# Thunder! Thunder! Thunder! Thundercats! Hoooooly Moly New Thundercats. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 14, 2011, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thunder-thunder-thunder-thundercats-hoooooly-moly-new-thundercats/588962 "2011-07-14T02:23:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thunder-thunder-thunder-thundercats-hoooooly-moly-new-thundercats/588962/1 "2011-07-14T02:23:44Z")
I just wanted to share that I just saw a commercial for a new Thundercats series. It starts July 29th 8/7c on Cartoon Network. I’m pretty sure there are a few other dopers who would be interested in the new series. I gotta say I’m pretty excited and I really like the new Lion-O. I much prefer him not being all Hulked out and actually looking like a younger cat. Here’s a trailer: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/opB2f1BUvPk/hqdefault.jpg "THUNDERCATS TRAILER FROM WONDERCON 2011") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opB2f1BUvPk) Here’s a short wiki article: > **[ThunderCats (2011 TV series)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ThunderCats_(2011_TV_series))** > > ThunderCats is an animated television series, developed by Ethan Spaulding and Michael Jelenic for Cartoon Network. A reboot of the original 1980s TV series of the same name (which ran from 1985 to 1989), ThunderCats was produced by American studio Warner Bros. Animation and animated by Japanese studio Studio 4°C, and combined elements of western animation with Japanese anime. The series began with an hour-long premiere on Cartoon Network on July 29, 2011. It is the final animated collab Followin... Here is some pictures of what the new characters look like: [http://slices-of-life.com/2011/03/02/thundercats-characters-hoooo-old-and-new/](http://slices-of-life.com/2011/03/02/thundercats-characters-hoooo-old-and-new/) ---
**Author:** ![Feyrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/fbc32d/32.png) [@Feyrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feyrat)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thunder-thunder-thunder-thundercats-hoooooly-moly-new-thundercats/588962/2 "2011-07-14T03:52:02Z")
I live in both excitement and dread for this. It’s fair to say that Thundercats and the Muppet Show were THE most formative things on my television screen as I was growing up. I was active in online fandom for years as well. I’m really excited to see my 'Cats onscreen again with new stories, but terrified they’ll mess it up. Then again, the original episodes are SO cheesy and terrible! I can’t stop laughing when I re-watch them, but I took them SOOO seriously as a kid. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thunder-thunder-thunder-thundercats-hoooooly-moly-new-thundercats/588962/3 "2011-07-14T06:06:11Z")
Whoa, the nostalgia is dizzying. I have GOT to tell the kids about this! They love anime, they’ll watch it. ---
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thunder-thunder-thunder-thundercats-hoooooly-moly-new-thundercats/588962/4 "2011-07-14T06:54:34Z")
Please tell me they’ve ditched Snarf? ---
**Author:** ![mac\_bolan00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@mac\_bolan00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mac_bolan00)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thunder-thunder-thunder-thundercats-hoooooly-moly-new-thundercats/588962/5 "2011-07-14T07:09:10Z")
is it still a joint-venture project between grumman and republic? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thunder-thunder-thunder-thundercats-hoooooly-moly-new-thundercats/588962/6 "2011-07-14T09:35:30Z")
> [@GreedySmurf](#): > > Please tell me they’ve ditched Snarf? They cleaned him up a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Misery\_Loves\_Co](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7cd45c/32.png) [@Misery\_Loves\_Co](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misery_Loves_Co)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thunder-thunder-thunder-thundercats-hoooooly-moly-new-thundercats/588962/7 "2011-07-14T11:59:56Z")
[Obligatory Robot Chicken link](http://video.adultswim.com/robot-chicken/rodiggity.html) ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thunder-thunder-thunder-thundercats-hoooooly-moly-new-thundercats/588962/8 "2011-07-14T13:33:44Z")
Meh, anime. Not that the Thundercats are any sacred cow to me but I can’t imagine less inspired or more unoriginal “new versions” than a bunch of anime knock-offs. ---
**Author:** ![Azeotrope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@Azeotrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azeotrope)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thunder-thunder-thunder-thundercats-hoooooly-moly-new-thundercats/588962/9 "2011-07-14T13:49:00Z")
I just can’t believe \*\*Silver Tiger Girl \*\*hasn’t popped into this thread yet 😃 I see they gave Cheetara the “[most common superpower](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MostCommonSuperPower)” ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thunder-thunder-thunder-thundercats-hoooooly-moly-new-thundercats/588962/10 "2011-07-14T13:56:00Z")
> [@ugly ripe tomato](#): > > I see they gave Cheetara the “[most common superpower](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MostCommonSuperPower)” Haha that’s the first thing I thought of too. So what’s the deal with this? Is this anime from Japan or anime from America? ---
**Author:** ![Azeotrope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@Azeotrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azeotrope)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thunder-thunder-thunder-thundercats-hoooooly-moly-new-thundercats/588962/11 "2011-07-14T14:32:50Z")
According to Wikipedia “It is produced by Warner Bros. Animation with animation provided by Japanese animation studio Studio 4°C” so I’d call it anime from America ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thunder-thunder-thunder-thundercats-hoooooly-moly-new-thundercats/588962/12 "2011-07-14T15:36:56Z")
> [@ugly ripe tomato](#): > > According to Wikipedia “It is produced by Warner Bros. Animation with animation provided by Japanese animation studio Studio 4°C” so I’d call it anime from America Good. I like that. Nothing against the CGI stuff but there is nothing better than old fashioned animation. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thunder-thunder-thunder-thundercats-hoooooly-moly-new-thundercats/588962/13 "2011-07-14T15:50:08Z")
meh… I agree that the anime-ization makes them look too generic. Wilykit&Kat are ok. Tigra is fine. I’m not thrilled with the panthro that looks kinda like a plumber. What’s with the blocky face? Lion-o is pure fan-art anime. And worst of all, Cheetara, who fueled many a confusing inter-species dream in my youth is just missing something from the original. I can’t put my finger on it, but all the pizzazz is gone. I might watch for nostalgia’s sake, but as I said… meh. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thunder-thunder-thunder-thundercats-hoooooly-moly-new-thundercats/588962/14 "2011-07-14T15:53:49Z")
> [@Feyrat](#): > > Then again, the original episodes are SO cheesy and terrible! I can’t stop laughing when I re-watch them, but I took them SOOO seriously as a kid. Yeah me too. It looks like they are doing a re-boot so after the first couple of origin episodes the writers can take it into their own direction, for the most part, you still need Mumm-Ra and his gang. Their is a ton of anime out there these days a lot of which is intelligent, emotional, funny and has good story at the same time so hopefully they’ll at least try to have a couple of those elements in it instead of trying to make it simple and dumb just for the kids. > [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > Good. I like that. Nothing against the CGI stuff but there is nothing better than old fashioned animation. I agree. CGI if used right can really add to a movie or cartoon but nothing really beats hand drawn animation. ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thunder-thunder-thunder-thundercats-hoooooly-moly-new-thundercats/588962/15 "2011-07-14T20:13:07Z")
When I was in the Marines I attended a BE&E class on a Navy base. Everyone morning before class started we would watch Thundercats. 30 or so sailors and Marines watching Thundercats, and enjoying. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ura-Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/51bf81/32.png) [@Ura-Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ura-Maru)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thunder-thunder-thunder-thundercats-hoooooly-moly-new-thundercats/588962/16 "2011-07-14T21:12:58Z")
> [@gonzoron](#): > > And worst of all, Cheetara, who fueled many a confusing inter-species dream in my youth is just missing something from the original. The arm muscles. That’s like getting rid of the baroness’ glasses or putting Lady Jaye in a princess dress. To be fair, her Michelle Obama-esqe guns weren’t consistent, they toned down as the show went on and didn’t appear at all in some of the non-show material. (Like the poster, or whatever it is at the top of the ‘slices of life’ link) She also seems to be wearing a Eva Plug Suit, unless anyone can come up with a better explanation as to what’s up with her wrists. Her other main distinguishing characteristic was her horrific voice actress. I note her new VA is a regular actress with no voice experience, so that may very well carry over. Panthro looks like Jett Black at a furry convention. That’s not really a negative, it’s just an observation. Thundercats was never about characters or writing, it as about Akiyama’s fairly awesome 80’s-anime action and effects direction. I’ll admit I’m a bit curious as to how they’ll try to build on that. (Though really, “fight like cats!”? Are you **sure** you want that line in the trailer?) And most importantly, will there be BER-SERK-ER-s? – The original Thundercats designs look a lot like late 60’s superhero costumes. So if we’re really going for authenticity, we should design them to look like 90’s superheroes. That would make everyone happy, right? ---
**Author:** ![Azeotrope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@Azeotrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azeotrope)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thunder-thunder-thunder-thundercats-hoooooly-moly-new-thundercats/588962/17 "2011-07-15T00:34:59Z")
> [@Ura-Maru](#): > > Panthro looks like Jett Black at a furry convention. That’s not really a negative, it’s just an observation. > > (Though really, “fight like cats!”? Are you **sure** you want that line in the trailer?) That’s exactly what he looks like! Maybe it’s something Ein dreamed up after eating the funny mushrooms. IMO “fight like cats” isn’t any worse than “Thundercats are loose.” Especially given how often Tygra managed to get tied up, villains like the Enflamer, and that whole Luna/Amok thang. ---
**Author:** ![Azeotrope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@Azeotrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azeotrope)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thunder-thunder-thunder-thundercats-hoooooly-moly-new-thundercats/588962/18 "2011-07-15T00:41:42Z")
Looks like TV Tropes has a [page](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Thundercats2011) already. Interesting, Tygra is Lion-O’s adopted brother this time around. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2011, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thunder-thunder-thunder-thundercats-hoooooly-moly-new-thundercats/588962/19 "2011-07-30T10:46:17Z")
Having never watched the original series (I was more into Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles myself), the series premiere tonight was my first introduction to the show. I have to say i’m thoroughly impressed and will be tuning in again next week. For a show that I assume is targeted at kids, it’s surprisingly dark and mature.