* How come all the ThunderCats are *naked* in the series pilot episode, "Exodus"??
Well, before Jaga throws sheer, magic pieces of cloth on the clan that morph into their funky uniforms, he explains that on Thundera they didn't need no steenkin protective clothing. But, Jaga figured, who knew what nasty stuff they'd run into on their new home planet...so out came the skimpy little uniforms -- perfect logic if ya ask me. But at least the show's creators had enough mercy to clothe Jaga from the get-go. Thank Jaga indeed!
* Who owns Thundercats rights?
Warner Brothers, for quite some time now. I believe Ted Wolf's estate may still be involved somehow but Telepictures/Rankin-Bass gave up the episode rights to ThunderCats ages ago.
* Do ya know if any new ThunderCats projects are in the works? And is that live action movie starring Tea Leoni, among others, a hoax?
As can be discerned from the Peter Lawrence chat archive, he confirmed that yes, there are some movie-length ThunderCat toons in the developing stage. Can't say as of this time *when* this project will come to fruition.
I've also heard rumors that a new series for Thundercats is in the works. However, I have no definite confirmation on that at this time, but I'll try to keep in contact with my sources and let fans know via my newsletter as soon as I hear any news on the matter.
Though some like to blame our disfunctional little fandom for the near lack of TC revival projects, but the way I hear it, it's the rights to certain aspects of ThunderCats that have killed a lot of projects to date. What I mean is, someone will start production on something, then they'll find they can't get the rights to finish it and/or to tie it into the merchandising market machine. I believe WB owns the rights to the names and characters, but some problems lie with the rights for toys, merchandising, etc being scattered among others. Let's face it, most companies aren't going to produce a new show if they can't tie into the marketing machine - yay capitalism!
Then again, it could just come down to WB thinking that doing something beyond the comics isn't in their best interest right now. Who knows. Gotta keep hoping, I guess.
As for that damn movie, yes it's a hoax...as if ya can't tell by reading the "review" of said movie. But man...Tea Leoni *does* make a hot Cheetara, does she not? heehee.
* Where Can I get ThunderCats Videos? Will you send me copies of yours?
There are a few official releases of certain eps (like the 'ThunderCats Ho!' Movie), but the series has never been released officially in its entirity in VHS format. You'll find them around on sites like ebay now and then. See below for DVD info.
And no, I don't make copies of tapes or dvds for people. Please don't ask. Sorry.
* Where Can I get ThunderCats dvds?
DVDs are available stateside for Thundercats from Warner Brothers, all seasons already out for region 1 consumers. Go
here to read more about the DVDs and where to get them.
A French company has also released dubbed-in-French version of "Cosmocats" on DVD. See
this site for details.
Most recently, region two discs are coming out for you folks in the UK. Series 1 Volume 1 is available right now, with hopefully more to come in the future. See
this page for info and updates.
Otherwise, beware of DVDs being sold on auction sites that claim to contain all 130 eps that don't look like the official releases in packaging and/or sequenced differently episode-wise. Those are fan made discs that are overpriced and/or have crappy quality. You'd be better off downloading eps free from Kazaa etc free until you can afford the legit sets. Of course, if you can afford to pay for overpriced bootlegs, why
wouldn't you buy the legit sets?
* What's the deal with 'uncut' versions of Exodus and Berbils I keep hearing about? And what of this so-called 'lost intro'?
When Thundercats first aired, Exodus and Unholy Alliance, the first two episodes, were shown together as a pilot in a slightly longer format. Later on, those eps along with the next two in the series - Berbils and Slaves of Castle Plun-Darr - were packaged on VHS many fans think of as the 'Exodus movie'. This video also features the
intro piece often dubbed 'the Lost Intro' that was used on the air as a teaser for the series and was part of that original showing of Exodus.
Exodus and Berbils in their long-play forms most notably have scenes in them fans familiar with the later broadcast edits of those episodes (in other words, later when they were shown seperately, had to be edited to fit the 22 minute single episode format) don't recall. Some clips from Exodus that were 'cut' can be seen at the previous link as well.
As for the recent DVD release, the stateside version did NOT feature the uncut episodes or the lost intro - nor were they part of the special features. The only way you can see this other than from downloaded clips or vhs rips online, is to buy the old VHS print off auction sites like Ebay...or find someone who taped it off the TV back in the day.
* Ok, in Exodus Lion-O and the Thunderkittens are all children. If that's so, how come Lion-O is the only one that ages so darn much during the long trip to Third Earth?
Well, my answer is only a theory as the series never directly tackled this quandry. I believe that the most logical explanation is that his capsule malfunctioned somehow. Later in the series, in the episode "Time Switch" we learn that those capsules operated by releasing a gas that reversed the aging process. In that episode, Lion-O gets exposed to too much of the gas, and keeps getting younger and younger.
What does this have to do with Exodus? I imagine that while in suspension, a measured amount of the gas was time released, to keep the occupant of the capsule from getting too old. I figure that in Lion-O's case, his capsule didn't release quite enough of the gas, so he aged more than he should. But since he did get some of it, he didn't emerge an old man.
Others have theorized that Jaga himself tampered with the capsule so the ThunderCats wouldn't have to be lead by cub once they landed. Though Lion-O would still be a child in mind, at least he'd have the brawn to kick Mutie arse.
Speaking of which, how did he get that buff bod in suspension? Perhaps there was a steroid gas as well...hmmmmm.
* What are Lion-O's powers and what all can the Sword of Omens do, anyway?
He has power over all cats. This was established in "Lord of the Snows" when he ordered Snowmeow to halt.
His gauntlet, or claw shield, has different grappling capablities and serves as a kind of shield, deflecting laser blasts, swipes with a sword or ax, etc. And yes, in one episode (can't recall the specific one atm, but I just watched it on my tapes the other day!) Lion-O does shoot something out his clawshield -- it was some kind of gas that temporarily confused his enemies -- a smoke screen, if you will.
As for the Sword of Omens, sheesh. It's got a list of powers. In the first batch of 60 or so eps, it was more limited in its powers, and I kind of preferred that. Later in the series, it pretty much could do anything Lion-O wanted it too, which seemed unbalanced and perhaps just an easy way out of a plot that couldn't otherwise have resolution inside 22 minutes. Anyhow, I'll do my best to remember what all it can do:
*Powers of Second Sight (though, it will only tell Lion-O what's going on in the present. In "Ghost Warrior", we were shown the Eye has no psychic powers and therefore could reveal nothing about Grune's past). This power really doesn't help him much in the heat of battle, but together with the Eye's warning growl, it gives Lion-O the advantage of forewarning him of and showing him impending danger.
*It can shoot energy beams, which comes in handy in obvious ways.
*The sword can also form a circular protective barrier in front of Lion-O if he rotates the extended sword before him.
*Don't forget, of course, that he can call his friends to his aid with it.
*Speaking of calling things, he can call the Sword to his hand. This is a great advantage if an enemy happens to disarm him -- though I can't figure out why, sometimes in the series, he seems to forget he can do this! Damn plot contrivences.
*In a few eps, he used the Sword as a pole vault and also to create a light bridge across a gap in a mountain pass.
As for the more "out there" things the sword was able to do:
*In later eps, sometimes Lion-O would call forth the cat signal and the signal itself would do something like leap after the enemy and disable them, or it would do something physical like push a button on a control panel...which was just kind of stupid in my opinion.
*Also in later eps, the sword seemed to be a cure-all. If something happened to the ThunderCats -- say they were shrunk, or put under a spell or something of the sort...Lion-O would just call forth the signal, the red aura would surround his friends and *poof* everyone's cured! Er, also a bit lame in my opinion.
*In one ep, Lion-O used the Sword to fly back to the Lair, whipping past the Thunderstrike along the way...sheesh!
*Perhaps the biggest forehead slapping moment was when Lion-O used the sword to control the weather in "Helpless Laughter". Basically, he pointed the sword to the sky and ended the drought by telling the sword to make it rain. Uh....*ahem* That's just a bit too convenient. No wonder poor Mumm-Ra couldn't win!
* Are Tygra and Bengali brothers?
Personally, I don't think so. Though they did refer to each other as "brother" a few times in the series, I always thought of it as more of a term of endearment they used because they're both tigers. Kind of how women might think of themselves as being part of a sisterhood, etc.
Furthermore, I never observed any other evidence from the series that would have suggested definite familial ties (i.e. either tiger making reference to a common parent or other family member, etc). Though I was set straight on the fact that just because Tygra is an orange tiger and Bengali is a white bengal doesn't mean they can't be related. I just think there's not enough there to draw the conclusion that they are related.
Although, if you consider the UK Annuals canon, then they are brothers - the Annuals state this is so outright.
* Who the heck is William Overgard and why does everyone hate him so much?
Overgard gained notoriety among many in the fandom for writing some the the weirder plots and stories for the show. He also came up with some of the more bizarre minor characters.
Therefore, he's often the butt of many jokes and such. Not to say that all his episodes were bad or that other writers didn't come up with stuff that was just as weird or unplausible. Overgard, however, stuck out from the crowd.
Here are the episodes he was responsible for penning:
Mandora - Evil Chaser
The Fireballs of Plundarr
Mandora and the Pirates
Dr. Dometone
The ThunderCutter
Sword in a Hole
Side Swipe
Exile Isle
The Jade Dragon
The Circus Train
Screw Loose
Cracker's Revenge
Swan Song
Book of Omens
You see? Though there were some classic eps in that list, the forehead slappers out-number them. After all, he wrote the breathing in space fiasco, the attacking mechanical palm tree...Robear Roberto's taco stand!! And worst of all, the most overall reviled episode according to most fans: Circus Train! heehee. (Though, the ep that makes me cringe the most is the Return to Thundera five parter. The gyroscope...oy. That, of coure, was Peter Lawrence's doing!) He's responsible for too much of the weirdness and plot holes.
Not that I doubt he was a fine human being. But he does have quite a notorius reputation in the fandom as a writer, hehheh. That's just the way it is!
* Who are Bengali, Pumyra and Lynx-O, and when in the series did they show up?
I usually get this question from UK visitors, as - so I've been told - season two did not air in the UK back in the day.
The trio are the "new" ThunderCats who debuted in the movie ThunderCats HO!
The basic premise was, they were left behind on Thundera when their designated ship exploded on the launch pad and the royal flag ship had to take off or risk the same fate.
Lion-O, as a cub on the ship, saw the trio being left behind on the monitor and has had nightmares about it since. Jaga's spirit shows up and tells Lion-O that they did not perish but were rescued. Furthermore, they happened to land on Third Earth as well.
A long ordeal ensues to reunite with them. At the end of it all, Lion-O anoints them as ThunderCats and they remain as such through to the series' conclusion.
* What are the lyrics to the ThunderCats theme song?
I've never been emailed this question, but I have noticed that it's a popular search in my site's search engine. Never knew the brief and simple lyrics were that much of a mystery, but apparently it is so! Given the apparent demand to unlock the mystery, here are the words to the theme song that graces the intro to every episode of ThunderCats.
It can also be downloaded from this site in either
video format or
audio form.
Learn more about the composer of the theme and series soundtrack, Bernard Hoffer, by checking out the
interview with him.
Thundercats are on the move,
Thundercats are loose!
Feel the magic, hear the roar,
Thundercats are loose!
Thunder, Thunder, Thunder, Thundercats!
Thunder, Thunder, Thunder, Thundercats!
Thunder, Thunder, Thunder, Thundercats!
Thundercats
* What does canon mean? Furthermore, what is considered to be ThunderCats canon?
First, a definition according to a handy dictionary:
n 1: a rule or especially body of rules or principles generally established as valid and fundamental in a field or art or philosophy: "the neoclassical canon"; "canons of polite society"
For a fandom such as ThunderCats, the 130 TV series episodes are definitely canon; meaning anything that happened in them can be considered as 'factual' and used by fan fic writers as a reference point for their stories. ThunderCats has a unique distinction for having a shaky and sometime contradictory canon, and so there's always room for lively debate on various plot holes, inconsistancies or just plain ridiculous canon assertions.
This brings us to the second part of the question - what all is considered ThunderCats canon. That probably depends on who you ask. Some people assert and believe that anything sanctioned as an official release - be it the TV series, movies, comics, books or magazines - should all be viewed cohesively as canon. This notion varies from fandom to fandom. For instance, I found a LOTR site that asserts only things released in Tolkien's lifetime is true canon (applied to the TC fandom, some may believe only things given the blessing of Ted Wolf himself is true canon). Of course, others in the LOTR fandom could very well disagree. Likewise, there's varying opinion in the ThunderCats fandom about what should be taken as canon and what, if anything, should be taken less seriously.
Personally, I only consider the TV show canon. All the comics and such I enjoy and find some plots quite intriguing, but I tend to view those as simply sanctioned fan fic and little more. Part of my reasoning relies on the fact that the series is what most fans remember and still have relatively easy access to. Hence, referring to a particular episode as your basis for a certain plot or action taken by a character in a fic is easier to back up using the show as your canon source, rather than a UK-only issued Annual you might have been lucky enough to have gotten a hold of yet the majority of the fandom would be unfamiliar with. The other part of my reasoning lies in the fact that, for example, the UK books contradict 'facts' already laid out in the episodic series and I find it hard to reconcile the two. Of course, this is just my opinion and there are certainly others who would beg to differ. I would, at the very least, let readers know if you're writing comic-verse based fic or a mix of comic-verse and show-verse, or it could get confusing!
Lastly, if you've heard the term 'fanon' before, that simply refers to anything that's a work or idea of a fan rather than derived from something 'official'. A good example would be the increasingly popular theory that Jaga tampered with Lion-O's capsule to age him more than the others on the trip during Exodus. That has no basis in canon, but a lot of fans pick up on that and have run with it so it's a thing of largely accepted 'fanon'. Works by fans are also fanon. Hence fan sites and fan fics are all examples of fanon works.
* Why was there a psychological consultant listed on the show's credits?
Luckily when we chatted with producer/script consultant Peter Lawrence back in 2002, someone asked him this very question. Below is an exerpt from the
chat that answers this question (I edited out some banter in between the lag times from question asked til he answered):
Purrsia> so, Peter ... what's was the deal with the Psych consultant on Tcats? heehee
[Peter] The psych consultant was in place before I arrived and I guess he was designed to end run the Parental Control Groups which were very vocal about kids TV. Amazing when you think of the crap people can get away with now
[hyenaboy] Oh, so he was there to make sure nothing "traumatizing" or "inappropriate" got onto the show?
[Peter] Yeah (hyenab.) that's the general idea. Try and do something pro-active. You know, every show goes through a Broadcast Standards committee. A kinda censor.
Also, the good doctor's musings on the moral lesson each season 1 episode contained can be found
here.
* How many seasons are there of Thundercats? Different sites list anything from 2 to 4.
I used to list 4 seasons on this site, but I think it's more accurate to say Tcats only ran for two. The first being eps 1-65 (1985-1986) and the second being 66-130 (1986-1987). This is going on original air date lists I've read for how the show ran in the U.S. market. It is important to note that since some season two studio scripts have come on the market to buy, they have dates as late as 1988 on them, once again opening up the season debate. However, the DVDs have been coming out from WB and are not only in the fabled air date sequence, but also appear to be in the two season split. Gotta love the contradiction and confusion in this fandom!
Where the idea of 4 seasons came in, I'm not sure. Perhaps it had to do with how CN split the eps up during reruns, or even how they aired in Europe. But this is a U.S. site and so I'm going by how they ran originally in the U.S. and now, the DVD release order - hence I've changed my ep guides and lists to reflect that philosophy.
* How do you contact all these people who were involved with ThunderCats for those chats, etc?
Well, I find their email addys or sites on the net and I just...ask. The worst they can say is no. It's really just that easy.
* Why do spellings of characters and things sometimes vary from page to page on the site?
For starters, this site began in 2001 and slowly built up to what it is now. So the older sections/pages of the site are probably going to have some things off about them, particularly spellings of characters' names that didn't appear in ep titles or were otherwise obvious at the time to look up. Remember, back then a lot of things that are taken for granted on the internet for Thundercats weren't there and you had a lot of fan sites just winging it as best they could. Back then, there were half a dozen ways alone different fans spelled 'Lunatak' and in fact, that's still a widely variable term thanks to there not being as much Season Two reference material as there is for season one. I didn't come into scripts, character sheets, and other canonical material until much later at which time I finally learned the 'official' way to spell various things on the show.
Now that the site is so big, it'd be pretty tedious for me to go back through page by page and correct things to make them more consistant. My advice to you if you're looking for a resource that's accurate, is to stick to the scanned in scripts and other pages on the site that are based on official documentation for the show. The only place on the site I really expect to go back over and ensure some accuracy is with the Dictionary, given it is supposed to serve as a decent reference, and perhaps the ep guides eventually. Otherwise, where fic and other fanon musings are concerned, ignorance is the excuse and I'm sticking with it ;)
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