Official ThunderCats 2011 Toys Discussion Thread

[Grimbot]

Btw on the Thundercats and MOTU comparison Mandora = Zodack.

BZZZZZZZZT!

Mandora = Over the top mix of Robocop and Dirty Harry

I do wonder if the Silverhawks show was any good. I liked it as a kid but haven't tried to go back and watch it. Same with Thundercats though. I was thinking of buying the new Vol. 1 Part 1 soon to see how it was. I find most cartoons I watched as a kid not terribly entertaining as an adult though. I think pretty much Dungeons and Dragons is pretty much the only one I consistently enjoy besides He-man and She-Ra.

I've recently watched entire Thundercats series for the first time and it's pretty good. There's some trouble with some early episode but gets better and better. Series started falling apart when Thundera was resurrected.

[BCI Guy]

I do wonder if the Silverhawks show was any good. I liked it as a kid but haven't tried to go back and watch it. Same with Thundercats though. I was thinking of buying the new Vol. 1 Part 1 soon to see how it was. I find most cartoons I watched as a kid not terribly entertaining as an adult though. I think pretty much Dungeons and Dragons is pretty much the only one I consistently enjoy besides He-man and She-Ra.

I've had trouble watching multiple episodes of many of the cartoons I loved growing up. To me, of the action/toybased cartoons, Galaxy Rangers still holds up the best by a mile. GI Joe is hit or miss (but pretty great when its "on") and I still like Spiral Zone. Most of the others are tougher to sit through more than an occasional episode or 2 at a time.

On the other hand, shows like Rocky and Bullwinkle and the Pink Panther are even better now than when I was a kid. They were truly written on 2 levels and I can really appreciate them as an adult.

[JonWes]

On the other hand, shows like Rocky and Bullwinkle and the Pink Panther are even better now than when I was a kid. They were truly written on 2 levels and I can really appreciate them as an adult.

No too go too far off topic... but oh man, Rocky and Bullwinkle are on another plane of existence. Still love those. I actually haven't tried watching Pink Panther. I actually remember little about it other than the main character and that I liked it as a kid.

[Hordak Alpha]

No too go too far off topic... but oh man, Rocky and Bullwinkle are on another plane of existence. Still love those. I actually haven't tried watching Pink Panther. I actually remember little about it other than the main character and that I liked it as a kid.

I know Rocky and Bullwinkle was written with adult viewers in mind. There is one episode where, on a book shelf behind Rocky and Bullwinkle, there is a book with the title as clear as day on the cover 'Sex on Planet X'.





That could NEVER make it onto a kids cartoon nowadays.




And, back to Thundercats, did anyone else notice that, sometimes with Mandora, her voice was made to sound like a female variation of John Wayne??


I noticed this more in a few of her appearances within the final season of the original series. I think it was the one where she teamed up with Snarfer for some reason.



And, one thing I do like is whenever that space traveling zoo keeper makes an appearance, his pet crow sounds just like Groucho Marx which is an inside joke about that bird that appeared on the game show that Groucho hosted in the 1950's, 'You Bet Your Life'. I think that bird was a crow....or a raven.

[wyldman11]

BZZZZZZZZT!

Mandora = Over the top mix of Robocop and Dirty Harry

I meant interplanetary enforcement agent for some unseen higher power. Her job was more justice and legal, his was neutral.

Most of those earlier comparisons also have their breaking points since they were over generalizations.

The fact that Shokoti mentions Huntara just as easily in an over generalized way shows it's just that, and over generalization. Same thing was done with the Lord of the Rings movies and Star Wars to show they are the same story and oddly that Lord of the Rings was a copy of Star Wars for some Star Wars fans.

I mean on teela and Cheetara http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/StaffChick you also have Conan the Destroyer which came out around the same time with Zula. Historically women were known to use staffs and pole arms when fighting.


Besides wouldn't Robocop be based on Mandora? Since Robocop came out two years after Thundercats?

[Mr. Shokoti]

I meant interplanetary enforcement agent for some unseen higher power. Her job was more justice and legal, his was neutral.

Most of those earlier comparisons also have their breaking points since they were over generalizations.

The fact that Shokoti mentions Huntara just as easily in an over generalized way shows it's just that, and over generalization. Same thing was done with the Lord of the Rings movies and Star Wars to show they are the same story and oddly that Lord of the Rings was a copy of Star Wars for some Star Wars fans.

I mean on teela and Cheetara http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/StaffChick you also have Conan the Destroyer which came out around the same time with Zula. Historically women were known to use staffs and pole arms when fighting.


Besides wouldn't Robocop be based on Mandora? Since Robocop came out two years after Thundercats?

I find Zodak's comparison with Mandora the greatest "over generalization" of all since their only similarity is that you don't see their boss.

[wyldman11]

Wasn't Zodak supposed to be from off world or other wordly which was my main point of comparison.

I just recall most of the comparisons from earlier were true of many cartoons from the time period even before MOTU came out.

but whatever wasn't really being serious about the thing anyways. I don't really care much if something did or didn't influence something, except just for information purposes.

[JonWes]

And, back to Thundercats, did anyone else notice that, sometimes with Mandora, her voice was made to sound like a female variation of John Wayne??

That's what I think of her voice sounding like when I try to remember it. I didn't realize it ever sounded differently.

[Eamon]

Pretty uncanny and hard to ignore in my opinion.

Is this just coinsidence that TC constantly mimics MOTU or is there something to how similar they are?!

I think there enough room in the world for both MOTU and TC and I am genuinley looking forward to this cartoon. But it does annoy me that they are so similar and very few seem to see this. It will annoy me even more if this is a hit where the 2002 MOTU was not.

some comparisons motu 200x vs. tcats 2011

[wyldman11]

Pretty uncanny and hard to ignore in my opinion.

Is this just coinsidence that TC constantly mimics MOTU or is there something to how similar they are?!

I think there enough room in the world for both MOTU and TC and I am genuinley looking forward to this cartoon. But it does annoy me that they are so similar and very few seem to see this. It will annoy me even more if this is a hit where the 2002 MOTU was not.

How similar they are.

The first shot can be seen in many properties. I could see a similar shot taken in a Justice League cartoon or Avengers comic.

Fight scene from a similar angle in a castle. The first is probably training, the second is an actual fight. Again take away the swords and seen in many other forms. Hey look it's Neo and Morpheus are fighting.

Third shot something similar happens on most Wow servers about once a week, a bunch of people gather around on the same mount and parade around.

Didn't the staff chick in the first Power Ranger movie do a similar pose? Hasn't a similar pose been done in most fighting based anime where a character used a staff?

Go-Go Power Ranger, Thing Ring do your Thing, Captain Caveman?

Heck the further along I got Thundercats and He-man bare just as much in common with Power Rangers. Were the new versions copying Power Rangers? Motorcycles or whatever vehicle of the show would replace the mounts.


If Thundercats is successful, one of the reasons we can't compare it to MOTU 2002 is, that was nine years ago. Simple fact MOTU could have been released two years later and could have been potentially more successful for no real reason.

[Eamon]

As I said a few posts back, if we start comparing difference scenes from different genres we would be here all day.

I am talking furry shorts and ray guns here.

[markatisu]

Pretty uncanny and hard to ignore in my opinion.

Is this just coinsidence that TC constantly mimics MOTU or is there something to how similar they are?!

I think there enough room in the world for both MOTU and TC and I am genuinley looking forward to this cartoon. But it does annoy me that they are so similar and very few seem to see this.

I see it I just don't really care, MOTU does not win any prizes for being original

It will annoy me even more if this is a hit where the 2002 MOTU was not.

Then prepare to be extremely annoyed, not only is this a BIG show it's by WB which has financial investment in CN. I can guarantee you the toyline will last longer then 200x MYP

MOTU 200x was almost 10 years ago, different climate and different attitudes. Plus Bandai is an infinitely more competent toy company then Mattel when it comes to mass retail. Just stroll through any store and it's like Bandai and Hasbro have paid off retail chains lol

[Eamon]

I see it I just don't really care, MOTU does not win any prizes for being original

I think it's plenty original in the context in which we are discussing. ie toys that have cartoons to back them up.

In that landscape, I think MOTU towers above many in terms of originality and playability and still does. At least I think so.

[markatisu]

I think it's plenty original in the context in which we are discussing. ie toys that have cartoons to back them up.

In that landscape, I think MOTU towers above many in terms of originality and playability and still does. At least I think so.

I agree but do you see Mattel attempting to capitalize on it? So therefore you get a gold star because without a cartoon or retail toy line the discussion is pretty much a ******* contest of what's better IMHO

Maybe when TC is a success we can get a new MOTU that receives the same kind of support WB is forcing behind TC

[Eamon]

I agree but do you see Mattel attempting to capitalize on it? So therefore you get a gold star because without a cartoon or retail toy line the discussion is pretty much a ******* contest of what's better IMHO

I know, I know! It's just too close for comfort I think. I find it hard not to be cynical here.

Maybe when TC is a success we can get a new MOTU that receives the same kind of support WB is forcing behind TC

One can only hope Mattel execs are watching the rice of Thundercats with an epic face palm! "oooooh that's how we should've done it!!"

[markatisu]

One can only hope Mattel execs are watching the rice of Thundercats with an epic face palm! "oooooh that's how we should've done it!!"

I think they already do that everyday when they see Hasbro's products (GI Joe, Transformers and My Little Pony) that have their own freaking channel

I still boggles my mind how He-Man is almost always treated like a 3rd tier license when legally and financially it is one of the biggest ones Mattel has.

If you look at what Mattel owns, outside of Barbie and Hot Wheels next to nothing from 1975-1990 remains for them except MOTU. Their success in recent years is out of the luck of obtaining the DC and Pixar CARS licenses.

At least WB has an excuse to have waited 25 years to redo Thundercats, since its license list is massive and extensive.

Lets hope TC is a smash success cause maybe THAT will light a fire under them to bring back MOTU in some form

[Eamon]

I think they already do that everyday when they see Hasbro's products (GI Joe, Transformers and My Little Pony) that have their own freaking channel

I still boggles my mind how He-Man is almost always treated like a 3rd tier license when legally and financially it is one of the biggest ones Mattel has.

If you look at what Mattel owns, outside of Barbie and Hot Wheels next to nothing from 1975-1990 remains for them except MOTU. Their success in recent years is out of the luck of obtaining the DC and Pixar CARS licenses.

At least WB has an excuse to have waited 25 years to redo Thundercats, since its license list is massive and extensive.

Lets hope TC is a smash success cause maybe THAT will light a fire under them to bring back MOTU in some form

Aye!!

In my opinion, that is down to Mattel being run like an oil company as apposed to a toy company.

The word 'fandom' is probably alien to them.

[heavy-eternium]

by the power of grayskull!

[Jukka]

But it does annoy me that they are so similar and very few seem to see this. It will annoy me even more if this is a hit where the 2002 MOTU was not.

One thing that I've wondered, what with Thundercats having kinda similar feel and "skimpy" outfits to MOTU characters, does it make them easier to accept (for general public), with them being almost Anthropomorphic?

To put an very extremist-fictional-example...
#1: That cat-warrior is wearing a leotard and wielding a sword! Awesome!

#2: Well what about that human-warrior wearing a leotard and wielding a sword?

#1: That's so gay!

[Eamon]

One thing that I've wondered, what with Thundercats having kinda similar feel and "skimpy" outfits to MOTU characters, does it make them easier to accept (for general public), with them being almost Anthropomorphic?

To put an very extremist-fictional-example...
#1: That cat-warrior is wearing a leotard and wielding a sword! Awesome!

#2: Well what about that human-warrior wearing a leotard and wielding a sword?

#1: That's so gay!

I think both MOTU and TC would both suffer equally from the skimpiness. LionO is actually far more homoerotic than He-Man in my opinion with his exposed abs and the very sexual sounding chant. He does look much better in the new show so that side of things is far less.

But it just feel that much like the 80's TC looks at what MOTU does right and then try to mimic that and do one better.
And just from a fan perspective, the 2002 show went far too unnoticed for my tastes and it would just be annoying to here that folks see this new Thundercats and then ask why we never got a new MOTU when we did.

Though on the flip side, maybe the new TC will make folks wonder about the mighty 2002 show and then go check it out?!

[Lord Anubis]

LionO is actually far more homoerotic than He-Man in my opinion with his exposed abs and the very sexual sounding chant. He does look much better in the new show so that side of things is far less.

Really? Didnt He-Man blush and push away she-ra's pals? Didnt He-Man's alter ego wear pink? Didnt He-Man also have exposed abs... come to think of it less clothing than Lion-O? And the sexual chant....... bro, he was all about da hoooo's

[Eamon]

Really? Didnt He-Man blush and push away she-ra's pals? Didnt He-Man's alter ego wear pink? Didnt He-Man also have exposed abs... come to think of it less clothing than Lion-O? And the sexual chant....... bro, he was all about da hoooo's

He-Man's gear is both functional and familiar and based in reality. Guys did wear furry boots, furry shorts and gold braclets and harnesses. Look at Spartacus.

Lion-O on the other hand wears blue spandex and chose a vest top with the ab section removed.

But to be honest, we are splitting hairs here. Both characters are incredibly homoerotic. I just happen to think He-Man is more real looking.

He-Man loves Teela and this was clearly shown many times. It is suggested that Frosta did get He-Man once he caved.
I never saw Lion-O express any feelings for Cheetera or any female. Though I confess to not seeing every episode.

Not that any of this really matters. Both are half naked men and we love em!

[Baena]

My take is the same 20 something years later.

He-Man and the Masters are the toys to get.

Thundercats is the show to watch.

I love Thundercats dearly, but I'm not getting those awful looking toys.
I will watch that show for sure though, it looks really amazing!

It's all come full circle again... Thundercats is a MotU ripoff, albeit done very well as far as the toon goes.
But MotU remains the toys to get.

Just my opinion mind ye.
Again, not entirely a slam to Thundercats fans, I love 'em! But in both decades... He-Man came first and broke the ground, Thundercats just pulled off a better toon.

[Eamon]

Aye!

It's gonna be very very interesting to see how well the 2002 MOTU will compare nearly a decade on.

Jayzuz lads....a decade?!!

[MegaGearMax]

Aye!

It's gonna be very very interesting to see how well the 2002 MOTU will compare nearly a decade on.

Jayzuz lads....a decade?!!

I really hope ThunderCats is successful and inspires Mattel to do something with MOTU to compete. MOTU is getting left in the dirt! Transformers, G.I. Joe, Ninja Turtles and ThunderCats are back. Even TMNT is doing Classic figures.

What is it going to take?