Last summer, news broke about a new animated series coming to Disney Junior, the TV channel dedicated to preschool and young audiences.  

The TV series is a sequel to the

wildly

 successful and well-known Disney film, The Lion King. The show follows the story of Simba’s son, Kion, 

and is called The Lion Guard.

Fans of The Lion King (myself included) have been anxiously awaiting more details of the series since it was first announced.

While concept art of the characters have come and gone, it was this week we finally got a small peek of the series.

Check it out for yourself below:

I’m excited to see the series using more traditional animation style; unlike other shows on the channel such as Jake and the Neverland Pirates and Sofia the First, the characters still have a refreshing look. It seems Simba’s son has taken on some attributes of his father, including a stylish but adorable fauxhawk and an eagerness to laugh in the face of danger.

This week at Disney’s D23 Expo, audiences will get to experience a unique first look at the series, which is set to debut in January 2016.  

Don’t fret, fans, we thankfully don’t have to wait that long before seeing more of Kion. There will be a television movie airing on the Disney Channel in November called The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar, that will be a build up to the series.

The Lion Guard will add to the already vast Lion King universe that spans over 3 movies, another spinoff TV series, a Broadway musical, and various video games.

While the show is intended for a younger audience, fans that grew up with these films are sure to find a fun expansion of the world and life in the Pridelands.

The Lion King celebrated its 20th anniversary

 last year and remains one of Disney’s most successful movies of all time.  

As a huge fan of the film myself, I am very excited to see what comes of my favorite characters and look forward to a new generation to fall in love with them as I did.