May 18, 2018

Cartoon Network's "Thundercats" Remake Blends Action and Funny

Disney is reviving the '80s series "The Muppet Babies" and DreamWorks is bringing back "She-Ra: Princess of Power". And now it's Warner Bros. Animation's turn to remake "Thundercats. [A new series, "Thundercats Roar," currently in production, will debut on Cartoon Network in 2019. It will feature a comedic take on the original series, with simplified, cartoonish character designs, but also promises to stay true to the original series' premise:

Lion-O and the Thundercats (Tygra, Panthro, Cheetara, Williekat and Willykit) barely escape the sudden destruction of their homeland, Thunderra, and crash-land on the mysterious and exotic planet Third Earth. Lion-O, the newly appointed leader of the Thundercats, attempts to lead the team to this planet as their new home. In their path are strange creatures and villains, including the evil Mumu-La, the evil ruler of Third Earth who tolerates nothing, including the Thundercats.

Thundercats Roar is produced by Victor Courtright (2013 Cartoon Brew Artist of the Day) and Marley Halpern-Gracer (Right Now Kapow). Sam Register serves as executive producer.

Click here for a short interview with Courtright and a video preview of the series' opening titles:

Voices are provided by Max Mittelman (Justice League Action) as Lion-O and Willie Kat, Erica Lindbeck (DC Super Hero Girls) as Cheetara and Willie Kit, Patrick Seitz (Justice League Action) as Tygra and Mumm-Ra, and Chris Jay Alex (Star Wars Battlefront II) as Panthro.

The original Thundercats, created by Ted Wolfe, debuted as a syndicated series in 1985. That show was produced by Rankin-Bass Productions. A second Thundercats series debuted in 2011. That show was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and Japan's Studio 4°C and lasted 26 episodes on Cartoon Network.