This going to be a long post, and for that I truly apologize, I also hope that I do not offend anyone, it truly is/was not my intention.
ThunderCats Roar has proven to be as polarizing as Korrasami has been to The Legend of Korra. From what I have observed, people are either going to love the idea, or absolutely hate it, and I am afraid that there’s not going to be much of a happy middle where fans can meet on common ground and hug one another. It appears that there is no similarity at all between the two shows except the names of the characters, and the already established place settings. We haven’t seen any episodes, so I am only assuming they will keep the 1985 mythology intact.
The problem with ThunderCats, is that it has so much already going against it, for decades. It was mostly forgotten for well over a decade, and there has already been a prior attempt to ressurect the property that was unsuccessful because of lackluster revenue from toy sales and production team infigting, unfortunately only airing for one season, brilliant as it was.
As much as I hate to say it, ThunderCas, all these cartoons, they are toy commercials, pure and simple, and if they aren’t selling licensed items, selling DVD’s, and keychains there’s no point in making a show.
The original 1985 show is one of the legendary eighties properties that so many of us grew up watching and loving, but ThunderCats, beloved as it is, and as mush as I hate to say it, isn’t part of the holt trinity, Transformers, G.I.Joe, and He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.
There will always be a demand for some form of Transformers, even the movie ones, Hasbro with Transformers were clever with the property in that it is like disco, (I heard that) in that transformers in all of their decades in existence- never really went away. Transformers just changed their style up enough through the years and their many re-incarnations to stay true to their G-1 roots and keep the mythology alive, keeping enough intact to keep the old school interested while chang the look enough to bring new, younger fans onboard.
The same can be said for the MOTU reboot in the 2000’s, they kept the original mythology intact, but they employed a beautiful animation style and had, from what I saw, good storytelling. Put that together with a really nice looking toyline that was new, but had adequate homage to the original 80’s lineup, and you have a terrific re-imagining of a beloved television show.
The same can be same for G.I.Joe. No series can beat the original G.I.Joe A Real American Hero cartoon and storyling, but if you remember, ARAH was a remaining of an already existing 12” toy line that had been in existence from the early sixties, changing until the mid-seventies with the “Adventure Team” series of action figures. That line died, but as a result, one of the best toy lines and cartoons of the 80’s rose from its grave, and became so iconic, that once more they began making the 12” figures again.
Unfortunately, ThunderCats doesn’t have that. After a 80’s phenomenon fell to newer properties such as TMNT, and the 2011 ThunderCats reboot and Bandai toyline tanked, along with a failed movie production under its belt, it never reached the heights it had with the original incarnation.
From what I understand, unless I have been misinformed, even the Mattel ThunderCats series is no longer being made, with the original seven not being produced, and two of the figures, Wilykit and Wilykat being set at even more unattainable as they were an SDCC exclusive. (again, if I have made a mistake, it was an honest one) Hard Heroes, Mezco, Funko, and a few other third party? Manufacturers have tried to make ThunderCats toys and collectibles, but just couldn’t get the numbers of collectors to make it viable.
I will try to give this new ThunderCats Roar series a fair try seeing as it hasn’t aired yet, and attempt to not see it with the veil of the 80’s franchise. My Little Pony, G.I.Joe, Transformers, MOTU, f these properties have enjoyed successful re-births with “non-canon” appearences, and ThunderCats Roar could be no different.
That being said, if it’s like liver, and I don’t like it, I just won’t watch it, but that doesn’t mean others won’t like it. I’m not going to belittle or "hate"people who may enjoy it.
I just think from the stand point of the looks of the show, its character design and the mythology of the ThunderCats story, and the fact that we don’t know if will be a faithful following of original, this is where the creators have to have decided early, EARLY on, is this going to be somewhat serious (I highly doubt) or a comedy?
If they want a successful following for this show, they are going to have to be respectful of the original fans and make this a pure comedy, not a parody, and not a comedy/drama. Doing so is difficult water to tread, and they better have some stellar, highly talented writers onboard with a healthy respect for the source material if they want this thing to be taken somewhat seriously/make it a success. I know this looks facetious, buis true, this show, ast in the beginning, is really going to have the loyalty, or the very least, blessing of the fans that love ThunderCats.
In the words of Yoda… done badly they have in that respect, they have.
Like right out of the gate, and I don’t mean the artwork or the premise of the cartoon, but their own jaundiced statements about the original show, and their biased thoughton their own reimagining of it on social media.
But, back to the show itself.
Humor, good humor that is clever and does not condescend to the viewer, or bash the fans’ love of the original show, takes a large amount of skill to write, and I hope the production team has really invested in someone who can walk the fine line between homage and homicide, becaere is no in between.
Frankly, and I feel I must expose my bias, I don’t like the look of the characters.
They look like Rick and Morty met Steven Univere in a bar, and put on their beer goggles for some Adventure Time- but if they have solid storytelling behind the episodes, it will be a pleasant surprise that will keep the show alive.
On the other hand, if this series’ animation style is augmented by badly written plot and chock full of toilet humor it will rely upon to carry it through however, it is going to be canned. (For the record, I like toilet humor, but it’s like sriracha, little bit goes a loooooong way)
If anything, you know, even after giving the show a chance, and it is bad (again, subjective to the viewer), there is a silver lining.
This show has kicked up a lot of fuss, and it will perhaps make people who were unaware of the 80’s original go and watch the series. I have seen several people online say that they were going to watch, or rewatch the original series again because of this thrid attempt at resurrecting the ThunderCats franchise. Some of the commenters in the conversation sections of the TY videos have gone a step further and even suggested a look at the 2011 series.
In a perfect world, the ThunderCats Roar thing could be a blessing, and make people go and watch the 2011 series, enjoy its complexities, and perhaps garner enough attention and support that Warner Brothers could think on it a bit and say that they might ought to give the 2011 series a second chance.
Anyway, that’s just my thoughts on it, if this thrid relaunch is a surprise hit, terrific, if not, well, people are at least talking about ThunderCats now, and no one has spent this kind of time on them on the scale that it has been at this moment, for better or worse, in a good long while.
What could that possibly hurt, amiright?
mad
