Thundercats

It should have been called the Sword of Deus Ex Machina

Love this show

The big 80s revival needs:

M.A.S.K.
Silverhawks
Centurions
Thundarr The Barbarian

Nothing beats the original series and yes it was an anime made for North America only. Too bad Japan missed out on this masterpiece. Probally cause there was a lot of D&D refferences in it, culture....whatever it was. Inpector Gagject was made by Saban, smae thing techinally but this one was made in Canada or whatever the case was.

I'd seen the new series, not bad. I rather like it. Still however I felt even though they touched the Deamwave Image comic book verison and it has a better story overall it ironically didn't have the same feel like The original series did. Probally cause I'm older, I'd still remember the 80's verison and i still say it was drawn better. There was more detail to even the smaller things in the original expecially the background, cat's liar, muma's tomb was a work of art itself even later on.

Still love it though

James first thought he was watching hentai, lol.

*Stands heroic, and expects people to notice me*

i think my favorite episode is The Ghost Warrior, cuz you get to see Jaga kick some ass against an old rival

According to Wikipedia, the new "ThunderCats" show has "anime-influenced animation". It is created by Warner Bros Animation & Studio4*C (a Japanese studio). It's "anime-influenced" because it was produced in the US (even if it has a Japanese collaboration). In my own judgement, anime is "anime" when it's produced in Japan only. As an American artist, the only loophole that I can work out is to hopefully move to Japan, start my own animation studio and produce my own animation there. That way it can actually become authentic anime. Anime should never be judged based on someones nationality, even in Japan.

I saw ThunderCats episodes a few years ago on T.V. It held up I thought. The episodes were different and some were weird, the animation, the designs, the music were quite good. The episodes were almost always stand alone.

The guy that said it was all mumm ra is so wrong. I remember the episode when they have to climb a tower because kit and kat got into trouble, and the ghost of the old Thunderian came back. The Aging episode too, the search for Thundranium ect. Even the mumm ra episodes were not about him trying to fight. Like when he got Tigra high.

With the right mind frame, it can be an enjoyable series to re-watch.

Snarff Snarff

I saw the description saying "the original Thundercats" and I thought as opposed to what? I had never heard of a new series. From what I see here it looks like the same kind of art style as in those comics they did a few years back.

@tweej

I did mean "small cast" - when you have something like Transformers (which I don't know that much about) I know you have a lot of characters both good and bad to experiment with and shake up (like killing a hugely important character would do, and get a replacement form the legion of others). With Thundercats, the main cast was 4 adults, 2 kids and the cat plus minor chars - you kill off any of those and it's major, given the cartoon setup, you can't just create a new character so killing off 1 would be too big.

That's a great summary. I didn't really know the series and what I saw about it I didn't like. It was like a glam rock band. But after this review I changed (you changed) my mind. Maybe this wasn't so gay. I like the old style cartoon feel to it.

Aw-shoot! The show's on tonight! Yeah baby!

How do I remember watching this, but I don't remember Mumra at all. Guess I didn't consider him as great as Megatron or Cobra Commander.

They need to bring back the Zelda cartoons. Those where always funny.

Looks outstanding, I really should check this out. I enjoy reboots and re-imaginings, so seeing this then comparing the new one would be fun.

Great review.

Ah... Thundercats! Thanks for the review. This is one of those shows I grew up with. Mumm-Ra is the greatest cartoon villain of all time, and the Thundercats logo has been burnt into my mind forever.

A few weeks back I saw a guy in a store who wore a Thundercat shirt. I immediately had great respect for him; had I not been a bit shy I would definitely have said "Thundercats, hooooo!"

I'm looking forward to the new show myself. Fans of the original, do not focus on the inevitable changes! Remember that it not being the same thing doesn't make it a bad show. Take it for what it is: a reimagined story by other people in a different time.

Thanks for that short review, James. The Thundercats were sort of like a poor man's He-man, but very enjoyable nonetheless. I've been enjoying the marathons of the original series on Cartoon Network, and look forward to the new series!

Let's hope it stays on TV longer than the new He-man did!

@likalaruku

Well, i guess it depends on what you classify as 'Anime'. In Japan, it just means cartoon (animation), but anywhere else means a cartoon or animation piece created in or by Japanese.

Since Thundercats was directed by a Japanese, and the entire art and animation done by Studio 4°C (a Japanese animation studio) then i guess that makes Thundercats "Anime" despite being American, and never airing in Japan.

i have my doubts over the new one though. Characters look funny (maybe i'm just to attached to the original look?)... ... At least Snarf don't look like some weird old man.

there's a reason the first epsiode you like is so great, it's written by Zaney Bob Haney. He co-created the Teen Titans as well as characters such as Metamorpho, Eclipso, Cain, and the Super-Sons.
as co creator of the titans he was the king of 60s hip talk in comics, and he was also one crazy ass motherfucker when it came to story-telling.
another one of them has almost the exact name of calssic Flash villain Captain cold, Leonard Snart.

the new show coming looks beastly

James, you should check out this song:
I'm Lion-O, by Relient K
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0EuK098qrs

I loved Thundercats when I was a little kid. My love was short lived though, because once I started getting into shows like Transformers, GI Joe, and then later TMNT I never looked back.

Great video guys!

Haha, this series is one of the weirdest i know :P
And it´s so illogical, for instance: The Thundercat leader´s hypersleep malfunctioned and he aged...he lied inside it all the time but still managed to build huge muscles?

Anyway, great review, looking forward to more cartoon nostalgia, hopefully from the early to mid 90´s, that was my era

Do they ever say that Lion-O's hibernation chamber malfunctioned? I recall Jaga mentioning that some aging will occur and that being it. Which always struck me as strange as Wylie-Kit and Wylie-Kat didn't age at all. Leading me to believe they were midgets.

why cant people leave my favorite cartoons alone from the 80's alone and get an original idea for goddamn once? i loved thundercats, he man, smurfs, and transformers! dont get me goddamn started on the new smurfs movie! why in holy motherfucking christ is the smurfs doing in the goddamn city? they should be in the fucking forrest!

So does this mean we might get to see the review of the Thundercats game on AVGN??

http://www.retrogamer.net/users/721/thm450/thunder...

That was a really good video. Good review.

Nice review! Very informative. I have never seen Thundercats before but have constantly heard references to it, so now I'm a bit more informed.

Thunder, thunder, THUNDER CATS, YOU HOE!!!

Uh boy, LJN seal of quality... you can't go wrong with that.

I forgot to say, it is not the original music you will find at my YouTube page. I recreated it and tried to stick to the original arrangements as close I could.

It has been much appreciated among Thundercat’s fans, and it was great when Larry Kenny wrote to me at the "Thundercat's Lair" forum page saying he liked what I had done. Even Bernard Herman, the original composer, did hear that someone have recreated some of his music and was glad that someone did the effort. :)

It was a project I started when I heard the soundtrack has not been release in any way, except for Cheetaras theme that could be heard on a cartoon collection CD. I am not sure if I will continue making songs from the show, but for now I am taking a break from it.

Also, I'm not sure but it does sound like it is my mumm-ra version that is heard around 3:25. If so I am happy to have contributed something to your work James. :)

I f you like the music by Bernard Hoffer from this show, visit my Youtube channel: www.youtube.com/motakay

THUNDER THUNDER THUNDER THUNDER uhhhhh LINE

@Madman12

Season 9 & 10 were already discussed in part 3 of the series retrospective which can be seen here
http://cinemassacre.com/2011/05/17/tmnt-cartoon-se...

Hey James good Review as alway's I remember watching ThunderCats
man that will alway's be a classic cartoon there so many I wonna own on DVD I miss the old day's 80's cartoons Hey james I also Remember when you did a review about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1987 seires cartoons Review there gonna release Season 9 on Aug 16 2011 I love for you to do a review on it keep up the good work james.

What about Voltron?

He-Man (I have the Power) vs Lion-O (Thundercats Ho).
Skeletor vs Mumra.

I remember the EARLY days of cartoon Network. My favorite time of the day was when Thundercats, Voltron, & Robotech played back-to-back, oh yeah! No girly stuff for this nerdette.

Lol, I love that part in the avalanche where Lion-O tries to run on all fours.

High on Thundercatnip.

I wanted to watch this in Japanese a few years ago. I was surprised to find out that this WASN'T an anime, & surprised again to find out it was a Rankin-Bass cartoon. It's never even aired in Japan, which sucks because the script might sound less cheesy in a foreign language with subtitles.

Ironically, the NEW Thundercats will be animated in Japan, yet sport an Amerime-DCAU blend look that I always thought was distinctly South Korean. (I was wrong :p)

Thundercats suck!

now thats real animation, hand drawn 80s shit hoooooooooooooooo

The opening title sequence was the best part of the show. I still remember how excited that I got as kid watching that bit. It's available on YouTube so I would recommend that people unfamiliar with the show take a look. I would argue that it's about the best opening title sequence of any cartoon show ever. We'll see if the new series can come close.

What about Snarf? He was an asshole, but worth a mention.

@ James I love these classic cartoon reviews and look backs. Since your such a video game and cartoon fan I just have to ask, where is the Captain N the Game Master review? I know you watched this one and loved it, James. Let's see this one as soon as you can. I'd love to here your thoughts on it's cheesy perfection.

Looked like a great series

Nice review of an amazing show. I was wondering if you were going to talk about the remake and its great that you did. Some of the episodes I had forgotten about...man this show was the shit in the 80s. I know a lot of people watched it later...but watching it when it first aired was a great time to be a kid. It had its cheesy moments of course, but underneath all of that was something original and unique that no other show can quite match.

That being said...the remake just looks like garbage to me. I was hoping you'd talk about it more...but hopefully you will once it airs in a few days. I've gotten burned out trying to explain why I think the new show is another Star Wars Episode I...but it seems that most people (and mostly younger people who didn't watch it when it aired) think that the remake is the shit. I guess is they hit the right target audience and also gain new fans then that's good...but I really hate what the new team has done with this remake. So much that for the first time in my life, I'm going to send some serious hate mail to them...there's some things in life you just shouldn't fuck with.

I've always wanted to see a remake. Surprisingly...having new voice actors didn't bother me much...but the character designs and overall appearance just make me want to puke for days. I'll try and give it a go when it airs on Monday...but I wish they would just make a spin off instead of trying to reinvent the wheel.

Anyway I'll stop ranting. I know I'm in the minority...oh well. ;)

and youre right PREYING4WAR mum-ra was, is, and always shall be the ULTIMATE in animated evil...

I FUCKING LOVE THUNDER CATS..........not looking forward to the new series.... i guess its a good thing i got the original on dvd... THUNDERCATS, HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!.

oh, thanks for the review James haha good stuff! :)

Thundercats was just on Cartoon Network this morning. Probably showing it again to get ready for the new Thundercats show.