ThunderCats, ho! The 2011 reimagining approaches
I don't blog about television often but given how much I adored the original mid-80s animated series when I was a preschooler, the upcoming reimagining of ThunderCats definitely warrants a mention. Especially now that the first few images of the main characters have been unveiled.
Developed by Warner Bros. Animation for screening on Cartoon Network sometime in 2011, ThunderCats comes from the same Japanese animation studio responsible for the majority of segments in straight-to-DVD hits The Animatrix and Batman: Gotham Knight.
Of course, there's no denying that this kind of nostalgia-driven project can backfire horribly. Already, response to the new heavily anime-styled characters has not been positive. Personally, I think Panthro and Tygra look fantastic, while I'm less sold on Lion-O and Cheetara's new looks. Speaking of the latter two, you can check out their new action figures here.
My gripe about Cheetara is that she looks more ratty than sleek and powerful. My complaint about Lion-O is that once again - much like Christopher Nolan's Batman films, and the impending 2012 Superman movie reimagining - viewers are subjected to a "boy" hero, a saviour just finding his role in the world, as opposed to a full-grown man accepting of his responsibilities. This said, I suppose a young Lion-O makes more sense than the original show's child-trapped-in-a-man's-body character concept.
For the record, I'll certainly be giving the new ThunderCats a chance. The original series, while cheesy to revisit now (though not as cheesy as He-Man), was well drawn and actually had an interesting, continually developing plot - a rarity in 80's kids' shows. For those of you non-Children of the 80s, and general ThunderCats noobs, the original series centred on a small group of survivors from the destroyed world of Thundera. The last noble members of this cat-like civilisation - including impetuous Lion-O, heir to the Thunderean throne, and rightful wielder of the powerful, magic Sword of Omens - are stranded on a strange world, and have to face assorted foes while establishing a new home.
It's unclear at this stage how closely the new ThunderCats show will stick to the original's plot.
Of course, curiosity stemming from fan nostalgia will be the main thing driving people to watch the new ThunderCats. The series does however have several other drawcards. Like the new Snarf! How cute is he? Lion-O's annoying, timid babysitter in the original looks just like a cuddly Pokemon in new series.
As a final note, all this discussion of remakes and reimaginings reminds me I really need to seek out that well-received 2002 He-Man and the Masters of the Universe series.
Developed by Warner Bros. Animation for screening on Cartoon Network sometime in 2011, ThunderCats comes from the same Japanese animation studio responsible for the majority of segments in straight-to-DVD hits The Animatrix and Batman: Gotham Knight.
Of course, there's no denying that this kind of nostalgia-driven project can backfire horribly. Already, response to the new heavily anime-styled characters has not been positive. Personally, I think Panthro and Tygra look fantastic, while I'm less sold on Lion-O and Cheetara's new looks. Speaking of the latter two, you can check out their new action figures here.
My gripe about Cheetara is that she looks more ratty than sleek and powerful. My complaint about Lion-O is that once again - much like Christopher Nolan's Batman films, and the impending 2012 Superman movie reimagining - viewers are subjected to a "boy" hero, a saviour just finding his role in the world, as opposed to a full-grown man accepting of his responsibilities. This said, I suppose a young Lion-O makes more sense than the original show's child-trapped-in-a-man's-body character concept.
For the record, I'll certainly be giving the new ThunderCats a chance. The original series, while cheesy to revisit now (though not as cheesy as He-Man), was well drawn and actually had an interesting, continually developing plot - a rarity in 80's kids' shows. For those of you non-Children of the 80s, and general ThunderCats noobs, the original series centred on a small group of survivors from the destroyed world of Thundera. The last noble members of this cat-like civilisation - including impetuous Lion-O, heir to the Thunderean throne, and rightful wielder of the powerful, magic Sword of Omens - are stranded on a strange world, and have to face assorted foes while establishing a new home.
It's unclear at this stage how closely the new ThunderCats show will stick to the original's plot.
Of course, curiosity stemming from fan nostalgia will be the main thing driving people to watch the new ThunderCats. The series does however have several other drawcards. Like the new Snarf! How cute is he? Lion-O's annoying, timid babysitter in the original looks just like a cuddly Pokemon in new series.
As a final note, all this discussion of remakes and reimaginings reminds me I really need to seek out that well-received 2002 He-Man and the Masters of the Universe series.
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