ThunderCats (1985 TV series)

For other uses, see Thundercat.
ThunderCats
ThunderCats logo
GenreAction/Adventure
Sword and planet
Superhero
Created byTobin Wolf
Developed byLeonard Starr
Written byLeonard Starr
Stephen Perry
Directed byKatsuhito Akiyama
Arthur Rankin Jr.
Jules Bass
Voices ofLarry Kenney
Earle Hyman
Earl Hammond
Lynne Lipton
Bob McFadden
Peter Newman
Doug Preis
Gerrianne Raphael
Opening theme"ThunderCats"
ComposerBernard Hoffer
Country of originUnited States
No. of seasons4
No. of episodes130 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersArthur Rankin, Jr.
Jules Bass
ProducersTony Giovanniello
Matthew Malach
Connie Long
Heather Winters
AnimatorsTopcraft (season 1)
Pacific Animation Corporation (seasons 2–4)
Running time22 minutes
Production companiesRankin/Bass Animated Entertainment
Leisure Concepts (project development)[1][2]
Original release
NetworkSyndication
ReleaseSeptember 9, 1985 (1985-09-09) –
September 29, 1989 (1989-09-29)
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

ThunderCats is an animated science fantasy television series produced by Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment and Leisure Concepts.[1] It debuted in 1985, based on the characters created by Tobin Wolf.[3] The series, for which Leonard Starr was the head writer, follows the adventures of a group of catlike humanoid aliens. The animation for the episodes was provided by the Japanese studio Pacific Animation Corporation, with Masaki Iizuka as production manager. The studio was acquired in 1989 to form Walt Disney Animation Japan. Season 1 of the show aired in 1985, consisting of 65 episodes. Seasons 2, 3, and 4 each contained twenty episodes, starting with a five-part story.

The series was originally distributed by Rankin/Bass' then-parent company Telepictures Corporation, which would later merge with Lorimar Productions in 1986.[4] In 1989, Lorimar-Telepictures was purchased by and folded into Warner Bros., whose television syndication arm would eventually assume distribution of the show; Warner Bros. had the rights to the series (and all Lorimar-Telepictures programming) from that point on. Leisure Concepts which helped co-develop[1][2] the show acted as a licensing agent for the series.[1][5][6][7]

It also aired on Cartoon Network as part of the Toonami block.

There were also several comic book series produced: Marvel Comics' version (currently owned by Warner Bros. rival Disney), 1985 to 1988; and five series by Wildstorm, an imprint of DC Comics (Warner Bros.' corporate sibling), beginning in 2003. Items of clothing featuring the ThunderCats logo and DVD box sets of the original series have enjoyed a resurgence in recent years as nostalgia for the former children's favorite has grown.

A film adaptation of the series was announced in June 2007; Aurelio Jaro was making an animated feature film of ThunderCats, based on a script written by Paul Sopocy. Jerry O'Flaherty, veteran video game art director, had signed on to direct. The film was planned to be produced by Spring Creek Productions. It was originally set for a summer 2010 release,[8] but the movie has since been put on hold.[9] Concept art for the film has also been leaked online.[10]

  1. ^ a b c d The Business of Children's Entertainment. Norma Odom Pecora. 6 March 2002. ISBN 9781572307742. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Mike Germakian, a Father of the ThunderCats". Thundercatslair.org. September 29, 2008. Archived from the original on 2018-07-12. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  3. ^ "Those Thundercats just keep on coming back". Honolulu Observer. Archived from the original on December 1, 2006. Retrieved 2015-01-26.
  4. ^ Boyer, Peter J. (1986-02-03). "Toy-Based TV: Effects on Children Debated". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-08-10.
  5. ^ Lippman, John (August 16, 1999). "Creating the Craze for Pokémon: Licensing Agent Bet on U.S. Kids". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  6. ^ Millman, Nancy (July 29, 1986). "Burger King aims at kids' market in new campaign". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  7. ^ Teresa, Salas (August 1, 1988). "Buyers, licensors: partners in profit; strong merchandising support considered vital to property's success. (toy industry) (Licensing Scope)". Playthings. Archived from the original on September 11, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  8. ^ Graser, Marc (June 5, 2007). "Warner purrs for ThunderCats". Variety. Retrieved 2007-06-06.
  9. ^ "WordPress › Error". thundercats.org.
  10. ^ "Concept Art For Warner Bros.' Thundercats". ThunderCats.Org. Archived from the original on December 18, 2014.