There has been much discussion over the past year about just how much influence the designers at LJN had over the “content” that went into the cartoons and toy line.
Here is a perfect example. This is an unproduced concept for the Thundercats line. It was intended to be a Berzerker, and went into very early modeling phases… but was ultimately scrapped.
LJN designers had come up with the idea and suggested it to the animators for the Thundercats cartoon. When they got approval, they went forward making the toy.
It’s interesting to think what may have happened if this toy were to have been made.. possibly it would have shown up in an episode somewhere.
In no way, shape or form, does this looks like, feel like or remind me of a ThunderCats character/ toys.. are the drawing the only reference material? Any written stuff? Backstory or “official” recognition?
Keep in mind, this was one of many items where LJN was creating the toy before it made it into the series. I agree with Endorx about the proto quality. However, remember the “bad” Mad Bubbler proto and what the final version was going to look like.
Had Hairball made it farther along, he’d probably have ended up like Quick Jaws and Cannon Blaster - in the mini catalog, but never made.
Personal opinions ahead… This is one of the things I did dislike about the LJN line. There were toys made of figures and vehicles that only made it into 1 or 2 episodes (if any), but more regularly used ones weren’t made, or were started too late to be seen anywhere other than a mini catalog. For example:
0-2 episode toys:
Asteral Moat Monster - Series 1
Fist Pounder - Series 2
Mongor - Series 3
Safari Joe - Series 3
Tongue-A-Saurus - Series 3
Laser Sabers (red) - Series 3
Laser Sabers (blue) - Series 3
Laser Sabers (black) - Series 3
Laser Sabers (orange) - Series 3
ThunderWings - Series 3
Stilt Runner - Series 3
Luna Lasher - Series 3
Stinger - Series 3
Never got produced:
Snarfer
Snowmeow
Willa
Nayda
Feliner
ThunderStrike
Tower of Omens
Luna
Amok
Aluro
Chilla
Red Eye
Tug Mug
Mumm-Ra w/Sword of Plun-Darr
Rat Star
Sky Tomb
Luna Tacker
Castle Plun-Darr
Ghost Jaga
Clear (invisible) Tygra
That’s just my personal annoyance with the line. All of those great possibilities that were already in the show on a regular basis and someone, somewhere decided to make toys first, and get them added for just one episode. Had Hairball, Cannon Blaster, and Quick Jaws been made, they would have added to that 0-2 episode list…
I agree- and trust me, I questioned the item numerous times. However, three separate engineers have assured me this was indeed proposed for the Thundercats line.
You need to remember… this is also a very early model. Additional revisions were going to be made. Have you seen the second version of the Mad Bubbler? it looks nothing like the original version… this happened all the time.
He was most likely going to be a Lunatack…
It may not be the prettiest thing.. but its legit.
So Hairball started out as a Berzerker concept, but was later changed to a Luna Tack concept? That makes a little more sense. By the time he would have been made, I assume, the series would have been focusing on New ThunDera…
