ThunderCats
| Television series | |
|---|---|
| German title | ThunderCats Alternative title: ThunderCats - The strong cats from space |
| Original title | ThunderCats |
 | |
| Country of production |
United States , Japan |
| original language | English |
| Year (s) | 1985-1990 |
| Production company |
Rankin / Bass production |
| length | 22 minutes |
| Episodes | 130 in 4 seasons ( list ) |
| genre | Action series |
| music | Bernard Hoffer |
| First broadcast | January 23, 1985 (USA) on syndication |
| German-language first broadcast |
April 18, 1991 on Sat.1 |
ThunderCats (Alternative title: ThunderCats - The strong cats from space ) is an American cartoon series for children, based on characters by Tobin "Ted" Wolf. The series first aired on January 23, 1985 on Syndication . It was first broadcast in German on April 18, 1991 on Sat.1 .
action
After their home planet Thundera was doomed, a select group of the ThunderCats sought their salvation in flight. After years of traveling through the blackness of space, the cat people end up stranded on the planet of the “third earth”. Under the command of their young leader Leo , they try to settle in and settle down in their new homeland. But the evil undead Mumion and his subordinate mutants, who crashed with the ThunderCats, do not make this request easy for them with their countless attacks. The cat people have the "sword of omen", which contains the "eye of Thundera", an artifact of inestimable power. It protects the ThunderCats from the said enemy parties.
Origin and publications
Television series
This series, which was launched in 1983, was created and produced by Rankin / Bass Productions. The animation of the cartoons was carried out by the Pacific Animation Corporation, which was the working title for a merger of several Japanese studios (including Topcraft, which later formed the well-known Studio Ghibli ).
The first season of the series, which comprises 65 episodes, first aired in the USA in 1985, followed by the television movie ThunderCats - HO! 1986 . Seasons 2, 3, and 4 followed a different release format of 20 episodes each, starting with a five-part introductory plot. In 1990 the series came to an end. This TV series was broadcast repeatedly on German television in the early 1990s.
The ThunderCats rights were originally administered by Telepictures Corporation, which later merged with Lorimar Productions. At the end of 1988 the resulting company Lorimar-Telepictures was taken over by the Warner Bros. concern, which has also been the rights holder of the series since then.
Video games
In 1987 the company Elite Systems published the video game ThunderCats: The lost eye of Thundera for the systems Commodore 64/128, Sinclair Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST and Commodore Amiga. Almost ten years later, the Warner Bros. company also discontinued a ThunderCats online game on the side of their TV channel Cartoon Network , in which the player slipped into the role of the protagonist Leo (orig. Lion-O ).
Planned film version
On June 15, 2007, it was announced that Warner Bros. was working on a CGI-animated film on the ThunderCats theme. The corresponding script came from the pen of Paul Socoby, the production was carried out by Spring Creek Productions. A release date for the film was not announced, the director was named Jerry O'Flaherty. However, production was discontinued due to the bad experience with the CGI film Speed Racer .
Series restart
Instead of a film adaptation, the Thundercats series was reissued in 2011. The remake started on July 29, 2011 on US television.
Characters
The ThunderCats and their allies
- Leo ( original name: Lion-O ) is the leader and heir to the ruling house of the ThunderCats. At the age of twelve sent on a journey through space after the destruction of Thundera , Leo experienced his early youth on board a spaceship that finally brought him and his family to third earth. This explains his lack of maturity and life experience, which he has to laboriously acquire over the course of the series. As the leader of the ThunderCats, Leo wields the sword of his forefathers, in whose pommel there is also the legendary "Eye of Thundera".
- Jago ( Jaga ) is the level-headed veteran and once leader of the ThunderCats. He was given the responsibility to save a select group of noble Thundercats as well as the heir to the throne Leo and the Eye of Thundera from the impending global annihilation of the planet by means of an escape spaceship . However, Iago died during the long journey to the third earth. However, he continues to support the young leader of the ThunderCats in the form of a ghost apparition with his wealth of knowledge and experience.
- Tigro ( Tygra ) is a calm and level-headed character. After Jaga , he is the oldest of the ThunderCats. Due to his wisdom and authority, it is mostly Tigro from whom Leo seeks advice and who also takes command of the cats in his absence. The capable architect is also responsible for all constructions and buildings of the ThunderCats. In addition, Tigro has illusionistic abilities with which he can generate visions in front of his opponents and make himself appear invisible. He also knows how to use his long whip very well.
- Pantro is a more mature member of the ThunderCat convoy . In his capacity as a skilled machinist, he acts as the chief mechanic and pilot of the troops. In addition to Leo , he is also the physically strongest representative of the cat breed. In cooperation with Tigro , Pantro also creates and maintains the ThunderCats fleet , such as the Thundermobil . In combat, he wields a pair of deadly nunchucks , from which he can also spray various chemical substances with different properties over his opponents. Furthermore, he has equipped the spikes of his breastplate so that he can fire them like projectiles.
- Geparda ( Cheetara ) is the only adult female of the ThunderCats (until the later appearance of Pumera ). The agile warrior has a sixth sense that borders on clairvoyant abilities. In combat, she shines primarily with her speed, but also with her fighting staff.
- Mini-Kit & Mini-Kat ( Wily-Kit & Wily-Kat ) are the youngest members of the ThunderCat team. Due to their lack of life experience and their often thoughtless and impetuous actions, they often get themselves and their friends into trouble. The siblings carry a number of gimmicks in their belt pouches, such as slingshots, gas capsules and similar utensils.
- Schnuff ( Snarf ), the furry, talking animal is what approach comes closest to a pet of the ThunderCats. The friendly contemporary is a rather cautious and often a bit clumsy character. Since he has no special skills or fighting skills, he usually seeks his salvation in confrontations by fleeing.
The evil forces
- Mumion ( Mumm-Ra ) is the eternal antagonist of the ThunderCats on the third earth. The undead magician has almost unlimited magical abilities and strives with these to achieve his two stated goals: taking possession of the mighty “Eye of Thundera” and destroying the ThunderCats.
- Slime ( SS-Slythe ) is the leader of the mutant race. The simple spirit shares with Mumion the aversion to the ThunderCats, which he wants to wipe from his world. The amphibious character is followed and obeyed by an army of lizard people.
- Jackal ( Jackalman ) is always there when the fighting gets serious for Schleim's troops. With his enormous fighting strength and physical strength, he is always a serious and dangerous opponent for the ThunderCats. - The army of the jackal people is under his command.
- Affenmann ( Monkian ) is the clumsy mutant troop . He rarely poses a serious threat to the Thundercats and is often a welcome whipping boy to his commanders after unsuccessful actions. - Nevertheless, Affenmann is the undisputed patriarch of an army of ape-men.
- Geiermann ( Vultureman ) is the machinist and vehicle designer for the mutants.
synchronization
| role | Original speaker | German speaker |
|---|---|---|
| Leo | Larry Kenney | Marco Kroeger |
| Panthro | Earle Hyman | Ben Hecker |
| Tigro | Peter Newman | Helgo Liebig |
| Cheetah | Lynne Lipton | Monika Barth |
| Iago | Earl Hammond | Franz-Josef Steffens |
| Mini cat | Peter Newman | Stefan Brönneke |
| Mini kit | Lynne Lipton | Monika Barth |
| Mumion | Earl Hammond | Herbert Tennigkeit |
| mucus | Bob McFadden | Helgo Liebig |
| Monkey man | Peter Newman | Ben Hecker |
| jackal | Larry Kenney | Klaus Dittmann |
Web links
- ThunderCats in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Site by Warner Bros. for Cartoon (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Thundercats Premiere Friday July 29, 2011 On: comics-x-aminer.com June 29, 2011.
- ↑ ThunderCats in the German dubbing index