I recently found myself explaining the entire “Circle of Life” to Sam because he wanted to know why the lions weren’t sharing their snacks with the zebras.
The Lion King is one of those movies that stays relevant no matter how many years pass.
My kids are currently obsessed with the music, which means I spend my mornings listening to a very loud, off-key version of “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” coming from the playroom.
I put this collection of free Lion King coloring pages together to cover everything from the cute cub years to the big, dramatic Pride Rock scenes.
It’s the perfect way to buy yourself enough time to finish a meal while they are busy in the Pride Lands. Scroll down to find your favorites and get to printing!
Featured Lion King Coloring Pages
Lion King Coloring Pages Highlights
1. Scar Trying to Bake a Cake
This is purely for the parents who have had a rough day in the kitchen.
Among our scar lion king coloring pages, this one shows him looking absolutely miserable trying to bake, complete with flour everywhere.
My middle son, Sam, thinks it’s hilarious that a “scary” villain is struggling with a whisk.
It’s a great page for practicing different textures, from the smooth cake batter to the messy flour clouds.
2. The Hyenas Laughing
Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed are captured here in their full, cackling glory.
This page is all about big, expressive faces and sharp teeth.
It is the perfect excuse to use those grey and brown crayons that usually sit at the bottom of the box.
I tell the kids to make their tongues bright pink so their laughter really pops off the page.
3. The Ultimate Group Selfie
This is such a fun, modern take on the Pride Lands crew.
Simba, Nala, Timon, Pumbaa, and Rafiki are all huddling together for a “selfie” in front of Pride Rock.
Because there are so many characters packed into one frame, it takes a long time to color, which is exactly what I need when I’m trying to get things done.
4. Simba and Nala’s Fancy Dinner Date
If you want to see a “gentlemanly” side of a lion, this is it.
Simba and Nala are sitting at a candlelit table with a fancy tablecloth.
My youngest, Lily, loves coloring the little candle flames and the patterns on the table.
It’s a sweet, calm page that usually leads to a much quieter coloring session.
5. Simba Driving a Safari Jeep
This is a massive hit in our house because of the vehicle.
One of our favorite simba lion king coloring pages, it shows him behind the wheel of a rugged safari jeep.
I like this one because the jeep has thick, boxy lines that are very satisfying for kids to fill in.
We usually color the jeep a bright “jungle green” or a sandy tan.
6. The Reflection in the Water
This is a truly beautiful, iconic moment.
Young Simba is looking into a pool of water, but the reflection staring back at him is Mufasa.
It’s a bit more of a “serious” page, so I save it for my oldest, Leo.
We use light blues and whites for the water ripples to make the reflection look magical and ghostly.
7. Walking Across the Log
The classic “Hakuna Matata” scene, but with a twist—this one features Nala joining the trio for their moonlit stroll.
The giant moon in the background provides a huge area to practice some light yellow shading.
It is a very peaceful, rhythmic page that is great for winding down at the end of the day.
8. Practicing the Pounce on Zazu
This captures the pure, playful energy of a cub.
Simba is mid-air, about to pounce on a very worried-looking Zazu.
The movement in this page is fantastic.
My boys love coloring Zazu’s bright blue feathers, which provides a great contrast to the golden yellows and oranges of the savanna.
Tips For Coloring Lion King Coloring Pages
The “Sunset Glow” Blending Trick
The sky in the Pride Lands is almost never just plain blue.
I teach my kids to make a “fire sky” by layering yellow at the bottom, then orange, and a little bit of red at the very top.
If they rub the colors together with a tissue, it blends them into a gorgeous sunset that makes the whole page look like a professional poster.
Mastering the Golden Fur
If your kid just grabs a standard bright yellow crayon for Simba, he ends up looking like a giant lemon.
Lions are actually a mix of tan, gold, and light brown.
I have them look for a “tan” or “light brown” crayon and color lightly.
It gives him a much more “sun-kissed” look that matches the movie.
Creating “Dust” Clouds
In the action scenes, there is usually a lot of dust kicking up.
Instead of coloring the ground solid brown, tell your kids to use a grey or light brown crayon to draw messy, swirling circles around the animals’ feet.
It makes your Lion King printable coloring pages look like it’s actually moving.
It also saves them from having to fill in every single white space.
The Mane Event (Texture)
Lions’ manes shouldn’t look like flat plastic.
When coloring the hair, don’t use long, smooth strokes.
I show the kids how to use short, quick little lines with a colored pencil to make it look “shaggy” and textured.
It’s a subtle thing, but it makes Simba and Mufasa look way more realistic.
The “Magic” Pride Rock Shading
Rocks can be boring if they are just one solid grey blob.
We like to add “shadows” by using a dark purple or blue crayon on the undersides of the cliffs.
It creates a 3D effect that makes Pride Rock look huge and imposing.
It also teaches kids about how light and shadows work in nature.
Don’t Forget the “Green” Zones
Even though it’s a savanna, there are lush areas like the jungle where Timon and Pumbaa live.
I challenge my kids to use every green crayon they own for those pages.
Using a “dark green” for the shadows and a “lime green” for the highlights makes the jungle scenes pop.