The Lion King finally confirms how much time passed during Hakuna Matata

Hakuna Matata is one of the most iconic parts of The Lion Kingbut there was always some level of uncertainty about how much time actually passed while Simba, Timon, and Pumbaa sang the song. Happily, Mufasa: The Lion King clarified how long the song lasted in relation to the characters' lives. The Lion King used Hakuna Matata as an opportunity to deliver one of its catchiest songs and move the plot forward with a time jump, as a montage in the middle showed Simba aging while living with Timon and Pumbaa.

Throughout the song, different phases of Simba's life are shown. He begins Hakuna Matata as a puppy, grows a little longer to have the beginnings of his red mane, continues to have a more rounded head of hair, and then ends the musical number which closely resembles Mufasa. Although until 2019 The Lion King referencing how much Simba has changed throughout the song, with Timon and Pumbaa mentioning that he has gained 400 pounds since they started singing, it is never clear how much time has passed during Hakuna Matata. MufasaThe soundtrack does not include Hakuna Matata, but the film provides an answer.

Mufasa: The Lion King confirms that the production of Hakuna Matata lasts 6 years

Timon and Pumbaa mention what happened the last time they sang the song

At one point Mufasa: The Lion KingTimon and Pumbaa begin to discuss whether they should sing their iconic song once again, this time to entertain Kiara and insert themselves into the story a little more. As Pumbaa begins to sing the song, Timão advises against doing the full performance again. His reasoning is clearly stated when he says they sang Hakuna Matata for six years straight the last time. This is a direct reference to when they performed the song with Simba, confirming that the entire montage spanned six years in a meta way.

Timon and Pumbaa have plenty of references to breaking the fourth wall in Mufasa: The Lion Kingso it would be easy to dismiss this as another example. However, as opposed to mentioning the Broadway musical or anything else, this seems to be a more explicit reference to what happened in this fictional world. Since Mufasa: The Lion King came out just five years later in 2019 The Lion KingTimão's speech cannot be justified as a reference to the distance between the films. It only works as proof that six years have passed during Hakuna Matata, making everyone significantly older by the end.

Mufasa Confirmation Helps Clarify Lion King Timeline

How long Simba has been gone is now confirmed

Taking Timon's comment at face value, it's now clear exactly how long Simba has been gone and presumed dead by Sarabi, Nala, Scar, and the rest of the tribe. This brings more clarity to the franchise schedule and sees The Lion King movies in order. Simba is around six or seven years old when he returns to Pride Rock, which is when lions reach adulthood in real life. This explanation in Mufasa: The Lion King it also lines up well with how quickly lions grow, as males typically have a full mane by the time they are five or six years old.