document_title: Toyota Sienna

question_text: what is the length of a toyota sienna minivan

text: Toyota Sienna

text: First generation (XL10; 1997–2002)[edit]

text:
First generation

Overview

Production
August 1997 – December 2002[6][7]

Model years
1998–2003

Assembly
United States: Georgetown, Kentucky (TMMK)

Body and chassis

Body style
3-door minivan (CE only, MY1998–2000)
4-door minivan

Layout
Front-engine, front-wheel-drive

Powertrain

Engine
3.0 L 1MZ-FE V6

Transmission
4-speed A540E automatic
4-speed A541E automatic

Dimensions

Wheelbase
114.2 in (2,901 mm)

Length
190.5 in (4,839 mm) (1998–2000)
194.2 in (4,933 mm) (2001–03)

Width
73.4 in (1,864 mm)

Height
67.3 in (1,709 mm)

Curb weight
3,973 lb (1,802 kg)

text: In late 1997, Toyota launched the front wheel drive MY 1998 Sienna in the North American market as a replacement for the mid-engined Previa. The Sienna debuted with a 3.0-liter 1MZ-FE V6 engine rated at 194 hp (145 kW) and 209 lb⋅ft (284 N⋅m) of torque. Built on an extended platform of the Toyota Camry, the Sienna was appropriately marketed as the "Camry of minivans," capitalizing on the Camry's popularity and reputation. It is named for the Italian city of Siena, in the region of Tuscany.

text: It came in three trim levels, CE, LE, and XLE. The LE and XLE models were equipped with 2nd row captain's chairs while the CE models came equipped with a 2nd row 2-passenger bench seat. The seats can be easily folded and individually removed as needed. The driver side sliding door and roof rack were standard on the LE and XLE models, but were optional on the CE models. The XLE models offered leather seats and a wood trim package. The Sienna also touted best-in-class fuel economy of 16 mpg city driving and 22 mpg highway driving. It was built in Georgetown, Kentucky. A year after its release, the Sienna faced new competition from the redesigned Honda Odyssey minivan, which was larger and offered a V6 like the Sienna.

text: For the 2001 model year, the Sienna underwent a mid-cycle refresh. This update included a facelift to both front and rear fascias which added a redesigned front grille and bumper along with revised rear taillights sporting a more modern appearance (clear-lens turn-signals as opposed to amber-coloured). Toyota also revamped the center console area to add more usability to the HVAC controls along with new locations for the accessory switches (rear vent, power sliding doors, heated seats). The engine also came equipped with a variable valve timing feature VVT-i boosting output to 210 hp (157 kW) and 220 lb⋅ft (298 N⋅m) torque. The driver side sliding door became standard on all models, although the roof rack remained optional on the CE models.

text: This generation was noteworthy for its impressive safety content as one of the few minivans to offer options including front seat-mounted side torso airbags and Vehicle Stability Control. Anti-lock braking was standard. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rated the Sienna "Good" in all six frontal crash test measures, which was far better than the Previa.[8]

text: The reputation of this generation was marred by a class-action settlement for an engine oil sludge problem which affected the V-6 engines in many Toyota models. Symptoms of the problem include oil smoke in the exhaust, oil quickly becoming dark or black after an oil change, gasoline odor in the oil, high oil consumption, and eventually engine failure.

text:
NHTSA crash test ratings (1999, no side airbag):[9]

Frontal Driver:

Frontal Passenger:

Side Driver:

Side Rear Passenger:

text: Second generation (XL20; 2003–2009)[edit]

text:
Second generation

Overview

Production
January 2003 – December 2009[10]

Model years
2004–2010

Assembly
United States: Princeton, Indiana (TMMI)

Designer
Kevin Hunter (2000)

Body and chassis

Body style
4-door minivan

Layout
Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
Front-engine, four-wheel-drive

Platform
Toyota K platform

Powertrain

Engine
3.3 L 3MZ-FE V6 (MY2004–2006)
3.5 L 2GR-FE V6 (MY2007–2010)

Transmission
5-speed U151E automatic (FWD)
5-speed U151F automatic (AWD)

Dimensions

Wheelbase
119.3 in (3,030 mm)

Length
200 in (5,080 mm) (2004–05)
201 in (5,105 mm) (2006–2010)

Width
77.4 in (1,966 mm)

Height
68.9 in (1,750 mm)

Curb weight
4,300 lb (2,000 kg) (FWD)
4,525 lb (2,053 kg) (AWD)

text: Toyota assigned Yuji Yokoya as chief engineer on the new Sienna project. Yokoya and his family drove the previous model over 53,000 miles (85,000 km) throughout North America to find weaknesses from the design.[11][12] The engine was an updated ULEV certified 3.3-liter 3MZ-FE V6 paired with a new five-speed automatic transmission. The gear stick was moved from the steering column to the center console and had a gated shift pattern. Seating for eight was optional on lower-level trims, and the third row seating was fold-flat,[13] allowing the van to transport 4 by 8 feet (1.2 by 2.4 m) building materials like plywood and drywall sheets.

text: On January 6, 2003, the second-generation Sienna was unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show.[12] Production was moved from the Georgetown plant to Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana.[12] Changes from the first generation included 45 per cent more volume overall and 39 per cent more cargo space. The seats were in the 60/40 split configuration, and the flat-folding third row seat was offered even with all-wheel-drive.[1]

text: Trim levels, in order of increasing standard and available features were: CE, LE, and XLE, and XLE Limited (renamed Limited in later years). The most distinguishable difference on the XLE Limited model was the horizontal chrome bar placed above the rear license plate. The CE had a black trim there, while middling models had a body-colored trim.

text: Standard features included remote keyless entry, tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, and high solar energy-absorbing glass (HSEA) on the windshield and front windows. All 2004–2007 Siennas had a factory tow package (hitch kit and trailer lighting connections not included[clarification needed]) and a 3,500 pounds (1,600 kg) towing capacity.

text: All wheel drive, optional on the more expensive trims included run-flat tires. The all wheel drive system continuously divided engine power 50:50 front and rear.[14]

text: Options, depending on the trim level, included HID Xenon headlamps, Dynamic Laser Cruise Control, parking sensors, a convex rear view mirror to enable the driver to see the passengers, a voice-activated navigation system (not voice activated for the 2004 model year) which included a backup camera, 10-speaker JBL audio and rear-seat DVD entertainment system with two 110V outlets.

text: New styling allowed for a drag coefficient of Cd=0.30. EPA Fuel economy was 17 mpg city driving and 23 mpg highway for the FWD version. The AWD version got 16 mpg city driving and 22 mpg highway driving. The turning radius was 11.2 metres (37 ft).

text: Safety[edit]

text: The Sienna came standard with anti-lock braking, brake assist, electronic brakeforce distribution, traction control and a tire-pressure monitoring system. Side torso airbags, and side curtain airbags were standard on certain 2004 and 2005 LE and XLE model trims while optional on others, but became standard on all 2006 trims. Vehicle Stability Control initially optional on lower trims became standard for 2008 models.

text: The IIHS gives the Sienna an overall "Good" score in their frontal offset crash test with "Good" marks in all six measured categories. All 2006 models and later receive a "Good" overall score, while pre-2006 models without side airbags receive an "Acceptable" score for side impacts.[15]

text:
NHTSA crash test ratings (2004, no side airbag):[16]

Frontal Driver:

Frontal Passenger:

Side Driver:

Side Rear Passenger:

2wd Rollover:

text:
NHTSA crash test ratings (2005, no side airbag):[17]

Frontal Driver:

Frontal Passenger:

Side Driver:

Side Rear Passenger:

2wd Rollover:

text: Model year changes[edit]

text:
2006: the front fascia, side molding, and headlamps were restyled. Blue-backlit electroluminescent Optitron gauges were added to LE, XLE, and Limited trims. The "XLE" prefix in "XLE Limited" was removed, and new exclusive equipment for this trim included an optional memory function for the driver's power seat and side-view mirrors (also available on XLE as an option) and power-folding exterior side-view mirrors with integrated in-glass LED turn-signal repeaters. Other options included Bluetooth and a power-folding third-row seat. Front row side torso airbags and side curtain airbags for all three rows became standard equipment on all models. The optional rear seat audio system was discontinued. Horsepower and torque ratings were changed to meet SAE's new standard to 215 hp (160 kW) and 222 lb·ft (from 230 hp (172 kW) and 242 lb⋅ft (328 N⋅m), Toyota also now rates engines on 87 octane).
2007: a new ULEV-II certified 3.5-liter 2GR-FE V6 engine rated at 266 hp (198 kW) with a rated fuel economy of 17/23 MPG for front-wheel-drive models and 16/21 MPG for AWD models replaced the 3.3-liter V6. The tire pressure monitor was upgraded, and a new seven-spoke alloy wheel design was made exclusive to the Limited and AWD models.[18]
2008: Vehicle Stability Control became standard in all trims.
2009: the Sienna remained largely unchanged, except for a revision in pricing to become more competitive through several available comprehensively equipped "extra-value package" offerings. In Canada, base prices were lowered by up to $1,500.[19]
2010: the second generation Sienna was unchanged in its final model year.[20]

text: Third generation (XL30; 2010–present)[edit]

text:
Third generation

Overview

Production
January 2010–present[21]

Model years
2011–present

Assembly
United States: Princeton, Indiana (TMMI)

Designer
Ian Cartabiano and Kazuo Mori (2007)

Body and chassis

Body style
4-door minivan

Layout
Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
Front-engine, four-wheel-drive

Platform
Toyota K platform

Powertrain

Engine
2.7 L 1AR-FE I4 (MY2011–2012)
3.5 L 2GR-FE V6 (MY2011–2016)
3.5 L 2GR-FKS V6 (MY2017–)

Transmission
6-speed automatic (MY2011–2016)
8-speed automatic (MY2017–)

Dimensions

Wheelbase
119.3 in (3,030 mm)

Length
200.2 in (5,085 mm)

Width
78.2 in (1,986 mm)

Height
68.9 in (1,750 mm)
70.7 in (1,796 mm) (w/roof rails)

Curb weight
4,310 lb (1,950 kg)

text: The redesigned 2011 Sienna premiered at the Los Angeles Auto Show in early December 2009. It was designed at Calty studios and engineered at Toyota Technical Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan.[22] The new Sienna arrived at dealers in February 2010.[23]

text: The Sienna is offered in five trim levels, the Sienna base grade, LE, XLE, Limited and for the first time the SE trim. The new SE offers revised bodywork, clear tail lamps, 19-inch (480 mm) wheels, firmer suspension and revised steering tuning for a sportier ride. All-wheel-drive is only available with the V6 engine on the LE, XLE and Limited model trims. Described by AOL Autos as slipping a sports car in a minivan, Chief Engineer Kazuo Mori (an avid autocrosser) reportedly had to overcome opposition to get the SE equipment package included in the line-up.[24]

text: The previous 3.5-liter 2GR-FE continues, but for the first time the Sienna offers a four cylinder engine, the 1AR-FE; and is the first time Toyota has offered a four-cylinder engine in a North American minivan since discontinuation of the Estima/Previa in late 1997. An Electric Power Steering (EPS) system replaces the previous hydraulic power steering system. Toyota continues to offer all wheel drive in the Sienna. It is the only North American minivan with an available AWD drivetrain.[25] Toyota expects EPA-estimated mileage figures of 19 mpg‑US (12.4 L/100 km) city / 24 mpg‑US (9.8 L/100 km) highway for models powered by the 4-cylinder engine, 18 mpg‑US (13.1 L/100 km) city / 24 mpg‑US (9.8 L/100 km) highway for 2WD V6 models, and 16 mpg‑US (14.7 L/100 km) city / 22 mpg‑US (10.7 L/100 km) highway for AWD models. An optional tow package for V6 models is rated to tow 3,500 pounds (1,600 kg).

text: The front dashboard features a "swoop" wood trim, inspired by the Toyota Venza and Lexus RX, that gives front seat occupants a "60/60" split whether in the driver or passenger seat.[24]

text: New features include an optional sliding second row with "Lounge Seating" recliner style chairs, a feature previously seen on the Lexus LS,[26] and Toyota's keyless Smart Key System with push-button start. The rear seat entertainment option now uses a 16.4-inch (41.7 cm) LCD screen which operates in two view modes, a single 16:9-ratio widescreen or two separate 4:3-ratio split screens with separate wireless headphones.

text: For safety the back-up camera comes with a new 180° panoramic view. Other new options include a Pre-Collision System (PCS) as well as an automatic highbeam dimmer, Safety Connect and a more advanced stability control system known as Vehicle Integrated Dynamics Management. A driver's knee airbag is now standard as well.

text: When the second row seats are removed, the bottom of the second row seats, which is similar to a rack, remains attached to the van floor. This means that with second row seats removed, the floor is not flat.[27]

text: Toyota is the first automaker to offer a factory installed auto-access seat for disabled people. The one-touch rotating, power ascending/descending lift-up seat can lower to within 19 inches (48 cm) of the ground.[28]

text: Model year changes[edit]

text:
2012: Toyota's new navigation system with Entune connected navigation system became available.
2013: The four-cylinder engine was dropped.
2015: Minor facelift with new tail light and interior design was featured, although the Sienna SE retained the original pre-facelift "sport" tail lights while the rest of the trims received new tail lights (L, LE, XLE, and Limited). Toyota added three new colors (Sky Blue Pearl, Creme Brulee Metallic, and Attitude Black Metallic). For the Limited and SE models, the Sienna features refreshed headlights with LED daytime running lights. The rest of the trims (L, LE, and XLE) have the same headlights as their pre-facelift.
2017: The six-speed automatic transmission was replaced with an eight-speed and a revised 2GR-FKS engine adding Toyota's D4-S direct injection fuel system.[29] The new engine increased power to 296 hp (221 kW), with torque increased to 263 lb⋅ft (357 N⋅m).[30]
2018: a second mild facelift with a new front grille, new headlights, new side skirts, standard Safety Sense, minor noise and vibration enhancements, and additional technology like extra USB ports, an updated rear entertainment system (for models equipped with this option), and a semi-digital instrument cluster.[31]

text: Sales[edit]

text:
Calendar year
US

2000
103,137[32]

2001
88,469[citation needed]

2002
80,915[33]

2003
105,499[citation needed]

2004
159,119[34]

2005
161,380[citation needed]

2006
163,269[35]

2007
138,162[citation needed]

2008
115,944[citation needed]

2009
84,064[citation needed]

2010
98,337[36]

2011
111,429[36]

2012
114,725[37]

2013
121,117[38]

2014
124,502[39]

2015
137,497[40]

2016
127,791[41]

text: Awards[edit]

text:
Car and Driver's Five Best Trucks Van Award
Edmunds Editor's Most Wanted Van and Edmund Consumer's Most Wanted Van
Rated "Double Best Pick" by IIHS PDF

text:
Best Resale Value Award[42]
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's "Top Safety Pick" Award (2011 models only)


document_title: Relaxin

question_text: when does relaxin start being produced during pregnancy

root

text: Relaxin

text: Synthesis[edit]

text: In the female, it is produced by the corpus luteum of the ovary, the breast and, during pregnancy, also by the placenta, chorion, and decidua.

tag: p

text: In the male, it is produced in the prostate and is present in human semen.[5]

text: Structure[edit]

text: Structurally, relaxin is a heterodimer of two peptide chains of 24 and 29 amino acids linked by disulfide bridges, and it appears related to insulin.

text: Relaxin is produced from its prohormone, "prorelaxin", by splitting off one additional peptide chain reaction.

text: Function[edit]

text: In humans[edit]

text: In females, relaxin is produced mainly by the corpus luteum, in both pregnant [1] and nonpregnant[1] females; it rises to a peak within approximately 14 days of ovulation, and then declines in the absence of pregnancy, resulting in menstruation[citation needed]). During the first trimester of pregnancy, levels rise and additional relaxin is produced by the decidua. Relaxin's peak is reached during the 14 weeks of the first trimester and at delivery. It is known to mediate the hemodynamic changes that occur during pregnancy, such as increased cardiac output, increased renal blood flow, and increased arterial compliance. It also relaxes other pelvic ligaments.[6] It is believed to soften the pubic symphysis.

text: In males, relaxin enhances motility of sperm in semen.[7]

text: In other animals[edit]

text: In animals, relaxin widens the pubic bone and facilitates labor; it also softens the cervix (cervical ripening), and relaxes the uterine musculature. Thus, for a long time, relaxin was looked at as a pregnancy hormone. However, its significance may reach much further. Relaxin affects collagen metabolism, inhibiting collagen synthesis and enhancing its breakdown by increasing matrix metalloproteinases.[8] It also enhances angiogenesis and is a potent renal vasodilator.

text: In the European Rabbit, (Oryctolagus cuniculus), relaxin[9] is associated with squamous differentiation and is expressed in tracheobronchial epithelial cells as opposed to being involved with reproduction.

text: Receptors[edit]

text: Relaxin interacts with the relaxin receptor LGR7 (RXFP1) and LGR8 (RXFP2), which belong to the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily.[10] They contain a heptahelical transmembrane domain and a large glycosylated ectodomain, distantly related to the receptors for the glycoproteohormones, such as the LH-receptor or FSH-receptor.

text: Relaxin receptors have been found in the heart, smooth muscle, the connective tissue, and central and autonomous nervous system.

text: Disorders[edit]

text: Specific disorders related to relaxin have not been described, yet a link to scleroderma and fibromyalgia has been suggested.[11]

text: Pharmacological targets[edit]

text: A recombinant form of human relaxin-2 has been developed as investigational drug RLX030 (serelaxin).

text: Evolution[edit]

text: Relaxin 1 and Relaxin 2 arose from the duplication of a proto-RLN gene between 44.2 and 29.6 million years ago in the last common ancestor of catarrhine primates.[12] The duplication that led to RLN1 and RLN2 is thought to have been a result of positive selection and convergent evolution at the nucleotide level between the relaxin gene in New World monkeys and the RLN1 gene in apes .[12] As a result, Old World monkeys, a group that includes the subfamilies colobines and cercopithecines, have lost the RLN1 paralog, but apes have retained both the RLN1 and the RLN2 genes [12]; Lawrence and Cords, 2012).


document_title: Jazz (Transformers)

question_text: what kind of car is jazz from transformers

question_tokens: what kind of car is jazz from transformers

text: Jazz (Transformers)

text: Transformers: Generation 1[edit]

text:
Lieutenant Jazz
Transformers character
Voiced by (English)
Scatman Crothers (Television Series, The Movie)Wally Burr (episode "Kremzeek!")Frank Welker (Micromasters commercial)Voiced by (Japanese)
Kōki Kataoka (Television Series)Kenyū Horiuchi ("The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2")Tōru Furusawa ("Attack of the Autobots")Toshio Ishii (Scramble City OVA)Minoru Inaba (The Movie)Masato Hirano (Headmasters)Kōji Yusa (Q Transformers: Mystery of Convoy)InformationAffiliation
AutobotJapanese name
MeisterSub-group
Autobot Cars, Protection Masters, Laser Cycles, Micro Vehicles, Spy ChangersFunction
First Lieutenant, Second-in-Command, Head of Special Operations, SaboteurRank
8Partner
Optimus Prime, CliffjumperMotto
"Do it with style or don't bother doing it."

tag: table

text: Jazz (Tigre in Italy) is the "very cool, very stylish, very competent" member of the Autobots in the Transformers television and comic series based on the popular toy line produced by Takara and Hasbro. His original vehicle mode is a Martini Porsche 935 turbo racing car. Self-possessed, calm, and utterly collected, Jazz is Prime's subordinate and first lieutenant of the Autobots, as well as head of Special Operations, with his own dedicated roster of agents. He often gives the most dangerous assignments to himself. It is not a matter of ego—he just really is the coolest head for the toughest missions. Jazz's ease extends to whatever environment he finds himself in, no matter how weird or wonderful. He effortlessly tunes into the local culture, assimilating and improvising, and making creative command decisions, making him an indispensable right-hand bot to Optimus Prime.[1]

text: Reception[edit]

text: Jazz was one of the favorite Autobots of IGN.[2]

text: Animated series[edit]

text: The Transformers[edit]

text: Jazz was among the Autobots who followed Optimus Prime on his mission aboard the Ark. They were attacked by Megatron's ship, the Nemesis, and crash landed on Earth, where all on board were preserved in emergency stasis. Four million years later, in 1984, a volcanic eruption awakened the Ark's computer, Teletran-I, and it repaired all on board. It reformatted Jazz in the form of an Earth race car. Jazz then became a regular character throughout the show's first two seasons serving as Optimus Prime's second-in-command (Ironhide and Prowl seemed to share this role with him though).

text: In the episode "Attack of the Autobots", he and Bumblebee were the only Autobots to avoid being brainwashed. But thanks to his new sound system and Sparkplug's attitude exchanger, the Autobots were able to be cured and the Decepticons' plans were foiled.

text: In the episode "The God Gambit", Cosmos collected data in space on a potential new power source, but was attacked by Astrotrain, Thrust and Starscream. Crashing on Saturn's moon Titan, the local priests worshipped the Decepticons as "Sky Gods", but rebels were able to reactivate Cosmos and call for aid from the Autobots. Optimus Prime sent Omega Supreme along with Perceptor and Jazz. Astrotrain set himself up as the chief god of the moon and forced the natives to gather energy crystals. The trip to Titan drained Omega of most of his energy, but Perceptor and Jazz were able to gather enough crystals to reactivate Omega and defeat the three Decepticons. Vowing to not let the Autobots gain the crystals, Astrotrain set up a chain reaction destroying them. The Autobots aided the natives to escape the explosion and helped them settle in another area of the moon.

text: In the episode "Prime Target", the big game hunter Lord Cholmondeley captured a secret Soviet jet, leading to panic or possibly war. Cholmondeley then set his sights on the ultimate trophy, the head of Optimus Prime. In order to lure Optimus in, Cholmondeley captured the Autobots Tracks, Bumblebee, Jazz, Beachcomber, Grapple, Blaster and Inferno. Windcharger and Huffer were able to avoid being trapped. When Cosmos learned of the location where Cholmondeley was keeping the captured Autobots, Optimus Prime accepted Cholmondeley's challenge to meet him alone. Although interrupted by Astrotrain and Blitzwing's attempt to ally the Decepticons with Cholmondeley, Optimus defeated the big game hunter and freed the Autobots. Cholmondeley and the stolen jet were given over to the Soviets by the Autobots as punishment for his actions.

text: In the episode "Starscream's Brigade", Jazz with Cliffjumper were guess of honor for an unveiling of a statue honoring their leader and friend Optimus Prime. But Starscream, after being exiled from the Decepticons, ruined the event with his newly created army the Combaticons. Before they can call for backup they were capture by Starscream and the Combaticons, an attempt to strip of their energy observers for the Combaticons. Jazz with Cliffjumper were then chained up at a water and power plant but were rescue when the other Autobots arrived at their location.

text: Towards the end of 1985, Jazz was among the team of five Autobots who disguised themselves as the Stunticons in "Masquerade". (Jazz, a Porsche 935 turbo, was made to resemble Dead End, the Stunticon Porsche 928.) Penetrating the Decepticons' camp, the Autobots ran into trouble when the real Stunticons arrived, trying to prove their identities by forming Menasor. With a combination of Windcharger's magnetic powers and Mirage's illusion-creating ability, the Autobots were able to appear as Menasor too. Though the deception was soon revealed, they were still able to thwart the Decepticons' plans.

text: In The Transformers: The Movie, set in the year 2005, Jazz was assigned to Moonbase One along with Cliffjumper. Jazz was responsible for monitoring Decepticon activity on Cybertron using the base as a secret staging ground for planning the liberation of Cybertron. After the Autobot City invasion of Earth, Moonbase One came under attack by the planet eater, Unicron. Jazz radioed to Earth for assistance and his faint signal was received by the Autobot Blaster who relayed the distress signal to Ultra Magnus. Jazz and Cliffjumper attempted to escape, however the shuttle could not achieve escape velocity and was swallowed by Unicron. During the assault on Unicron led by Hot Rod and Ultra Magnus, Daniel Witwicky encountered a smelting pit inside Unicron, where other Transformer-like beings were being sent to be melted into a liquid substance. Jazz, Cliffjumper, Bumblebee and Spike were about to be cast into the pit but Daniel managed to rescue them in the nick of time. Jazz and the others escaped Unicron before the planet-sized Transformer exploded from the effects of the Autobot Matrix.

text: During the time between the film's release and the start of season 3 of the TV show, Jazz's voice actor, Scatman Crothers, died. The movie release was the last time that Jazz spoke. However, Jazz made minor cameos throughout the season in the episodes "Five Faces of Darkness" where he competed in a race and won, and fought alongside Perceptor and Rodimus Prime.

text: In the episode "Dark Awakening", he briefly stood beside the reincarnated Optimus Prime and in the episode "Call of the Primitives", he was seen for the final time. It is assumed that Jazz was left to patrol Cybertron and was around to witness its new golden age.

text: After the animated series ended in the U.S., Jazz appeared in animated form in the commercials for the Classic Pretenders, Action Masters, and Hot Rod Patrol.

text: Transformers: The Headmasters[edit]

text: In the Japanese series, Headmasters ( the official fourth season of the Transformers in Japan), Jazz reappeared with a certain regularity in the first episodes, acting as right hand of Optimus Prime until the latter's death. In episode 4, he was operating inside Metroplex alongside Ultra Magnus, and after Trypticon and Mad Machine defeated Metroplex, he received the task to repair the computer of the Autobot mobile base.

text: Books[edit]

text: Jazz was featured in the 1985 Find Your Fate Junior book called Vanishing Drive by Barbara Siegel and Scott Siegel.[3]

text: Jazz was featured in the 1985 Transformers audio books Autobots' Lightning Strike and Autobots Fight Back by John Grant, published by Ladybird Books.[4]

text: Jazz was featured in the 1993 Transformers: Generation 2 coloring book "Decepticon Madness" by Bud Simpson.[5]

text: Comics[edit]

text: Condor Verlag[edit]

text: In a story called "By their Blasters you shall know them ...!" from Transformers Comic-Magazine issue #12 by German comic publisher Condor Verlag Optimus Prime instructs Backstreet, Bumblebee and Ruckus on how to identify Autobots from Decepticons in battle using the Ark's computer. Pretender Jazz is one of those he displays to the Autobots.[6]

text: Devil's Due Publishing[edit]

text: In this reimagining of the Generation One story, the Ark was discovered by the terrorist Cobra Organization, and all the Transformers inside were reformatted into Cobra vehicles remotely controlled by the Televipers. In this storyline Jazz turned into a Cobra S.T.U.N.. In the sequel, he ended up being warped to the 1970s, where he was automatically reformatted into a pimpmobile.

text: Dreamwave Productions[edit]

text: In 2002, Jazz returned along with his fellow Autobots when Dreamwave Productions acquired the Transformers comic license and launched a brand new continuity.

text: When civil war broke out on the planet Cybertron between the Autobots and Decepticon factions, Jazz joined the Autobot cause. After Decepticon leader Megatron killed the Autobot leader Sentinel Prime, a new Autobot leader was chosen by the Council of the Ancients. Jazz was present when Optronix was given the Matrix and reformatted into Optimus Prime. Three Decepticon assassins attempted to kill Optimus, but were unsuccessful. Optimus then ordered a planet-wide evacuation of Cybertron (Transformers: The War Within #1). When Shockwave led a force of Decepticons against the Autobot capitol of Iacon, Jazz was among the Autobots who defended the capitol (War Within #3).

text: When Megatron and Optimus Prime disappeared in an accident with a Space Bridge, the Autobot and Decepticon forces splintered into smaller factions. Jazz stayed with the Autobots under the leadership of Prowl. Learning that the Decepticons were testing a new mobile command base at the Praetorus Wharf, Prowl lead Cliffjumper, Gears, Jazz, Skids and Sideswipe to investigate. What they discovered was Trypticon (Transformers: The War Within - The Dark Ages #3). Only Shockwave calling the giant away to combat the Fallen saved them. When the Fallen attacked the Autobot base in order to capture Blitzwing, Jazz was among the Autobots who futilely tried to stop him.

text: Jazz was among the Autobots who followed Optimus Prime on his mission on board the Ark. They were attacked by Megatron's ship, the Nemesis and crash landed on Earth, where all on board were preserved in emergency stasis. In 1984, a volcanic eruption awakened the Ark's computer, Teletran-1, and it repaired all on board. It reformatted Jazz in the form of an Earth car.

text: Eventually, the combined forces of the Autobots on Earth and their human allies were able to capture the Decepticons. A ship called the Ark II was built to take the Cybertronians back to Cybertron, along with some human companions, but the ship exploded shortly after takeoff. The human allies were killed, but the Cybertronians were lost in the ocean, again in statis lock.

text: In the frozen Arctic, a man named Lazarus began resurrecting the lost Transformers and planned to control these giant metal warriors and sell their services in war to the highest bidder. The American government had recovered Optimus Prime and used him to rescue several Autobots from their Arctic prison, including Jazz. After they had recovered their friends from Lazarus, Jazz led a group of Autobots to stop the spread of Megatron's deadly virus in the Canadian Northwest territories.

text: As the Autobot and Decepticon war continued on Earth, an escape pod beacon drew their conflict to the Arctic. The pod contained the rogue Decepticon Scourge. The battle between the Autobots and Decepticons ceased long enough to find the new Cybertronian commander, Shockwave, had arrived in pursuit of Scourge and to arrest Optimus Prime and Megatron. Jazz was ordered by Prime to remain on Earth with a small Autobot task force.

text: When Ultra Magnus came to Earth claiming that the Earth-based Autobots were Cybertronian criminals, Optimus Prime surrendered and with the majority of Autobots returned to Cybertron. Jazz was left in charge of the Ark, with Brawn, Ratchet, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, Wheeljack and Windcharger assigned to him.

text: Returning to Earth with the Combaticons, Starscream reformatted them into Earth-style vehicles and attacked the Autobots remaining on Earth. Forming Bruticus, the Combaticons defeated Jazz, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, Wheeljack and Windcharger. Only Ratchet and Brawn escaped capture, but as they made their way back to the Ark, they discovered its defenses on automatic, and had to fight their way inside. Bruticus followed them and Ratchet had to destroy the Ark in failed attempt to destroy Bruticus. Starscream eventually captured Ratchet and Brawn, right as an Autobot shuttle and Sunstorm arrived on Earth (Transformers: Generation One vol. III #1).

text: Jazz, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker were repaired by the Earth Defense Command. In return, Jazz commanded Sunstreaker, Sideswipe and Bumper in investigating the Insecticons for the Earth Defense Command. Eventually they rejoined Windcharger and Wheeljack, and all rejoined Ratchet on board the Autobot ship Orion (Transformers: Generation One vol. III #9).

text: Landing in Alaska, Jazz and the other Autobots met Prowl's team back from Cybertron. They were shown the site of construction for the new Autobot City (Transformers: Generation One vol. III #10). Brawn, Grapple, Hoist, Jazz, Omega Supreme, Prowl, Red Alert, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker were among the Autobots who continued work on Autobot City (Transformers: Generation One vol. III #13).

text: Fun Publications[edit]

text: In Battle Lines Jazz was present as Optimus Prime was appointed the new commander of the Autobots.[7] Jazz is among the Autobots present when Megatron attacks Iacon with his new weapon, Devastator.[8]

text: Jazz appears in the story Generation 2: Redux where he is among the reinforcements from Autobot City to respond to the Decepticon attack at the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland. Once there the Autobots are able to defeat the Decepticons, but during the fight the Autobots are exposed to refined Forestonite, which enhances and mutates Cybertronian systems. He gets enhanced to his Generation 2 form.[9]

text: In Invasion Jazz is among the Autobots at the Autobot Ironworks base who is wounded in battle with Shattered Glass Ultra Magnus.[10]

text: IDW Publishing[edit]

text: Jazz appeared in issue #2 of Megatron Origin. In this story, set on ancient Cybertron he was a member of an Autobot security force in the city of Kaon. His squad was hunting the operators of gladiatorial contests in the degenerate slums, particularly Megatron.

text: In IDW Publishing's The Transformers: Infiltration mini-series, Jazz is part of an infiltration unit consisting of Ratchet, Ironhide, Wheeljack, Bumblebee and Sunstreaker, led by Prowl. He has not played a major role thus far, other than to accompany the other Autobots to the Decepticon base to watch the duel between Megatron and a super-powered Starscream, saving Bumblebee from Runabout at one point.

text: In the follow-up series, The Transformers: Escalation, after the supposed demise of Sunstreaker, Jazz and Wheeljack tracked down his body—only to be temporarily disabled by the advanced weaponry of the Machination (although Jazz' pride took more of a dent). Since then he has accompanied Optimus Prime to Brasnya to track down Megatron and his human facsimile—only to wind up in battle with Skywarp and Astrotrain. He and Wheeljack managed to put Skywarp to flight, but he promised to return with reinforcements. They then confronted Megatron (who had nearly killed Optimus Prime). On Prime's orders, they focused fire on Megatron long enough for Prime to recover and drive off the Decepticon leader, although they were prevented from dealing a killing blow by the appearance of Skywarp and Thundercracker.

text: Bumblebee, Jazz, Optimus Prime, Prowl and Ratchet are in the miniseries New Avengers/Transformers crossover by Marvel Comics and IDW Publishing from 2007.

text: Marvel Comics[edit]

text: In the early Marvel Comics, Jazz was portrayed easily and productively making contact with humans. He was also responsible for the long-standing relationship between the Autobots and G. B. Blackrock, pledging that the Autobots would defend his property from the Decepticons in return for fuel, and battled Circuit Breaker.

text: Marvel U.K.'s "Man of Iron" saw him befriending (as well as abducting) a young boy in rural England, helping the Autobots locate a lost ship under Stansham Castle; Jazz personally destroyed it to stop the Decepticons retrieving it.

text: Jazz passionately opposed Prowl's idea to use the Creation Matrix to create dedicated war machines to crush the Decepticons; he labeled such creations abominations. This ethically questionable move was staved off and Jazz continued to serve the Autobots well on Earth. Following the arrival of Galvatron in Target: 2006, he was captured and his mind viciously reprogrammed to make him a zombie servant. This left him incapacitated for a long while. He was eventually repaired, but soon met deactivation once more against the Underbase-powered Starscream.

text: Jazz' body was seen among the deactivated Autobots Ratchet was doing his best to revive in Transformers #56, "Back from the Dead".

text: To stop Megatron, Autobot medic Ratchet later restored Jazz as a Classic Pretender, along with Grimlock and Bumblebee. They remained on Cybertron and were an inspiration to the Autobot rebels, leading multiple raids on the Decepticons and also fighting several of the demons that lived beneath Cybertron. When a return trip to Earth was interrupted, the Classic Pretenders found themselves in front of the sleeping Primus and, after battling the Mayhem Attack Squad, witnessed him awaken. Jazz would go on a last mission as a Classic Pretender in the "Matrix Quest", heading to the moon of VsQs to retrieve the lost Matrix, though Thunderwing got to it first. He was later among the united Autobot and Decepticon forces who opposed Unicron's assault on the planet Cybertron in 1995 (Transformers #75). Immediately prior to this, Jazz was seen as one of the few surviving Autobots in the alternate 2009 seen in the story "Rhythms of Darkness". Here he fought Galvatron to give Spike time to attach the American flag to the Deception stronghold in New York and persuade the European Coalition to call off their nuclear attack. Jazz was saved from death by the arrival of Hook, Line and Sinker, who forcibly transported Galvatron back to the "present" of the regular timeline. He briefly reappeared during the battle on the planet Ethos in the Generation 2 comic.

text: Jazz was also one of the main Autobots in the Earthforce unit of Marvel U.K.'s Earthforce stories. The annual story "The Magnificent Six" revealed that four million years ago, Jazz was teamed with Inferno, Ironhide, Wheeljack and Sunstreaker and had been tortured by the sadistic Decepticon Megadeath in the Stanix region. He and the others faced Megadeath once again in the present and defeated him.

text: Jazz would appear in the U.K. Marvel comic issue #234, "Prime's Rib!" This story is set in the near future, 1995, where Optimus Prime, Jazz and Hot Rod introduce the latest Autobot, Arcee, to the human feminists. She was met with displeasure by the humans, being called a token female and disliked for her pink color. They were then attacked by Shockwave, Fangry, Horri-Bull and Squeezeplay, who thought the Autobots would be unveiling a new weapon. The Autobots fought off the Decepticons, who escaped, but nothing seemed to please the human feminists.

text: Toys[edit]

text: Generation 1 Autobot Car Jazz (1984)

tag: ul

text: Generation 1 Autobot Car Cookie Crisp Jazz (1985)

text: Generation 1 Decoy Jazz (1986)

text: Generation 1 Classic Pretender Jazz (1989)

text: Generation 1 Legends Jazz (1989)

text: Generation 1 Action Master Jazz (1990)

text: Generation 2 Autobot Car Jazz (1993)

text: Generation 2 Laser Cycle Jazz (unreleased)

text: Generation 1 Autobot Car Electrum Jazz (2002)

text: Takara T/F Collection 01 Meister (2002)

text: Commemorative Series 3 Autobot Jazz (2003)

text: Smallest Transformers Meister (2004)

text: Universe Spy Changer Jazz (2004)

text: Binaltech/Alternators Jazz/Meister (2004 & 2008)

text: CybCon Jazz (2005)

text: Titanium 3 inch Jazz (2006)

text: Universe Classic Series Legends Jazz (2008)

text: Generation 1 Encore Reissue Meister (2008)

text: Reveal the Shield Deluxe Special Ops Jazz (2010)

text: United Deluxe Autobot Jazz (Takara Tomy) (2010)

text: Q Transformers QT-11 Meister/Jazz (Takara Tomy) (2015)

text: Transformers Cinematic Universe[edit]

text:
Jazz
Transformers character
The custom Pontiac Solstice that represents Jazz's alternate modeVoiced by (English)
Darius McCrary (film)[18]  Andrew Kishino (2007 video game), Nolan North (2009 video game)Voiced by (Japanese)
Taiten KusunokiInformationAffiliation
AutobotSub-group
Deluxe Vehicles, Fast Action Battlers, Micro Vehicles, Security ForcesFunction
First Lieutenant, Second-in-command (2007 film)Rank
9Partner
Optimus Prime, Ironhide, Capt. William Lennox, Bumblebee, Ratchet, Sam Witwicky, Mikaela BanesMotto
"Do it with style or don't bother doing it." "If you got it, you got it, and I got it." "You want a piece of me, you want a piece?! "Alternate modes
Cybertronian Entry Mode Protoform, Pontiac Solstice GXP Weekend Racer Concept

text: Jazz appears in the 2007 Transformers live-action film directed by Michael Bay. When the movie producers unveiled the final list of Transformers characters appearing in the movie, Jazz was described as having a love of style, with a hip-hop personality. Jazz is a trickster who manipulates everyone including the Decepticon leader. Jazz first appears in the film arriving to Earth in his Protoform state, and searches for a suitable alternate mode to proceed unnoticed. Afterwards, using a fluid capoeira inspired style, he can be seen transforming using a windmill dance move in his first scene and dialogue, Optimus Prime describes him as his first lieutenant, as he was in the G1 animated series.

text: Along with Optimus Prime, Jazz is the Autobot who retains most of his original Generation 1 design in the film, among his iconic features, his trademark "visor", which is retractable in the movie, as well as front-chassis chest and wheel wells in his feet. Also, his transformation to vehicle mode, although in the film his alternate mode is not a Porsche 935, a similar looking model was chosen, as Jazz's alternate mode in the film is a silver/gray customized hardtop Pontiac Solstice GXP, similar to the weekend racer concept car. Jazz is armed with a crescent blaster. He also possesses a type of electro-magnet in his right arm, which he uses to disarm humans of their guns without causing them injury, curiously leaving jewellery and electronics unaffected.

text:
Jazz is the smallest of the Autobots. Michael Bay stated in an early interview that Jazz stands 13 feet tall, however the scale of his Deluxe toy suggests he would stand closer to 15 feet tall. This is confirmed by his profile in the second issue of the Transformers U.K. Magazine, where it is stated he stands 15 feet 7 inches tall, weighs 1.8 tons and has a maximum speed of 400 miles per hour. The official guide to the Transformers video game also says he's 15 feet tall. Despite his small stature, Jazz was fearless, and would not hesitate to attack a much larger foe. Jazz engages Megatron, defying him to the end, but is overwhelmed by the Decepticon, and Jazz was caught in his grip, asking him, "You want a piece of me?"  Megatron responded "No, I want TWO!", ripping Jazz in half.
The vehicles used for Bumblebee, Ironhide, Jazz and Ratchet were put on display by General Motors at the 2007 Detroit River Walk Festival a little over a week before the U.S. release of the film.

text: Books[edit]

text: Jazz appeared in the prequel novel Transformers: Ghosts of Yesterday. His character was close to his G1 incarnation's, being continually wisecracking and easygoing. He was part of Prime's Autobot team searching for the Allspark. With Prime and Bumblebee on the surface, Ironhide and Jazz battled the Decepticons, but Jazz was badly damaged by Bonecrusher, only being saved by Ratchet's volley of fire from the Ark. In the final battle, Jazz fought Frenzy, knocking him out before helping Ironhide against Bonecrusher, but was unable to stop Starscream from destroying the human vessel Ghost-1.

text: In the children's book "Transformers Prime Time" by Michael Teitelbaum Jazz is depicted as being a convertible with the top down, unlike all other media which depicts him as having a hard top. The plot of this book has Jazz facing off against Megatron just after Megatron thawed from the ice under Hoover Dam as Bumblebee escaped with the Allspark cube.

text: Comics[edit]

text: IDW Publishing[edit]

text: In Transformers: Defiance issue #1, back on ancient Cybertron Jazz is among Optimus' crew at an excavation site near the temple at Simfur where an artifact is uncovered. In issue #2 he sides with Optimus Prime against Megatron's order to counter-attack Cybertron's invaders. In issue #3 Optimus Prime, Jazz and Prowl break into Megatron's quarters while he was away looking for clues as to his current unusual behavior. What they find is the ancient artifact recently uncovered that Megatron had restored.[19] When Megatron learned that Optimus has broken into his room he sent Bumblebee, Camshaft, Cliffjumper, Jazz, Prowl and Smokescreen to arrest Optimus for treason. Optimus demanded to speak directly to Megatron, but when the group was traveling to Megatron's location they were ambushed by Barricade, Brawl, Crankcase, Frenzy, Starscream, Skywarp and Thundercracker who had orders to kill the lot of them. Smokescreen was able to cover Optimus and his group's retreat in the confusion of an explosion. In issue #4 Arcee, Bumblebee, Cliffjumper, Jazz and Smokescreen ambush Ironhide, who they believe works for Megatron, but Ironhide instead joins Optimus Prime's Autobots.

text: Jazz is among the Autobot forces who witness the launching of the Decepticon ship Nemesis.[20]

text: In Transformers: The Reign of Starscream #1 Optimus Prime transports the body of the destroyed Jazz from Mission City in a trailer.

text: In Transformers: Alliance #1, during the aftermath of the battle of Mission City, Ironhide places Jazz's remains in a trailer while Captain Lennox and Sergeant Epps and his men pay their respects to the Autobot who sacrificed himself to save them. In Transformers: Alliance #3, a funeral is held for Jazz by the US Navy and Autobots. The trailer containing Jazz's remains is dumped into the ocean by a crane.

text: Titan Magazines[edit]

text: The Titan Transformers U.K. magazine would reveal Jazz's role in the departure of the Allspark from Cybertron. When it was jettisoned into space he, Ironhide and Ratchet hit the pursuing Megatron with a tractor beam, dragging him back to Cybertron. They were no match for his firepower, but the Decepticon leader, realizing they were just stalling him, called in Devastator. He proved impervious to their firepower, and seemingly eliminated them all with a foldspace warhead, with Megatron commenting they were "lost in space".

text: Jazz appeared in issue #6 of the Titan Transformers magazine. Clocker and Jazz were being pursued by Bonecrusher, with Jazz half-dead due to not protecting his Spark Core properly - he would've been fully dead if Clocker hadn't saved him. Clocker ordered him to flee while he fought the enemy - the condition Jazz was in, "you're more hindrance than help to me". Clocker's shots barely affected Bonecrusher and by the time reinforcements arrived, he had been killed.

text: Films[edit]

text: Arriving on Earth at the same time as Optimus Prime, Ironhide, and Ratchet, Jazz's protoform lands in Dodger Stadium then re-appears near the Casa de cadillac car dealership (Sherman Oaks, California). Jazz jumps off the roof of the car shop and quickly scans a modified Pontiac Solstice before meeting up with the other Autobots at Bumblebee's location.

text: The Autobots then return to Sam's house and retrieve the glasses whilst attempting to hide from Sam's parents, which results in their garden being destroyed by Prime's feet and Ratchet (Jazz in the comic adaptation) cutting off the neighborhood's power after accidentally running into an electric transformer (which they blame on an earthquake). That same evening, a secret government organization called Sector 7 arrests Sam and Mikaela Banes, and captures Bumblebee. As the four remaining Autobots debated their next move after Bumblebee's capture the previous night, Jazz showed the most concern for Bumblebee.

text: In the final battle, when Bumblebee is unable to fight, Jazz provides cover despite being outnumbered three to one. He fights Devastator (Brawl) alongside Ironhide and Ratchet, and then takes on the Decepticon leader, Megatron. He orders Ironhide and Ratchet to fall back, deciding to stand his ground in order to protect the humans running away. Despite Jazz's efforts to injure him, Megatron drags Jazz onto the tower and rips him in two, killing him. But Sam avenges Jazz's death by killing Megatron with the Allspark's power. After the battle, the Autobots mourn Jazz's death.

text: TV[edit]

text: Jazz made a cameo appearance in Season 7 episode 4 of the show 30 rock as part of a Mitt Romney propaganda video aimed towards Black Voters.

text: Games[edit]

text: Jazz appears as a playable character in Transformers: The Game as a main playable character. In the Autobot campaign, he is first tasked with distracting Sector 7 from Sam, Mikaela, and the Autobots, but gets ambushed by Decepticons and must be saved by Ironhide. He later informs Optimus about Shockwave's arrival on Earth. He later battles Starscream and Blackout and kills the latter and knocks Starscream unconscious before being killed by Brawl. Ironhide avenged his fallen brother by killing Brawl moments later. In the Decepticon campaign, he battles Barricade in Mission City and is left for dead at the foot of a monument.

text: In the Nintendo D.S. Autobot campaign, he is tasked with collecting some Sector 7 vehicles for analysis and ends up fighting Blackout. Later, he plants a computer virus at the top of a communications tower and slips through security to download information about, Megatron and the AllSpark, but ends up finding Bumblebee's location inside the Hoover Dam and a way inside the base. Towards the end of the game, the Create-A-Bot must help Jazz fend of some AllSpark drones that are trying to destroy the city. In the Decepticon campaign, he is a boss at the end of the Hoover Dam level and is executed by a headshot from Megatron.

text: Jazz appears as downloadable content for the video game based on the second movie, Revenge of the Fallen for both multiplayer and campaign modes. He is voiced by Nolan North, who also voices Sideswipe.

text: Toys[edit]

text: All toys of this character are officially licensed from General Motors.

text: Transformers Legends Autobot Jazz (2007)

text: Transformers Cyber Slammers Autobot Jazz (2008)

text: Transformers Fast Action Battlers Ion Blast Autobot Jazz (2007)

text: Transformers Deluxe Autobot Jazz (2007)

text: Transformers Deluxe Clone Jazz (2007)

text: Transformers Deluxe Autobot Jazz (2007)

text: Transformers Deluxe Autobot Jazz (2008)

text: Transformers Premium Deluxe Autobot Jazz (2008)

text: Transformers Legends Jazz redeco (2008)

text: Transformers Legends Battle Jazz (2008)

text: Transformers Human Alliance Jazz with Captain Lennox (2010)

text: Dark of the Moon Deluxe Autobot Jazz (2011)

text: Non-transforming merchandise[edit]

text: Transformers Robot Replicas Autobot Jazz (2007)

text: Transformers Animated[edit]

text:
Jazz
Transformers character
Animated Jazz toyVoiced by (English)
Phil LaMarrVoiced by (Japanese)
Hideo IshikawaInformationAffiliation
AutobotSub-group
Deluxe Vehicles, Elite GuardFunction
Elite NinjaRank
8 (Takara)Motto
"Cybertron is cool, but Earth rules."Alternate modes
Futuristic Sports Car

text: In December 2007, drawings were leaked on the internet of Jazz's robot appearance in the Transformers Animated television series, debuting on "The Elite Guard". Jazz is a trained Cybertronian ninja, and wields a pair of Nunchaku in battle. He is more advanced than Prowl, though he is still impressed by Prowl's competency. His overall personality reflects that of his Generation 1 incarnation and he's quite open-minded when it concerns humans and their culture. In his own words, "Any species that can come up with a sweet ride like this, can't be all bad."

text: Animated series[edit]

text: Jazz is the second-in-command of a Cybertron Elite Guard team under Sentinel Prime. He comes to Earth alongside Ultra Magnus and Sentinel Prime, being the first of them to find out that humans aren't as contagious as he thought when he encountered Sari Sumdac before helping Prowl against the malfunctioning police drones. Later, while investigating an Allspark fragment on a train, Jazz and the other Elite Guard members were unaware that it was actually a trap set by Starscream meant for Megatron. Unfortunately, both Jazz and Ultra Magnus both get blasted back by the fragment. When they catch up to Optimus and his team, both the Elite Guard, Optimus, and the rest of the team immediately battle Starscream and managed to capture him. He has an incredibly minor appearance in "A Fistful of Energon" alongside the rest of his team when Starscream breaks out of the ship.

text: In the season 3 episode "Transwarped" he appears again with Ultra Magnus and Sentinel Prime in their ship. He is shown receiving call from Rodimus Prime about a Decepticon attack. He manage to escape the attack along with his team. He and Sentinel Prime are ordered Ultra Magnus to Earth with an Elite Guard unit to track down Wasp with the group's new members Jetfire and Jetstorm. Unlike Sentinel Prime who hates being back on Earth, he enjoys the fact that rain can clean their armor plates while explaining that the new Elite Guard members to Optimus and Ratchet after a misunderstanding. When Bumblebee and Wasp face off in a video game to prove which is the real Bumblebee, he explaines to Jetfire and Jetstorm that humans can make a lot of interesting things. He later helps Prowl during the events of "Five Servos of Doom" in uncovering how Sentinel is "capturing" high level Decepticons with seemingly no help. He remained on Earth until the end of "Predacon Rising", saying his goodbyes as he joins the Elite Guard in taking their prisoners to Cybertron. During the trip back to Cybertron, Jazz is one of the first to suspect that Sentinel Prime is putting his own personal ambitions ahead of whats best for the Autobots, particularly when Sentinel suddenly demands that Jazz refer to him as "Sir" or "Commander". Jazz is much more receptive to Optimus Prime's command style such as when he and Jazz use secret code to prep a trap for the Decepticons.

text: He appears again in "This is Why I Hate Machines", secretly helping Ratchet and Captain Fanzone while they were on Cybertron. After they left with Ultra Magus' hammer, Jazz uses a pursuit of them as an excuse to leave the Elite Guard and become a member of Optimus' group. By the time of "Endgame Part 1", Jazz is assisting Prowl in completing his Cyber-Ninja training and mastering the ability of 'Processor over Matter.' In part two and the series finale, he and Prowl at first battled the Omega Supreme clones, and then decided to piece together the fragments of the AllSpark to save Detroit from a self-detonating Omega. When it appears no more fragments are available, Prowl sacrifices his Spark to save Detroit, much to Jazz's horror. He later brought Prowl's body to Optimus Prime, and returned to Cybertron with the group, the captured Megatron, and Prowl's body.

text: Toys[edit]

text: Animated Deluxe Autobot Jazz (2008)

text: Animated Bumper Battlers Jazz (2008)

text: Animated Bumper Battlers Stealth Ninja Jazz (canceled)

text: Animated Deluxe Freeway Jazz (2009)

text: Animated TA-29 Deluxe Autobot Jazz (Takara Tomy) (2010)

text: Shattered Glass[edit]

text:
Jazz
Transformers characterInformationAffiliation
AutobotSub-group
Convention Exclusives, Deluxe VehiclesFunction
Bodyguard / Special OperationsRank
9Partner
Goldbug, Grimlock and Optimus PrimeMotto
"Destroy it with style or don't bother destroying it at all!"Alternate modes
Bugatti Veyron

text: This Jazz is an evil mirror-universe version of the Generation 1 character According to his tech specs, Jazz and his brother Ricochet serve as Optimus Prime's powerful and merciless bodyguards. He and his brother were created in an experiment by Optimus Prime.

text: Jazz's speech mannerisms ("I pity the tool that thinks he can force me to climb a tower.") are based upon those of Mr. T. He seems to dislike heights, a possible reference to Mr. T's character on the A-Team series.

text: Reception[edit]

text: The Botcon 2008 set was chosen as the "Action Figure Digest Hot Pick."[24]

text: Fun Publications[edit]

text: Jazz appears in the 2008 April Fool's comic "Shattered Expectations" by Fun Publications where he, Goldbug, and Grimlock attempt a raid, but are confronted by Starscream and Razorclaw, who in turn call in the 'Mayhem Suppression Squad'.

text: Jazz appears as a member of Optimus Prime's forces in the Transformers: Timelines story "Shattered Glass". He is seen witnssing the execution of Rumble and then laughing when Optimus Prime shoots Cliffjumper. Jazz later takes part in the defense of the Ark launch site from a Decepticon attack, where he expressed concern at being bombed by a plane.

text: Jazz appears in the fiction "Dungeons & Dinobots" among the Autobots who attack the Arch-Ayr fuel dump. He is later sent to capture rogue Dinobots for the Autobots. He is part of the group that captures Swoop.[25]

text: In "Do Over" Jazz reportes that the launch of the Ark will happen on time to Optimus Prime, but then lets it slip that his brother Ricochet has captured Megatron, leading to Optimus Prime rushing off to destroy his adversary personally just before the Ark launch.

text: Toys[edit]

text: Timelines Deluxe Jazz (2008)

text: Transformers Aligned Continuity[edit]

text:
Jazz
Transformers characterVoiced by (English)
Scott Whyte (War for Cybertron)Troy Baker (Fall of Cybertron)Arif S. Kinchen (Robots in Disguise)Voiced by (Japanese)
Wataru TakagiInformationAffiliation
AutobotSub-group
LieutenantFunction
First Lieutenant of Special OperationsRank
8Partner
Optimus Prime, CliffjumperMotto
"Do it with style or don't do it at all!'Alternate modes
Cybertronian Car

text: Jazz started out as a friend to Orion Pax, before Orion became Optimus Prime.

text: Books[edit]

text: Appears in Transformers: Exodus, Transformers: Exiles and Transformers: Retribution. Jazz was Orion Pax's friend before the war for Cybertron began, and served as a messenger under the caste system. He and Orion discussed Megatron, with Jazz offering his friend advice and later serving as a sparring partner. After Orion was named Optimus Prime, Jazz became his second-in-command throughout fighting on Cybertron and after the Ark left the planet. Jazz was known for his sarcastic sense of humor and his tendency to informally address Optimus as "OP."

text: Games[edit]

text: Jazz appears as an arena boss in the Transformers: War For Cybertron - Autobots video game for the Nintendo DS. On the console versions of the game, Jazz makes a few appearances in the campaign level "Kaon Prison Break".

text: Jazz appears in Transformers: Fall of Cybertron and his campaign mission sends him hurtling into danger. He forms a buddy bond with the Autobot stealthy assassin Cliffjumper. He has a grappling hook that shoots a beam of energy and clings to a surface, speeding the Autobot warrior to the other side. At first Jazz and Cliffjumper fly to the Sea of Rust, with Sideswipe, to find Grimlock, but, stumble on to something big. Jazz finds Shockwave talking to Starscream about a building he found in the Sea of Rust. Cliffjumper then tries to kill Shockwave, but fails, then Shockwave calls in insecticons to kill Jazz, while Cliffjumper trying to activate a meltdown. Then the both escape and are saved by Sideswipe. Later on in the game, in the Ark Jazz comes to the rescue to defeat Bruticus. With the help of Jetfire, Jazz manages to defeat Bruticus.

text: TV Series[edit]

text: Jazz appears in Transformers: Robots in Disguise, voiced by Arif S. Kinchen.[26] In the episode "Can You Dig It?", Jazz is sent to Earth by the Autobot High Council to investigate Fixit's distress call after the Alchemor crash-landed on Earth. He assists Bumblebee and his team in apprehending the Decepticon Ped, being partnered with Sideswipe for most of the episode; Sideswipe soon viewing Jazz as a mentor figure. After Ped was apprehended, Jazz left to smooth things over with the council over Bumblebee's team being on Earth, promising Sideswipe that he would return.

text: Toys[edit]

text: Generations Fall of Cybertron Deluxe Jazz (2012)

text: Kre-O Transformers[edit]

text:
Jazz
Transformers characterAffiliation
AutobotPartner
DriverAlternate modes
Sports Car

text: Jazz is an Autobot aligned Kre-O and Kreon.

text: Fictional biography[edit]

text: Bam! It's AUTOBOT JAZZ here and I'm just aching for some downright magnificent DECEPTICON beat-downs. But, OPTIMUS PRIME told me in that big serious voice of his, "Restraint in battle is a virtue we must maintain." Blah, blah, blah, I want to get out there and kick some DECEPTICON tail pipe!

text: Favorite Pastime: Visiting the KREON bloxing clubs to catch a fight with my crew.

text: Favorite Song: "Nothin' But A Bot Thing"

text: Favorite Sport: Demolition derby.

text: Animated series[edit]

text: Kreon Jazz appeared in the animated short "Last Bot Standing", where he attended a tag-team wrestling match.[27]

text: Kreon Jazz appeared in the animated short "Bot Stars", where he attended a robot dance competition.[28]

text: Kreon Jazz appeared in the animated short "The Big Race", where he was among the Autobots waiting at the finish line as a race.[29]

text: Toys[edit]

text: Transformers Kre-O Autobot Jazz (2011)


document_title: Simba

question_text: who plays young simba in the lion king

question_tokens: who plays young simba in the lion king

text: Simba

text: Name[edit]

text: The word 'simba' is a Swahili word for the lion. It also has other definitions, such as 'king'.[1]

text: Development[edit]

text: Conception[edit]

text:
Simba was framed for this terrible murder, and on the one hand you can say it wasn’t his fault, but he wasn’t a stand-up guy, so a little bit of the theme of the movie is you have to stand up for yourself if you know you’re right. So that idea of redemption, that idea of that day in your life that you have to take responsibility for yourself, that you’re no longer a child, you’re an adult, all those themes resonated with us when we were making the movie and, thankfully, the audience appreciated them, as well.

— Producer Don Hahn on Simba's role in the film.[2]

tag: div

text: The idea for The Lion King originated from Disney chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg in 1989[3] and was originally conceived under the title King of the Jungle.[4] The story, which has been compared to Bambi (1942),[5] was jokingly referred to as "Bambi in Africa" because of the similarities between the two films and their respective main characters.[6] Co-director Rob Minkoff said that both films are "more true-life adventure than mythical epic."[6] Though considered an original[7][8] coming-of-age[9] story that follows the life of Simba as he grows up and "tak[es] on the responsibility of adulthood," co-directors Roger Allers and Minkoff drew inspiration from other sources. In particular, the biblical figures Moses and Joseph served as creative inspiration for the character.[10] Producer Don Hahn said that, like them, Simba is "born into royalty, is then exiled, and has to return to claim [his] kingdom."[11]

text: Several film and entertainment critics have noted similarities and parallels between the stories of The Lion King and William Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet, and their protagonists.[12][13][14][15] Allers said that these similarities were not initially intentional and came as a surprise to the filmmakers themselves; they noticed the similarities only after the story was established and they eventually decided to pursue it. According to Hahn, "When we first pitched the revised outline of the movie ... someone in the room announced that its themes and relationships were similar to Hamlet. Everyone responded favorably to the idea that we were doing something Shakespearean, so we continued to look for ways to model our film on that all-time classic."[11]

text: Screenwriter Jonathan Roberts said that, in a musical, songs are used to convey a character's emotions and "I wants." Composer Elton John and lyricist Tim Rice wrote the song "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" in order to give Simba a medium through which he can express his desire to become King of the Pride Lands. Roberts said, "It's a way for storytellers to move the story and deliver the direction of the character."[16]

text: Voice[edit]

text: Matthew Broderick provided the speaking voice of Adult Simba.[17] The first actor to be assigned to The Lion King,[8] Broderick learned of the role while he was on vacation in Ireland, where he received a telephone call from his agent informing him that the directors were interested in casting him as Simba.[18] At the time, Broderick was well known for portraying the title character in Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986). The directors decided to cast him as Simba because they felt that he was "perfect" for the role; according to producer Don Hahn, Broderick's voice resembled "the kind of character who could be irresponsible and likeable, but you also felt that he could come back in a very heroic way."[19] Jonathan Taylor Thomas, who was starring as Randy Taylor on the television sitcom Home Improvement at the time,[20][21] was cast as the speaking voice of Young Simba.[22] His appearance and personality would later serve as creative inspiration for supervising animator Mark Henn.[7]

text: Though Broderick is a trained Broadway singer, he was not up to the task, and neither was non-singer Thomas, so Toto lead singer Joseph Williams and actor Jason Weaver were hired to dub their respective singing voices. Williams' voice is heard on the song "Can You Feel the Love Tonight".[23] Impressed by Weaver's performance as a young Michael Jackson in the miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream, songwriters Elton John and Tim Rice recruited him to record "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" and "Hakuna Matata"[24] while the film was still in its early stages of production.[25] As directors, Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff worked closely with the actors in order to ensure credible performances.[26] As is frequently done in animated films, the filmmakers videotaped the actors while they recorded their dialogue, allowing the animators to incorporate their specific mannerisms into the designs of their characters.[27]

text: Characterization and animation[edit]

text: When The Lion King was green-lit, its concept and story were not well received by studio employees. To guarantee the release of at least one successful film, Disney CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg divided the studio into two separate projects: The Lion King and Pocahontas (1995), with Pocahontas expected to be the more successful of the two. Because of this assumption, the majority of the studio's more seasoned animators gravitated towards Pocahontas because The Lion King was deemed a "risk", while less experienced animators were assigned to work on The Lion King.[28] Co-director Rob Minkoff received this positively, saying that this decision "gave a lot of newer animators a chance to step up to leadership roles."[29]

text:
You can't just use your house cat as a model, thinking, "I can just draw him, only bigger." You need to know why a lion is a lion, the difference in movements between a lion, a tiger, a leopard or your house cat. We looked at this film as our Bambi. They had the same approach. Look at the way the deer are drawn in Snow White and the way they drew the deer in Bambi just a few years later. They look like real deer because the artists did their homework.

— Supervising animator Mark Henn on animating Simba.[30]

text: The role of animating Simba was divided between Mark Henn and Ruben A. Aquino. While Henn served as the supervising animator of Simba as a cub, credited as Young Simba,[31][self-published source] Aquino was placed in charge of animating the character as he appears as an adult.[32] The Lion King was Disney's first animated feature film to feature absolutely no humans since Robin Hood (1973). According to Aquino, animating four-legged creatures is difficult because the artists are faced with the task of drawing "twice as many legs ... as you do with human characters" and must also attribute to them both human and animal-like qualities. For assistance, Aquino drew influence from previous animated films that feature four-legged creatures as their main characters, citing Bambi, Lady and the Tramp (1955) and The Jungle Book (1967) as his main sources of inspiration.[33]

text: Before The Lion King, Henn's experience as a supervising animator was limited to predominantly female characters;[5][34] he had just recently completed work on Ariel from The Little Mermaid (1989), Belle from Beauty and the Beast (1991) and Jasmine from Aladdin (1992).[30] When he became involved with The Lion King, Henn initially expressed interest in animating the film's villain, Scar, because he wanted to do "something different."[5] However, producer Don Hahn felt that he was better suited for animating Simba.[35] Henn approaches animating new characters by "put[ting himself] into the character’s situation." Simba proved to be a challenge because Henn was faced with the task of creating an animated character who would both appear and behave like a real lion cub. To achieve this, Henn visited zoos, sketched and studied live lion cubs that were brought into the studio for research, and frequently consulted with wildlife experts.[36]

text: When it came time to animate Simba during the "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" musical sequence, Henn felt it essential that the character remain on all fours at all times, despite the fact that he is meant to be dancing.[34] In terms of personality, Henn aimed to depict Simba as a "cocky, confident character" at the beginning of the film, who must eventually mature and learn to take responsibility.[5] The animators would often observe and document the voice actors while they recorded their dialogue, using their movements and mannerisms as a visual aid. Actor Jonathan Taylor Thomas, who provided the voice of Young Simba, served as inspiration for the design and personality of Simba. Henn said, "I loved watching Jonathan Taylor Thomas when he was a boy on Home Improvement, and getting to meet him and observe him."[37] Although Aquino was responsible for animating the majority of Simba's adult sequences, Henn animated the character's first appearance as an adult that occurs near the end of the "Hakuna Matata" musical number.[38]

text: Appearances[edit]

text: The Lion King[edit]

text: Released in theaters in 1994, The Lion King marks Simba's first appearance. All the animals in the Pride Lands gather at the foot of Pride Rock to commemorate the birth of Simba, who will eventually succeed to the throne and take his father Mufasa's place as king. Furious by the fact that he is no longer next in line, Simba's jealous uncle Scar refuses to attend the ceremony. While Simba grows into a rambunctious lion cub who frequently boasts about the fact that he will someday rule over the Pride Lands, Scar secretly plots against him.

text: Scar plots regicide and familicide against Simba and Mufasa by luring Simba into a vast gorge, where he triggers a wildebeest stampede. Notified by Scar that Simba is in danger, Mufasa rushes to his aid and manages to place him safely on a ledge. Weakened and unable to pull himself up the steep slope to safety, Mufasa asks his brother for assistance. However, Scar's true nature is revealed and he betrays Mufasa, throwing him into the gorge where he is killed by the fall.

text: Convinced by Scar that he is responsible for his father's death, Simba runs away to a distant jungle where he is befriended by Timon and Pumbaa, who teach him to ignore his past and avoid his responsibilities. There, he grows into a handsome young lion, while Scar wreaks havoc on the Pride Lands. When Simba is discovered by his childhood friend named Nala, she confronts him, warning him of Scar's tyranny and begging him to return home. Afraid of facing his past, Simba refuses until a wise mandrill named Rafiki leads him to Mufasa's ghost, who convinces him to return home and reclaim his kingdom from Scar.[39]

text: Simba returns to the Pride Lands and finds them barren because their natural resources have been squandered and abused by Scar. After witnessing Scar strike his mother Sarabi, Simba orders Scar to resign. At first thrown by the fact that he is alive, Scar soon regains composure and forces Simba to reveal that he is responsible for Mufasa's death, while cornering him at the edge of Pride Rock, hoping to subject him to a similar fate as his father. Having grown overconfident, Scar finally reveals to Simba that he killed Mufasa. Furious, Simba tackles Scar and forces him into announcing this to the pride, initiating a battle between Simba's pride of lionesses, Timon, Pumbaa and Scar's army of hyenas. Simba eventually defeats Scar and throws him into a pit, where he is cornered and killed by the hyenas, who overheard Scar blame them for what he'd done. Simba then takes his rightful place as king. When the kingdom returns to its former glory, the animals welcome the birth of King Simba and Queen Nala's firstborn.[40]

text: The Lion King II: Simba's Pride[edit]

text: A direct-to-video sequel released in 1998, Simba's Pride takes place shortly after the events of the first film, depicting Simba and Nala as king and queen of the Pride Lands. In a ceremony at Pride Rock, the Pride Lands commemorate the birth of Simba and Nala's daughter Kiara, whom Simba is overprotective of. He discovers that Kiara has disobeyed him by visiting the forbidden Outlands, home to an enemy pride of Scar's followers known as the Outsiders, and befriending a young member of the pride named Kovu. After a close confrontation with Kovu's mother Zira, the leader of the Outsiders and Scar's most loyal follower, Simba separates the two and reminds Kiara of her responsibilities as the future queen. Meanwhile, Zira plots to manipulate Kovu to exact revenge on Simba for Scar's death.

text: Several years later, Simba grants an adolescent Kiara's request to embark on her first hunt, but has Timon and Pumbaa follow her in secret. Realizing this, Kiara rebels and pursue her hunt outside of the Pride Lands, where she nearly falls victim to a wildfire. Kiara is rescued by Kovu, who returns her to the Pride Lands, which is actually part of Zira's plan to overthrow Simba. Saying that he has left the Outsiders, Kovu asks Simba to let him join his pride. Simba reluctantly accepts, but distrusts Kovu because of his similarities to Scar, and continues to treat him ruthlessly. That night, Simba has a nightmare about attempting to save his father Mufasa from falling into the stampede but is stopped by Scar who turns into Kovu and throws Simba off the cliff into the stampede.

text: While Kiara and Kovu's friendship continues to grow, Simba, encouraged by Nala, attempts to show Kovu kindness by spending a day with him. Realizing that Kovu is beginning to side with Simba because of his love for Kiara, Zira ambushes and attacks Simba. Convinced by Zira that Kovu is responsible for the ambush, Simba exiles him and forbids Kiara to see him, but she makes her father realize that he is acting irrationally, before leaving to find Kovu. When a battle ensues between the Pride Landers and the Outsiders, Kiara and Kovu arrive and stop them, with Kiara telling them that they are one. When a furious Zira attacks Simba, she is intercepted by Kiara, causing the two to fall over the edge of a cliff. Having landed safely on a ledge, Kiara offers to help Zira, who is struggling to hang on. However, Zira, consumed by her resentment towards Simba, falls to her death. Simba finally approves of Kiara's love for Kovu and reconciles with his daughter, and accepts the two lions as the future king and queen of the Pride Lands.[41]

text: The Lion King 1½[edit]

text: In The Lion King 1½, a direct-to-video followup released in 2004, Simba appears as a less prominent character because the film's primary focus is on Timon and Pumbaa's behind-the-scenes role and involvement in The Lion King,[42][43] in which they appear as supporting characters. Although the two films technically share the same story and timeline, the plot of The Lion King 1½ focuses more on Timon and Pumbaa. The meerkat and warthog unknowingly coexist alongside Simba, and the story fills in the two characters' backstories and events that led up to their long-lasting friendship, coinciding with and often initiating the events that affect Simba's life during the first film. These events include the commemorative bow that occurs during the opening "Circle of Life" musical number and the collapsing of the animal tower that takes place during "I Just Can't Wait to Be King."[44] The film also explores, in further detail, the relationship among the three characters as Timon and Pumbaa struggle to raise Simba as adoptive "parents" and disapprove of his relationship with Nala, portraying Simba as he grows from an energetic young lion cub, into an incorrigible teenager and, finally, an independent young lion.[45]

text: The Lion King (2019)[edit]

text: In mid-February 2017, Donald Glover was cast as adult Simba.[46] On November 1, 2017, JD McCrary was cast as young Simba.[47]

text: Timon & Pumbaa and television[edit]

text: The success of The Lion King and popularity of its characters led to the production of Timon & Pumbaa, an animated television series starring Timon and Pumbaa. Simba makes several appearances, including one episode in which Timon drags him out to try to revive Pumbaa's lost memory.

text: In the episode "Congo On Like This," Timon and Pumbaa (especially Timon) suspect that Simba has reverted to his carnivorous nature. The episode "Shake Your Djibouti" again features Simba, when Timon and Pumbaa are forced to train him to protect them from a laboratory monster. Another episode, entitled "Rome Alone," shows Simba being captured by Romans and forced into gladiatorial battle with another lion named Claudius. Simba makes brief appearances in "Once Upon a Timon", "Zazu's Off-By-One Day", and "Beethoven's Whiff". He also appears in a music video of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight".

text: Simba was featured as a guest in the animated series House of Mouse, in which he alternates between cub and adult.

text: The Lion Guard[edit]

text: In January 2016, a new series called The Lion Guard premiered, following a television pilot film The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar in November 2015. Set within the time gap in The Lion King II: Simba's Pride,[48] it features Kion who is the son and youngest child of Simba and Nala, who as the second-born cub, is tasked with assembling a team to protect the Pride Lands.[49]

text: Broadway musical[edit]

text: The success of The Lion King led to the production of a Broadway musical based on the film. Directed by Julie Taymor, with a book by Irene Mecchi and Roger Allers, The Lion King premiered at the New Amsterdam Theatre on November 13, 1997, where it ran for nine years until being moved to the Minskoff Theatre on June 13, 2006.[50] The role of Simba was originated by Scott Irby-Ranniar and Jason Raize, with Irby-Ranniar portraying Young Simba and Raize portraying Adult Simba.[51]

text: Raize auditioned for the role of Adult Simba after hearing that Taymor was looking to cast an actor who was of "unidentifiable ethnicity."[52] Raize revealed in an interview that there was a lot of competition for the role because the musical required "triple-threat work -- singing, dancing and acting -- that you don't get to such an extent in other shows. It was more the sense of who can take the challenge and not be daunted by the task." Raize, who instantly felt that he "had a connection with Simba," eventually won the role with the approval of Taymor and choreographer Garth Fagan,[53] with Fagan admiring the fact that Raize was "willing to try, to fail, and then to try again."[9] Once cast, Raize found it difficult to maintain Taymor's "sense of duality" because Simba is "both man and beast." He said, "The tendency is to sacrifice one for the other, but you can't."[54] Although hundreds of children auditioned for the role of Young Simba,[55] the casting process was far less grueling for Irby-Ranniar who, according to Taymor, simply "walked in and he had the part."[56]

text: Miscellaneous[edit]

text: Books[edit]

text: In 1994, a six-volume book set titled The Lion King: Six New Adventures were released. Set after the events of the first film, they featured a cub named Kopa, who was the son of Simba and Nala.

text: Merchandising and video games[edit]

text: As part of the franchise's merchandising, Simba has appeared in various The Lion King-related products.[57] The character's likeness has been used in and adapted into a variety of items, including plush toys and figurines, clothing, bedding, household decor and appliances.[58] The success of the Broadway musical has also led to its own line of merchandising,[59] including the Simba beanbag doll, based on the character's appearance and costume in the Broadway show.[60][61]

text: Since the film's 1994 debut, Simba has appeared as a playable character in a variety of video game releases, both directly and indirectly associated with the franchise. The character's first appearance as a video game character was in The Lion King, which was released by Virgin Interactive on November 1, 1994, for the video game platforms Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Game Gear, Nintendo Entertainment System and PC.[62] The game follows the plot of the original film and features Simba as both a cub and an adult.[63]

text: On December 28, 2000,[64] Activision released The Lion King: Simba's Mighty Adventure for Game Boy Color and PlayStation.[65] The game encompasses 10 levels and incorporates the plot of both The Lion King and The Lion King II: Simba's Pride as "Simba ... matures from a precocious cub to an adult lion."[66] Simba also appears as a playable character in Disney Interactive Studios' Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure, released on September 3, 2003, for Game Boy Advance, PlayStation 2, GameCube and Xbox,[67] and Disney Friends , released for Nintendo DS on February 26, 2008.[68] Additionally, Simba appears in the Square Enix Kingdom Hearts video game franchise as a friend and ally of the series' main character, Sora.[69][70][71][72][73]

text: Walt Disney Parks and Resorts[edit]

text: Live versions of Simba appear in the Lion King musical and in the parades and shows at the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

text: Simba was also the main character in "Legend of the Lion King," a former Fantasyland attraction in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, which retold the story of the film using fully articulated puppets. Other Disney attractions that have featured Simba include the Mickey's PhilharMagic 3D show and the Hong Kong Disneyland version of It's a Small World.

text: He appeared as one of the main characters at Epcot's Land Pavilion 12-minute edutainment film Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable, until its closure in 2018. He currently appears in animatronic form in Festival of the Lion King at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

text: Reception and legacy[edit]

text: Critical response[edit]

text: Although The Lion King itself has garnered universal acclaim from film critics,[74] reception towards Simba has been generally mixed. The Christian Science Monitor's David Sterritt hailed Simba as "a superbly realized character," specifically praising the scene in which the character "faces discipline by his dad after his adventure with the hyenas."[75] Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly wrote that Simba "has been given a marvelously expressive face" to the point of which "He seems more human than the Ken and Barbie types featured in Aladdin and The Little Mermaid."[76] Peter Travers of Rolling Stone described "the father-son relationship" shared by Simba and Mufasa as "movingly rendered,"[77] while About.com's David Nusair wrote, "it’s the touching father/son stuff that lies at the heart of the movie that cements The Lion King's place as an utterly timeless piece of work."[78] James Berardinelli of ReelViews enjoyed the fact that the film focuses more on the story of Simba himself as opposed to the romantic relationship developing between the character and Nala. However, Berardinelli criticized Matthew Broderick's vocal performance, describing it as "nondescript."[79] Rob Humanick of Slant Magazine hailed the fact that "it's never laid on [Simba] that his time as king will directly correspond with the eventual passing of his father" as one of the film's "most important facets." However, he criticized The Lion King's characters, describing them as well-designed but "lazy and troublesome."[80] The Austin Chronicle's Robert Faires felt that Simba and the other Lion King characters, though "true", were simply unoriginal retreads of preceding animated characters who were "swiped from other Disney cartoons."[81]

text: Hal Hinson of The Washington Post gave the character a negative review. Labeling Timon and Pumbaa the only interesting characters in The Lion King, Hinson questioned Simba's role as the film's hero.[82] Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times agreed, "A movie's heroes may have their names above the title, but often as not it's the sidekicks who get the real work done." Turan went on to pan Simba, describing him as "irritatingly callow."[83] Chris Hick of the Deseret News complained about the fact that Simba and the other "characters in The Lion King are not as warm and fuzzy as other Disney animated features," crediting this with making "the film a bit tougher to warm [up] to."[84] ComingSoon.net strongly panned Simba as a lead character, writing, "typically for Disney animated fare, it's the hero who is the weak link being both blandly designed and blandly performed."[85] Acknowledging the character's Shakespearean origins, The Baltimore Sun's Stephen Hunter gave Simba a negative review, writing, "Alas ...Simba stands in for Hamlet, but he's a lot less complicated; in fact, he's less complicated than Morris the Cat or Sylvester." Hunter continued, "Simba the Exile is even less interesting than Simba the Prince."[86] Christopher Null of Contactmusic.com was critical of Weaver's performance as the singing voice of Young Simba, writing, "If there's anything annoying about the film, it's the singing. Young Simba sounds like a young Michael Jackson ... You almost don't want him to succeed." However, Null reacted more positively towards Broderick's performance.[87]

text: Despite the character's mixed reception, several critics have awarded specific praise to Broderick for his portrayal of Simba, including the San Francisco Chronicle's Peter Stack and The Washington Post's Desson Howe.[88][89] Annette Basile of Filmink described Broderick's performance as "excellent,"[90] while Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian called it "sumptuous." Digital Spy's Mayer Nissim described Broderick's portrayal of Simba as "wonderful."[91]

text: Impact and popularity[edit]

text: During the film's opening number, "Circle of Life", Rafiki introduces a newborn Simba to the crowd of animals gathered at the foot of Pride Rock by holding him high above their heads while parents Mufasa and Sarabi look on.[10] Since the film's 1994 release, this scene has grown to iconic status.[92] In November 2002, singer Michael Jackson sparked controversy by holding his son over the protective railing of a hotel balcony in Berlin. The event was witnessed by a large crowd of spectators who were watching from below.[93] Some sources have claimed that Jackson was harmlessly attempting to emulate the scene from The Lion King.[94]

text: When Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge went into labor with hers and Prince William's baby in July 2013, the idea that the couple should reenact the famous scene from The Lion King became quite popular among Twitter users.[95][96] Radio journalist Darren Simpson reportedly tweeted, "when your baby arrives please re-enact the scene from the Lion King".[97] Shortly after Middleton gave birth to a boy, England native Tommy Peto initiated a petition asking the couple to welcome their baby by having the Archbishop of Canterbury emulate the scene by holding him over the balcony of Buckingham Palace. Ultimately, the idea was deemed "outside the responsibility of the government" and was declined.[98]

text: The scene has found itself the subject of both reference and parody in various forms of media, such as in the film George of the Jungle (1997).[99] In what is almost an exact replica of the scene, George, portrayed by actor Brendan Fraser, takes the place of both Rafiki and Mufasa by standing at the tip of Pride Rock and presenting his young son to a crowd of onlooking animals, accompanied by wife Ursula, portrayed by Leslie Mann.[100]

text: During the third season finale of Once Upon a Time, the main character Emma Swan asked her parents Snow White and David Nolan if they were going to hold up her yet unnamed baby brother like in The Lion King.[101] Since the release of The Lion King in 1994, the name "Simba" has increased in use and popularity among dog and cat owners. According to Comcast in 2010, the use of Simba as a dog name reemerged in popularity in 2009 after experiencing a noticeable decline in 2001, ranking the name ninth out of 10 on its list of "Top 10 Trendiest Dog Names of the Year."[102] In May 2013, Yahoo! Lifestyle included the name on its list of "Trendiest Dog Names."[103] According to YouPet, Simba is the 17th most popular cat name out of 100 candidates.[104] Care2 included Simba in its article "All-around Cool Cat Names,"[105] while DutchNews.nl reported that Simba ranks among the country's most popular cat names as of July 2013.[106] In its list of "Top Popular Pet Names," BabyNames.com placed Simba at number 64 on its list of most popular dog names out of the 100 that were considered.[107]