I wouldn’t mind if they spent a chunk of the season on Old Thundera before the Exodus event took place. I’d like to see the way that Thunderian society is portrayed and animated.
That would be cool. The very few flashbacks we get of life on Old Thundera from the original series are not very satisfying. I would be interested to see what the nobles role in society was, and what a typical day for the common Thunderian was like.
Although I speak to Larry from time to time, there is no confirmation or suggestion from him to what I’m about to say…
I won’t be surprised if Larry Kenny reprises his role as Lion-O once he’s of age.
I’m calling Tony Todd as the guy from the horror/fantasy series. He’s the only African American actor I can think of with a deep enough voice that has done horror films (1990 Remake of Night of the Living Dead and, probably more famously, Candy Man). I actually could see Tony Todd pulling this off, even more so than Michael Dorn (although Dorn would be right up there).
Anyhow, Tony Todd I’m almost willing to bet is the other guy they are referring to.
I hope the mutant/bad guys are more of a one to one match this time round instead of the focus always relying on Mumm-Ra to kick butt.
Fingers crossed for a threating Safari Joe
I accept Larry’s judgment. And having Peter Newman reprise his old characters would certainly help to draw in the older viewers who remember the show from their childhoods. But if Lynne Lipton and Earle Hyman can no longer do Cheetara and Panthro, then I admit younger voices are needed. And I hope they’ll sound close enough to the originals to make the transition between the old and new series that much smoother. 
Is Lion-O the only one on Old Thundera who’s allowed to have a parent? Nobody else on the planet has any family at all? Frankly, that makes no sense. Everybody has family, even ThunderCats and Thunderian commoners, so why say they shouldn’t just because it sounds weird? I believe you can call in some of the original cast to voice a ThunderCat’s family member. Of course they wouldn’t be there all the time because it would make the cast too top-heavy and the idea would wear thin quickly, but it would be great stunt-casting for the Sweeps Months (February, May, and November when TV shows air their best storylines to garner the highest Neilsen ratings).
I think another excellent black actor/voice actor would be a good Panthro…Keith David (Goliath and Thailog from Disney’s Gargoyles)
I’ve heard Keith David on Gargoyles and I agree that he’d make a wonderful Panthro. 
Well, that’s four actors we’ve suggested: Michael Dorn, Tony Todd, Avery Brooks, and Keith David. If anybody else has a suggested actor for Panthro, let’s hear it. It would be interesting to see who else gets recommended. But be warned: They may choose somebody completely unexpected for the role of Panthro. Such casting has been known to happen.
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Absolutely right! And one that will honor Steve Perry, as he created the character.
The interview I conducted with Larry Kenney: http://raffertymillsconnection.podbean.com/2010/06/13/interview-larry-kenney/
Should shed some light on the new series.. somewhat. Hope you enjoy.
Nick, can we get this interview up on the front page? Very cool to get this interview with Larry right now.
Wow! I just listened to that interview and learned that Claudus is the father of Lion-O AND Tygra. Oh I bet RD Rivero is going to have fun with that one!
Fire away. What’s mine is yours.. and all that.
I listened to it too. I’ll be honest, it made me feel uneasy. But then Larry talked about how he read the script before agreeing to it. I’ll put my trust in Larry. Though, I recall from the anointment trials that Tygra had the same power as any other member of the tiger clan (forget exact wording). I’m not sure how that’ll work out…
The new series sounds interesting, definitely won’t be an exact repeat of the original, which is good. Just hope they aren’t getting too new with it.
Wouldn’t this by definition make Tygra a Liger?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liger
Or would it be more correct to start calling him Lygra?
Nick, I put the interview on the front page! Damn, this is the BEST Larry Kenney interview I’ve listened to ever! Great job!
Loved the interview…KUDOS!
This thought has been buzzing in the back of my mind since listening to the interview. Claudus has been portrayed as a Lion, which Lion-O inherits. Nothing has been revealed about Lion-O’s mom, which leads to two options, either Lion-O’s mom is a Tiger (and each child took traits from only 1 parent), or Lion-O’s mom is not Tygra’s mom. If Lion-O and Tygra have the same (Tiger) mother, then either they are both Ligers, or neither are since they only show traits of one cat type.
But since this is a kids’ show, I can’t see Claudus getting a divorce and remarrying or being a widower. Then again, divorces are more common than they were in the past, so maybe they went that route…
In the original, Lion-O and Tygra never acted like siblings. Then again, that would explain why Tygra was in charge of the ThunderCats Council (from Pumm-Ra). And it would help explain why Lion-O said Tygra would be the new Lord of the ThunderCats if Lion-O failed to return from fixing the Sword of Omens (All That Glitters).
But why would the youngest son of Claudus be the “hereditory” Lord of the ThunderCats? Don’t most monarchies have the eldest son be first in line to the throne?
One thing is for certain, it will be interesting to see this cartoon next year.
I am just wondering, where does all of this leave Bengali? I guess he is no longer Tygra’s brother?
Just finished listening to Larry kenney’s 40 minute interview, great job Nick.
My first and most important comment is that if the one and only legendary Lion-o says the new script is going to be fantastic and right up to the standards of the original then I have no reason to worry about the outcome of the 2011 series.
From what Larry said, he doesn’t know yet the other voice actors involved in the new series, besides the production is at its early steps, but as he mentioned most likely the voices of the old characters wouldn’t participate in this one. I believe the following days new announcements will be made and many mysteries will be further unraveled. About Tygra being Lion-o’s brother that was the most unpredictable revelation BUT this turn of events doesn’t necessarily mean a bad or unconnected scenario for instance like the one we had read a few months ago by Paul Sopocy. On the contrary, it takes the storytelling to a higher level with intriguing and interesting subplots making the New series from what we have heard so far and given that Claudus will be present, a more personal and sophisticated Thundercats tale. If I can come to a conclusion linking together all the information available I’d say the narration will be taking us very often back and forth in Old and New Thundera and particularly in the Old Thundera. Emphasis will be laid to the origin of the “nobles” as well as the history of a great civilization, I think these points were approached during the 130 episodes but not to such an extensive and mature way as expected, I think all of the Thundercats fans are more than eager to learn to a higher degree the background stories. I think it is clear the production is trying to attract once again the mature audience who watched avidly as kids the 80’s cartoon, and the best way to do so is by exploring the Thundercats’ past in a serious manner. However, the big concern is to attract a new generation of Thundercats fans and as Larry mentioned this is going to determine the factor of success paving the way not only for the New series but for the development of a movie later on.
We all remember in Thundercats Ho Part 5 at the Royal chamber when Lion-o anointed Bengali as a Thundercat member and Tygra turns toward Bengali holding him by the shoulders and calls “Brother”, one memorable memonent. However there aren’t any other strong facts throughout the series suggesting for granted their family relation, but if they are brothers or cousins then Lion-o is also by kinship related to Bengali!! And just to make things even more complicated if in Thundera the ascension to the throne if followed by the same rules as in Earth then the older Brother should be rightfully the Next Lord of the Thundercarts!! Which leaves us as Tygra the genuine Lord of Thundera and Lion-o merely the young Prince…. (Reminding you the official announcement..)
I think LioConvoy hit the nail on the head. Tygra and Ben-Gali are both from the Tiger type, Tygra being a “normal” Tiger, while Ben-Gali is a Bengal Tiger. And if you think of different cat types as different races, then just as people of the same race will call each other thier brother or sister, the same may be true on Thundera.
I had not thought of the fact Claudus might be Tygra’s adopted dad. That would make even more sense. It actually could fit within the storylines from the orginial very well. For, why else would everyone make a big deal about the fact Lion-O is the hereditory Lord of the ThunderCats. I remember being a kid and wondering what the big deal was, since “it’s not like Lion-O would have any competition for that role since he has no siblings”. Granted, I only came up with that line of thought after finding out what hereditory meant.
Side note - just thinking about all the stuff I actually learned from the cartoon, amazing, just pure amazing. I remember in elementary school, one day our teacher was reading something to the class about ancient Egypt and she got to a word she, an adult teacher, could not pronounce. After the 2nd or 3rd “Sar..” “Sar…” I just blurted out “Sarcophagus”. Thank you very much Mumm-Ra.