ThunderCats

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ThunderCats
The official logo for ThunderCats.
Genre	Animated television series
Creator(s)	Ted Wolf
Voices of	Larry Kenney
Country of origin	USA
No. of episodes	130 (List of episodes)
Production
Running time	22 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	Syndicated
Original run	January 23, 1985 – 1990
Links
Official website
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

ThunderCats was an American animated television series developed by Rankin/Bass and distributed by Lorimar-Telepictures in 1983 based on the characters created by Tobin "Ted" Wolf. The animation was provided by Pacific Animation Corporation, the working name for a collective of Japanese studios prominently including Topcraft, a group who would later go on to form Studio Ghibli. Season 1 of the show aired in 1985 (65 episodes), followed by a TV movie entitled ThunderCats - HO! in 1986. Seasons 2, 3, and 4 followed a new format of 20 episodes each, starting with a five-part story; these aired from 1987 to 1988, 1988 to 1989, and 1989 to 1990, respectively.

On March 17, 1997, ThunderCats was the first series seen on Cartoon Network's new action-animation afternoon block, Toonami. The series would depart and return in various timeslots including Saturday mornings and late night marathons until 2002. A game was even created for Cartoon Network's official web site that allows visitors to play as Lion-O and rescue fellow ThunderCats while venturing Mumm-Ra's tomb.

There were also several comic-book series produced: Marvel Comics' version, 1985 to 1988; and two series by Wildstorm, an imprint of DC Comics, beginning in 2003. The Wildstorm-produced comics were 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 in recent years.

Contents 1 The Story 2 Characters 2.1 Heroes 2.1.1 New ThunderCats 2.1.2 On New Thundera 2.1.3 The Snarfs 2.1.4 Allies and natives of Third Earth 2.2 Villains 2.2.1 Mumm-Ra 2.2.2 Mutants 2.2.3 Lunataks 2.2.4 The Berserkers 2.2.5 Other villains 3 Cast 4 Action figures 5 Comic books 5.1 Miniseries 5.2 One-shots 6 Trivia 7 Parodies 8 DVD 8.1 Region 1 8.2 Region 2 9 See also 10 External links 11 References

[edit] The Story

Set against a backdrop juxtaposing science-fiction and fantasy elements, the ThunderCats series tells a good-versus-evil tale of mythic proportions, featuring an equal mix of high-technology and magic, hand-to-hand combat, and a central core of championed values. Its anthropomorphic heroes, the ThunderCats, are pitted against a rag-tag assortment of villains and a demonic wizard named Mumm-Ra on a planet known as Third Earth.

Throughout most of the series, Third Earth is used as the main stage for all the ThunderCats adventures, though it is never made clear whether this world is meant to be a future version of our Earth, or an alternate reality or even Earth of the past pre-history. There are several references — both visual and verbal — indicating that there once was an ancient Egyptian culture on Third Earth (hinting that it may be a world of our future).

The story begins with the destruction of the ThunderCats original home, the distant planet of Thundera. Forced to flee from the dying world, The ThunderCats and their fellow Thunderians board a fleet of starships to escape just as the planet blew itself apart.

Aboard the fleet’s flagship, a team of several ThunderCat nobles are gathered to escort and protect the sole heir to the ThunderCats’ leadership: the young Lion-O, a boy of twelve years. They also hope to safeguard the Eye of Thundera, the source of the ThunderCats' power, embedded in the hilt of the mystic Sword of Omens.

Among these nobles is the mystical warrior and sage known as Jaga the Wise. Together, he and the nobles lead the fleet away from the dying planet in a mass exodus, hoping to find a safe haven. However, the fleet is soon attacked by the Thunderian’s long-time enemies, the Mutants of Plun-Darr, who are seeking the Eye of Thundera. One by one, the Mutants attack and destroy many of the exodus fleet’s ships, then board the flagship itself before being driven back by the power of the Eye.

With the flagship critically damaged and low on fuel, the nobles and Jaga decide to head for the closest star system with a hospitable world, but with their navigational systems damaged, one of them must pilot the ship manually while the rest travel the length of the journey in suspension capsules. Jaga, being the oldest and the one in charge, orders the others to take their places in the suspension tubes while he pilots the ship.

The journey is long, but eventually the ship nears its destination. However, Jaga’s body is ravaged by age, and as he switches the ship to autopilot to complete the last leg of the journey, his body evaporates into dust.

The flagship crashes on the new planet called Third Earth. The fractured vessel spills its contents across the landscape, but fortunately, the ThunderCats survive. Lion-O and his nursemaid Snarf are the first to emerge from their suspension capsules, and realize that Lion-O has aged somewhat while in suspension. They are shortly confronted by the Mutants, who have been searching for the ship all this time and demand the Eye of Thundera. Lion-O uses the Sword to awaken the other ThunderCats, routing the villains and driving them back in their spaceship.

The ThunderCats salvage what they can from their own ship to begin building a new home on this Third Earth, continuing the legacy of their people for upholding Justice, Truth, Honor, and Loyalty — the code of Thundera — and protecting the innocent from the evil schemes of the Mutants and the ancient devil-priest Mumm-Ra vieing to possess the power of the Sword of Omens for sinister ends.

In later episodes, Mumm-Ra magically reconstructs the planet Thundera in order to gain the Sword of Plun-Darr (once held by Rattila of Plun-Darr) which was the original cause of Thundera’s demise. He also works to locate the Treasure of Thundera, which harbors the ThunderCats' secrets. In these episodes, the ThunderCats' adventures alternate between New Thundera and Third Earth.

Eventually, the ThunderCats return to New Thundera to rebuild their society, maintaining a council of guardians on Third Earth to secure the peace of the people on the planet and throughout the galaxy.

[edit] Characters

[edit] Heroes

Lion-O — The leader, and the hereditary ‘Lord’ of the ThunderCats. Initially he is a mere boy only twelve years old, but in making the trip to Third Earth he ages physically until he becomes an adult of twenty-four — this due to the suspension capsule diminishing but not altogether preventing aging. On Third Earth, much like his big-cat namesake, Lion-O has great strength, endurance and agility. He also has the cunning and skills of a fighter, but because of his time in the capsule, he missed the experiences needed in growing up. Through his adventures, he gains this maturity while learning what it takes to become a true leader.

Before long, Lion-O must face his most difficult trials: after reaching his twenty-fourth birthday, he must take the Anointment Trials to prove he is fit to become the true Lord of the ThunderCats. In this process, he is forced to contest each of the ThunderCat Nobles in separate trials across the face of Third Earth — without the benefit of using the Sword of Omens, only the Claw Shield. Had Lion-O failed at any one trial, the ThunderCats would no longer honor him as their leader.

He is challenged by Panthro in a Trial of Strength, Cheetara in a Trial of Speed, WilyKit and WilyKat in a Trial of Cunning and Tygra in a Trial of the Mind. The last Trial however, is his toughest, as he must seek out the greatest source of evil on Third Earth, and defeat it. This entails travelling to the Black Pyramid and confronting Mumm-Ra, alone. During this trial, Mumm-Ra tries to defeat Lion-O with many of his previous incarnations and disguises, but eventually battles the youth at the center of the Pyramid in a titanic struggle. It is only by hurling Mumm-Ra’s sarcophagus into his cauldron that Lion-O is able to emerge victorious.

In an august ceremony attended by nearly every Third Earth inhabitant, Lion-O is crowned true "Lord of the ThunderCats". (Voiced by Larry Kenney.)

Jaga — Known as “Jaga the Wise”, this elder warrior was once regarded as the greatest of all ThunderCats. An adviser and protector of the Lord’s family, it was Jaga who gathered the nobles of the ThunderCats to escort Lion-O and the Eye of Thundera to safety, but in his aged condition, he did not survive the trip to Third Earth.

However, Jaga does reappear on Third Earth as a spirit — seen only by Lion-O at first, to guide him in his lessons and adventures. At times, he appears before the other ThunderCats as well, such as when facing down Grune the Destroyer, and when the ThunderCats need to rescue their fellow Thunderians.

When he was alive, Jaga also wielded the Sword of Omens and was a formidable fighter in combat. (Voiced by Earl Hammond).

Tygra — A staunch, level-headed warrior, Tygra is known as the ThunderCat architect and scientist. As the eldest (after Jaga) he is the one Lion-O often turns to as second-in-command and for counsel. He is responsible for the design of all of the ThunderCat structures on Third Earth — Cat’s Lair and the Tower of Omens.

He is also gifted with ‘mind-power’ — the ability to create life-like illusions in other people’s minds; he used this for Lion-O’s Anointment Trial, but it puts a great strain on him. He uses a bolo-whip in combat, with which he can render himself invisible to the naked eye. (Voiced by Peter Newman.)

Panthro — The next noble in age and experience, this warrior is the chief mechanic and pilot for the ThunderCats. He’s also physically the strongest and is a cunning warrior in combat. With Tygra’s help, he builds all of the vehicles the ThunderCats use on Third Earth — including the ThunderTank, the Feliner and the ThunderClaw, ThunderStrike and HoverCat. A jovial soul, he’s also quick to lose his temper and has a paralyzing fear of bats and a dislike of spiders.

In combat he uses a pair of chained fighting sticks (nunchaku) which house several chemical spray-compounds that he can use against foes. The spikes on his chest bands can be used like projectile weapons or rappelling lines. (Voiced by Earle Hyman.)

Cheetara — A female warrior who is the only adult female ThunderCat (until the later appearance of Pumyra). She is as lovely as she is brave and caring. Often a voice of reason, she is also the bearer of a budding ‘sixth-sense’, detecting when something is unsafe or if evil is near. This precognitive sense also allows her to perceive visions — whether involuntary or by forcing herself — but this drains her and she may require days or weeks to recover.

She has incredible speed — once clocked at speeds of 120mph on a morning jog. She can only maintain this top speed for short distances, but with it she can move very fast in combat. Her weapon of choice is a battlestaff that can grow or shrink to variable lengths, with which she can vault or leap over enemies. When not in use, it is attached to the armband on her left arm. (Voiced by Lynne Lipton.)

WilyKit and WilyKat — Twin siblings (Kat the boy, and Kit the girl) who are the youngest members of the ThunderCat team. They are the mischief-makers, and often have their own lessons to learn alongside Lion-O while they live on Third Earth. As the most cunning of the team, they frequently use tricks and traps to combat evil. Kit is the more adventurous, while Kat usually errs on the side of caution. Kit is also the more agile, and at times employs a rolling-attack against the enemy. Their agility is often displayed when they ride their hoverboards — specially designed flying devices shaped like Earth surfboards that can carry them over long distances.

Each uses special capsules, balls and other gimmick weapons carried in pouches on their belts. They sometimes use slingshots to fire these at the Mutants or other foes. They also carry trick lariats, with which they can either tangle and ensnare foes, or use to pull themselves out of danger. (Voiced by Peter Newman (WilyKat) and Lynne Lipton (WilyKit).)

[edit] New ThunderCats

At the start of the series' second season, it was revealed to Lion-O (after having a recurring dream about the final moments of the destruction of Thundera) that there are three more Thunderians living on Third Earth. They survived the cataclysm when rescued by a Ro-Bear Berbil scoutship piloted by two Berbils. The ship, damaged in the final explosion of the planet, made it to Third Earth, landing on an unknown island somewhere in the northern sea.

After Mumm-Ra tries to capture them to use as bait to destroy the others, these three are rescued and brought back to Cat’s Lair, where Lion-O anoints them as new ThunderCats. They initially come to live in Cat's Lair, but after the arrival of the Lunataks, they are stationed at the Tower of Omens.

Ben-Gali — One of two younger Thunderians among the trio, this warrior is a skilled blacksmith. This talent proves valuable after the Sword of Omens is once again broken. Fast and agile like Tygra, Ben-Gali is called ‘brother’ by him, but it is unclear if they share a true familial bond or if the greeting is merely meant as a term of endearment. (Given that the new ThunderCats repeatedly call the originals "Nobles" while referring to themselves as "mere Thunderians", it seems unlikely that there is any family relationship between the two.)

In combat, Ben-Gali wields a weapon called the Hammer of Thundera. It can shoot energy blasts, and carries smoke pellets in the handle, to allow him to cause confusion and provide cover for withdrawal from a fight. (Voiced by Peter Newman.)

Pumyra — Another female Thunderian — second only to Cheetara — this young woman is a talented healer and medic. She uses her knowledge of Thunderian medicine, combined with the wide range of medicinal supplies to be found on Third Earth to help heal and cure her fellow ThunderCats. Her compassionate nature lends to offering an alternative perspective, solving problems or conflict without fighting by using compromise and understanding.

Possibly the most agile ThunderCat next to the ThunderKittens, Pumyra employs an incredible leaping ability — often able to vault higher than even great jumpers like Tygra or the ThunderKittens. In combat, she uses a special whipcord, which resembles a ‘cat’s tail’, that can launch special pellets and spheres like an ancient-type sling. (Voiced by Gerrianne Raphael.)

Lynx-O — The oldest of the trio, Lynx-O was spared the sight of the destruction of their homeworld by a cruel twist of fate: a gout of intense heat and fire blinded him moments before he and his two younger companions were rescued. Because of this injury, Lynx-O has had to adapt to survive on Third Earth, and has done so by honing his other senses to superhuman levels. His sense of touch, smell, taste and hearing are far above those of the other ThunderCats, and this affords him a type of ‘sixth-sense’ (although not like the one Cheetara employs).

Though blind, Lynx-O is still a formidable fighter. His sense of touch allows him to find pressure points on a foe’s body to knock them off balance or stun them. He can also feel vibrations, which allow him to evade attacks and capture, and can use a Sonic Reflector as a weapon in combat.

His greatest skill comes in utilizing a special "braille board" — a device that allows him to translate information coming from sensor systems inside the Tower of Omens, enabling him to see into the gloom of Dark Side. This same device also allows him to pilot the Thunderstrike aircraft through the Valley of Mists when the ThunderCats need to find a way through to Dark Side. (Voiced by Doug Preis.)

[edit] On New Thundera

When the planet of Thundera is reformed in Season Two of the series, the ThunderCats must work to stabilize the planet before it can tear itself apart again. It is here that they discover another ThunderCat.

Jaguara — Found deep within the core of New Thundera, this powerful, ancient ThunderCat is an immortal sorceress. Her duty is to guard the massive gyroscope that keeps the planet intact. She uses the powers of levitation, teleportation and psychokinesis to perform her tasks, and to defend the gyroscope from attackers. It is noted by Jaga that she has been acting in this capacity for countless years. (Voiced by Gerrianne Raphael).

[edit] The Snarfs

A race of intelligent cat-like creatures, Snarfs are plump, fuzzy and kind. They live alongside Thunderians, in the Valley of Snarfs, until the planet was destroyed. Several escaped the destruction (forty-nine, commandeering a Mutant tanker) and travelled to a new planet, where they proclaimed it the Planet of Snarfs.

Snarfs are the only creatures in the universe incapable of evil (except while possessed). Quick and clever, a Snarf is a loyal friend, though their small size often makes them a target for Mutants or other evil creatures.

In the series, several are named prominently.

• Snarf — An elder snarf, properly known by his name Osbert (which he hates), Snarf served as a nursemaid and protector for Lion-O when he was a boy. After Lion-O grew up, Snarf found that often Lion-O didn’t want to have him ‘mothering’ or protecting him. Still, Snarf has remained loyal to Lion-O and the other ThunderCats. At times, he does come through in the crunch with an idea or taking action when it is needed, and despite his age he does keep up with the others.

Even though not a fighter by skill or nature, Snarf is very agile (he boasts he can outplay anyone at tailbail or kick-the-bucket). He also can communicate with other animals on Third Earth to enlist their help in his tasks and adventures. (Voiced by Robert McFadden.)

• Snarfer — Young and excitable, Snarfer is Snarf’s young nephew. He was thought lost when Thundera exploded, but was one of the surviving Snarfs that made it to the Planet of Snarfs. Slightly more aggressive than his uncle, Snarfer is a keen mechanic and pilot in his own right (Snarf once said he was a ‘college boy’). He does tend to babble when over-excited, but at times he can be just as level-headed as Tygra. Though smaller than Snarf, he doesn’t let that get in his way when he wants to help friends. It was through him that the Thundercats learned that Snarf's real name was Osbert.

• Snarf Oswald — Mentioned by name and later appearing in the episode "Thundercubs Part 3", Snarf tells the others that this particular fellow ‘owes him fifty Thunder-Dollars from their last tailball game’.

Many other unnamed Snarfs were also featured in the 5-episode "Thundercubs" story, where they were enslaved by Mumm-Ra on New Thundera. Two of these were relatives of Snarf Osbert and Snarfer, and were later rescued by the Thundercats.

[edit] Allies and natives of Third Earth

• Ro-Ber-Bill and Ro-Ber-Belle — Leaders of the nearby Ro-Bear Berbil village, these robot-bears are the first to befriend the ThunderCats and often supply information about local places, people and phenomena on Third Earth. Through their fields and forests of Fruit Trees, they are also able to provide the Thunderians with new foodstuffs.

• The Ro-Bear Berbils — Partly-furred mechanical bears from the planet Ro-Bear. Because their homeworld is so tiny, they must form other colonies on distant worlds to survive. Small and harmless looking, the Berbills are steadfast, hardy workers and skilled farmers, cooks and craftsmen. It was thanks to them that Tygra was able to build Cat’s Lair — and later the Tower Of Omens — so quickly.

• Willa and Nayda — Sisters, both members of the Warrior Maidens, who live in the Tree-Top Kingdom. Willa is their leader, while Nayda is a scout and second-in-command. Both are expert markswomen with bows and arrows, and are very agile and fleet among the branches of their forest home. Often distrustful of outsiders, both become friends with the ThunderCats and by their example, the rest of their people treat them as allies. They often help the Thunderians by showing them paths around Third Earth and using special tricks (like Bushy, a giant tree-top spider) to aid them on their quests and missions.

• The Warrior Maidens — A race of Amazon women who live in the forests of what is called the Tree-Top Kingdom. They are fierce fighters and very territorial. At first distrustful of the ThunderCats — whom they view as aliens — the Warrior Maidens soon treat them as friends. Often, Nayda and Willa are the two that have the most contact with the ThunderCats.

• Wollows — Small, furry people who have small villages all around the habitable places of Third Earth. Farmers, carpenters and fishermen, they are gentle folk who often turn to the ThunderCats for protection.

• Bolkens — Sheep-like people, similar to the Wollows. They are herdspeople and farmers, who are just as likely to call for help from the ThunderCats.

• Mandora the Evil-Chaser — An intergalactic police officer, who works in conjunction with a series of law enforcers to protect the peaceful people of the galaxy. She works in part to run the Great Penal Planet — which houses some of the galaxy’s nastiest criminals — and routinely comes to Third Earth as part of her patrols. When one of these criminals, a robotic pickpocket named Quik-Pik, helps her and Lion-O against Captain Cracker, she makes him an Evil Chaser assistant. She travels on a specially-equipped hoverbike — called the Electro-Charger — and uses a weapon called the “enzyme catalyzer” (a spray gun that uses a chemical — "a closely guarded secret, once called soap").

• Hachiman — A samurai warrior and master swordsman from Ancient Japan. Summoned to Third Earth by Mumm-Ra, he was tricked into fighting Lion-O, but thanks to his code of Bushido, he became an ally to the ThunderCats and the Warrior Maidens of the Tree-Top Kingdom. He wields a sword known as “The Thunder-Cutter”, a katana-blade that, with his skill, can cut through solid stone.

• Snowman of Hook Mountain — A chivalrous knight who rules over the Kingdom of the Snowmen on the frigid heights of Hook Mountain. He once tried to fight Lion-O for possession of a meteor that fell onto the slopes of his mountain kingdom, but they became friends after Lion-O rescued him from a Mutant attack. He can craft weapons out of ice, seemingly at will, and fights mounted on a great snow cat, Snowmeow.

• Turmagar — Leader of the Tusken Warriors who live near the source of the river that serves as Third Earth’s natural water supply. Very skilled as a warrior and leader, Turmagar is also a crafty pilot who flies the Gomplin —- a vehicle/creature hybrid. It is Turmagar who often helps the ThunderCats with air support before they crafted their own air-vehicles.

• Dr. Dometone — One of Third Earth’s great thinkers, scientists and gentlemen. He is the chief protector of the Great Oceanic Plug, a massive engineering project built to seal a crack in the ocean floor to prevent the planet’s oceans from flooding its core. He is a small man but very chivilrous, and a skilled pilot of Hercules (aka "Herky"), a giant frog-shaped robot used to guard the sea floor.

• Wizz-Ra — A powerful wizard from Ancient Egypt, banished to an alternate dimension after he lost a battle to Mumm-Ra. His helmet has the ability of mind-control and is sought by Mumm-Ra after it’s discovered that the wall of the Seventh Dimension is weak enough (after 7,000 years) for him to appear in Cheetara’s bedchamber. He aids the ThunderCats after they help him to recover his helm, and then is forced to return to his dimension prison, though not before promising Cheetara they would meet again in her dreams.

• Mumm-Rana — An ancient sorceress for good, and counterpart to Mumm-Ra. She lives in the White Pyramid, where her powers keep her from traveling too far. She at one time battled Queen Luna (grandmother to the Lunitac Luna), to stop her rampage across Third Earth. She did so by stripping Queen Luna of her magical belt, which she later lost to Luna (which was destroyed eventually). Much like Mumm-Ra, her powers limit the time she can spend outside of her pyramid home.

[edit] Villains

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[edit] Mumm-Ra

The chief villain and antagonist against the ThunderCats, Mumm-Ra is the self-proclaimed "ever-living source of evil" on Third Earth, having powers of sorcerery and an apparently unlimited lifespan. He is in fact a bound servant to the Ancient Spirits of Evil (represented by four animal-headed statue deities within the central chamber of his pyramid). Through his magical cauldron, they provide him with malevolent power and information to further his pursuit of spreading their dark influence throughout Third Earth. It is most likely through them that Mumm-Ra first gained knowledge of the Eye of Thundera, awakening to its presence when the Thunderians crash-landed on the planet.

Residing within the Black Pyramid amid the ruins of what appears to be an ancient Egyptian civilization, Mumm-Ra exists in a decayed, weakened form that must return to a stone sarcophagus to replenish his energy. When leaving the pyramid, he can summon the power to transform himself into a more vigorous form: Mumm-Ra, the Ever-Living. To do so, he speaks the following incantation:

“Ancient spirits of evil, transform this decayed form to Mumm-Ra, the Ever-Living!”

While in this form, Mumm-Ra possesses paranormal strength, the ability to fly, as well as use of his mystical might — casting spells, throwing energy bolts, etc. — to battle his foes. He can also alter his physical form into a variety of alter-egos to deceive his enemies.

Seemingly invincible in whatever form he choses, Mumm-Ra appears to have a singular weakness: seeing his own hideous reflection neutralizes his ability to remain outside the Black Pyramid and forces him to withdraw there in his emaciated mummy form. However, as the series progressed, the Ancient Spirits of Evil eventually overcame this shortcoming to make Mumm-Ra even more formidable.

Above all, Mumm-Ra is a master of deception, and will use whatever means necessary to fight against the forces of good.

[edit] Mutants

These creatures are the first villains seen in the series, originating from the planet Plun-Darr. They are the long-time enemies of the Thunderians. Later in the series, it is revealed that events stemming from their invasion of Thundera ultimately lead to the destruction of that planet.

Not content to see the Thunderians lose their homeworld, the Mutants chased after the survivors, using their spaceships to decimate the Thunderian fleet and seeming to destroy the majority of the doomed planet's escaping populace. They then boarded the flagship — which carried the ThunderCat nobles, Jaga the Wise and the young Lion-O — in attempting to capture the Eye of Thundera. They were repelled and retreated to later relocate the crashed flagship on Third Earth.

It was here that Mumm-Ra’s power grounded the Mutant ship, and they were forced to follow his demands once he sank their vessel beneath the desert sands. Though they exhibit an extraordinary incompetence (characteristic of most cartoon villains), the Mutants manage to construct their own fortress called Castle Plun-Darr (named after their homeworld) and salvage equipment from their downed spaceship to build weapons and vehicles that they use on Third Earth (e.g., the Skycutters, the Nosediver, etc.).

The Mutant group is comprised of a diverse mix of races, including:

• Reptilians — Bipedal lizard-men. Their brutish leader, Slithe, is the best example of these creatures. Domineering and impatient, Slithe often must browbeat the other Mutants into going along with his plans. He pilots the Nosediver.

• Simians — Ape men whose leader is Monkian, a shifty no-good who makes a habit of eavesdropping. He often plays the role of scout for the Mutants, and is frequently the first to run from danger. He pilots one of the Skycutters.

• Jackalmen — Canine scavengers. Their leader is Jackalman, a distrustful coward who leaps at taking any advantage he can get — so long as no risk is involved. He most often sides with Slithe, if only to keep from being the scapegoat when plans fail. He also pilots a Skycutter.

Other Mutants are:

• Vultureman — This crafty, avian opportunist is the chief inventor and mechanical know-it-all for the Mutants. His skills with both machines and science make him often indispensable, but he’s more often than not blamed when his devices or machines fail to live up to Slithe’s expectations. Much later, he decides to work for his own gains, and often strikes solo deals with Mumm-Ra. He pilots a vulture-styled Flying Machine, and later commands weapons like the Mutank and Thundrainium Cannon.

• Ratar-O — A General in the Mutant armies, this portly rodent is considered the most cunning and evil of all the Mutants. He comes to Third Earth at the behest of Vultureman to aid them in defeating the ThunderCats. His flagship, the Ratstar, is a powerful war machine, and though it crashes, Ratar-O salvages parts to make a Mutank to continue the fight. He is strong, and wields the Rat’s Eye — a pair of criss-style daggers which have two mystical gems embedded in their hilts — that he can use to fire energy blasts, levitate foes and even fly through the air. Ratar-O resembles Ratilla the Hun, the former holder of the Sword of Plundarr, but it is unknown if they share a family relation.

[edit] Lunataks

Hailing from the Moons of Plun-Darr, these vile beings were once feared criminals in ancient times. They dwell in Dark Side, a volcanic region on the far side of Fire-Rock Mountain. They were encased in molten rock by Mumm-Ra when they attempted to take control of Third Earth. Mumm-Ra later released them on condition that they work for him to battle the ThunderCats. However, the Lunataks form their own 'third column' based in Dark Side, building a massive, floating fortress called Sky Tomb from which they strike against all of Third Earth. There number consist of:

• Luna — A diminutive sorceress, now the leader and chief strategist of the Lunataks. Because of her small form, she is carried around and cared for by Amuk, her servant. Cruel and caustic, Luna at one time recovered the magical belt once worn by her grandmother, Queen Luna, and used its power to grow tall and mobile again, but reverted in size when the belt was later destroyed.

• Amuk — Luna’s loyal servant and bodyguard, also her chief mode of transportation. A hulking, dog-like brute having limited capacity for vocalization, Amuk is strong and fast but also displays enough cunning to extact revenge against Luna for abandoning him when she recovers Queen Luna’s magical belt.

• Tug Mug — A Lunatak from one of Plun-Darr’s moons with strong gravity, Tug Mug proves extremely powerful in the lesser gravity of Third Earth. He can use his tripod ‘legs’ to leap great distances, and his strength is so impressive that he once snapped the blade of the Sword of Omens with his bare hands (later repaired by the ThunderCat blacksmith, Bengali). Combative by nature, Tug Mug can use a "gravity carbine" in battle whose beams can make a person or object light as air or as heavy as stone.

• Chilla — This female Lunatak from the ice moon of Plun-Darr has command over cold and heat by the power of her expelled breath, blowing to freeze the air around a target in seconds to immobilize them, or heating it to incite flames to burn them. She has little regard for life and sometimes uses her powers willfully out of spite.

• Red-Eye — A Lunatak from the dark moon of Plun-Darr, this hulking brute has enhanced vision capabilities, allowing him to see things in infra-red and even to detect the ThunderCat Tygra when invisible. A loyal follower of Luna, Red-Eye uses a spinning discus (stored in his armored chestplate) to battle his foes. He is often the engineer and pilot of Sky Tomb.

• Alluro — A gangrel-creature with a slimey personality, Alluro is a master of mind-games and psychological warfare. He’s not much of a fighter, but he uses a powerful weapon called a Psyche-Club to immobilize his foes. The crystal ball launched from his club focuses his mental powers onto a foe, allowing him to manipulate their minds with illusions or to command them to do his bidding.

[edit] The Berserkers

This odd band of pirates first appeared pillaging the northern shores of the Unicorn Forest (in the episode The Terror of Hammerhand). They have a habit of repeating certain words or phrases three times. They were thought to be killed when their ship sank — in fact, their leader’s spirit was later used by Mumm-Ra to animate a ‘clone’ of Panthro — but they reappeared in later episodes to capture the three Thunderian refugees. Initially only Hammerhand was identified by name; in subsequent appearances the characters were redesigned (to resemble their newly-released toy figures) and additional members with unique abilities were introduced. The Berserkers are:

• Hammerhand — The leader, who has a cybernetic arm that can punch and pound with great force.

• Topspinner — A warrior who can spin at high speeds to deflect missile objects or smash opponents. His spinning can also make him dizzy.

• Ram Bam — Rolling by the wheel embedded in his chest, this fighter can launch himself along the ground at high speeds to smash through objects like a battering ram. He also has rollers on his feet to help him move fast.

• Cruncher — A hulking pirate whose sheer strength can crush buildings and boulders with ease.

[edit] Other villains

• Grune the Destroyer — An anthropomorphized saber-toothed tiger in appearance, this former ThunderCat noble was once a good friend to Jaga the Wise on Thundera. His lust for power and greed turned him renegade against his fellow ThunderCats, forcing Jaga to fight him in a titanic battle that lasted for days. Grune was defeated by Jaga, then banished and sent into exile in space.

Eventually his spacecraft landed on Third Earth and he began terrorizing its natives until, many years later, he was defeated (by unknown means) and sealed away inside a tomb (which was covered with a stone slab and a tree to prevent others from opening it). A tablet held the seal in place, until centuries later, a pair of Bolkens accidentally released his spirit. Once freed, the ghost of Grune seeks out the ThunderCats, attacking them to draw out Jaga, whose spirit ultimately defeats him using both Lion-O’s strength and the Eye of Thundera.

However, Grune would return later when summoned by Mumm-Ra to stop Jaga’s spirit from obtaining the Star of Thundera (which was needed to help free three more Thunderians — Pumyra, Bengali and Lynx-O — from the Mutant prisons at Fire-Rock Mountain).

• Safari Joe — An intergalactic big-game hunter who ventures to Third Earth to hunt the ThunderCats. He uses a rifle that has a variable arsenal of weapons (capture claws, fire rounds, missiles, etc.), and has a robot assistant named Mule who helps to assemble traps, using a computerized analyzer to provide information on his prey. Safari Joe manages to capture all the ThunderCats except Lion-O, thanks to Snarf supplying a distraction. When Safari Joe finds himself out of ammunition, he is revealed to be nothing more than a coward. Safari Joe was made to promise that he would never hunt again, and Mule was reprogrammed to ensure he kept his word.

• Captain Cracker — A robotic space pirate who captains a starship named the Jolly Roger. He raids the Great Penal Planet to release a criminal contingent to help him take over the space-ways. He has a robot parrot named Polly.

• Captain Shiner — A space-faring alien mercenary commanding a starship named The Vertus and its sizeable crew. He is summoned on more than one occasion to carry out Mumm-Ra's bidding (for a substantial fee).

• Mongor — A goat-like being believed to be the personification of fear on Third Earth. For three centuries, Mumm-Ra had unsuccessfully tried to locate his tomb and free him, but the Thunderkittens accidentally freed Mongor, allowing him to attack and subdue the other ThunderCats. He feeds from his opponents' fears to grow larger and more powerful. His only weakness is for his foes to not look directly at him, which takes away his power (as Lion-O, Wilykit and Wilykat discover to defeat him).

• Driller — A metallic humanoid being who has a drill in place of legs. He also has changeable drill bits on his head, which allows him to drill through the sand, rock and dirt in the deep desert. His services are for hire; his chief price is diamonds, which he needs to keep his drill points sharp. He once captured Panthro for Mumm-Ra, and appeared again to drill a tunnel from Acid Lake to the Cat's Lair.

• The Shadowmaster — A wizard on Thundera who used a cloak of darkness to conjure his magical powers and attempted to take over the planet. He was defeated by both Jaga and Lion-O's father, Claudis, and was then banished to the 'Shadow Realm', but he managed to escape years later, kidnapping Claudis just before Thundera was destroyed. Through a sequence of nightmares, Lion-O eventually learns of his father's imprisonment in the Shadow Realm and is able to rescue him.

• Zaxx — A four-armed avian sorceror who unsuccessfully fought Mumm-Ra for control of Third Earth in the distant past. Zaxx was left without form as his essence was trapped within a magical medallion; any creature later wearing the medallion acquires his fantastic power but is progressively transformed to permanently become Zaxx, who requires a host body for retribution against his ancient foe.

[edit] Cast

A c t o r	R o l e
Earl Hammond	Jaga, Mumm-Ra, Vultureman, Tug-Mug, Amok  (voice)
Earle Hyman	Panthro, Red-Eye  (voice)
Larry Kenney	Lion-O, Jackalman  (voice)
Lynne Lipton	Cheetara, WilyKit, Mandora, Luna, Warrior Maidens  (voice)
Bob McFadden	Snarf, Snarfer, Slithe  (voice)
Peter Newman	Tygra, WilyKat, Ben-Gali, Monkian  (voice)
Doug Preis	Lynx-O  (voice)
Gerrianne Raphael	Jaguara, Pumyra  (voice)

[edit] Action figures

LJN produced the ThunderCats action figures from 1985-1987. The ThunderCats action figure line was based on the ThunderCats animated television series, the show though was created in 1982, but due to difficulties was later aired in 1985. Each figure had an action feature of some sort, and the line also included a unique "laser" light-up feature that interacted between the Cats Lair playset, some figures, and some accessories. Lion-O's head and Mumm-Ra's eyes would illuminate when a special key that came with the figure was pressed into a slot in their backs. PVC companions were packaged with some figures in 1986, including WilyKat with Tygra, WilyKit with Cheetara, Snarf with Lion-O, and Ma-Mutt with Mumm-Ra.

LJN did produce a few variant figures including the young Tygra version and the silver rat-eye daggers for Rataro. There are also a few slight color variations of Lion-O, such as red and orange-haired versions. The third series of figures from 1987 are harder to find along with the Tongue-A-Saurus and Astral Moat Monster. Driller and Stinger are the toughest figures to track down; Stinger's wings are very fragile, making it next to impossible to find a loose, complete figure.

An unproduced final series of figures would have included The Mad Bubbler, Redeye of the Lunatacs, Cannon-Blaster, and Quick-Jaws from the Bezerkers as well as the Feliner, Thunderstrike, and Luna Tacker. The Mad Bubbler is rumored to have been produced, but this has yet to be proven. Photos of these were featured in the 1987 LJN catalog.

[edit] Comic books

In 1985, a ThunderCats series was published by Marvel Comics through its Star imprint. It ended with issue #24 in 1988. The following year, a new series was published by Marvel UK. The series consisted of 129 issues and was published for three years.

In 2002, DC Comics, owned by Warner Brothers, who acquired the license for the franchise, published a ThunderCats sourcebook through its Wildstorm imprint. In 2003, a wave of mini series and one-shots was published.

[edit] Miniseries

ThunderCats (Reclaiming Thundera). Issues #0-5. Written by Ford Gilmore, illustrated by various artists. Published in 2003.

ThunderCats: The Return. Issues #1-5. Written by Ford Gilmore, illustrated by Benes, Pimental and Lea. Published in 2003.

ThunderCats: Dogs of War. Issues #1-5 Written by John Layman, illustrated by Booth, Prado and Vey. Published in 2003.

ThunderCats: Hammerhand's Revenge. Issues #1-5. Written by Fiona Avery, illustrated by D'Anda. Published in 2003.

ThunderCats: Enemy's Pride. Issues #1-5. Written by John Layman, illustrated by Vriens, Heilig and Campus of Udon Studios. Published in 2004.

[edit] One-shots

ThunderCats Sourcebook. Text by Ford Gilmore, art by various artists. Published in 2002.

Battle of the Planets/ThunderCats. Written by Munier Sharrieff, illustrated by Lee, Ross and Tam. Published in 2003.

ThunderCats/Battle of the Planets. Written and illustrated by Kaare Andrews. Published in 2003 as a follow-up to Battle of the Planets/Thundercats.

ThunderCats/Superman. Written by Judd Winick, illustrated by Garza. Published in 2004.

Origins: Heroes and Villains. Written and illustrated by various writers and artists. Published in 2004.

Origins: Villains and Heroes. Written and illustrated by various writers and artists. Published in 2004 as a follow-up to Origins: Heroes and Villains.

[edit] Trivia

• Lion-O's aging from a 12-year-old child to a 24-year-old man is considered one of the series' biggest plot holes by fans. Although it was explained that some aging would take place within the suspension capsule during the ten Galacto Years, none of the other ThunderCats aged to the same extent. While no further explanation was ever given, fans have speculated that Lion-O's capsule may have malfunctioned, causing him to age more rapidly.

• A series of audio files is in circulation on the Internet, containing outtakes from the recording of the show's dialogue. Voice actor Larry Kenney ("Lion-O") has confirmed in interviews that the outtakes are genuine.^[1] The files, which also included vulgar outtakes from the ThunderCats spinoff show Silverhawks, are popular enough to be a minor Internet phenomenon, particularly due to the heavy use of profanity from voice actors on a children's show. One of the clips features the popular exclamation "What the fuck is a Samophlange?" From that, there is an Easter Egg in the popular MMORPG World of Warcraft, in which a Goblin sends your character to retrieve an item called a Samophlange. Similarly, Radioactive Panda, a web comic, makes a reference to a somo-flange in one of the comics.

• Fans have often debated on which ThunderCat Cheetara favored romantically, Tygra or Lion-O, both of whom she tended to interact with the most during the course of the series. (The episode Sixth Sense seems to support her favoring Lion-O.) When Wildstorm Productions bought the comic rights to the ThunderCats, they instead paired Cheetara with Panthro. Additionally, many fans have speculated that Bengali and Pumyra may have been a couple, given their similar young age and often being featured together as a team.

• The episode "Doctor Dometome" featured two giant robot guard frogs named Hercules (or "Herky") and Samson, after the mythological strongmen.

• Grandson of famous scientist Hans Bethe, David Bethe, voiced Snarf in a guest appearance in the last two episodes of the series.

• In the recent comic series, although it is never specifically stated, the new ThunderKittens are hinted at as being Cheetara's. At one point, when the adult WilyKit (assigned to be their guardian) loses track of them, she bemoans "Cheetara will kill me!"

• Superman and the ThunderCats come face-to-face in the Wildstorm/D.C. comic book crossover, Superman/ThunderCats (2003).

• ThunderCats also crossed over with Battle of the Planets in two one-off comic specials: Battle of the Planets/ThunderCats, which was loosely fit to the BotP ongoing series; and the stand-alone ThunderCats/Battle of the Planets.

• 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 and also on their self-titled album Relient K.
• Mumm-Ra is the name of an alternative rock band from England.
• In the hip-hop song "Shake Ya Tailfeather", Murphy Lee refers to himself as a ThunderCat.

• ThunderCats has often been compared to He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, resulting in more than a few fan fiction crossovers and fan polls as to which of the two hero teams would win in a brawl.
• In the 2001 film Y tu mamá también, Diego Luna's character is said to have lost his beloved ThunderCats action figure as a child.
• A team that competed in The World Series of Pop Culture was named Cheetara.

[edit] Parodies

• The Family Guy movie, Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story by Seth MacFarlane featured a ThunderCats parody with Larry Kenney and Lynne Lipton reprising their roles as Lion-O and Cheetara.

• In another MacFarlane series, American Dad!, the characters temporarily relocate to Saudi Arabia, where Stan Smith adopts the custom of taking a second wife. Unable to pronounce his new wife's Arabic name, Stan gives her the nickname "ThunderCat".

• In a Homestar Runner Halloween cartoon, the Poopsmith appeared dressed as Lion-O.

• ThunderCats action figures have appeared in segments on episodes of the television series Robot Chicken, which uses action figures and other toys to create comedic stop motion animated shorts:
  • From "Toys in the Hood", Season 1 — Villains riding in a carpool include Mumm-Ra, fellow 1980s toy/cartoon icons Cobra Commander and Skeletor, and perennial Superman foe Lex Luthor. Mumm-Ra seemed to be in the skit mainly as a foil to Luthor, denouncing the bald villain's claim of having a teleporter and poking fun when Luthor is humiliated by children in an adjacent car. Lion-O appears in another vehicle occupied by the villains' heroic counterparts, who cut off the villains, preventing Skeletor from turning their car onto the ramp for their exit. (Note: The Mumm-Ra figure in this segment was not quite one of the original line of ThunderCats toys; it appeared to be the head of an LJN Mumm-Ra The Ever-Living figure placed on a Mego-style body in a custom cloth costume. Presumably this was because the original figure was not poseable enough to fit in the toy car that the villains were placed in — in particular, lacking working knee-joints or enough range of motion to be posed in a proper sitting position. The Lion-O figure appeared to be intact.)
  • From "Toy Meets Girl", Season 1 — In a "Whatever Happened To..." retrospective on 1980s cartoon heroes, Lion-O had apparently become a blue-collar worker, living in a mobile home with Cheetara and a litter of kittens (presumably ThunderKittens, though they were depicted as young housecats). Lion-O shared what he knew of the fates of the other ThunderCats, including Panthro being jailed for conning the elderly out of their money — and then eating them. Lion-O claims that no one knows what happened to Snarf; this comment is voiced over a scene showing Snarf being pulled into the kitchen of a Chinese restaurant, implying that he ended up being used as meat.
  • From "Federated Resources", Season 2 — A "space-time vortex" lands Lion-O in an animal shelter on modern-day Earth, where he is adopted by a little girl and re-christened "Mr. Kitty-Cat". However, Lion-O's violent tendencies and hair-trigger temper are more than young Vicki and her disciplinary spray bottle of water can control, and after a brief return to the shelter, Lion-O ends up as part of an elderly "cat lady"'s retinue of cats, unwillingly wearing a red bow and answering to "Ms. Prissypants". (The Lion-O figure used in this sketch appeared to be a "Mego-ized" custom done in the same manner as the Mumm-Ra figure used in the "Toys in the Hood" sketch.)
• In the Drawn Together episode "The Lemon-AIDS Walk", Captain Hero, who has become addicted to steroids, visits an underground training facility where he sees other large figure cartoons working out, one of whom is ThunderCat Panthro.

[edit] DVD

[edit] Region 1

Season 1, Volume 1 of the series was released on August 9, 2005 by Warner Brothers as a set of six discs containing the first 33 episodes.

Season 1, Volume 2 (also a six-disc set), featuring the last 32 episodes of the first season, was released on December 6, 2005. It features extensive interviews with the show's voice actors and production staff.

Season 2, Volume 1 was released on April 18, 2006 containing the first 34 episodes of the second season, again as a six-disc set. Special features in this set include a music video of the show's theme song performed by The Rembrandts of Friends theme song fame; as well as music-related interviews with composer Bernard Hoffer, Supervising Producer Lee Danacher, and The Rembrandts. As a bonus, Bernard Hoffer performs a great deal of the music from the series.

Season 2, Volume 2 was released on November 28, 2006 and contains the final 31 episodes of the second season. There is a special feature on disc 6.

[edit] Region 2

As with the Region 1 releases, two boxsets per season are being released. Season 1 Volume 1 was released in the UK on the January 15, 2007.

[edit] See also

• List of ThunderCats episodes
• List of anthropomorphic animal superheroes
• Cat-like aliens

[edit] External links

• ThunderCats DVD official web site
• ThunderCats DVD official web site for Volume 2
• ThundercatsLair.org - ThunderCats' new website. Includes toys, animation cel gallery, and forums.
• Watch ThunderCats - for free on AOL's In2TV
• Interview with Larry Kenney II - Text interview by Insomnia Mania.com.
• ThunderCats Comeback Is For Adults Only - Article on the second Wildstorm ThunderCats comic book mini-series.
• Return to Thundera - ThunderCats fansite with scans of scripts, comics, and other rare printed material, cast interviews, fan works, forum, screen shots, episode guide.
• Eye of Thundera.net - ThunderCats fansite with forum, pictures, videos, games, audio outtakes and theme downloads.
• Mumm-Ra's Pyramid - One of the original ThunderCats fansites. Episode guide, fan fiction, character bios.

• ThunderCats Illustrated - Extensive cartoon history and credits, episode guide with official morals, quotes, screenshots, blog and fan art.

• ThunderCats Action Figure Archive - ThunderCats action figure guide and forums.
• ThunderCats at TV.com

[edit] References