A New THUNDERCATS Series is Coming to Cartoon Network and It's Not What I Was Expecting
Warner Bros. Animation is developing a new ThunderCats animated series for Cartoon Network called ThunderCats Roar, and it's definitely not was I was expecting. I am a huge fan of the original ThunderCats series but what they are doing here definitely isn't what I want in a ThunderCats series. ThunderCats was a badass show, and although it's different, I'm not seeing anything really badass about this.
EW released the promo art above and a sneak peek video below that features producer Victor Courtright, who explains that ThunderCats Roar plans on staying true to the original’s premise and will feature tons of action, but that it will also lean into the comedy of the world:
"I think the world that they built lends itself really well to comedy because of how silly and crazy and outlandish those ideas are and some of those settings are. But at the same time, it wouldn’t be ThunderCats if it didn’t have super cool action elements because that’s what people came back to. It’s very much something that we want to lean on. So with the new show, we’re not walking away from the action in any bit. Every step we take towards comedy, we take two more towards really cool action scenes and explosions and lasers and actions effects."
As you can see, the animation style is very bubbly and cartoony which ads to the silly comedic direction that they are taking it. I get what they are trying to do. I'm sure it will find an audience with the kids, but as a fan, I'm not impressed. Here’s the official logline for the series:
"Staying true to the premise of the original series, Lion-O and the ThunderCats — Tygra, Panthro, Cheetara, Wilykat, and Wilykit — barely escape the sudden destruction of their home world, Thundera, only to crash land on the mysterious and exotic planet of Third Earth. Lion-O, the newly appointed Lord of the ThunderCats, attempts to lead the team as they make this planet their new home. A bizarre host of creatures and villains stand in their way, including the evil Mumm-Ra, Third Earth’s wicked ruler who will let nothing, including the ThunderCats, stop his tyrannical reign over the planet."
They keep saying that they are staying true to the original series. But other than the fact the characters have the same names and the story is set in the same place, I'm just not seeing it. Maybe I need to see more. But right now, I'm not sold on it.
ThunderCats Roar stars Max Mittelman (Justice League Action) as Lion-O and Wilykat, Erica Lindbeck (DC Super Hero Girls) as Cheetara and Wilykit, Patrick Seitz (Justice League Action) as Tygra and Mumm-Ra, and Chris Jai Alex (Star Wars: Battlefront II) as Panthro.
The series will premiere in 2019. Watch the video and let us know if it manges to sell you on the series!