Janja

Janja is a hyena who serves as the main antagonist of The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar and a recurring antagonist in its follow-up series The Lion Guard. He is the leader of a clan of hyenas that resides in the Outlands.

The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar
When Kion and his best friend Bunga lose their baobab ball in the Outlands, Janja orders Cheezi and Chungu to bring the honey badger to him. Before the hyenas can hurt Bunga, Kion steps in, roaring so loudly that the hyenas drop Bunga, who climbs to safety.

Not long after this, Mzingo hears that Kion has been appointed the leader of the new Lion Guard, and he reports back to Janja about the newly formed team. When Janja hears the news, he announces to his clan that they will strike that very night.

After Kion assembles his team, Bunga calls to him, shouting that the hyenas are attacking a herd of gazelles. With no time to lose, Kion assembles the Lion Guard. Together, the five friends attack the hyenas, driving them back into the Outlands. Kion finishes the fight with the powerful Roar of the Elders, and even Janja flees in terror. Before leaving, he warns Kion that their conflict is far from over.

Never Judge a Hyena by its Spots
Janja, Cheezi, and Chungu are seen attacking a herd of oryx just before the Lion Guard arrives. Kion orders the rest of the Lion Guard to calm the herd while he goes after the hyenas. However, during the pursuit, Kion falls into a river, which sweeps him into the Outlands.

Janja and his clan later appear when they confront a female hyena named Jasiri, who had helped Kion get to Flat Ridge Rock. Jasiri is able to easily fend off Cheezi and Chungu, but is pinned down by Janja. Luckily, Kion returns and saves Jasiri by using the Roar of the Elders to scare Janja and his clan away.

Can't Wait to be Queen
After spying on Kiara and Kion and learning that Simba and Nala are away, Mzingo reports back to Janja, explaining that the royal cubs are fighting in the wake of Simba's departure. Janja decides to take advantage of the family struggles and instructs Mzingo to take a special message to Kiara.

Under Janja's instructions, Mzingo lands on the peak of Pride Rock and offers a peace proposal to Kiara. Though suspicious, the cub listens as Mzingo tells her that Janja wishes to meet her at Broken Rock, which serves as neutral ground between the Pride Lands and the Outlands. Kiara promises to think the offer over, and Mzingo flies away.

When Kion hears about the proposal, he desperately tries to talk his sister out of it, but Kiara points out that Janja probably came to her because Kion is constantly running him off. Furious, Kion points out that she's not really the queen, but Kiara resolves to do things her own way. A frustrated Kion refuses to take part in her plan and runs off into the savanna.

Eventually, Kiara reaches Broken Rock, where Janja surrounds her with his cronies, but just in time, Kion arrives with the Lion Guard, and Janja flees. As the hyenas scurry away, Kiara admits that Kion had been right about not being able to trust Janja.

Janja can be seen in the midst of a wildebeest stampede with his minions, Cheezi and Chungu. The hyenas attempt to use the rising dust from the stampede to mask their movements, but Ono spots them from the air and warns the Lion Guard of their location. The hyenas are driven off, though they later overhear the vultures talking and realize that Ono has lost his sight.

Eye of the Beholder
Under Janja's instruction, Cheezi and Chungu help trap the Lion Guard in a ravine. With the team trapped, they attempt to pick off a herd of zebras, but Ono once again comes to the rescue, and Kion busts his team free using the Roar of the Elders. Once more at a loss, the hyenas flee into the Outlands.

Personality
Like his hyena ancestors before him, Janja is a greedy and selfish leader with no regard for the Circle of Life. His unabated hunger drives him to extreme measures, as he is willing to stand against Simba and the Lion Guard, and his ruthless nature shines through in even everyday interactions.

Janja is unforgiving to his minions and mercilessly mocks them in front of the clan, refusing to believe their excuses and stories. This is likely because his minions are not his friends; they are simply a means to an end, for Janja is crafty and uses his clan mates to do his dirty work for him.

Janja's intelligence is undeniable. Surrounded on all sides by witless hyenas, he stands out as the one clever member of the clan, utilizing his allies to take down the Circle of Life. Under Janja's guidance, the hyenas prove a great threat, especially since they are often swayed to his side through his natural charisma and cunning. Janja will ensure that the clan's goals always align with his own.

Role in the series
Janja reprises his role in the series, and his bitterness and evil is explained. Following the lions and hyenas making peace again since the fall of the Pure Hyenas, as the result of Scar's rule leaving the hyenas being given a bad reputation, Simba had to banish the hyenas to the Outlands until their reputation is fixed. Some hyenas, like Janja, took this response negatively and wanted revenge. Thus, he was easily manipulated by Fagin into being a minor member of the Villain League, almost being a replacement for Shenzi and the other hyenas. Though thanks to contributions from hyenas that weren't easily made as bitter as Janja, like Jasiri, the Pride Lands would make sure the Pride Lands appreciate the hyenas again.