I have been confused over who the cub at the end of TLK is and I know I'm not the only one.  There have been many articles concering this issue and many theories on why he wasn't in the movies.  The animators have noted that "Fluffy" is the same cub as Kiara, the only difference being his gender.

This is where the animators got lazy though.

As you can see, the cubs look different.  Fluffy has fur similar to Simba, Kiara's is slightly lighter.  Fluffy's eyes are light green and Kiara's are red.  Fluffy is relaxed and observing his surroundings while Kiara is squirming around, trying to play. 

Both presentations are portrayed differently too.  The first one starts out with Simba, Nala, Timon, and Pumbaa overlooking the crowd, followed by Rafiki entering the scene carrying baby Fluffy.  The second starts ot with Rafiki overlooking the crowd and then Simba and Nala enter the scene while Nala carries baby Kiara. 

These are obviously not the same cubs.

But then who is Fluffy?

Six New Adventures explains that Fluffy is Simba and Nala's son whom they name Kopa. Strangely enough, Kopa doesn't appear in TLK2.  Fans have their own explanations for this, some of the most popular stories include Kopa becoming rogue or running away, I even read an article where the author thought that Kopa was born sometime after Kiara.  However, the most accurate theory I have come across is that Zira murdered him.

This explaination covers a lot of ground, such as the reason of Zira and her pride's exile and the reason why Simba's so overprotective of his daughter.  Zira most likely killed him for the same reason why she wanted to kill Simba: to make Kovu king.  

In the begginning of the movie, it's Kiara's first time wandering out in the Pridelands on her own, she is soon stopped by her father to be lectured about where her boundaries are.  The following conversation takes place:

Simba: ...and stay away from the Outlands.

Zazu: Nothing there but a bunch or backstabbing, murderous outsiders.

Simba: Zazu's right, you can't turn you're back on them.

Kiara: Really how come?

Simba: *sigh* nevermind, just run along now...

Notice how Zazu says the word murderous and that Simba avoids the rest of the conversation.  I think Simba gave the outlanders a second chance and let them stay in the Pridelands, but Zira backstabbed him by murdering his son and was therefore exiled to the Outlands. Simba probably didn't want to talk about the tragedy of his son or felt that Kiara wasn't ready to learn about a brother she never got to have, or maybe a combination of both.  Either way, I find it most believable if Kopa was murdered.

Similar articles :

• Fluffy's story
• kopa is not the cub in the end !
• Kopa-Kiara-Kovu-Konundrum
• I think Disney won't make Kopa canon
• The cub's timeline
• Kopa!
• The cub: 3 facts about the gender issues
• New Theory on Kopa's birth
• Does Simba's Pride really have plot holes?
• outlander traits

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Last comments

NalaandK iaraRoxs	January 07, 2012

Ok

Musicluv 99	December 09, 2011

At first the creators didn't make Kiara in at the end of the first film. They made a random cub. They made Lion king 2 without thinking about that and just made Kiara the main character, instead of simba having two kids. Maybe there was a connection between Kiara's brother and what Zazu said but it is up to the fans to decide. I think it's more fun when they leave us to decide anyway

Brown Wolf	August 25, 2011
	Global moderator

Kitkat -- Uh, actually, at the end of the first film there is nothing stating that the cub Rafiki held was male or female. It was genderless and remained so for four years. When plans came for a second movie Disney had originally decided to have two cubs, twins, a son and daughter, for Simba and Nala: Chaka and Shani, along with a lot of other interesting things and characters that were supposed to be in the film. But then the producers and creaters for Simba's Pride changed their minds and dropped Chaka, along with some of their original plans, and changed Shani's name to Kiara. So, with The Lion King + Simba's Pride - and I really hate to admit this - the cub at the end of the first film is *shrugs* Kiara. But, with The Lion King and without Simba's Pride the cub at the end of the first film is still genderless, therefore the cub could be either male or female.

Kitkat17 40	August 25, 2011

Well the lion king 2 was going to be about simbas son chaka (or something like that)so if disney was planning the lion king 2 they put a male cub at the end of the first one

Vitanilo ver100	June 04, 2011

k thancks 4 clearing that up i never got any of the other articles but yours makes perfecte sceans

Lioness jhr	June 01, 2011

Yeah I agree, this theory is very acurate, I just don't think Fluffy/Kopa was actually killed "sigh" atemped murder. But Zazu said "murderous OUTSIDERS" remember the "S" now, why would Simba excile all of Scar's followers if only Zira "killed" Kopa, the rest of the pride must of helped.

Old account 20081	May 09, 2011

No "Fluffy" is the son of Simba and Nala. Technically, Kopa and Vitani are not an official TLK couple.

Vitani_	April 04, 2011

Sorry you're wroung Fluffy is Kopa and Vitani's son.

Werebere us	March 15, 2011

You all are IDIOTS. Kopa wasn't murdered, he couldn't have been. Zira is NOWHERE to be seen in 6NA she couldn't have murdered him. As far as i'm concerned Zira was exiled before Kopa was born.

JetxLucy	March 10, 2011

Seth I didnt know he had that many cubs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TLKGIRL9 8	February 18, 2011

that's bougus ! they had a daughter !

Rat	February 12, 2011

Aiyana-K opa	January 25, 2011
	Hidden Souls

REALLY GREAT ARTICLE!!!!! Im impressed. I would never have thought of that!!! BUT, he could be reffering to how scar was one of them and murdered his father. then again, you could be right!

Shivu	November 19, 2010

Ooh... I like it, I like it! Have you written a fan-fic about it?

Amy_spce	September 06, 2010

I fully agree with the archive, too, am a follower of that Zira killed Kopa. On Deviantart Kat-Kopa had a history of such woe in Fanart. It was her that I knew who was Kopa, how he died and so on ... Well the more I did not notice the difference Deicher of the nestlings. But why will not Kopa that gave the movie premiere?

TheLionK ingLover	April 14, 2010
	Harry Potter FTW

Interesting. If you could rate these things, I'd give it a 5 out of 5. I am a follower of the 'Zira killing Kopa' theory big time. Good job. And like Seth said, he did have many names. I've seen these alot: Kopa, Fluffy, Tanabi, Chaka, one person even combined the names, except for Fluffy, and made this: Chakopanabi.

31_Flavo rs	February 19, 2010
	RAWRRRR!!! Imma' kitty :3

who's fluffy?

Old account 16154	February 03, 2010

i agree with the article but they probably called them murderous because they were the followers of scar who killed simbas father

Stella Cullen	January 06, 2010
	Alaskan Spirits Omega

Very interesting........

Seth2208	November 17, 2009

That sums theory I am with. I just couldn't go pass the differences of the cubs. And when I first time watched TLK2, I was wandering what happened to Kopa, because I knew about him before from TLK:6NA. Nice article. That cub had many names. Here I found some picture someone made about all major names Simbas cub had: http://www.mylionking.com/forum/download/file.php?id=2&mode=view