Hey everyone! long-time He-Man.org poster (He-Matt), first time Catslair.org poster, and forgive me if this has been discussed (i searched; couldn’t find anything on it) but why are the Anointment Trials not back-to-back on the DVDs?
I just watched First Day, and figure the next episode would pick up where it left off, but it’s totally different. Any reason why Warner Bros didn’t fix the order?
[QUOTE=MattOnDemand]
Hey everyone! long-time He-Man.org poster (He-Matt), first time Catslair.org poster, and forgive me if this has been discussed (i searched; couldn’t find anything on it) but why are the Anointment Trials not back-to-back on the DVDs?
I just watched First Day, and figure the next episode would pick up where it left off, but it’s totally different. Any reason why Warner Bros didn’t fix the order?
[/QUOTE]
I believe the episodes are organized in the order that they were televised.
[QUOTE=Tygra]
I believe the episodes are organized in the order that they were televised.
[/QUOTE]
Yep that’s correct. However to clarify what Tygra said, the episodes were released in the order they were FIRST aired in the US. I believe on their repeat showings when they went into syndication they were shown back to back. So Trial of Strength on the monday and by friday it would be Trial of Evil. I believe Cartoon Network also aired them back to back?
That’s what I’ve been told over the years by a dozen or so US fans anyway.
That was the way it was done here in Birmingham, AL. The first time around, each trial aired on Friday over a period of five weeks. AFter that, they were all aired back to back
Howdy
So does it confuse or break continuity with them being back to back? Or for someone like me who has not seen Thundercats for about 10 years won’t it matter?
Chris M
yes it does, on the dvd they piss u off cause they dont have the annointment trials back to back and it does get a little out of wach which is not good, however unfortunetly thats how it was produced onto the dvds
They are better viewed back to back, but I don’t think them being apart affects continuity as such.
I don’t think it’s ever indicated how much time (as in days or weeks) passes between The Trial of Strength and [B]The Trial of Evil
[/B]However, thinking in ‘real’ time, I don’t think Lion-o completes all 5 trials within the same week storywise. I mean Monkian discovers that the Thundercats are apparently fighting amongst themselves from a contact of his and reports his news to Ssslithe in Trial of Speed.
So I consider the time frame of Monkians contact seeing Panthro and Lion-o fighting, reporting the news to Monkian and then Monkian telling the other Mutants, covering at least a couple of days.
With not knowing the exact amount of time between events, the story flows better if the trials are together, but they shouldn’t look odd apart either as you do get the feeling as you watch them that some time (perhaps a few days) as passed between each trial.
Chris here…
[QUOTE=blackiecats]
They are better viewed back to back, but I don’t think them being apart affects continuity as such.
I don’t think it’s ever indicated how much time (as in days or weeks) passes between The Trial of Strength and [B]The Trial of Evil
[/B]However, thinking in ‘real’ time, I don’t think Lion-o completes all 5 trials within the same week storywise. I mean Monkian discovers that the Thundercats are apparently fighting amongst themselves from a contact of his and reports his news to Ssslithe in Trial of Speed.
So I consider the time frame of Monkians contact seeing Panthro and Lion-o fighting, reporting the news to Monkian and then Monkian telling the other Mutants, covering at least a couple of days.
With not knowing the exact amount of time between events, the story flows better if the trials are together, but they shouldn’t look odd apart either as you do get the feeling as you watch them that some time (perhaps a few days) as passed between each trial.
[/QUOTE]
For once, Neil, I disagree with you! 
Whilst the points you make are good ones, I still think that if you pay attention to detail, the Anointment Trials look odd if viewed spaced apart. I say this because of little things, such as Lion-O hanging each of the ThunderCats’ insignias on his belt as he conquers each trial, whilst the others are seen without their insignias on their belts or costumes - if you watch an episode inbetween, you’ll see the ThunderCats’ insignias back in their normal place, whereas go back to an Anointment Trial episode and you’ll see them hanging on Lion-O’s belt again!
Plus, it’s stated that the ThunderCats are not allowed to help Lion-O during the Trials, even in the event of something like a Mutant attack (note how Tygra forgets this in the Trial of Mind Power and then remembers) - if you watch an episode between the Trials, you’ll see the ThunderCats all interact normally with Lion-O, and doubtless cover his back in the event of an attack. Whilst it could be argued that this is because the events of that episode are taking place on a day when no Anointment Trial is taking place, for me that doesn’t ring true - my personal bet is that the Anointment Trials cover the space of about a week or so.
Take care…
Doh! You are definately right Chris. I can’t believe I didn’t think of that. I need to rewatch all the episodes again!
I think they cover at least 2 weeks if not 3. But I do definately agree that no adventures would have taken place between the trials, so yeah continuity wise the trials should be watched back to back.
Chris here…
[QUOTE=blackiecats]
Doh! You are definately right Chris. I can’t believe I didn’t think of that. I need to rewatch all the episodes again!
[/quote]
Any excuse, eh? (j/k!) 
Possibly - joking aside I could do to refresh my memory myself, but I’m pretty sure it’s inferred that the Trial of Speed takes place the day after the Trial of Strength. Although I agree that this means Monkian’s spy would have to be darned fast! There may well be longer gaps between the other Trials, though, as IIRC there’s at least one episode where Lion-O is actually seen back at the Cats Lair discussing how much he hates competing against the other ThunderCats.
Take care…
Howdy
Okay, so you both make convincing arguments…well apart from the insignia slip, tut tut Neil
See, I assumed that the Trials were over a few weeks as well, but from the sounds of it I may decide to watch all the Trials back to back when I get my set.
Which means a lot of disk changes…never mind.
Chris M
A wise man (Tygra) once said: “If all goes well by the end of this week we’ll be annointing the new Lord of the Thundercats.”
[QUOTE=Tygra]
A wise man (Tygra) once said: “If all goes well by the end of this week we’ll be annointing the new Lord of the Thundercats.”
[/QUOTE]
Howdy
Okay, so is that a quote out of one of the Trials then? If so then yes, I will definitley be watching them back to back.
Chris M
[QUOTE=shigsy2003]
Howdy
Okay, so is that a quote out of one of the Trials then? If so then yes, I will definitley be watching them back to back.
Chris M
[/QUOTE]
Yes, it is a quote from the first Annointment Trial episode.
[QUOTE=Tygra]
Yes, it is a quote from the first Annointment Trial episode.
[/QUOTE]
Howdy
Wow that must have confused a hell of a lot of people then, with the next ep being completly different, again the WB should have done them back to back, BCI had no problems switching a few He-Man epsiodes round so it was story continuity order and not televised order.
But yes when I get them, I will watch them all after each other. Can’t wait to get these three sets.
Oh has there been a consistent (WB must not know the meaning of that word) release schedule for these DVD’s? I ask as it may help predict the last boxset.
Chris M
I believe an early December date was floating around some websites for the release of the final boxset.
[QUOTE=blackiecats]
I believe an early December date was floating around some websites for the release of the final boxset.
[/QUOTE]
Howdy
What the hell??? They need 8 months to release a set that will surely be as sub standard as the others, whereas BCI can release awesome box sets with awesome features in awesome quality in half that time!!! Something seems wrong there…real wrong.
Chris M
I think the difference lies in the fact that WB own Thundercats. BCI is licencing He-man from Entertainment Rights and paid a good amount of money for the rights. Therefore BCI need to get the sets right to get the amount of sales to justify the purchase of the licence as well as make a profit.
WB has nothing to lose by releasing these sets, being as they own them in the first place and have no royalty fees to another company to pay.
[QUOTE=blackiecats]
I think the difference lies in the fact that WB own Thundercats. BCI is licencing He-man from Entertainment Rights and paid a good amount of money for the rights. Therefore BCI need to get the sets right to get the amount of sales to justify the purchase of the licence as well as make a profit.
WB has nothing to lose by releasing these sets, being as they own them in the first place and have no royalty fees to another company to pay.
[/QUOTE]
That and I suspect BCI cares a little more.
[QUOTE=blackiecats]
I think the difference lies in the fact that WB own Thundercats. BCI is licencing He-man from Entertainment Rights and paid a good amount of money for the rights. Therefore BCI need to get the sets right to get the amount of sales to justify the purchase of the licence as well as make a profit.
WB has nothing to lose by releasing these sets, being as they own them in the first place and have no royalty fees to another company to pay.
[/QUOTE]
Howdy
Yup and it shows, its noce to know that since theyhave no money to lose they are just going to a half hearted job on these. Thanks WB, its nice to know you prefer to work less and treat fans of shows like there not even worth bothering with.
Tygra: Yup that will have a lot to do with it to. You can relly tell BCI care for He-Man. I mean, getting Val, Busta, Emiliano and countless other people who know there He-Man involved including all the creators is a testament to thier dedication to the fans.
Chris M