Thundercats
- Thread starter Redah
- Start date
OP
- Thread Starter
- #6
Gonna check that out right now.
Here for all the ppl not knowing Thundercats (this is IGNInsider content d00ds
):
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By the time the US hit the mid-80s, the great cartoon revolution was in motion. Transformers and Robotech had made the scene, and their wild success was opening doors left and right for more daring and, dare we say it...subversive cartoons to enter the minds of impressionable young kids everywhere. When Thundercats hit the air in 1985, kids were already used to cool action cartoons, but this show--this show blew them away. Check it out:
Thundercats
The Time: 1985-1986, Syndicated
The Company: Telepictures, Rankin-Bass
The Skinny: Rankin-Bass was an old company that had an early start in animation. Some of its best works are now kitsch classics. Among them were the stop-motion animated Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman specials. However, by the time the 80s rolled around, Rankin-Bass and the American public were looking for something new. Perhaps sensing the fundamental shift to occur in cartoons, Rankin-Bass and Pacific Animation Corporation got together and produced what would probably be the crowing jewel of both companies: The Thundercats. On an interesting side note, Thundercats was ready to go as early as 1983, which could've made the series the first of the new wave of 80s cartoons, but for some reason, the series was delayed a full two years until 1985, which many people consider the peak of the 80s cartoon era.
The Story: A familiar tale: the royal family of Thundera escapes the dying world in a massive space fleet, searching for a new home. Unfortunately, their mortal enemies, the Mutants, see to it that most of the ships do not survive and the Thundercats make a desperate attempt to reach Third Earth, one of the few planets that the Thundercats can survive on. They put themselves into cold sleep and make the arduous journey. In the end, only seven make it to their destination: Lion-o, the heir apparent; Panthro, mechanic and martial arts expert; Tigra, scientist and tracker; Cheetara, scout and mistress of speed; Wilykit and Wilykat, trickster children; and Snarf, household servant.
Upon reaching Third Earth, the Thundercats quickly make friends with strange creatures like the Roberbils, and deadly enemies of the newly-arrived Mutants and an ancient evil called Mumm-Ra. Over the course of time, they build a new home, make new allies, and groom Lion-o to assume his role as leader of the Thundercats and as the sole repository of an ancient civilization's culture.
Effects on Popular American Culture: Its incredibly psychedelic cast of characters (Mumm-Ra, the Berserkers, Luna-taks, roberberbils, Safari Joe) and a rich world of story hooks caught the imaginations of kids and adults alike. Likewise, the quirky speech pattersn of the voice actors would provide immense kitsch value to this show and its successor, Silverhawks. It's a well-loved show, and it's still possible to elicit a fond memory or three from any 20-something by raising your fist in the air and crying, "Ho!"
Where are they now?: Thundercats has remained popular enough to have been on the air almost constantly since 1985. So popular that it still shows regularly on the Toonami block on the Cartoon Network. There are also an ample number of high-powered people that would like to see the Thundercats return, in one form or another...
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Here for all the ppl not knowing Thundercats (this is IGNInsider content d00ds
):-------------------------------------------------------
By the time the US hit the mid-80s, the great cartoon revolution was in motion. Transformers and Robotech had made the scene, and their wild success was opening doors left and right for more daring and, dare we say it...subversive cartoons to enter the minds of impressionable young kids everywhere. When Thundercats hit the air in 1985, kids were already used to cool action cartoons, but this show--this show blew them away. Check it out:
Thundercats
The Time: 1985-1986, Syndicated
The Company: Telepictures, Rankin-Bass
The Skinny: Rankin-Bass was an old company that had an early start in animation. Some of its best works are now kitsch classics. Among them were the stop-motion animated Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman specials. However, by the time the 80s rolled around, Rankin-Bass and the American public were looking for something new. Perhaps sensing the fundamental shift to occur in cartoons, Rankin-Bass and Pacific Animation Corporation got together and produced what would probably be the crowing jewel of both companies: The Thundercats. On an interesting side note, Thundercats was ready to go as early as 1983, which could've made the series the first of the new wave of 80s cartoons, but for some reason, the series was delayed a full two years until 1985, which many people consider the peak of the 80s cartoon era.
The Story: A familiar tale: the royal family of Thundera escapes the dying world in a massive space fleet, searching for a new home. Unfortunately, their mortal enemies, the Mutants, see to it that most of the ships do not survive and the Thundercats make a desperate attempt to reach Third Earth, one of the few planets that the Thundercats can survive on. They put themselves into cold sleep and make the arduous journey. In the end, only seven make it to their destination: Lion-o, the heir apparent; Panthro, mechanic and martial arts expert; Tigra, scientist and tracker; Cheetara, scout and mistress of speed; Wilykit and Wilykat, trickster children; and Snarf, household servant.
Upon reaching Third Earth, the Thundercats quickly make friends with strange creatures like the Roberbils, and deadly enemies of the newly-arrived Mutants and an ancient evil called Mumm-Ra. Over the course of time, they build a new home, make new allies, and groom Lion-o to assume his role as leader of the Thundercats and as the sole repository of an ancient civilization's culture.
Effects on Popular American Culture: Its incredibly psychedelic cast of characters (Mumm-Ra, the Berserkers, Luna-taks, roberberbils, Safari Joe) and a rich world of story hooks caught the imaginations of kids and adults alike. Likewise, the quirky speech pattersn of the voice actors would provide immense kitsch value to this show and its successor, Silverhawks. It's a well-loved show, and it's still possible to elicit a fond memory or three from any 20-something by raising your fist in the air and crying, "Ho!"
Where are they now?: Thundercats has remained popular enough to have been on the air almost constantly since 1985. So popular that it still shows regularly on the Toonami block on the Cartoon Network. There are also an ample number of high-powered people that would like to see the Thundercats return, in one form or another...
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I loved the Thundercats as a kid, but watching them recently on Cartoon Network just isn't the same. They don't "age" well.lain:
Panthro did rock though.:colgate:
A little nostalgia.
lain: Panthro did rock though.:colgate:
A little nostalgia.
rob in london
amiga nut
thundercats was my favourite cartoon at the time, wasnt their tank thingy cool!? and kit and kat had those hover skate boards, kinda like the ones in back to the future, what i wouldnt do for one of those hehe
blizz
New member
Stalkid64 said:Transformers could`ve kicked the Thundercats`s asses. They had the coolest voice effects ever (Soundwave! Yay!)
Ditto MASK...which no one has mentioned yet
Now, must go buy that dvd...
Transformers Season 1 DVD's out btw
I wasn't a MASK man, I liked Gi Joe
but Robotech just kicks all their arses