With Cartoon Network launching a new version of the series this weekend, I thought it might be a good time to reflect back on the original ThunderCats, which ran in syndication from 1985-1990. It was the first series produced by Rankin-Bass for syndication since the 60's, and the first ongoing series since 1973, after ABC had cancelled the last 3 series the studio had produced for the network (Kid Power, The Osmonds, & The Jackson 5ive).
ThunderCats was set on "Third Earth", where Lion-O and his team had settled after leaving their homeworld, Thundera. Everyone has their favorite characters, including sexy Cheetara, and the ThunderKittens, WilyKat and his sister, WilyKit. Here is the opening everyone remembers:
DC Comics' WildStorm imprint produced a series of miniseries that brought the Cats back into the public eye, and also allowed for the characters to age some, particularly WilyKit (who now rivaled Cheetara as eye candy for the boys) and WilyKat. There was also a crossover with another TV icon, Battle of the Planets, which saw Keyop fall in love with WilyKit, as memory serves. Those books may have been part of the impetus that led to the new TV series, but it's safe to say the Cats have had a following rivaling that of fellow 80's icons The Transformers and GI Joe, who've also been revived in recent years. The new series, then, has a lot to live up to, and we'll see the results soon enough.
Rating: A.
7 comments:
I'm surprised you gave this show an "A". I saw it back in the day and thought it was an interesting concept but the animation and silly stories turned me off of it.
When the show was rerun in a recent marathon in honor of the recent CN reboot, my memories were confirmed - I just lost all patience after the group landed on Third Earth!!
The reboot is so much better!!!
I used to watch this pretty regularly when it first came out, and loved it. I collected the later books, which is how I know how the Kittens grew up, and how WilyKit became so hot.
I liked the reboot, too, as you can see if you can check the review in the Land of Whatever.
Bad News: WB and CN are going to make a new ThunderCats series called ThunderCats Roar, and it looks like a piece of trash.
Character designs look like the peeps who were working on Steven Universe are also responsible for Thundercats Roar. Proof again that the only way an action show can go on CN now is if they dumb it down for cheap laughs.
Remember when [adult swim] Toonami aired reruns of the 2011 reboot from 2012 to 2013?
Because if I was Christina Miller, I would either A: Continue where the 2011 series left off or B: Get [adult swim] Toonami to reboot it.
With a new ThunderCats comic out now, maybe a new series for TV follows........
Post a Comment