ThunderCats (2011 TV series)

ThunderCats (2011 TV series)

Ever lived in the 80's? Well I guess that reveals my true age. Well as part of my childhood, I was able to watch the series that was debuted 1984. Well that time I was not able to fully understand the series but what I remember was when the main character Lion-O swing the sword and shout "Thunder! Thunder! Thundercats! Ho!" the sword goes longer and the logo of the Thundercats will show up on a red spot light just like what they did on batman and the other thundercats like Cheetara, Panthro and Tygra goes strong . We even role play that scene with my friends and cousins. Enough of those reminiscing and lets go to the main article. As I have mentioned, those who have lived in the 80's maybe you have watched or even shout along with Lion-O, that is if you are a kid of course that time... heheheh...

Last July, 2011 Warner Bros. Animation has begun producing the new ThunderCats animated series. The series began with an hour-long premiere on Cartoon Network on July 29, 2011. The show started airing on 10th September 2011 in the United Kingdom. As for me I just read it from a forum and watched the first 8 episodes. 

The Story and Setting

For generations, the Thunderians have lived and thrived in the kingdom of Thundera. However, one night the kingdom is attacked by the Lizard army, led by the evil sorcerer Mumm-Ra. After Thundera is destroyed, a small band of surviving Thunderians, led by the young heir to the throne Lion-O, who wields the powerful Sword of Omens, flees in order to seek out the Book of Omens, which is said to have the knowledge needed to defeat Mumm-Ra.

The story of this new series differs greatly from the original ThunderCats, the story takes place on Third Earth, Thundera in this version is a city-state on the planet and is doomed for destruction. Instead of having to leave the planet Thundera the characters are forced to abandon their devastated nation.

While some look at this new series as a reboot, others take the view that it is a continuation of the story, years after the original ThunderCats, with the current cast being reincarnations/decendants of the original team

The Characters

The Thundercats

Lion-O

The leader, and the hereditary "Lord of the ThunderCats." Lion-O, based on the lion, wields the legendary Sword of Omens, which is able to fire bolts of energy and allows Lion-O to see across great distances with its power of "Sight Beyond Sight", as well as the Claw Shield, a gauntlet that launches grappling lines from its claws. In the 2011 version, Lion-O is a teenager instead of being a boy inside an adult body. He is the only one at the beginning who believes that technology and Mumm-Ra exist. His catchphrase is "Whiskers!" whenever he finds himself in a bad situation. In "Legacy," it is revealed that Lion-O had an ancestor named Leo who played a part in the defeat of Mumm-Ra. Lion-O's weapons: Sword of Owens and Claw Shield. Lion-O may be faster than Cheetara as he was a blurr while dodging the Deulist's attacks in episode 8.

Jaga

Known as "Jaga the Wise", based on the jaguar, this elder warrior was once regarded as the greatest of all ThunderCats. An adviser and protector of the Lord’s family, Jaga wielded the Sword of Omens and was a formidable fighter in combat. In the 2011 series, the character serves as head of Thundera's cleric warriors before remaining behind to ensure Lion-O and his group escape. He is later revealed to be alive and being tortured into revealing the location of the Book of Omens to Mumm-Ra, though doing his best to resist the villain's magic when sealed within a lantern, eventually his much of his freewill wavers along with his physical form. Though Jaga destroys the lantern that was keeping his soul intact to save Lion-O from Mumm-Ra, his soul took residence within the Book of Omens and becomes Lion-O's guide within it. In addition to his knowledge of ancient secrets, this incarnation of Jaga is able to move at superhuman speed, an ability shared by all the cleric warriors, and is also shown projecting lightning from his staff.

Tygra

A staunch, level-headed warrior based on the tiger and he is the adopted older brother of Lion-O. Though unable to succeed his foster father due to having the wrong "bloodline," Tygra was the more favored son. In the premiere, he has shown his invisibility powers as the original version. While he retains his bola whip, he prefers to use a pistol as his main weapon, though despising technology in a beginning. Tygra has confronted Lion-O and questioned his decisions as Lord of he ThunderCats, but remains nonetheless loyal to him; he has also shown a caring side towards his teammates (he was the one who insisted in letting Wilykit and Wilykat joining them), and a sarcastic, somehow comic vein.

Panthro

The next noble and greatest warrior after Jaga, and based on the panther. Even though a warrior in all forms of ThunderCats martial arts fighting, Panthro has a brilliant mind, which he uses as the chief mechanic/engineer and pilot for the ThunderCats. Panthro is one of Claudus' more loyal soldiers who was sent with his friend Grune to find the Book of Omens. Their attempted search resulted with Mumm-Ra's release and Grune betraying Panthro, who while fighting Grune fell down an abyss and seemingly was killed. However, Panthro survived and constructed the Thundertank, which he later used to save Lion-O's group from Slythe's platoon. Though he questioned Lion-O's ability to lead, Panthro eventually accepted him as the new king. Unlike the rest of the Thundercats he never learned how to swim.

Cheetara 

A female warrior, based on the cheetah. she is the sole surviving member of Thundera's cleric warriors other than Jaga and shows much more attraction between Lion-O and her than in the original series. In addition it was also implied that Tygra has shown an interest in her, though it may be one-sided as he flirted with a cleric in the first episode, only to later learn to his mild surprise that the same cleric was Cheetara herself. Cheetara also seems to be very close to Lion-O, since she never shuns him for his interest in technology and seem to support his kindness to other races that were mistreated. It is shown that Cheetara's superhuman speed is not an ability unique to herself, but an ability possessed by all Thundarian clerics, including Jaga and possibly Lion-O.

WilyKit and WilyKat 

They are the twin siblings, Kat being the older brother and Kit as the younger sister, both based on the wildcat. they are both street urchins and pickpockets with aspirations to find the lost city of El Dara and become rich. When the Reptilians attack Thundera, the two manage to escape during the chaos before eventually teaming up with Lion-O on his journey. In this version, the WilyKit and WilyKat have bushy tails, something none of the adult ThunderCats are shown to possess. They also have some skill at picking locks.

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. In the 2011 cartoon, Snarf is more of a pet to Lion-O and does not speak English but can make animal sounds (though it seems Lion-O can still understand him). In later episodes, he goes "Snarf".


The main Villain

Mumm-Ra

 

The chief villain and antagonist of the ThunderCats, the demon-sorcerer Mumm-Ra is the self-proclaimed "ever-living source of evil" on Third Earth, having powers of sorcery and an apparently unlimited lifespan. He is, in fact, a servant to the Ancient Spirits of Evil (represented by four anthropomorphic statues of a boar, crocodile, vulture, and ox thus resembling oversized, twisted mockeries of Egyptian canopic jars, within the burial chamber of his pyramid), who provide him with increased power and virtual immortality to further his pursuit of spreading their dark influence throughout Third Earth

In the 2011 version, Mumm-Ra is of alien origin and used the advanced technology at his disposal to enslave the ancestors of the ThunderCats and the Animals into serving him so he would gather the Four Warstones to place on the Sword of Plun-Darr to become the most powerful being in the universe. But managing to take the fourth Warstone (which would become the Eye of Thundera) while staging a rebellion with the Animals' help, the ThunderCat Leo defeats Mumm-Ra and strips him of the other three stones. But when Mumm-Ra's pyramid spacecraft was pulled into Third Earth's atmosphere, Mumm-Ra entered his tomb to bide his time for everyone else to die in the resulting crash. However, the controls were smashed and Mumm-Ra was trapped within his pyramid as the stones and surviors spread across Third Earth. However, many centuries later, Mumm-Ra used Grune to release him from his prison and masterminded Thundera's downfall. With the aid of Grune and Slythe, Mumm-Ra not only plans to obtain the Eye of Thundera, but to regain the other three Warstones. Changes to Mumm-Ra for the 2011 version include demon wings on his Ever-Living form and having a weakness to intensely bright light. Mumm-Ra's weapons: Sword of Plun-Darr and Guantlet Shield.

List of ThunderCats (2011 TV series) episodes

001    The Sword of Omens (July 29, 2011)   
002    Ancient Spirits of Evil (July 29, 2011)
003    Ramlak Rising (August 05, 2011)
004    Song of the Petalars (August 12, 2011)
005    Old Friends (August 19, 2011)
006    Journey to the Tower of Omens (August 26, 2011)
007    Legacy (September 02, 2011)
008    The Duelist and the Drifter (September 09, 2011)