Thundercats 2.0

[Glitch Girl]

New Thundercats Series for CN

Color me curious.  

I checked the producers list and it's a pretty good pedigree.  True, a lot of the press release is hyperbole, so until I start seeing some preview art and so forth I can't really judge, but the whole anime-influence thing doesn't initially bother me, though the "As the forces of good and evil battle each other in the quest for the fabled Stones of Power, Lion-O and his champions learn valuable lessons of loyalty, honor and mortality in every episode" part does make me cringe a little.  

As long as it's more "Airbender" than "Transformers Animated", I'll be happy.

[marhawkman]

I suspect that "mortality" is a typo and should be "Morality".....

[Glitch Girl]

You're probably right.  I just cut/pasted what they had. 

[BentonGrey]

I love Thundercats...I hope this doesn't suck.  The anime-influence thing doesn't fill me with confidence.

[catwhowalksbyhimself]

The original WAS anime influenced, Benton.  It pretty much was anime made for the US.  In my mind, this is actually a good thing.

[BentonGrey]

The original WAS anime influenced, Benton.  It pretty much was anime made for the US.  In my mind, this is actually a good thing.

I'm aware of that Cat, but it was anime influenced in the same way that Transformers and Silverhawks was, which is a very different thing that most of the results of "anime influence" I've seen this decade.

[catwhowalksbyhimself]

In other words, it could go either way depending on what elements of anime they use.  Which is another way of saying we don't really know anything, so there's no reason that nothing should be worrying you.

[Ajax]

The original WAS anime influenced, Benton.  It pretty much was anime made for the US.  In my mind, this is actually a good thing.

I'm aware of that Cat, but it was anime influenced in the same way that Transformers and Silverhawks was, which is a very different thing that most of the results of "anime influence" I've seen this decade.

You forget the people who animated Thundercats would go on to found Studio Ghibli. Also the scene where Snarf decides to stay on Third Earth instead of going to the Snarf planet (aka the previously unknown tenth circle of hell) was very Bishonen. You have Snarf and Lion-O staring emotionally into each others eyes, with the sunset in the background. It was confusing on many levels.

[BentonGrey]

Haha.  It had its faults, true enough.  I didn't say I was worried, I merely said that I'm not overly optimistic, which is, I think, a fair outlook given my tastes and the latest crop of animated series that had anime influences.

[Panther_Gunn]

I thought this was appropriate.   

[Glitch Girl]

pics & stuff

[GhostMachine]

pics & stuff

Wow. None of the re-designs (of the actual Thundercats, at least) suck, though I don't really like Lion-O's shirt.

Is that promo poster by Dan Brereton?

[thalaw2]

stones of power killed it for me.  Why can't kids just enjoy the struggle of them learning to survive on a new planet?

[cmdrkoenig67]

I agree...I don't get the whole "give them an extra gimmick" approach.  Why do they need "Stones of Power", when they are already cat-people on an unknown, sometimes hostile planet, trying to survive, battling an army of evil beings who are out to kill them all?  the original show already had a lot going on, why add more unnecessary bells and whistles?

Also:  Where are the cat kids?  They're not shown in any of these promo pics.  I think it might be a good idea to have the kids there for real life kids to identify with, but I know sometimes that approach doesn't work the way it should.  I'm okay, if they leave out Snarf...Heh.

Dana

[Glitch Girl]

I agree...I don't get the whole "give them an extra gimmick" approach.  Why do they need "Stones of Power", when they are already cat-people on an unknown, sometimes hostile planet, trying to survive, battling an army of evil beings who are out to kill them all?  the original show already had a lot going on, why add more unnecessary bells and whistles?

[sarcasm]

Because EVERY show aimed at kids must have a "gotta catch'em all" element to it for marketing.  It's not worth making if there isn't something collectible in it that grants power.  Duh!

[/sarcasm]

[The Troll]

At least the lessons they will learn are consistent with the original code of Thundara. But I agree, it adds to an already jammed-full concept...super-powered, space-faring cat people with magic weapons and exotic technology...It's so crazy even the bad guy has a dog.

[cmdrkoenig67]

I agree...I don't get the whole "give them an extra gimmick" approach.  Why do they need "Stones of Power", when they are already cat-people on an unknown, sometimes hostile planet, trying to survive, battling an army of evil beings who are out to kill them all?  the original show already had a lot going on, why add more unnecessary bells and whistles?

[sarcasm]

Because EVERY show aimed at kids must have a "gotta catch'em all" element to it for marketing.  It's not worth making if there isn't something collectible in it that grants power.  Duh!

[/sarcasm]

Argh!   

[cmdrkoenig67]

At least the lessons they will learn are consistent with the original code of Thundara. But I agree, it adds to an already jammed-full concept...super-powered, space-faring cat people with magic weapons and exotic technology...It's so crazy even the bad guy has a dog.

Ma-Mutt.  

I needed that laugh...Thank you, Troll.

Dana

[Shogunn2517]

See, I can see this being an on-going problem and frankly, I'm getting tired of it.

Thundercats from the 1980s were ADULTS.

Thundercats from the 2010s are KIDS!

This is a trend I've been noticing a lot with animation these days.  If the show isn't geared towards kids, they totally screw it all and make the characters kids.  Okay, they're cartoons and they're mostly geared towards kids, I get that.  But a lot of these characters are BORN of themes that are NOT kid friendly!  The X-Men reflected imagery of the Civil Rights Movement.  Batman became Batman because his parents were brutally murdered in front of him!  GI Joe is essentially war and at the very least 24 with codenames.  Speaking of war, Star WARS, the Clone WARS.  It's war!  Now, if we need kids in a show to get kids to relate fine.  Jubilee, Wily-kit and Wily-kat, Robin, Asoka Tano, fine.  But come on, don't lose sight of a significant audience that has roots with these characters on a much deeper connection than a kid who would be just as happy watching the Superhero Squad Show.  If you don't want to give us more Spawn, fine.  Give us more Justice League at least.  Stop trying to dumb down the media and giving us "Wheel of morality moments".  I don't want to watch that.  Just because it's animated doesn't mean it's for kids.  It's like saying comic-books are just for kids and we know they're not.  The pic under my name is from a comic where the main character is a pregnant teen.  This crap is getting tiring and I don't want to be continued to be force-fed crap that's fit for my 6 year old niece.  I don't watch Dora the Explorer.  She shouldn't be able to watch some of the themes given in shows I watch.  I don't expect her to understand NCIS or Boardwalk Empire or Psych.  Or to be able to understand why Superman and Captain Marvel are hammering each other or why Marvel thinks the Justice Leagues don't act like heroes.  Give me more G.I. Joe: Resolute.  Give me more Gargoyles.  Give me Spawn, the Justice League, Batman TAS and hell even the Aeon Flux.  It was series like these however long or brief were SERIOUS in tone and did not dumb down themes or characters to help kids relate better.

Back in the 80s we had shows that, while took themselves as cartoons, but didn't try to make themselves too kiddy or PC.  The shows had characters that were ADULTS.  And acted like them... sorta.  Even in the 90s, we had X-Men and Batman: TAS that had adults emoting adult emotions.  Their new aged counterparts reflected a young adult Batman(The Batman).  The X-Men, made kids of pretty much the entire team in X-Men: Evolution.  I'm not saying these shows werent' watchable but it isn't necessary.  

What I'm saying is, if you want to make a kids show, then make a kids show.  If you want to make an adult show, make a adult show, but don't try to dumb it down or make it kid friendly so they can relate or understand it.  Make the damn kids show and leave it out of the adult show.

Agree or disagree, whatever.  I just had to vent because I'm tired of this.

[JeyNyce]

Well said, and I agree.

[Previsionary]

Back in the 80s we had shows that, while took themselves as cartoons, but didn't try to make themselves too kiddy or PC.  The shows had characters that were ADULTS.  And acted like them... sorta.  Even in the 90s, we had X-Men and Batman: TAS that had adults emoting adult emotions.  Their new aged counterparts reflected a young adult Batman(The Batman).  The X-Men, made kids of pretty much the entire team in X-Men: Evolution.  I'm not saying these shows werent' watchable but it isn't necessary. 

What I'm saying is, if you want to make a kids show, then make a kids show.  If you want to make an adult show, make a adult show, but don't try to dumb it down or make it kid friendly so they can relate or understand it.  Make the damn kids show and leave it out of the adult show.

Well to be fair, your gripe against X-men Evolution is a little off the mark because that show essentially took the X-men back to what it was when it started out and what it continues to be: Mentors and teenagers. Despite that, it still had very heavy episodes and wasn't nearly as dumbed down as some of the 2000s cartoons are. In fact, a lot of those episodes had a lot of heart and dark themes. That's something that's really continued in the Marvel and DC cartoons that have ended up on Toon Disney, Nicktoons, and Cartoon Network, except for those that were clearly branded and marketed for a younger or wider audience. And as much as I dislike "The Batman" and am nonplussed about "Bold and the Brave," they too had darker elements that the creators dipped into from time to time.

I can see the point of trying to grab onto a new demographic. That's something companies have to do to rebuild fans. They're usually not concerned about the older fans because you're already attached to a generation of the characters, and they don't "have" to work hard to get you back. In fact, they usually have to put more effort into that endeavor just because of how critical the "oldbies" can be while wearing their rose-colored glasses of the past incarnation. The show that we all know probably wouldn't hook even a small fraction of the kids that it captured back in the day, hence the need to constantly update (and I'm definitely not saying that's always a good thing). That said, a new toon is not "destroying" or even "harming" your childhood memories. You can go back to that show at any time and relive those moments with nostalgia glasses on. It's better to give something a try and let it develop before lashing out against it. But I do have to agree that toons, and television in general, has been dumbed down significantly. Know who you can thank for that? Groups like the PTC + all the censorship we now have to endure. You know things are bad when a show like "MTV Skins" makes the news not because of its themes or writing, but because of its nature and nothing else. When shows are being torn apart and blasted on superficial level like that, I can see why so many remakes/updates keep taking the safe route. Though I have noticed that some toons are slowly returning to their 90s flare of gross-out humor.

[deano_ue]

not liking the ben 10 style figures though the rumours of a 6 inch collectors line could be interesting

[JeyNyce]

I guess the reason I'm on the wall about it is because of my childhood memories and that they are going to screw it up.  Take Batman for example: The change him around so many times in cartoons but they always stay with the same foundation/ origin.  With Thundercats, I'm worried that they are going to screw up the origin and make it a totally different show from what I remember.

[gengoro]

Everybody chill  . Lets wait for the pilot/trailer before we cast judgement upon these feline souls. Have faith in the gods of toonage.

[Glitch Girl]

[bump]
So, anyone else watching? 

Have to say I'm impressed.  We've got a long-term plot set up and have been given quite a bit if interesting backstory that, while completely different from the old series, doesn't dis the original material.  There are also a ton of visual easter eggs for those who remember the original, but the series is still very accessible to new viewer.

They've started replaying the first 6 episodes (part 2 of the pilot airs this week)

[Previsionary]

I'm surprised the show hasn't gotten more FR love. I watched a couple of episodes a few weeks ago, the last one having been Lion-O vs. the sword collector, and I've been impressed by the show. Much better than the Voltron show, which I saw 4 episodes of, thought was fine, but never watched again.

[Thunder]

I like the show.  However, It's getting old already with the "Lion-O is arrogant, stupid, and rash in his decisions" thing they have going on. 

Otherwise, it's pretty good.  i am happy Snarf doesn't really talk (always hated that).  But I do NOT like Pro's balding sideburns look.  They need to make him bald again.  We'll see how the series progresses.

[BentonGrey]

As I said on ToF, I've watched this, much to the wife's chagrin, and I have to say it was pretty good in some ways, though its weaknesses have become increasingly apparent as the show has gone on. I will always love the original 'toon, and I think that, in many ways, that version was better. Still, this new outing actually outshined its predecessor in several areas. It had really nice, smooth animation, and although it was way too anime-y, it still looked good. I like the new version of Thunderra. The best thing about the previous series was the incredible amount of imagination in the world the characters inhabited, and this series, though it goes a different direction, seems to be pretty creative as well. We'll have to wait and see, but at least it seems that they are putting together a pretty internally consistent setting.

I like the hints at injustice and some of the deeper themes that got toyed with in the first episode, though the character interactions of the later episodes have left me increasingly cold. The action looks pretty good, although there are a few too many of those anime-ish freeze frame moments scattered throughout. I was pretty impressed with some of the voice acting too. 

The character designs are mostly alright, but several still bother me, like Panthro and Cheetara.  The rest are between decent and good. 

The Thunder Kittens have gone from mildly annoying and somewhat creepy to so annoying that I'll often flip the channel when an episode has a lot of them. The recasting of Tigra continues to bother me, but not as much as Lion-O.  As Thunder points out, the hot-headed, arrogant, and ultimately just plain stupid Lion-O is getting extremely old very quickly.  I'd like to see some pretty rapid character growth, because I don't much care for this "hero." 

All-in-all, I'm still not sure exactly how I feel about this new show.  They're doing a lot of interesting things, and the story has me curious, but a lot of the internal elements of the tales, the character interactions and dialog, certainly aren't grabbing me.

[Amazo Version 2.2]

i lkie where this is appeart to be going. my only real concern is that the individiual episodes apprear to be a bit rushed. and i agree with benton on the kit and kat issue, the characters are just plain boring, i'd lkie to see some growth there. otherwise, just enjoying the show.

[JeyNyce]

It's not a bad show and I like where they're going with the story.  In some ways, it's better than the 80's show and in some ways it's not, but all-in-all, it's a good show