Original artwork, not a still
Timon and Pumbaa to young Simba, The Lion King (1994)
Hakuna matata! It means no worries.
— The Lion King · 1994
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
It is a real Swahili phrase, made world famous by one cartoon song. In the film it is both a gift and a trap: it heals Simba and also lets him hide from who he is until Nala finds him. Outside the story it became a travel-brochure slogan, a tattoo and a shrug for any stressful day.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for The Lion KingShow the scene
In Disney's The Lion King (1994), a young Simba has fled the Pride Lands, convinced he caused his father's death, and collapses in the desert. The meerkat Timon and warthog Pumbaa rescue him and take him to their jungle home, where they explain their philosophy: Hakuna matata, which Pumbaa spells out as meaning no worries. It leads into the song of the same name, written by Elton John and Tim Rice, in which Simba grows from cub to adult living on grubs and putting his past out of mind. The song was nominated for the 1995 Best Original Song Oscar.
Sources (1)
- Lion King Wiki: Hakuna Matata (song)opening quote, infobox and TriviaReference checked
Context reviewed