ThunderCats
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ThunderCats is an animated children's television series. It was developed by Rankin-Bass in 1983. Series One was shown from 1985 to 1986 (65 episodes) and Series Two from 1986 to 1987 (65 episodes). There were also several comic book series produced. Marvel's version 1985 to 1988 and two series by DC comics, one in 2004 and another 2003 to 2004. It was created to tie in with a wide range of merchandising which pre-dated the show. Items of clothing featuring the ThunderCats logo have enjoyed a resurgence of late.
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Overview
Like many similar 1980s animated series, ThunderCats had a simple and predictable structure. It offered a long-running battle between good (the ThunderCats) and evil (the Mutants) set in a milieu that combined high technology and hand-to-hand combat. The ThunderCats are humanoids with distinct feline appearances while the Mutants are a rag-tag of uglies.
The action is set on a planet called Third Earth, a wild and violent world (which is our own planet earth in a distant future). Both the ThunderCats and the Mutants are non-native, the ThunderCats fled there when their home planet, Thundera, became unstable and the Mutants came from Plundarr. While the entire population of Thundera (called Thunderians) fled the disaster, the ThunderCats nobles number only seven (eight including Jaga, who died enroute). They dwell in a substantial fortress built in the shape of a cat, the Cat's Lair.
Characters
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The leader of the ThunderCats is Lion-O. During the trip to Third Earth, his suspended animation pod malfunctioned, while only a youth on Thundera he arrives on Third Earth physically an adult while mentally still a child. Despite this problem Lion-O carries the group's super weapon, the Sword of Omens. When unused the sword is no larger than a dagger but extends to full size in battle. Embedded in the hilt of the Sword of Omens is the Eye of Thundera, the source of the ThunderCats' power. With the power of the Eye, Lion-O could call upon a variety of powers and abilities from the sword, including "Sight Beyond Sight" (the ability to peer at faraway goings-on and pierce the veil of the dimensional boundaries) and the "Cat's Growl" (a warning when danger was near and/or other ThunderCats were in trouble). With a cry of "Thunder! Thunder! Thunder! THUNDERCATS! HO!", Lion-O could summon the other ThunderCats to assist him in times of great danger.
The group's original leader, Jaga, did not survive the trip, piloting the ship towards Third Earth whilst the other ThunderCat nobles went into suspended animation. He appears in the form of a spiritual apparition, providing Lion-O with counsel when needed.
Second to Lion-O is Tygra, an older male and the brains of the group, acting as a foil to Lion-O's intemperate nature. It was Tygra who designed Cat's Lair, often referred to as "The Architect". He is armed with a bolo-whip which with a special twist can render him invisible, as well as other supernatural abilities but rarely demonstrates them. Tygra is the least favourite character of the show, according to fans.
After Tygra is Panthro, the strongest of the group and also the most technically adept. Easily the best fighter of the group, Panthro fights with nunchucks and is the designer/mechanic/driver of the group's oversized vehicle - the Thunder Tank.
Cheetara is the only adult female (for the first series). She can run extremely fast, fights and vaults with a quarterstaff, and, by running fast in a small circle, she can see into the past, though it is extremely taxing upon her. She also has a budding sixth sense, but the strain of using it makes her very weak.
There are two youngsters, Wiley-Kit and Wiley-Kat, who are constantly causing problems, getting into trouble and needing rescuing. They are armed with a "utility belt" of sorts, filled with various capsules and globes that perform a wide variety of tricks. They also wield lariats for ensnaring and the like. Their hoverboards are destroyed in almost every episode in which they are featured.
The final member of the group is the comedy character, a curious hybrid of species. He is small, fat and named Snarf. Snarf was Lion-O's nursemaid, but when Lion-O was aged to maturity, Lion-O didn't feel he needed a babysitter anymore. Still, Snarf is the most loyal of ThunderCats and their most underrated member.
Later additions
As well as the original ThunderCats the second series fellow Thunderians arrive on Third Earth. They eventually were recruited as ThunderCats: Bengali (the white tiger blacksmith), Pumyra (the second mature female of the show) and Lynx-O (the blind ThunderCat).
Other allies include Mandora the Evil-Chaser (an intergalactic police officer), Hachiman (a samurai swordsman), Snowman (a chivalrous Yeti Knight, who fights with weapons crafted from ice) and Snarfer, Snarf's nephew and technological genius.
Villains
Opposing the ThunderCats are the Mutants, living in Castle Plundarr. Their lineage is more diverse than the ThunderCats and includes a number of less well regarded species. In common with most cartoon 'bad guys' they are extraordinarily incompetent. Led by the sibilant Slithe, they include Monkian, Jackalman and Vultureman.
In order to offer a significant challenge to the ThunderCats they are led by Mumm-Ra, an ancient native of Third Earth. He usually resides in a pyramid as a withered corpse-like being but by reciting the following: "Ancient spirits of evil, transform this decayed form, to Mumm-Ra, the ever-living!" This would transform him into a much more muscular blue-skinned being to offer the ThunderCats an episode-long challenge before being driven back. Mumm-Ra also has a dog, named Ma-Mutt. It is blue and bulldog-like.
Sometimes other evil entities arrive on Third Earth, before being forced back into space. A longer term threat are the Lunataks, who are a band of powerful villains. The Lunataks are led by Luna, a diminuitive strategist. She is carried around by Amok, a large silent servant. TugMug comes from a high gravity world and is thus capable of incredibly powerful leaps. Chilla comes from an ice world, and can both freeze objects with her breath and incinerate them with her hands. RedEye has super vision which lets him detect Tygra while invisible, as well as throw his discus with considerable accuracy. Alluro has a club which allows him to control other's minds.
Trivia
The Christian rock band Relient K has a song about ThunderCats called "I'm Lion-O" on their 2001 album The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek.
See also
- Larry Kenney Voice actor for Lion-o
- Anthropomorphic Superheroes
External links
- Interview with Lion-o voice actor Larry Kenney (http://www.insomniacmania.com/interview_default.php?id=15)
- Larry Kenney audio interview (http://www.mattblank.com/interviews/larrykenney/) (contains audio samples of Thundercats Outtakes - adult language)
- Thundercats recording outtakes (http://www.claws-and-paws.com/thundercats/) as individual files, from Claws and Paws (http://www.claws-and-paws.com) (adult language)