yet to come.