Warner Bros. Consumer Products has sent over some high resolution images of the new Thundercats toys that are arriving later this year. While I never thought the Thundercats would get rebooted, I have to say, I’m really curious what the new animated show will look like. As a fan of the 80′s cartoon, I hope they don’t screw it up. Already I’m not crazy about the look of the new Lion-O and Snarf, but, again, I’m willing to give it a chance. Hit the jump to check out the toys. The new Thundercats premieres later this year on Cartoon Network.
Before going any further, here’s a synopsis and image of the new show. For all our previous Thundercats coverage, click here.
Roaring to life through WBA and Studio4°C’s use of the Japanese animated artistry of anime, “ThunderCats” characters Lion-O, Mumm-Ra, Panthro, Cheetara and others will spring off the screen with realistic cat-like characteristics inconceivable in previous incarnations.
The new “ThunderCats” will appeal to viewers who have loved the characters all their lives as well as young newcomers to the franchise. A sweeping tale combining swords and science and boasting ferocious battles with the highest of stakes, the grand origin story of Prince Lion-O’s ascension to the throne – and of those who would thwart his destiny at any cost – takes on epic dimensions in this sharp new telling. 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.
“ThunderCats” is executive produced by Sam Register (“Teen Titans,” “Ben 10,” “Batman: The Brave and the Bold”). Michael Jelenic (“Batman: The Brave and the Bold,” “Wonder Woman”) and Ethan Spaulding (“Avatar: The Last Airbender”) are the producers.
And thanks to the Thunder Tank toy (pictured further down the page), we have our first look at the new Snarf. What are your thoughts?
Here are the toys. Some are available now, some are arriving later this year. Click on any image for high-resolution.
ThunderCats 4” Basic Figure – Lion-O
Crafted with great detail and quality, collectors and kids can play with or display their favorite ThunderCats heroes and villains in their own environment and recreate scenes from the animated television series. Each 4-inch figure comes with a weapon and/or accessory that is unique to each character and includes an exclusive embedded magnet activation system that allows the figure to interact with and activate unique features in multiple ThunderCats products, including the Deluxe ThunderTank. Available soon for $7.99.
ThunderCats Deluxe Vehicle with Figure
Storm into battle with the Deluxe ThunderTank and 4-inch Snarf Figure. Kids’ favorite ThunderCats figure can ride inside and unlock special ThunderTank features, including ―ThunderCats, Ho!‖ sound effects, with an exclusive embedded magnet technology. For serious action, launch ThunderBikes from the ThunderTank with the push of a button.
Available soon for $29.99.
ThunderCats 8-Inch Collector Figure – Cheetara
Flash back to the original series with the iconic and classic heroes of ThunderCats with these 8-inch figures. These high-detail figures incorporate many of your favorites from the classic 80s series.
Available soon for $16.99.
ThunderCats Deluxe Roleplay Sword
Wield the power of Lion-O and become a ThunderCat with the mystic Sword of Omens! With an extendable blade, lights and sounds, kids can let their imaginations roar with Lion-O on his destined path to become king.
Available now for $19.99.
ICON HERO
ThunderCats Staction Figures (PVC Figurines)
Lion-O, the Lord of the Thundercats is presented here in this highly detailed polyresin statue! Lion-O wields the Sword of Omens with Claw Glove ready for battle. Spared from the destruction of his planet Thundera, Lion-O leads his team of heroes to protect the legendary Eye of Thundera. This statue from Icon Heroes stands approximately 6-inches tall and includes a forest environment base. Available now for $59.99.
HARD HERO
ThunderCats Limited Edition Porcelain Statue
Hard Hero brings the classic animated fan-favorite, ThunderCats, to collectors with a series of high-quality, limited edition statues. Following the Lion-O, Cheetara, and Mumm-Ra statues, sculptor Paul Bennett has moved on to Lion-O’s second-in-command, the level-headed Tygra! This fierce warrior and keen intellect is made of cold-cast porcelain and comes fully-painted and ready for display in a color collector’s box.
Available now for $199.
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whoa.. the new snarf looks like a friggin Pokemon! LOL:P
anyway.. not a hater of thiese new redesigns they’re doing, what I’m going to nitpick anyway is how the story plays out.
Seriously,looking back, the old versions’ episodes are quite dull and slow paced for me. I hope this brings out a fresh new look as well as a more interesting take on its story.
This reboot looks damn ugly and awful!!! Even the 80s versions look far superior to this crap. I thought that at least in this day and age Visuals took over from story, well this series must be like shakespear!
I was looking forward to this too, but not from ANY of these designs. Shame they dont employ artists to do these things anymore.
I agree. This is an insult to a wonderful cartoon.
Im buying them just so GI Joe will have another enemy to fight.
They should’ve tried to make a feature, with the original opening credits’ quality!!
Re-designs are shit. Crappy western animeesque fail.
I don’t hate the designs but sadly, can’t say I love them either. I’m reserving judgment until I can see the series. On the bright side, they’re releasing 8″, MOTU Classic like Thundercats figures with the feel and costumes from the original series.
Oh my god. Do they have to look exactly like the originals. It’s 2011. If the show’s good, I’ll be happy. The art looks great in my opinion.
Agree, man! People are bitching for no good reason!
Sorry but the remade ThunderCats suck.
The new designs don’t have to look exactly the same but they don’t have to jack up their original essence either. These new artists were obviously clueless.
Pls maintain the BGM score as original. That will make an impact on the 80′s team, as i am
Hey Turkey’s…..
They didn’t make this show for you or for yo to like!! They made it for the new generation of kids to enjoy. Look at Beyblade and all that stuff. Same Japanime. But the kids eat it up. Just like our parents didn’t like Thundercats then too so stop flaming for the sake of it not living up to what you liked. Plus my kids watch my Thundercats with me and laugh at how lame it is. So there you go!!
I think they could’ve done better designs. More “Realm of the Claw” , less Dragonball Z..
Where are Wily Kat and Wily Kit? Or Lynxo, Bengali, Pumyra? And this new Snarf concept is lame. I loved the old Snarfer (and Snarfer).
I was big into them as a kid. I had the toys, watched the show without fail and collected and completed the sticker albulm.
I watch Thundercats with my kids now on retro.
I showed my son the new look Thundercats, didnt say anything to him and he said they didnt look very good at all. He is 7.
He saw the classic release of the toys though and asked me to buy him them.
Got to say i agree with him. The redesigns look cr*p. Panthro looks like Friar tuck.
i agree with all these people said that all these new designs are crap. i dont understand why “its obligated-necessity” when they want to bring up again a succesful serie they damage the original picture????the new design of the heros offend the real,original of the 80s cartoon. if somebody notice,at the old ones the heros they were connected eachother as the characteristics at body and faces connected them as tribe or “people” (you can call it as you prefer. the renewed as i saw they look like aliens,each of them of different planet.when i readed for the very first time that they will make new toys thundercats and new story i was excited.now i saw the released i am SO DISSAPOINTED that i have nostalgy more for the old ones.i WISH THEY PRODUCED AGAIN WITH THE ORIGINAL design and the changes to heve to do only with a succesfull new story as improvement of the old ones and not try to destroy and make all like stupid modern,like pokemon or not inspired things,for just do something!!!!
Uh, i need’saa …I mean I a nap.
The modern anime is a money maker. Just look @ Marvel & what they are finna make with there 2 new anime cartoons. I have been waiting for a live action Thundercats so that my 80′s hat trick G.I.Joe, Transformers( Brilliant but only 50% 80′s accurate) & Thundercats will be complete. I still dream of Voltron & Silverhawks but beggers can’t be choosers. I see how you feel but lets be honest, it can’t be worse than Dragonball evolution and that had real actors! If a reboot with younger Thundercats is what they offer then I will take it, watch it compare it until the live action comes out. The younger Thundercats also look like you could cast them fairly easy with real people. Give it a chance America
We can always order the orginal series on dvd and then on blu-ray & make the studios 50 million$ or mayb 100 million$? Decisions Decisions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07R-iX42tao&feature=feedu
It’s well done you guys. The new Thundercats cartoon is to the old Thundercats cartoon as Batman Beyond was to the original batman series.
The reboot is beautiful, and well done. ALSO, Snarf doesn’t talk.
It isn’t recycled crap, get your heads out of your nostalgic-butts.
Forget the nostalgia and realize, this is a good series, both of them are.
Warning: Tl;dr content ahead
Okay, for one: Cynical comments are cynical. And two, I LOVE what they’ve done with the design. The animation is far smoother, and honestly, it’s better written with quicker plot development. And one more thing, they made Cheetara so much hotter. This reboot is aimed at pubescent boys with ADHD and a love for energy drinks. They’ve taken the character design and reworked it to work with a modern demographic. 80′s Thundercats was a wonderful series, for the 80′s. The art style and choppy animation can’t hold a hold a candle to most of the action shows airing now, in 2011…In other words, the present. I think the fact they made Lion-O and Tygra younger was brilliant. That way the intended audience can relate to them. Then there’s Snarf. He was probably the most annoying character from any show from the 80′s. They took his speech away. That was a brilliant move. But yeah, if you don’t like it, there’s the remote. STFU and deal with it. It’s that simple. And if this is how you basement dwelling failbags spend your days, then you have WAY bigger problems than the new character design of the freakin Thundercats.
this Series is far far better than the original, in every way, bigger budget, bigger advancement in animation techniques…etc..
.im glad they have rebooted this series, and made it nothing like the original, probably the only thing that was sharp about the original was the animated intro, as most action series of the 80′s had a great animated intro to rope the kids in….thundercats, Silver hawks, Bionic six etc..
love x 10 the character design move here as well, No annoying snarf thank goodness, panthro has finally used his nunchucks more here than the entire animated original series,and theyve really given Cheetara a more alluring look….my only gripe would have to be the combat scenes, I wish they involved more martial arts mixed with their feral nature instead of relying on energy attacks here and there, but no biggie…..im definately moving forward on the new Thunderctas bandwagon,
I understand that there are a few that dislike the new designs, and while not all of the designs i am Fond of, I do like the risk that they took. Them 80′s FLASHDANCE leotards had to go.