Official ThunderCats 2011 Toys Discussion Thread

[Kevenn]

The muted colors leave me cold. I'll be interested in seeing what the classic line looks like. I'm sure the new cartoon will be great, though, at least story-wise and pacing-wise. The classic cartoon is paced so slowly, I fall asleep watching it.

[Steph]

The muted colors leave me cold.

Curious- what do you mean by muted colors? In the old series, Lion-o, Panthro, and Tygra all had the same/similarity muted colored blue clothing (Sky blue, grey blue, and dark blue). The color changes to Tygra (Dark green) and Panthro (Dark Red and Black) make the team more colorfully.

[wallbie]

I'll wait until I see the cartoon before passing judgement(or at least better pics), but I'm not loving what I see(but it also doesn't have me shaking my fists to the heavens either). Cheetara reminds me of Daryl Hannah in Blade Runner...

http://www.wearysloth.com/Gallery/ActorsH/7393-1925.gif

The first thing I thought of when I saw Cheetara was Dakota Fanning from the Twilight movies.



Now that I'm searching for an image, she didn't have as much eye make-up as I remember. Oh well, I didn't watch any of those movies past the first one and probably never will.

The first thing I thought of on Panthro was Borgoff Marcus from Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust or from Demon Deathchase if you prefer the books and manga.



He does bear a striking resemblance to me.

So Tygra has a gun and a whip? I certainly don't like it. My facetious question: is he still going to be an architect or an archeologist?

[Mike Bock]

I'm trying to like the new designs but I can't! I hate the anime look!
Lion-O has become a generic anime character.

Take a look:

[markatisu]

I think I know why the Tcat 2011 designs haven't wowed me like the 200X designs did.

I think it's because the 200X designs mostly added lots of McFarlane-esque detail to the original 80's designs, instead of outright giving characters new costumes. The TCats 2011 designs are even more radically different, while they retain somewhat familiar elements. Keep in mind that I don't hate the new looks at all.

It probably helped that the people designing MOTU 200x came from McFarlane

[Kevenn]

Curious- what do you mean by muted colors? In the old series, Lion-o, Panthro, and Tygra all had the same/similarity muted colored blue clothing (Sky blue, grey blue, and dark blue). The color changes to Tygra (Dark green) and Panthro (Dark Red and Black) make the team more colorfully.

The tones are dulled down. Yes, there is blue and green and "red," but they're all grayed and dulled down compared to the old version, which had truer tones.

[Steph]

The tones are dulled down. Yes, there is blue and green and "red," but they're all grayed and dulled down compared to the old version, which had truer tones.

I disagree- none of the new colors are greyed- they are bright and vibrant. some are "dark". Go back to the original series- all the original colors are muted there. Except for Lion-o hair, Tygra's skin, Willykit and Kat's hair- none of the original Thundercat colors were bright or vibrant. Well, Snarf was. (sorry, I don't have time to post a comparison shot)

I like the brighter Cheetra and Tygra skin. Panthro- I hope they keep the blue skin and don't flop between Blue- to grey between every episode.

[Neo]

Why do people dislike anime this much??

[MegaGearMax]

What about Teela, Sorceress, king Randor, queen Marlena, Battle-Cat...?

Which is why I said mostly.

In Teela's case, she was still recognizable as Teela. She even had pretty much the same costume (only with more detail. In MYP, she had the teal accents). The only real new change to her person was her age.

I'm trying to like the new designs but I can't! I hate the anime look! Lion-O has become a generic anime character.

Lion-O kinda reminds me of Rey from Breath of Fire 3.

[BEETLEJACK]

HATERS GONNA HATE!

I'm ecstatic about this brand. More so than MOTU as there is no toon fueling the mythos and the bios sure don't cut it.

I think the "anime" updates are amazing. They give new vibrance to outdated designs without drastically deviating from the source. They even managed to keep Cheetara hot! And I actually dig that this Panthro is the panther version of Jet from Cowboy Beebop.

I too was worried when I heard that Bandai had the toy license. I should have remembered that despite my dislike for the later Ben10 series, they do manage to produce vehicles, playsets and roll play toys for that show.

Well, with all that kick-ass merchandise I might as well sign over my paycheck to Bandai.

[the_ultimate_evil]

Why do people dislike anime this much??

because 99.9% is pure generic garbage which has interchange characters who must catch all insert animals/cards/elements

[2-bad]

because 99.9% is pure generic garbage which has interchange characters who must catch all insert animals/cards/elements

As much as I respect you're opinion, I just have to disagree on it T_U_E. Anime is far more than that. 10 years back I would've said the same thing but What you say used to be the case back till the 90's but I think it has evolved immensely since then. Loving the designs & I won't reserve judgment until I see the series.

I think the designs are fantastic. Sure there are color changes but I'm sure everyone expected changes were coming.

[wyldman11]

because 99.9% is pure generic garbage which has interchange characters who must catch all insert animals/cards/elements

Just like any form of entertainment all that is just the trend/fad. Also what is popular in Japan isn't necessarily popular elsewhere. A lot of the more sitcommy and romantic comedy type anime tend to not be as popular outside of Japan.

[Mr. Shokoti]

Why do people dislike anime this much??

Pearl Harbor



In all seriousness, it's just because its style and storytelling are quite different from traditional American animation for the most part. Some people don't like it because they didn't grow up with it while others just don't like its style. I do like some anime, but, unlike a lot of anime & manga fans, it will never be my first choice for animation or comics.

[Mike Bock]

God I hope the cartoon blows us away! I really hope so.
Maybe these designs won't look so bad once animated. Maybe I'm being too old school. I'm gonna give them a chance.

What I am really exited about is for the classic action figures. I'm damn sure picking those up.

[Lord Anubis]

Ya know love em or hate em, you can now go into a toys r us, and BUY A SWORD OF OMENS!!! The last time I did that was 25 years ago, its gunna be a trip.

I cant wait to see little kids in Lion-o costumes, it was a mildstone in my life when my mom bought me a crappy ben cooper costume, and i wore it on halloween and everyday after (im still wearing it). So I'll take it for what it is, my cats are back!

[Mr. Shokoti]

If this toyline & cartoon bombs(and they are both considered good in terms of quality), maybe it will be proof that the 2002 MOTU era's lack of success wasn't all about how Mattel handled things.

Or it could just mean kids today don't like anthropomorphic cats.

[Lord Anubis]

If this toyline & cartoon bombs(and they are both considered good in terms of quality), maybe it will be proof that the 2002 MOTU era's lack of success wasn't all about how Mattel handled things.

Im pretty sure if it bombs, it cause of "Smash blade Lion-O".

Bandai over produces, wich is a good AND bad thing. The good news is, you can always find what your looking for within 2 store stops. The bad news is their never ending waves of transforming figures. Ben10, Power Rangers, ETC, all suffer from pegs of endless transforming varients.

The best news is, Bandai is very open to playsets and roleplay! Thundercats toys NEED that just as much a MOTU, wich is a big point MOTUC fails, and I understand they dont want to take the chance, but they know they have a hot property, but the big wigs are careful now.... or just really stupid.

With the way kids are, if we get 2 seasons of Tcats, its a success. Cartoons are a never ending rotating door of card playing/animal capturing stuff now, no true iconic long lasting stuff, wich is why we now reach into the past. But the fact that we have now CLASSIC and NEW is a smart move, the name is back for the old fans to jump onto and dabble in the new stuff if its a hit or miss. Very smart there.

[markatisu]

If this toyline & cartoon bombs(and they are both considered good in terms of quality), maybe it will be proof that the 2002 MOTU era's lack of success wasn't all about how Mattel handled things.

Or it could just mean kids today don't like anthropomorphic cats.

I doubt it will bomb, its a WB show and CN bends over backwards for that.

200x was solely a issue with how Mattel handled it, for everything from scheduling to toy line rollout it was bad.

Bandai is operating a more Hasbro like model

[Mr. Shokoti]

200x was solely a issue with how Mattel handled it, for everything from scheduling to toy line rollout it was bad.

We'll have to agree to disagree. I'm not even talking about older fans who prefer the original MOTU over the 2002 era. I feel there were many reasons why that cartoon & toyline failed with kids & non-MOTU fans and I don't think Mattel should be blamed for all of it.

[Mike Bock]

Do you think we will see more characters at NYTF?
I wonder if wilykit and wilykat will be on this show.

[Mr. Shokoti]

Do you think we will see more characters at NYTF?
I wonder if wilykit and wilykat will be on this show.

I'm more worried about Snarf. We were already told that he wouldn't talk but would say his name(I'm paraphrasing). After looking at how ANIME this version of Thundercats is going to be, all I can picture is...

[Mike Bock]

I'm more worried about Snarf. We were already told that he wouldn't talk but would say his name(I'm paraphrasing). After looking at how ANIME this version of Thundercats is going to be, all I can picture is...

http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~n...es/pikachu.jpg

In one of the pictures ( I think it was on the Thundertank's box) you can see Snarf.

And he does have huge ears. Or at least it looks like it.

[Teelor]

The designs of the other TCs look cool, but not Panthro's. It just doesn't say "Panthro" to me.

Also, does the new Cheetara have her staff? I always thought that was a kickass weapon.

Please tell me Wilykit and Wilykat have been retured as characters and won't appear.

[markatisu]

We'll have to agree to disagree. I'm not even talking about older fans who prefer the original MOTU over the 2002 era. I feel there were many reasons why that cartoon & toyline failed with kids & non-MOTU fans and I don't think Mattel should be blamed for all of it.

There probably are more reasons but since WB has a big hand in CN's schedule it will get pushed unlike MOTU, and that in itself will help move the product.

Its the same reason Hasbro ditched CN for the most part and started their own network.

MOTU 200x was a big ole epic fail, and it was like dominoes because without proper cartoon scheduling you had no real push for the toys, which were then not ordered by retailers (which is why Snakemen wound up at the Aldi's discount grocery chain and specialty dept stores like ShopKo).

Is it Mattel, is it CN, was it kids? Does not really matter because when one piece failed the whole house came crumbling down on the license