The Beauty of Snarf

Cartoons ThunderCats (1985)
1

The new series coming out, they’ve decided that Snarf won’t talk beyond making catlike noises and saying “snarf.” My understanding is that they found the original Snarf annoying and wanted to make him more lovable. I find this logic somewhat insulting because it states that if people find you annoying, you should just stop talking and just try to make yourself cute and lovable.

Personally, I love the original Snarf. Sure he nagged, could be whiny, could get himself into as much trouble as the Thunderkittens. But the beauty of Snarf was that for all his annoying characteristics, the other ThunderCats all loved him and related to him as a friend. And we got to see some of their struggles at times with Snarf. In the episode where Snarf was being forgetful, Panthro was clearly annoyed with him and talked alone with Lion-O about Snarf getting old. Yet it all worked out in the end and Panthro still valued his small companion.

I think we live in a world that values strength, values heroes, values those who are dynamic and often wants to push aside those seen as weak or annoying or needy. The beauty of the Snarf character in the original series was us seeing the ThunderCats show him love and respect and kindness. He was a member of the team, he couldn’t fight in the same capacity but he was seen as an irreplacable part of their family and I think there’s a lot to be said for that in today’s society. To learn to instead walk away from someone we deem annoying, to look for the positive qualities about that person and be a friend to someone who probably needs a friend.

Just my two cents. These thoughts came to me as I was looking through screen caps I’d made today.

2

Personally, I love Snarf, next to a dollop of mashed potatoes with gravy…that was a joke folks…duck sauce (apricot glaze is just fine)

Even though I love to pick on Snarf, taking away his ability to speak, not only removes his role, but also removes half of Lion-O. That’s just my two cents.

I just can’t picture a new series without Snarf worrying over Lion-O. I was always against him not speaking since the news came out.

I always felt that Snarf was the parental role of the show, to teach right from wrong, to be nice to others (eh, that lesson never worked on me LOL), but all jokes aside, Snarf took on the parent’s role.

I know this show is geared towards my kids (I’m a ThunderMom), but really? Make Snarf mute? Ugh!

3

yep.. A bad idea in my eyes.. Oh well..

4

Persoanlly, I like the idea. I couldn’t stand Snarf in the original series, and I don’t think taking away his ability o speak would necessarily take away his concern for Lion-O.

Think of Cringer / Battle Cat in the 2002 MOTU series; they took away his ability to talk, and still had a nice bond with Adam / He-Man.

As I see it, Snarf is kind of Jar Jar Binks, he’s more likable when quiet.

5

He-Man was horrible in 2000 so ya are better re-think the fact that Cringer was mute.

The 1980’s was the decade if talking animal sidekicks.

Time to crash in my little spaceship.

6

I loved the 2002 MOTU series, so we’ll have to agree in disagree :cool:

7

I bought like the first set of episodes of He-Man on DVD because I remember loving it as a kid and it made me cringe too much I couldn’t make it thorugh an entire episode. :eek: Didn’t know they ever made a second series.

8

I agree, I thought the original Snarf was a touching and surprisingly layered character; you really felt his sort of motherly concern for Lion-O.

Definitely not a Jar Jar, IMO. ; )

Plus the idea of him only saying “Snarf” is a little too reminiscent of Pokemon. Frankly, I don’t want to be reminded of that, lol.

9

I agree, definitely not Jar Jar. Jar Jar reminded me of someone who is mentally retarded in the way he spoke and acted. Snarf definitely had full use of his mental capacities. More like Nana in Peter Pan only he could talk and reason like any of the ThunderCats.

Never watched Pokemon, never really appealed to me.

10

Ditto on that sentiment.