HOME | DD

Description
Been meaning to get these two done for awhile. Ever since I first saw the two mysterious cubs from that TLK book awhile back, I've wanted to do my own designs for these two. Heck, I even included them in my TLK rewrite story (which unfortunately has been discontinued due to me losing access to that account). However, since I already have a Mheoto and Nadra in my universe, instead meet the twins; Tambo(vigorous) and Jamala(friend).

Unlike some of the cubs like Tojo, Tama, Chumvi, and Kula, Tambo and Jamala are from a nearby pride. The children of a pride lioness and a Pridelander, they were actually the only cubs in the pride at the time. Wanting to establish friendly relationships with the Pridelanders, Tambo, Jamala, and their mother were invited to visit and stay a while in the Pridelands and allow their cubs to spend time with the several they had. The twins quickly befriended Simba and Nala and occasionally joined the two on their outings. Both are slightly younger then the rest of the cubs in the Pridelands, though not by a lot.

Tambo, the striped male, is boisterous, energetic, and cocky. Like Simba, the two often leap face-first into scenarios without considering the consequences, much to their lady companions' displeasure. Still Tambo is very friendly and does have some intelligence, at least with examining how other lions are feeling. He's very protective of his sister and friends, often to the point where it's detrimental where he's not thinking much about himself. Unlike Simba, he's much better at attacking and wrestling, though not good enough to beat Nala. When Mufasa died, Simba was presumed dead, and Scar took over, Scar cut all contact with the outside prides, wanting to prove that the Pridelands were self-sufficient, but also to prevent any of his pridemembers from escaping too or bringing back help from them. Tambo and his sister unfortunately didn't have any contact with the Pridelanders until after Simba miraculously returned, to which their pride provided relief towards the rebuilding pride and Pridelands.

Jamala is Tambo's younger twin sister and a more quiet soul. Though she went along with the other cubs in their adventures, Jamala preferred to follow behind, take in the sights and scenery and only occasionally put in her two cents. It makes a bit of sense why, since when she was born she was much weaker then her twin, to a point where her mother thought she wouldn't make it. Tambo showed surprising concern and protectiveness over her, even as a baby himself. She thankfully pulled through and is about as healthy as any other cub, though compared to the rest she's much more aloof, withdrawn, and quiet. She gets more tired easily when playing and would prefer just to hang out with the adults and listen in on the conversations. However, she looked up a lot to the other girl cubs in the pride like Tama and Nala and wishes that she had their energy, fortitude, and strength. The two are nice enough to bring her along and gave her pointers, which she is grateful for. She was overjoyed to meet up with them years later and sometimes will go over and babysit their kids.

So when I first started designing these two, I kept on thinking of Simba/Nala-clones, considering the similarities in their appearance to the two(eg Simba/Tambo goldish pelt and Jamala/Nala paws matching the rest of their pelts), but I didn't want to just take from the original inspiration I had in the story or make them slightly-tweaked clones, so the most I gave them is slightly-similar-sounding names. I tried to distinguish them more from Simba and Nala by giving Tambo more of a considerate, observant nature, beside his jumping to conclusions without considering all the options or consequences, while Jamal is more quiet, sweet, and a bit physically weaker then Nala and the other cubs, but has a strong moral compass.

I also know the two don't look very similar to each other, instead looking a bit like off-brand Simba and Nala, so I like to think they have some distant blood relations to either side of the family. One thing I did want to really make pop out was the eyes, which the female cub had hers closed in the original material. I know Jamala looks very plain in comparison to her brother, so I decided a sharp pop of rare eye color would be a nice offset and he got more pale eyes. I was initially planning on making them olive green, like I did in that story, but I didn't want to make her look too close to Nala, so there. I also had considered actually making them related to Simba's side of the family by making them Dwala's children's and thus Tojo's younger siblings, but the timeline didn't work with them being friends with Simba and Nala by then, so they instead just have distant blood relations to both of them, and are from a different, nearby pride.

Edit: How the stale baguette I ever forgot to add Nala's shadow and not notice for 5 months I will never know.

Nala, Simba, Tambo/Jamala concepts © The Lion King © Walt Disney Animation Studios
Tambo/Jamala's designs/names, Art © Vtoony

Description
Been meaning to get these two done for awhile. Ever since I first saw the two mysterious cubs from that TLK book awhile back, I've wanted to do my own designs for these two. Heck, I even included them in my TLK rewrite story (which unfortunately has been discontinued due to me losing access to that account). However, since I already have a Mheoto and Nadra in my universe, instead meet the twins; Tambo(vigorous) and Jamala(friend).

Unlike some of the cubs like Tojo, Tama, Chumvi, and Kula, Tambo and Jamala are from a nearby pride. The children of a pride lioness and a Pridelander, they were actually the only cubs in the pride at the time. Wanting to establish friendly relationships with the Pridelanders, Tambo, Jamala, and their mother were invited to visit and stay a while in the Pridelands and allow their cubs to spend time with the several they had. The twins quickly befriended Simba and Nala and occasionally joined the two on their outings. Both are slightly younger then the rest of the cubs in the Pridelands, though not by a lot.

Tambo, the striped male, is boisterous, energetic, and cocky. Like Simba, the two often leap face-first into scenarios without considering the consequences, much to their lady companions' displeasure. Still Tambo is very friendly and does have some intelligence, at least with examining how other lions are feeling. He's very protective of his sister and friends, often to the point where it's detrimental where he's not thinking much about himself. Unlike Simba, he's much better at attacking and wrestling, though not good enough to beat Nala. When Mufasa died, Simba was presumed dead, and Scar took over, Scar cut all contact with the outside prides, wanting to prove that the Pridelands were self-sufficient, but also to prevent any of his pridemembers from escaping too or bringing back help from them. Tambo and his sister unfortunately didn't have any contact with the Pridelanders until after Simba miraculously returned, to which their pride provided relief towards the rebuilding pride and Pridelands.

Jamala is Tambo's younger twin sister and a more quiet soul. Though she went along with the other cubs in their adventures, Jamala preferred to follow behind, take in the sights and scenery and only occasionally put in her two cents. It makes a bit of sense why, since when she was born she was much weaker then her twin, to a point where her mother thought she wouldn't make it. Tambo showed surprising concern and protectiveness over her, even as a baby himself. She thankfully pulled through and is about as healthy as any other cub, though compared to the rest she's much more aloof, withdrawn, and quiet. She gets more tired easily when playing and would prefer just to hang out with the adults and listen in on the conversations. However, she looked up a lot to the other girl cubs in the pride like Tama and Nala and wishes that she had their energy, fortitude, and strength. The two are nice enough to bring her along and gave her pointers, which she is grateful for. She was overjoyed to meet up with them years later and sometimes will go over and babysit their kids.

So when I first started designing these two, I kept on thinking of Simba/Nala-clones, considering the similarities in their appearance to the two(eg Simba/Tambo goldish pelt and Jamala/Nala paws matching the rest of their pelts), but I didn't want to just take from the original inspiration I had in the story or make them slightly-tweaked clones, so the most I gave them is slightly-similar-sounding names. I tried to distinguish them more from Simba and Nala by giving Tambo more of a considerate, observant nature, beside his jumping to conclusions without considering all the options or consequences, while Jamal is more quiet, sweet, and a bit physically weaker then Nala and the other cubs, but has a strong moral compass.

I also know the two don't look very similar to each other, instead looking a bit like off-brand Simba and Nala, so I like to think they have some distant blood relations to either side of the family. One thing I did want to really make pop out was the eyes, which the female cub had hers closed in the original material. I know Jamala looks very plain in comparison to her brother, so I decided a sharp pop of rare eye color would be a nice offset and he got more pale eyes. I was initially planning on making them olive green, like I did in that story, but I didn't want to make her look too close to Nala, so there. I also had considered actually making them related to Simba's side of the family by making them Dwala's children's and thus Tojo's younger siblings, but the timeline didn't work with them being friends with Simba and Nala by then, so they instead just have distant blood relations to both of them, and are from a different, nearby pride.

Edit: How the stale baguette I ever forgot to add Nala's shadow and not notice for 5 months I will never know.

Nala, Simba, Tambo/Jamala concepts © The Lion King © Walt Disney Animation Studios
Tambo/Jamala's designs/names, Art © Vtoony