10 Reasons Why The Hyenas Are The True Heroes Of The Lion King

4. The Hyenas Are Forward Thinking About The Intellectually Disabled

Hyenascover
Disney

In their interactions with one another, the hyenas also show a great deal of forward thinking. Shenzi, a female, is their appointed leader (although to be fair, hyenas are matriarchal in real life). 

But particularly notable is how Shenzi and Banzai treat Ed. Ed may be able to understand more that he can express, but it’s pretty clear that he’s intellectually inferior to the other two. Despite this, Shenzi and Banzai treat him no differently - they include him in every single conversation, and they always solicit his opinion.

Shenzi: Well, well, well, Banzai, what have we got here?

Banzai: Hmm, I don't know Shenzi. What do you think Ed?

Ed: Heh-heh-heh-heh-heh!

Banzai: Yeah, just what I was thinking. A trio of trespassers!

Shenzi and Banzai may not understand anything Ed’s says, but they acknowledge and validate him whenever he speaks, and never in a way that’s cloying or condescending. Everyone in the Pride Lands looks down on the hyenas, but they’re ironically tolerant of one another’s shortcomings.

Contributor
Contributor

Kevin is an AP English Language teacher and freelance writer from Queens, NY. His focus is on American pop culture and American issues. He wrote a weekly column for Complex called "Throwback Thursdays," which spotlighted video games and trends from previous console generations. Kevin has also been published in VIBE, Salon, PopMatters, Joystiq, and Racialicious. Follow him on Twitter to learn more.