ThunderCats Roar

ThunderCats Roar is an American animated television series produced by Warner Bros. Animation for Cartoon Network. The series premiered on February 22, 2020.[1] ThunderCats Roar features an explicitly cartoonish artstyle with a more lighthearted, comedic tone than previous ThunderCats installments, similar to Teen Titans Go. The show's premise is similar to the original; the ThunderCats escape their dying homeworld Thundera, only to crash land on Third Earth, facing off against various villains and their evil overlord, Mumm-Ra.

ThunderCats Roar
GenreComedy
Action
Sword and planet
Science fantasy
Based onThunderCats
by Ted Wolf
Developed byVictor Courtright
Marly Halpern-Graser
Voices ofMax Mittelman
Erica Lindbeck
Patrick Seitz
Chris Jai Alex
Trevor Devall
Andrew Kishino
Jim Meskimen
Dana Snyder
Opening theme"Thunder Neko", written by Noko, performed by Shinsei Kamattechan (episodes 3–6)
"ThunderCats ROAR! Theme", written by Victor Courtright and Matthew Janszen, performed by Andi Gibson and Matthew Janszen (episode 7–present)
Composer(s)Matthew Janszen
Country of originUnited States
Original language(s)English
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes28
Production
Executive producer(s)Sam Register
Victor Courtright (co-executive producer)
Producer(s)Marly Halpern-Graser
Liz Marshall
Supervising producer:
Nate Cash
Consulting producers:
Jules Bass
Michael Jelenic
Production company(s)Warner Bros. Animation
Release
Original networkCartoon Network
Picture format1080i HDTV
Original releaseFebruary 22, 2020 
present
Chronology
Preceded byThunderCats

Synopsis

Staying true to the premise of the original series, Lion-O and the ThunderCats—Tygra, Panthro, Cheetara, Wilykat and Wilykit—barely escape the sudden destruction of their homeworld, Thundera, only to crash land on the mysterious and exotic planet of Third Earth. Lion-O, the newly appointed Lord of the ThunderCats, attempts to lead the team as they make this planet their new home. A bizarre host of creatures and villains stand in their way, including the evil Mumm-Ra, Third Earth's wicked ruler who will let nothing, including the ThunderCats, stop his tyrannical reign over the planet.

Production

On May 18, 2018, it was announced that a third ThunderCats cartoon, ThunderCats Roar, was in development and was picked up by Cartoon Network. It was originally scheduled to premiere in 2019 but was delayed to 2020. The show's developers are Victor Courtright and Marly Halpern-Graser. Courtright previously worked on the Disney XD series Pickle and Peanut as a writer/storyboard artist and created the Cartoon Network digital series Get 'Em Tommy!. Halpern-Graser previously worked as a writer for various DC Nation Shorts and was co-creator of Disney XD's show Right Now Kapow. The first two episodes were released on the Cartoon Network app on January 10, 2020. ThunderCats Roar premiered on Cartoon Network UK on April 6, 2020.[2] ThunderCats Roar later premiered on Cartoon Network Africa on May 25, 2020.

Voice cast and characters

ThunderCats

  • Lion-O (voiced by Max Mittelman) – A lion-themed Thunderian and the newly-crowned leader of the ThunderCats who still acts like a child.
  • Tygra (voiced by Patrick Seitz) – A tiger-themed Thunderian who is the serious and most mature member of the team. He's a bit of a clean freak.
  • Panthro (voiced by Chris Jai Alex) – A panther-themed Thunderian who is the strongest and smartest member of the team.
  • WilyKit (also voiced by Lindbeck) – A wildcat-themed Thunderian who is one half of the ThunderKittens. She is a tomboy obsessed with fighting and fun in this incarnation.
  • WilyKat (voiced by Mittelman) – A wildcat-themed Thunderian who is one half of the ThunderKittens. He is the more mature twin armed with chemical capsules in this incarnation.
  • Snarf - The team's mascot and Lion-O's pet. In this show, Snarf is depicted as a robot animal and possibly the smartest of the Thundercats.
  • Jaga (voiced by Larry Kenney) - A jaguar-themed Thunderian who is the ThunderCats' deceased mentor and the narrator for the series pilot episode. He later got free from the Astral Plane so he could tell the ThunderCats about how Thundera was destroyed after his battle with Ratar-O and the Sword of Plun-Darr. In this incarnation, Jaga is indirectly responsible for the deaths of both Thundera and himself because he threw the Sword of Plun-Darr into Thundera's core in an attempt to dispose of it.

Villains

  • Mumm-Ra (voiced by Seitz) - A mummy sorcerer who is the main antagonist of the series. He enslaved Third Earth for centuries before the ThunderCats de-powered him at the end of "Exodus: Part 2" by breaking his staff. He now tries every chance he gets to regain his full might, using various artifacts, the Ancient Spirits of Evil, and a shady alliance with the Mutants to do it.
  • Mutants - A group of creatures from the planet Plundarr who become allied with Mumm-Ra.
    • Slithe (voiced by Trevor Devall) - The leader of the Mutants who resembles an overweight lizard man with sharp fangs.
    • Jackalman (voiced by Andrew Kishino) - The hyperactive and most dimwitted member of the Mutants who resembles a humanoid jackal.
    • Monkian (voiced by Jim Meskimen) - The physically-strongest member of the Mutants who likes smashing and bashing and resembles a humanoid white ape.
    • Vultureman (voiced by Dana Snyder) - The Mutants' resident tech-geek and pilot who resembles a humanoid vulture. He once tried to plagiarize one of Panthro's inventions and nearly got killed for it.
    • Ratar-O (voiced by Crispin Freeman) - The rat-like ruler of the Mutants who faced Jaga some years before Thundera exploded. When in space, Ratar-O reclaimed the Sword of Plundarr as he plans to come after the ThunderCats.
  • Ancient Spirits of Evil (voiced by Alex) - A group of evil spirits who transform Mumm-Ra into Mumm-Ra the Ever Living.
  • Driller (voiced by Stephen Tobolowsky) - A drill-themed robotic villain, who must constantly drill for diamonds in order to power his drill to keep drilling for diamonds.
  • Molly Lava (voiced by Kaitlyn Robrock) - An evil space criminal that turns from a cute little gem rock into a lava monster when she jumps into a volcano. Mandora is in pursuit of her when Lion-O inadvertently releases her from prison.
  • Berserkers - A group of cybernetic viking-like pirates that will do any service for gold.
    • Hammerhead (voiced by Devall) - The captain of the Berserkers who has a cybernetic arm that can punch and pound with great force.
    • Topspinner (voiced by Lindbeck) - A member of the Berserkers who can spin at high speeds.
    • Ram Bam (voiced by Snyder) - A member of the Berserkers who rolls by the wheel embedded in his chest at high speeds to smash through objects like a battering ram.
    • Cruncher (voiced by Alex) - A hulking member of the Berserkers whose sheer strength can crush buildings and boulders with ease.
  • Lion-S (voiced by Laila Berzins) - A lion-themed Thunderian who is a wanted criminal. Lion-O saw her as a kindred spirit due to their different sword tricks until he learned about her criminal past.

Other

  • Berbils (voiced by Snyder) - A race of robotic bears that the ThunderCats befriend after crash-landing on Third Earth. They live for construction and are small, but strong in packs. The Berbils are responsible for building both the Cats' Lair and Castle Plun-Darr in this incarnation of the show.
  • Gwen the Unicorn (voiced by Robrock) - The leader of the magical unicorns of Third Earth. When all of the unicorns are kidnapped, she turns to the ThunderCats for help. Her character is based on the titular character from "The Last Unicorn".
  • Willa (voiced by Berzins) - The large leader of the Warrior Maidens of Third Earth who speaks through roars or short bursts of sentences.
    • Nayda (voiced by Cindy Robinson) - The second-in-command of the Warrior Maidens and Willa's translator.
  • Dr. Dometome (voiced by Devall) - A Third Earth scientist with a robotic "son" named Hercules. He takes it upon himself to fix the mess Lion-O creates when he drains Third Earth of the ocean, and floods the city beneath it.
  • Mayor Fungustus (voiced by Seitz) - The mayor of the Moldian world under the ocean, who decides to shoot Lion-O, Dr. Dometome, and Hercules into the "sun" (Third Earth's molten core) when he learns they flooded their world by pulling the plug.
  • Moldians (voiced by Robrock) - A race of small fungal creatures whose world is flooded when Lion-O pulls the plug in the ocean, reversing the flow of gravity.
  • Micrits - A race of tiny humans.
    • Emperor Toadius (voiced by Steve Blum) - The ruler of the Micrits.
    • Prince Starling (voiced by Cedric L. Williams) - The fallen hero of the Micrits who became delusional after searching for the World Tree so he could drink of its waters so he could defeat Lion-O
  • Mumm-Rana (voiced by Robrock) - A mummy sorceress and the good opposite of Mumm-Ra who resides in the White Pyramid.
  • Mumm-Randall (voiced by Victor Courtright) - A slow-moving donkey who is owned by a Wolo and is actually the neutral opposite of Mumm-Ra and Mumm-Rana. He is a minor exclusive character for the show.

Episodes

No.Title[3][4]Directed byWritten byOriginal air date[3][4]Prod.
code
U.S. viewers
(millions)
1
2
"Exodus"George KaprielianStory by: Joan Ford
Teleplay by: Victor Courtright
February 22, 2020 (February 22, 2020)[nb 1]124
125
0.37[5]
Part 1: After the destruction of their home planet Thundera, the titular ThunderCats fly off to a new home, only to crash land on Third Earth after being shot down by their arch-enemies the Mutants. Following a scuffle with the Mutants, Lion-O pursues them into the wild while the rest of the ThunderCats meet the Berbils whose village their ship unknowingly destroyed in the crash. Luckily, the Berbils are quick builders and opt to build their base while warning them of Mumm-Ra. Lion-O ends up encountering Mumm-Ra when chased by the Mutants to the villain's pyramid, with Mumm-Ra destroying the Mutants' ship before returning to his lair.
Part 2: Lion-O enters the pyramid to thank Mumm-Ra, only to learn he is evil while revealing the presence of the other ThunderCats on Third Earth. Mumm-Ra, explaining his Doomstaff grants him power while establishing a curse where anyone who says his name is struck by lightning, chains Lion-O up and uses a portal to attack the ThunderCats' new home. Mumm-Ra makes short work of the team despite their resistance, with Lion-O and Snarf arriving too late. Things seemed hopeless until Mumm-Ra unintentionally praised the Berbils as they hug him with his own curse used against him, enabling the ThunderCats to break free with Lion-O destroying Mumm-Ra's staff. Mumm-Ra, reverted to his natural form, escapes and Lion-O promises to stay with his team and lead them to victory.
3"The Legend of Boggy Ben"Victor CourtrightVictor CourtrightFebruary 29, 2020 (February 29, 2020)[nb 2]1060.42[6]
Lion-O has gotten a hold of the last jar of Thundersnaps, the best cookies Thundera had to offer! But a difficult to open cookie jar is gonna send Lion-O and Cheetara chasing down a legend, a Boggy Ben-related legend.
4"Prank Call"Jeremy PolgarStory by: Victor Courtright
Teleplay by: Marly Halpern-Graser
February 29, 2020 (February 29, 2020)[nb 2]1040.36[6]
Lion-O wants to prove to the ThunderKittens that he's not just some boring old adult like Tygra even if it means ignoring his instincts and messing with an obviously evil crystal.
5"Driller"George KaprielianStory by: Joan Ford
Teleplay by: Bryan Condon
March 7, 2020 (March 7, 2020)[nb 2]1010.33[7]
Panthro is getting a little fed up with having to fix things around the Cats' Lair constantly. This is unfortunate because the ThunderCats are about to be attacked by an unstoppable drilling robot named Driller and he's gonna break everything!
6"Secret of the Unicorn"Angelo HatgistavrouStory by: Joan Ford
Teleplay by: Ben Crouse
March 7, 2020 (March 7, 2020)[nb 2]1050.32[7]
A crying unicorn appears at the Cats' Lair and weepily tells the ThunderCats that all of her unicorn friends have been captured! Tygra thinks he's just the unicorn expert to help the last of the unicorns, he just needs her to stop sobbing long enough to tell him who took her friends. Easier said than done.
7"Panthro Plagiarized!"Jeremy PolgarStory by: Joan Ford
Teleplay by: Lesley Tsina
March 14, 2020 (March 14, 2020)1090.42[8]
Panthro is angered when Vultureman steals the plans for his gravity-manipulating invention and tries to conquer Third Earth with it.
8"Warrior Maiden Invasion"Angelo HatgistavrouStory by: Joan Ford
Teleplay by: Molly Knox Ostertag
March 14, 2020 (March 14, 2020)1030.41[8]
A tribe of Warrior Maidens start smashing up Third Earth and imprison the ThunderCats. Wilykit and Wilykat escape through the air vents and try to free their friends.
9"Lost Sword"George KaprielianVictor CourtrightMarch 21, 2020 (March 21, 2020)1020.27[9]
After accidentally catapulting the Sword of Omens out of the Cats' Lair and into Mutant territory, Lion-O and Snarf go on a quest to get it back and restore power to the base. However, Mumm-Ra uses the form of a creepy troll to befriend Lion-O and steal the Sword in order to regain his full power.
10"The Horror of Hook Mountain"Jeremy PolgarStory by: Joan Ford
Teleplay by: Eric Knobel
March 21, 2020 (March 21, 2020)1100.28[9]
After a climbing expedition leaves them stranded on a snowy mountaintop, Tygra and Lion-O are taken in by an overeager abominable snowman and his pet white tiger. However, Tygra is suspicious of the friendly "Snowman" and tries to send an SOS to the other ThunderCats.
11"ThunderSlobs"Jessica Borutski & Angelo HatgistavrouStory by: Joan Ford
Teleplay by: Ben Joseph
March 28, 2020 (March 28, 2020)1070.26[10]
After accidentally leaving Tygra behind at Mumm-Ra's pyramid after foiling his mind-control scheme, the other ThunderCats realize they're a bunch of slobs! Meanwhile, Mumm-Ra befriends Tygra after he cleans up the pyramid before using an enchanted karaoke machine to regain his muscular form.
12"Working Grrrl"George KaprielianJoan FordMarch 28, 2020 (March 28, 2020)1110.26[10]
After losing a race to Monkian over who gets to be leader of a local village, Cheetara becomes a successful business person. However, the other ThunderCats discover Monkian cheated by drinking a super-speed potion. Now with the help of Cheetara's biggest fan Jan-Jan, they need to dethrone Monkian from his seat of power.
13"Mandora - The Evil Chaser"Jeremy PolgarStory by: Joan Ford
Teleplay by: Cait Raft
April 4, 2020 (April 4, 2020)1120.38[11]
Lion-O "accidentally" releases a whole space prison full of criminals and winds up on the wrong side of the law when Mandora the Evil Chaser shows up.
14"Dr. Dometome"Jessica BorutskiStory by: Joan Ford
Teleplay by: Justin Becker
April 4, 2020 (April 4, 2020)1130.37[11]
Lion-O is tasked with mapping the beaches of Third Earth, which leads to him somehow draining the oceans of all their water entirely.
15"Study Time"George KaprielianStory by: Joan Ford
Teleplay by: Bryan Condon
April 11, 2020 (April 11, 2020)1140.44[12]
Lion-O never pays attention during Tygra's training sessions! So when he's asked to do a pop quiz on "sword magic," he accidentally opens a portal to the Astral Plane and releases the Netherwitch on Third Earth.
16"Mumm-Ra, the Ever-Living"Jeremy PolgarStory by: Joan Ford
Teleplay by: Lesley Tsina
April 11, 2020 (April 11, 2020)1080.41[12]
Every time Mumm-Ra gets ahold of a magic artifact to restore his powers, the ThunderCats just smash it and turn him into a dinky skeleton again....until today that is because Mumm-Ra just remembered that he's got the Ancient Spirits of Evil on his side.
17"Berserkers"TBAStory by: Joan Ford
Teleplay by: Molly Knox Ostertag
April 18, 2020 (April 18, 2020)1150.32[13]
The Cats' Lair is attacked by gold-loving robot pirates called the Berserkers who have been paid in gold by Mumm-Ra. This is a good thing, really, since it means Lion-O and the ThunderKittens can ditch their chores of cleaning out the silo at the rear of Cats' Lair and fight robo-pirates instead. Just don't tell Tygra!
18"Jaga History"George KaprielianStory by: Joan Ford
Teleplay by: Ben Crouse
April 18, 2020 (April 18, 2020)1160.38[13]
Freed from the Astral Plane, Jaga - the ghost of the ThunderCats's original mentor - is now free to visit the Cats' Lair. That means he can finally tell them the reason why their home planet Thundera got destroyed that involves an attack by the Mutants and their leader Ratar-O who wields the Sword of Plundarr.
19"Barbastella"Jeremy PolgarJoan FordApril 25, 2020 (April 25, 2020)1170.30[14]
While flying with his new invention, Panthro hits it off with a new friend Barbastella, the Queen of the Bats. However, Panthro has a fear of bats.
20"Adopt a Jackal"Keith PakizStory by: Joan Ford
Teleplay by: Bryan Condon
April 25, 2020 (April 25, 2020)1180.28[14]
After a battle between the ThunderCats and the Mutants, Jackalman gets confused and accidentally returns to the Cats' Lair with the ThunderCats. To avoid persecution, he pretends to have lost his memory and think he's their pet. Of course, saving the day over and over again wears him down, and Jackalman longs to be reunited with the other mutants.
21"Summer Fun Day!"George KaprielianStory by: Joan Ford
Teleplay by: Justin Becker
May 2, 2020 (May 2, 2020)1190.29[15]
Bored of fighting the Mutants all the time, the ThunderCats go to the beach, only to get attacked by Crab-men who keep bullying them despite the cats vowing not to fight for the whole day.
22"Safari Joe"Jeremy PolgarJoan FordMay 2, 2020 (May 2, 2020)1200.32[15]
The game hunter Safari Joe keeps catching the ThunderCats in traps. So, after he humiliates Cheetara, the Cats decide to turn the tables on him.
23"Ratar-O"Keith PakizStory by: Joan Ford
Teleplay by: Bryan Condon
May 9, 2020 (May 9, 2020)1210.26[16]
The ThunderCats have gotten so good at defeating the Mutants of Plun-Darr that it's basically become routine. That all changes with the arrival of the Mutants' old leader Ratar-O.
24"Prince Starling's Quest"George KaprielianStory by: Marly Halpern-Graser
Teleplay by: Molly Knox Ostertag
May 9, 2020 (May 9, 2020)1220.22[16]
Lion-O is playing with Snarf and doesn't have a care in the world. Unfortunately he's accidentally stomping on the miniature village of the Micrits. Prince Starling goes on a quest to become a giant and slay Lion-O.
25"Lion-S"Jeremy PolgarStory by: Joan Ford
Teleplay by: Cait Raft
May 16, 2020 (May 16, 2020)1230.23[17]
A Thunderian named Lion-S arrives on Third Earth. Lion-O becomes impressed with Lion-S's moves while she becomes impressed with Lion-O's new sword tricks. Lion-O thinks he has found a kindred spirit and a potential new ThunderCat. What Lion-O doesn't know is that Lion-S is an escaped convict from the Gray Penal Planet who is being pursued by Mandora the Evil Chaser.
26"Snarf's Day Off"Keith PakizStory by: Joan Ford
Teleplay by: Justin Becker
May 16, 2020 (May 16, 2020)1260.21[17]
While the ThunderCats look for a Wolo's slowest donkey, Snarf takes a day off to visit an old lady named Mrs. Gristidi in the form of a house cat. As the two of them attend a craft fair, Snarf discovers that Mrs. Gristidi’s stand has a rival in the form of a disguised Mumm-Ra who is trying to sell his hypnotizing ceramic frog statues.
27
28
"Mumm-Ra of Plun-Darr"George KaprielianStory by: Joan Ford
Teleplay by: Bryan Condon
May 23, 2020 (May 23, 2020)TBA0.22[18]
Part 1: Panthro tests the new defense system of Cat's Lair with the help of Driller, the Warrior Maidens, and the Netherwitch. He allows Lion-O to use the Cat Pad associated with it. Meanwhile, Mumm-Ra gets his hands on the Sword of Plun-Darr and regains his gigantic size. He launches an all-out attack on the ThunderCats with the help of the Mutants.
Part 2: With Mumm-Ra and the Mutants having taken control of Cat's Lair and stolen the ThunderCats' weapons, they begin to enslave all of Third Earth. The ThunderCats work to reclaim their lair as Lion-O is depressed over his latest mess-up and that he is just a tool. With some guidance from Jaga, Lion-O proves to be more than a tool when it comes to taking back Cat's Lair.

Reception

ThunderCats Roar's announcement was met with backlash from fans of the original series and its 2011 reboot. On Cartoon Network's YouTube channel, promotional videos for the series have received a high amount of dislikes. The series has been criticized for its art style and comedic tone, drawing unfavourable comparisons to Teen Titans Go!.[19]

Notes

  1. This episode was first released online on January 10, 2020. Part 1 also aired as a sneak peek on television on February 17, 2020, after the television premiere of Teen Titans Go! vs. Teen Titans.
  2. This episode was first released online on February 17, 2020.

References

  1. https://ew.com/tv/2020/02/04/thundercats-roar-premiere-cartoon-network/
  2. "Cartoon Network UK April 2020 Highlights". RegularCapital/WarnerMedia UK. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  3. https://tvlistings.zap2it.com/overview.html?programSeriesId=SH03414682&tmsId=SH034146820000&from=undefined&aid=gapzap
  4. http://www.thefutoncritic.com/showatch/thundercats-roar/listings/
  5. Metcalf, Mitch. "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Saturday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.22.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  6. Metcalf, Mitch. "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Saturday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.29.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  7. Metcalf, Mitch. "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Saturday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 3.7.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  8. Metcalf, Mitch. "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Saturday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 3.14.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  9. Metcalf, Mitch. "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Saturday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 3.21.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  10. Metcalf, Mitch. "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Saturday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 3.28.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  11. Metcalf, Mitch. "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Saturday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.4.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  12. Metcalf, Mitch. "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Saturday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.11.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  13. Metcalf, Mitch. "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Saturday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.18.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  14. Metcalf, Mitch. "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Saturday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.25.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  15. Metcalf, Mitch. "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Saturday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.2.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  16. Metcalf, Mitch. "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Saturday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.9.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  17. Metcalf, Mitch. "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Saturday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.16.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  18. Metcalf, Mitch. "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Saturday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.23.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  19. Barder, Ollie. "'ThunderCats Roar' Looks Very Different To The Original Series And Fans Aren't Happy About That". Forbes. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
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