Kovu is the deuteragonist of the 1998 film The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, and a supporting character in its 2016 midquel series The Lion Guard.
He is the youngest son of Zira, the protégé and alleged heir of Scar, Nuka and Vitani's younger brother, Simba and Nala’s son-in-law, Mufasa, Sarabi and Sarafina’s grandson-in-law, Kiara's best friend and later, her mate and Kion and Rani’s brother-in-law.
He was voiced by Ryan O'Donohue as a cub, and Jason Marsden as an adolescent, (Gene Miller, singing) in the movie. Marsden reprised the entire role in The Lion Guard (including replacing O'Donohue as his cub self).
As The Lion King II: Simba's Pride is loosely based on Romeo and Juliet, Kovu (due to being Kiara's love interest from a hostile family (The Outsiders) is based on Romeo.
