Savannah Prides

Hyenas (Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed)
Meaning: demon, uncouth (Shenzi); skulk, lurk (Banzai—dubious)
Species: Spotted Hyenas

Adult Voice: Whoopi Goldberg (Shenzi)
Cheech Marin (Banzai)
Jim Cummings (Ed)

Shenzi (the female leader of the pack of hyenas), Banzai (the male), and the moronic Ed are old enough to have terrorized the Pride Lands back in the days of Ahadi, according to A Tale of Two Brothers. In Scar's youth, the trio struck a pact with the younger lion prince to bring him into their clan, initially to circumvent and undermine the king's restrictions on their hunting for sport, but eventually perhaps because they saw as much opportunity in a partnership with Scar as he did in them. It was the Hyenas who inspired the young Scar's first stirrings of malevolent trickery against his brother Mufasa, and his disinterest with the affairs of ruling (aside from the appeal of its raw power) led him to spend his time growing up among the Hyenas and their destructive schemes.

When it comes time for Scar to move against his brother and nephew, he calls upon the aid of his Hyena henchmen, who by the time of Simba's birth have become lazily subservient to him and his ability to provide food and diversion for them. They're clever enough to be employed in creating a deadly stampede that results in Mufasa's death and Simba's exile, and they are rewarded richly with positions of power and privilege within Scar's kingdom, even surpassing the status of the lionesses of Pride Rock, throughout Scar's destructive reign. However, the Hyenas are also smart enough to realize, when Simba returns for vengeance against Scar, when the usurping king has double-crossed them in an attempt to save his own skin; and they get the last laugh when Scar falls at their feet, cast down and at their mercy. They are not inclined to give him any.