"Thundercats" News & Discussion Thread (Spoilers)

**Sketch** · 06-02-2010, 06:52 PM

Originally Posted by dtemplar

I would love to see Cartoon Network or Boomerang have a Thundercats marathon before they bring the new Thundercats toon premieres.

They've never even once played Thundercats on Boomerang. If there ever was a reason to hype up some nostalgia it would be during the time leading up to the new series premiere.

Well there might be a super hero block on Saturday or any other night (lets say Tuesday or Thursday perhaps) but it looks like they are moving The Flicks to Saturday when they start using Sunday night for live action drama programming. That could certainly change before then. Especially if said drama series bomb.

**Rho** · 06-02-2010, 08:16 PM

The drama series on Sundays are bound to bomb, especially with what they're up against. So a potential superhero block could be on Saturdays or Sundays.

A lot can change in one year, so who knows..

**Light Lucario** · 06-02-2010, 08:38 PM

Well, this is a unique surprise. I've heard about the movie a few years ago, though I'm not sure if that was a rumor or if they never gave it a green light, but a new series sounds pretty cool. I vaguely remember watching the original series with my older brother when we were both little. I think I only recall the opening theme, a couple of moments during some actual episodes and the ending credits.

I wouldn't mind a darker take on the storyline, though not too dark. Perhaps somewhere in the middle where it isn't too dark or too kiddie would work for me. Considering the people they have on staff listed in the announcement, they could make the not too dark or too kiddie concept work for the series. It should be really interesting to see how the series turns out next year.

**Blankments** · 06-02-2010, 08:56 PM

Forgive me that I've never seen Thundercats but with this and the Green Lantern show, why didn't they just announce these at the upfront? I'm sure they've been in development for a while.

**Marvin Tikvah** · 06-02-2010, 09:03 PM

So they're finally going through with new Thundercats huh? I remember when there was supposedly one in production for KidsWB but that was like 5 years ago.

I hope this series does for Thundercats what the 2k2 He-Man series and 2k3 TMNT series did for their series. A more serious reimagining of the universe, with some delightful meta-humor as a bone to the older fans.

**ECDT1089** · 06-02-2010, 09:20 PM

Originally Posted by dtemplar

I would love to see Cartoon Network or Boomerang have a Thundercats marathon before they bring the new Thundercats toon premieres.

Or Cartoon Network could do the same thing they did with Pink Panther and Pals. The original Pink Panther was airing before Pals premiered. Maybe the original Thundercats will air regularly before the new series. That would be awesome.

**Collie** · 06-02-2010, 10:00 PM

Originally Posted by Mesousa

I'll think of it more as Transformers:Animated, since Studio 4c were involved in that one, as well.

That's not particularly encouraging, considering that TF:A looked like it was drawn by a pack of hyperactive 5-year olds with new crayons.

**Jacob T. Paschal** · 06-02-2010, 10:04 PM

Interesting news, and neat art.

I wonder if they'll call back the cast or create a new one?

**Sketch** · 06-02-2010, 10:23 PM

Probably an entirely new cast. Maybe they'll have a few people reprise roles but it's just as well if they get an entirely new cast. Thundercats was not a show known for superb voice acting.

**Jacob T. Paschal** · 06-02-2010, 10:27 PM

Originally Posted by Andrew T. Hingson

Probably an entirely new cast. Maybe they'll have a few people reprise roles but it's just as well if they get an entirely new cast. Thundercats was not a show known for superb voice acting.

Admittedly I've not seen enough of it to form an opinion of my own, although those bloopers out there have certainly attatched me enough to those guys enough I'd love to see them return...in the highly unlikely change more would be made...and released...

**King_of_doom** · 06-02-2010, 10:29 PM

Originally Posted by Jacob T. Paschal

I wonder if they'll call back the cast or create a new one?

You mean the original voice actors? I think they will have new voice actors just like they did with He-man. If the original voice actors appear they might get cameos or voice a character that they didn't voiced like Larry Kenney might do the voice of Jaga or Lion-O's father.

I wonder who will do the voice of Mumm-Ra? In my opinion the one i can think of is Corey Burton or Steve Blum.

**GWOtaku** · 06-02-2010, 10:31 PM

In reaction to today's news, I decided to offer a few thoughts on the Toonzone blog:

Today's unexpected news about the development of Warner Bros' new ThunderCats cartoon for a 2011 premiere is welcome and interesting for a few reasons worth noting. First of all, I think it's fair to say that assorted animation news in the past nine months has introduced a fad of retro revival. What young adults grew up with in the 1980s are being reintroduced to a new generation by multiple networks to a degree that, I think, we haven't seen before.

There's much more, of course. Check it out and keep the opinions coming! I've just gotten more interested in this the more I've thought about it, really.

Also, on a side note to my fellow anime fans: shouldn't this news severely undermine the old criticism that Cartoon Network is indifferent to Japanese animation for quite awhile? Sure, ThunderCats is an established property and I think we all expect the obligatory merchandise to come out of this show, but this is obviously serious business compared to things like Blue Dragon and Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's. The pedigree here is something--Studio4°C contributed well made shorts for high-profile anthologies as the press release noted, but they've also done work that's more niche but no less strong in terms of animation quality and art. There is the series Tweeny Witches and the award-winning films Tekkon Kinkreet and Mind Game, among other things. If this show doesn't measure up, it sure won't be because of the animation.

**Sketch** · 06-02-2010, 10:33 PM

Yeah I could see some easter egg cameos thrown in with an otherwise entirely new voice cast.

And to GWO's comment. It hasn't been that Cartoon Network doesn't want anime per say. But what they want from anime changed in recent years. While they used to be content with solid ratings from anime acquisitions now when they acquire an anime they want some greater level of return value. Viz wasn't going to share the profits of Naruto with them so they let the license lapse and moved on. One could argue the ratings would have been great but if CN didn't want another show they did not gain more from than just ratings revenue then they wouldn't want to buy the rights to Shippuden. If Toei and FUNimation worked out a deal with CN to share the merch profits then One Piece would be airing on CN again and probably daily for that matter unless it's ratings were poor. Though the fact that One Piece didn't have much in the way of merchandise in the US could put a damper on that.

ThunderCats should at least prove that "style" isn't the concern with Japanese animation at The Cartoon Network.

**Shredder565** · 06-02-2010, 11:04 PM

Well, considering they had a psychiatrist on the show, Mumm-Ra was probably one of the more evil villains in TV History. The guy did NOT give up, and even if he kept on loosing, time would eventually be on his side..

He was willing, and able to destroy entire planets to kill 7 or so heroes. How much more bad ass do you want him to be? Cunning is far cooler than randomly killing people...

**Jeff Harris** · 06-02-2010, 11:05 PM

Originally Posted by Jacob T. Paschal

Interesting news, and neat art.

I wonder if they'll call back the cast or create a new one?

A new one.

Bob McFadden (Snarf, Slithe, and Lynx-O) and Earl Hammond (Mumm-Ra, Jaga, Vultureman) are both dead. Earle Hyman (Panthro) is largely retired, as is, I believe Lynne Lipton (Cheetara, Wily Kit, nearly every female except for Pumyra), who hasn't acted publicly since 2005. The rest of the cast are still alive and active, and I'm sure the new show will give those that are still active cameos of sorts.

But I'm suspecting Warner Bros. isn't going to give Larry Kenney the "Peter Cullen" treatment by bringing him on as the voice of Lion-O on this new version. It'd kind of like giving Danny Dark the role of Superman on Superman: The Animated Series or Olan Soule in the role of Batman on Batman: The Animated Series. But I wouldn't be surprised if loyal fans of the show (i.e. the people the show ISN'T aimed towards) would launch a Recruit Larry campaign for the new show.

I look forward to the show, but the fringe otaku critics will still say "this isn't REAL anime."

**Shredder565** · 06-02-2010, 11:16 PM

Originally Posted by Jeff Harris

But I'm suspecting Warner Bros. isn't going to give Larry Kenney the "Peter Cullen" treatment by bringing him on as the voice of Lion-O on this new version. It'd kind of like giving Danny Dark the role of Superman on Superman: The Animated Series or Olan Soule in the role of Batman on Batman: The Animated Series. But I wouldn't be surprised if loyal fans of the show (i.e. the people the show ISN'T aimed towards) would launch a Recruit Larry campaign for the new show.

I look forward to the show, but the fringe otaku critics will still say "this isn't REAL anime."

Why? Didn't Transformers start in the 80's just like Thundercats? What makes Peter Cullen any less different than Larry Kenny?

I'd just be happy if they brought Larry and Peter Newman back as the Mutants. Those two where irreplaceable. Joked on another board that Whil Wheaton should be cast as Wily Kat

Also, was this company set to animate the show responsible for the latest Transformer series? I remember seeing about five minutes of that, and thought it was the cheapest looking animation I ever laid eyes on. Will have to view again to confirm....hope it's on youtube...

**King_of_doom** · 06-02-2010, 11:19 PM

Originally Posted by Jeff Harris

But I'm suspecting Warner Bros. isn't going to give Larry Kenney the "Peter Cullen" treatment by bringing him on as the voice of Lion-O on this new version. It'd kind of like giving Danny Dark the role of Superman on Superman: The Animated Series or Olan Soule in the role of Batman on Batman: The Animated Series. But I wouldn't be surprised if loyal fans of the show (i.e. the people the show ISN'T aimed towards) would launch a Recruit Larry campaign for the new show.

I seriously doubt that will happen since first off Larry Kenney's not has young has he used to be and i know Frank Welker had done the voice of Fred over the years but who knows if Larry can pull it off as Frank Welker and second who knows how Lion-O will look like in the new series if they are going to draw him the same as the original or make him a bit younger.

Its like the fans wanted John Erwin to voice He-Man on the 2002 version but Cam Clarke took on the role.

**Sketch** · 06-02-2010, 11:22 PM

Lion-O will most likely remain a relatively young hero so having Larry Kenney voice him would not seem all that appropriate. While Peter Cullen is still more than capable of voicing a robot leader generally depicted as one of the older characters in the group. When they needed a young prime they didn't use Cullen. It's the same general idea. Larry Kenney ought to be in the cast somewhere but I don't expect he'll be Lion-O again.