Thundercats

Is anyone else as excited as I am about the new Thundercats series on Cartoon Network? It airs July 29th with a one hour premiere, and from what I've seen it looks pretty promising. Check it out

Cartoon Network has a pretty solid record of putting out quality programs. I would love to have an episode by episode discussion going.

I'm excited medium...

The original did not age well AT ALL...then again most 80s cartoons don't (70s and 60s seem to age better for some reason).

This version seems to actually involve a more structured story...And the animation isn't bad either.

I agree, Grief. I hope most of the abandoned planet aspects are removed. It also seems to have some political/social subtext running through in the 9 minute preview that leaked online. I'm also really excited to see some depth given to the characters like the relationship between adopted brothers Tigra and Liono, which seems to provide ample opportunities.

Why does Claudus have a tiger for a son?

But if Thundera is a tradittional patriarchy, Tygra would also be of royal blood.

The designs are a bit better than the original because sometimes they looked furry instead of people in body paint. I wish the protagonists still looked more feline & less anime human though. It's odd seeing the background characters be the only ones with tails, snouts , & whiskers.

What did everyone think? So far, I think it's pretty strong. I like the culture and political situation they set up. It reminded me slightly of Gargoyles considering it opened with a dramatic defeat and Claudus even gasps, "What sorcery is this?!?"

I didn't see a theme either, but that is somewhat typical for the first episode.

Yes, i got the distinct impression that this was Third Eath also, in fact in might have been said. I can't wait for the Lunatics or whatever they were. Oh, did I forget to mention that I was excited about the Lynx-o cameo?

I know it's just one episode in, but so far, this is shaping up to be a terrific update.

Love the new set-up, the new characterizations, (Man, who'd thought Tygra could be so arrogant) The original cartoon had a very loose mythology woven into it. Here, the mythology seems much more coherent with some interesting new additions. (The Eye of Thundera originally belonged to Mumm-Ra?!) Hopefully, some of the new history of Third Earth, along with the history of the Thundera Empire, will be explored or shown as the show continues.

ONLY Clancy Brown could be the voice of Grune the Destroyer. LOVED the Lynx-O cameo (please have him survive the destruction!) And when Lion-O went to that tech merchant at the beginning, I could've sworn the merchant handed him the arm of a RoboBear Berbil.

@chrissstopher - Yeah, I know him best as Terry from Batman Beyond and Ron Stoppable from Kim Possible. Good shows. : )

As for Thundercats - I LOVED IT ALL. Animation was smooth and clean, and best of all, I loved that the animation of the voices matched the pronunciations. I'm used to watching animation this clean, but always in Japanese, as I watch a lot of anime, so seeing it match up is just a bonus treat. So loved that they got the original Lion-O to be Claudus - I laughed so manically my gf looked at me weird.

Also, Wilykit and Kat weren't NEARLY as annoying as I expected! I actually like this version of them.

Ramlak Rising: Episode Three

This episode was good, a bit of a sophomore slump, a strong showing. The role reversal for Tygra and Lion-O was well done considering the first two episodes presented Tygra as too unyielding. Here, they both develop into more round characters as Lion-O is consumed by rage and Tygra comes off as more compassionate.

I found the plot to be somewhat nonsensical, but I like that we get to see more of this planet, especially the sand sea which is a creative little region. I was hoping that the crew would show some prejudice toward the cats (as fish are probably another second class species) but they seem generally oblivious to the identity of their prisoners. Likewise, they possess powerful technology (such as a flying ship, concussive weapons, and even shooting harpoons). This seems like a plot hole since it's established that technology was a myth in the first two episodes, yet here pirates are using weapons regularly just a days journey from the ruins of the Thundercat lair. Even further, Tygra is relying on his new weapon, but if I were the writer, I would focus heavily on his invisibility and whip.

Wiley Cat and Kit get more screen time, which is a good thing. They are handled fairly well for children, and I have to admit I like that they resort to kitty behavior when they want something. Did anyone else find it disgusting when the bit into the tentacles of the monster?

However, the conclusion of the episode shows that Lion-O has learned lesson and is coming to terms with his task. The surprise inclusion of Jaga was exciting as I assumed like the other cats that he was dead. You can't help but feel bad for him. Seems as if the race for the book is on.

Edited by medium13 - 06-Aug-2011 at 7:21pm

Agreed, the 3rd episode wasn't that great but I still enjoyed it. Seeing Lion-O take the lead was done well, his anger fueling him and making him want to ignore Jaga's instructions, but I agree that Tygra and Cheetara should have offered more resistance than they did (Cheetara said almost nothing).

Wily Kit and Wily Kat were great, I love them here so much more than in the original series. They seriously made me lol when they were meowing at Lion-O to convince him to bring them into the group. And they were definitely wily, but I'd like to see this played up more like it was in the original series (only one episode, I'm sure we'll see more of their antics).

@medium - maybe the Thunderians thought technology was a myth because they were sheltered in their kingdom and just listened to what others told them. In the first episode, Lion-O knows where to find technology very easily so the myth looks like something that was perpetuated to keep them subjugated... but to whom? Maybe Grune (seems he was one of the few who left the walls of Thundera)?

As for the fish people, they didn't seem to know who Lion-O was or any of their "food" so that also leads me to believe that the cats had basically cut themselves off from the outside world and only sent generals and other soldiers outside of the kingdom. Cutting themselves off from the rest of Third Earth caused their downfall and it will be part of the eye-opening experience that Lion-O and the other will undergo that will make him the greatest king.