The New THUNDERCATS (1552 hits)
Category: Movies & TVLabels: APW
Rating: 1.53 on 44 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by kaos-king (antius777) (View user info) at 2006-05-15 08:52:04 EDT
A while back, a friend of mine got a gig re-doing a number of cartoon characters from the '80's and '90's and he asked for my help. He concentrated on G.I. Joe and Transformers, while I got He-Man and Thundercats. We also did some random stuff like the Smurfette illustration I put up a bit ago.
While I kept the basic look of the original Thundercats, except to make them slightly less cat-like, I drastically re-worked the storyline. MY Thundercats became a social commentary of the concepts of a caste system, stranding nine survivors of a crashed ship on an alien planet, only some who knew each other. The nine remaining citizens of the planet Thundera had to deal with a new world plus strange allies and enemies... not to mention internal struggles among themselves.
This is the re-worked outline for a first season's plot summary or an extented comic book series. Each chapter will progress the overall storyline along as well as introduce more and more familiar characters. The production company we created all this for still hasn't really moved on anything concerning the project. Most of these beloved cartoon characters, ESPECIALLY Thundercats, are floating in legal copyright limbo...
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Lion-O, future Lord of Thundera, and Prince of the Thundercats is fourteen years old. He has been placed on a separate starship than his parents for security reasons, with the head of the Thunderian Council, Jag-A. The two of them are with the rest of the Nobles in the head of the ship, along with Senator Tigr-A and Lady Pumyr-A. Since he is but a child, he doesn't really know any of the other Nobles except for Jag-A and his blind mentor, Lynx-O, who has been training him for almost ten years.
In the bulk of the ship are the worker class, the basic citizens of planet Thundera. The have the right to vote and own property, but can not hold political office and must serve in the Thunderian Army. Here sits the brilliant mechanic, Panthro, among others in his guild. Elsewhere in this section are the thirteen year old twins, Kit and Kat, with their parents.
Back near the engines, in the most cramped quarters, are the slaves. They bare facial tattoos marking their class, most who have been genetically engineered to perform certain tasks. Every slave is implanted with a "Discipline Chip" in their brains' so they never get unruly. All a Noble has to do is press a button on their Royal sigil, and all the slaves in the vicinity drop to the ground in agonizing pain. Criminals of the worst kind are sentenced to the slave caste if they are from the Citizenry. Both the messenger Cheetara and the thief Bengali are present, unaware of each other.
Like in the cartoon, an axis of less reputable species have taken flight after the fleet of Thunderian Starships. Lead by General Slythe, he has aboard his ship Commandant Jakalman, the head cleric Monkeut and the Chairman Vulturiuk. All planning on betraying one another at some point, they all seek one thing - The mystical artifact known as "The Eye Of Thundera," it's powers legendary. They have no idea that it has been embedded in the "Sword Of Omens." Their ship is full of cybernetically enhanced thugs from all four species.
The Thunderian fleet is attacked, and various Starships are destroyed in the ensuing battle. Some get seperated and try to speed off to their intended destination. The cleric Monkeut is able to pinpoint which ship holds The Eye, and the head Axis battle cruiser moves in. However, before the Axis can take the Thunderians, both ships are caught in a Nebula storm. Chaos sweeps both ships as the occupants rush to the life chambers. On the Thunderian Starship, Jag-A decides to sacrifice his own life by piloting the ship through, hoping to lose the Axis in the storm.
Jag-A is killed by the energies of the storm, but also given a new existence as sentient energy bonded with The Eye. Before he succumbs to the effects of the storm, he plots a course for the nearest habitable planet - which happens to be light years away. The life chambers were never meant for such a long term use, but Jag-A could not release the inhabitants while still in the storm.
Time passes...
The Thunderian Starship crashes on a planet in the Sol system. It had been given the title "Third Earth" by ancient Thunderian explorers, who found the planet to be in the straggle hold of the after effect of an apocalyptic war. Things have changed on Third Earth. Live has grown again, but this time different, changed, evolved.
The Thunderians begin to awake. The ship has been totally destroyed, most of the beings onboard dead during their time in the life chambers, the rest dying on impact. Only nine have managed to survive. These nine have aged approximately five years during their time in stasis, much to their shock (especially the three teenagers.) These nine survivors must make a new home on an alien planet, with only The Eye to guide them.
There is much dissension among the remaining Thunderians. Tigr-A still believes in the old ways, that tradition must be upheld at all cost. Proclaiming Lion-O their Lord, he demands the caste system stay intact. Lion-O doesn't trust really trust the elder Senator, and turns to his mentor Lynx-O instead. Lynx-O believes it should be abolished. Lady Pumyr-A doesn't care, she's been badly injured and is horribly depressed. Cheetara tries to chime in and is struck by Tigr-A for her insolence. Panthro and Lynx-O stop Bengali and Tigr-A from engaging in a fight. During the madness, Lion-O takes off.
Sitting among some trees, Lion-O contemplates The Eye. He finds he can communicate with Jag-A through it and asks his advice. Jag-A says it's up to him. Wandering back, he runs into Kit and Kat. The three young people strike up a conversation, and Lion-O realizes he would have never been allowed to talk to them back home... or steal glances at eighteen year old Kit. Returning to the make-shift camp, he tells the survivors that the Caste system is no more.
Lion-O eventually begins an affair with Kit, much to the amusement of her brother Kat, Lion-O's best friend. Tigr-A finds himself more and more attracted to Cheetara, a truly mutual feeling, but his unshakable belief in the Caste system leaves them both alone. Bengali, who had been a weaponeer before his life as a thief, is taken under by Panthro. The two of them begin to build a proper shelter, but Bengali is disgusted when he learns Panthro is gay. Pumyr-A's illness grows worse from her injuries, despite the best care Lynx-O and the other Thunderians can provide.
Delusional, Pumyr-A tells of a temple not far from their shelter where "He Who Is Two" sleeps and a wealth of goods are waiting for them. The Thunderians dismiss her ramblings, except for the kids. Lion-O, Kit and Kat decide to go check it out.
The three find the remains of a building, a pyramid shaped structure surrounded by the shells of a complex. Breaking in, they indeed find all sorts of equipment, weapons, medicine and supplies. However, their entrance keyed the programming to awaken the thing that slept beneath the giant temple, something ancient and powerful. Something from another time. One of the last things the science of this planet created before it destroyed itself millenniums ago. A prototype weapon that has been feeding on energy and receiving satellite signals directly into its mind for so long, it now believes it can only be one thing...
A God. And It calls itself MummRa.
User Reviews
Submitted by redskieslookfake (user info) at 2007-02-24 18:06:14 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
http://www.retrojunk.com/img/art-images/Cheetara%20Au%20Natural.jpg
Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2006-05-16 12:33:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Teeph - - - I worked on this almost a year ago. I reformatted the storyline stuff for Uber and pH. As I understood it, this company contacted Lars O'Brien Co. to get a designer to come up with some re-formatted 80's cartoon icons to see if they were interested in persuing the purchase of any of them. My buddy then sub-contracted me to do some extra work. We did the job, I got paid, and as far as I know nothing ever came from it. I never had to sign any confidentiality contracts on such stuff.
Submitted by inion_de_trua (user info) at 2006-05-16 10:30:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
sidenote: does anyone else find issue with hot topic selling our childhood to kids that don't know that paul mccartney has a bigger musical impact than jesse mccartney? every time i go in there to see if they have a new sublime thing it makes me weep to see the thundercats, princess bride, legend, my little pony and stuff like that being sold to obnoxious little twats that weren't even conceived in the 80s let alone born in them.
i hate other people's highschoolers.
Submitted by Teephphah (user info) at 2006-05-16 10:16:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
I would respond to theCaes thusly:
What's wrong with being a stupid kid what don't know no better? Does the same theory apply to "The Velveteen Rabbit" or "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?" You want to re-vamp those? Make them edgier and darker for more "mature" audiences?
And as a brief aside . . . no maybe this really is a continuation of the same idea - If you are re-vamping children's cartoons for more "mature" audiences, those "mature" audiences are kind of kidding themselves there, aren't they? Maybe it's time for a little introspection.
Now, I'm not knocking Anime at all. I fully acknowledge that there a LOTS of cartoons that are intended for mature audiences only. What I'm saying is that when you reach back in time to use the SAME characters from your childhood in NEW "Mature" adventures . . .there seems to be some sort of reeeeeally fucked up "I want to be an adolescent, but I'm A BIG BOY NOW!" thing going on there. If watching the cartoons is okay, is it also alright to get out your action figures and throw a swingers' party at Castle Greyskull? Or, would your friends maybe look at you a little funny if you did that?
But now that I've been moved to think about and explain this whole thing a little more . . . I'm a little confused about this "job" of yours Antius. Does your employer know that you're posting the fruits of your labor (well, most likely technically THEIR labor if they're paying you) on the intarweb? Somehow, if this were a real business venture, that would seem to be an extraordinarily bad idea. Things aren't exactly adding up for me here.
Submitted by Davros (user info) at 2006-05-16 09:26:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Kracka (user info) at 2006-05-15 22:10:42 (#)
Ranking: 1
not bad but why does lion-o look like the dude from clerks?
---------------
"I'm not even supposed to be here today."
-Dave
Submitted by Kracka (user info) at 2006-05-15 22:10:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
not bad but why does lion-o look like the dude from clerks?
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2006-05-15 21:47:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by icarus1987 (user info) at 2006-05-15 21:04:51 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by Teephphah (user info) at 2006-05-15 09:07:01 (#)
Ranking: 1
Why you got to go and take something good and wholesome and fuck it up?
Honestly. Tell me.
You loved the Thundercats back in the day, right? So now you want to change the entire ethos beeeeeeeecause?
A caste system? Tigra was a bit of an asshole, but come on. Likewise, Pantro's suspenders were a questionable fashion choice, but gay? Some sort of leather daddy, no doubt.
AND YOU'RE ALSO MIXING FIRST GENERATION CHARACTERS WITH SECOND GENERATION CHARACTERS. As someone who was around for the first episode of the first generation, characters like Lynx-O and company will NEVER reach the status of Gen 1. They're the kids you add to the sit-com when the ratings start to drop. They're the ramp for jumping the shark.
So tell me, when you take on G.I. Joe are you going to tackle Duke's raging herion addiction too (that monkey climbed on his back back in 'Nam)? Or Snake-Eyes' bouts with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, like the time he was on vacation in Seattle, had a flashback and slaughered the entire population of a suburban housing addition? I'm guessing Lady Jaye and Scarlett have some sort of taudry lesbian affair going on?
I would personally recommend you find some other childhood heroes to tear down.
----
Like the Smurfs! I hate those purple, condom-headed hippies!
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2006-05-15 18:25:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I don't agree with Teeph. Those nostalgia characters, such as Thudercats, GI Joe and so on, appealed to you back in the day because you were a stupid kid what didn't know better. If you go back and watch them now, odds are most of those retro shows would be pretty laughable, because you've matured and your expectations are different and more sophisticated. So I don't see anything wrong with updating classics like that, as long as they stay true to the spirit of the original. Otherwise, they're just kids' stories.
Now as for THIS update, it seems like only a few minor changes were made...but it's been a long time since I last saw Thundercats, so I may be off on this one.
Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2006-05-15 16:47:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Average Dan - - - I've been drawing ever since I can remember. One of my earliest memories is filling a page full of little X-Wing Fighters and Millenium Falcons...
Caul - - - Nope. I was at the grocery store, got a shit-ton of food. Picked up ingedients to make Mexican Lasagna, Chinese Chicken Stir-fry, Mushroom Sauce Porkchops, Chicken Parmegian with spagetti and everthing to make the perfect Ruben sandwiches.
Then I talked to this gorgeous little blond from back home and tried and convince her to drive up again and see me. I failed...
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2006-05-15 16:15:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I BET YOU'RE SLEEPING AS I WRITE THIS!!! HA HA!
Submitted by ConorJS (user info) at 2006-05-15 16:12:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
(ahem)
THUNDER! THUNDER! THUNDER CATS! HO!
Submitted by BrownEyedGirrl (user info) at 2006-05-15 15:56:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
WoW!!
Submitted by TigerLilly (user info) at 2006-05-15 14:00:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Talent.
Submitted by c1ndy (user info) at 2006-05-15 13:41:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
wow
Submitted by Average_Dan (user info) at 2006-05-15 13:29:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
How long have you been drawing Kaos?
Submitted by inion_de_trua (user info) at 2006-05-15 13:04:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by pen_name (user info) at 2006-05-15 10:19:27 (#)
Ranking: 2
cheetara has a camle toe? this is the first i've heard of it!
---------
man i'm glad someone pointed that out. i loved the thundercats when i was a kid. i'm not sure how i feel about the goatee, but mumra looks bad ass.
that vid made me almost throw up. why do they even make clothes that big? if people weren't accomodated maybe they wouldn't get so fat they can't wipe their own asses. i hope someone kills me if i ever look like that.
that's way worse than the zit vid.
Submitted by simple_catalyst (user info) at 2006-05-15 11:32:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
who?
Submitted by phuzzygish (user info) at 2006-05-15 10:56:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Mum-ra looks tit.
Don't quite agree with the new story line, but each to his own, I guess...
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2006-05-15 10:20:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2006-05-15 09:41:59 (#)
Ranking: 0
I find this one to be particularly disturbing...
http://www.bofunk.com/video/804/dinner_for_how_many.html
===
i wish that "person" is dead.
why the fuck aren't we, as a society, putting a bullet in these people's head?
Submitted by pen_name (user info) at 2006-05-15 10:19:27 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
cheetara has a camle toe? this is the first i've heard of it!
Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2006-05-15 10:12:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Two of my favorite, disgusting NSFW images...
Goaste has nothing on this dude...
http://poetry.rotten.com/weightlifter/
I altered this photo for use on a local band's album cover.
http://poetry.rotten.com/meat-grinder/0002/
Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2006-05-15 09:58:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I have no idea why anyone would want to capture that on film.
If Caulaincourt sees that, he's going to have a complete meltdown...
Submitted by redskieslookfake (user info) at 2006-05-15 09:55:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
That was... bewildering. Why would someone film that?
Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2006-05-15 09:47:56 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
It's SFW I suppose. Nothing sexual... just disgusting...
Submitted by Method (user info) at 2006-05-15 09:47:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I DIDN'T KNOW LION-O HAD A CLEFT PALATE
Submitted by redskieslookfake (user info) at 2006-05-15 09:46:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Is it SFW? Our IT dept watches us like a hawk. Bastardos.
Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2006-05-15 09:41:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I find this one to be particularly disturbing...
http://www.bofunk.com/video/804/dinner_for_how_many.html
Submitted by redskieslookfake (user info) at 2006-05-15 09:34:37 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
So do I. It may be my favourite link of all time.
Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2006-05-15 09:33:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by redskieslookfake (user info) at 2006-05-15 09:28:52 (#)
Ranking: 2
http://tinyurl.com/l4h9n LOOK! LOOK!
---
One of the most disgustingly wonderful things I've seen in quite a while...
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I love that video...
Submitted by redskieslookfake (user info) at 2006-05-15 09:28:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2006-05-05 11:47:31 (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by redskieslookfake (user info) at 2006-05-05 11:25:58 (#)
Ranking: 2
http://tinyurl.com/l4h9n LOOK! LOOK!
---
One of the most disgustingly wonderful things I've seen in quite a while...
Submitted by redskieslookfake (user info) at 2006-05-15 09:26:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
You should have made Lion-O the gay one. And then you could have a big gay pride message. Would they follow a gay leader? Panthro is like the gimp.
Cheetara used to sit in Lion-O's bedroom when he was a bairn and stroke herself before spraying him with her love stink. True story.
Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2006-05-15 09:20:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I guess I don't understand this.
The assignment my buddy got at his company was to redesign some 80's cartoon characters for a more mature, modern day audience. He had other projects, too, so he sub-contracted me to come up with some stuff for He-Man and Thundercats. Now, I don't know the specifics behind the deal with this company and the Lars O'Brien Company, but they were pleased with my work.
I did my job. I redesigned the Thundercats to have more of an edge and have a message, not just a program for children.
Submitted by redskieslookfake (user info) at 2006-05-15 09:20:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Mumm Ra wears a skirt
Distressing
Submitted by jgreening (user info) at 2006-05-15 09:12:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I set the rating, and now I forgot which post this rating was for...
But it must have deserved a +2, so here it is.
Submitted by CaptainThorns (user info) at 2006-05-15 09:10:51 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by The_Cyst_Master (user info) at 2006-05-15 09:00:23 (#)
Ranking: 2
Chitara most definitely needs a massive camel toe.
----------------------------------------------------
Looks to me like she already HAS one.
Submitted by redskieslookfake (user info) at 2006-05-15 09:08:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
I'm guessing Lady Jaye and Scarlett have some sort of taudry lesbian affair going on?
---
Post pictures please
Submitted by Teephphah (user info) at 2006-05-15 09:07:01 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Why you got to go and take something good and wholesome and fuck it up?
Honestly. Tell me.
You loved the Thundercats back in the day, right? So now you want to change the entire ethos beeeeeeeecause?
A caste system? Tigra was a bit of an asshole, but come on. Likewise, Pantro's suspenders were a questionable fashion choice, but gay? Some sort of leather daddy, no doubt.
AND YOU'RE ALSO MIXING FIRST GENERATION CHARACTERS WITH SECOND GENERATION CHARACTERS. As someone who was around for the first episode of the first generation, characters like Lynx-O and company will NEVER reach the status of Gen 1. They're the kids you add to the sit-com when the ratings start to drop. They're the ramp for jumping the shark.
So tell me, when you take on G.I. Joe are you going to tackle Duke's raging herion addiction too (that monkey climbed on his back back in 'Nam)? Or Snake-Eyes' bouts with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, like the time he was on vacation in Seattle, had a flashback and slaughered the entire population of a suburban housing addition? I'm guessing Lady Jaye and Scarlett have some sort of taudry lesbian affair going on?
I would personally recommend you find some other childhood heroes to tear down.
Submitted by WildcatMcGee (user info) at 2006-05-15 09:06:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
meh
Submitted by redskieslookfake (user info) at 2006-05-15 09:05:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
heheheh Lion-O's beard
Submitted by redskieslookfake (user info) at 2006-05-15 09:02:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Cheetara? Shit Tara more like it. The German porn obsessed cat who loves to roll in the kitty litter.
Submitted by redskieslookfake (user info) at 2006-05-15 09:01:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Wily-Kit and Wily-Kat were so obviously bonking too. Incestuous skirt wearing weirdos. All cat sex is rape too - so the howls of the girl one (like anyone knows that) would have filled the jungle.
Submitted by The_Cyst_Master (user info) at 2006-05-15 09:00:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Chitara most definitely needs a massive camel toe.
Submitted by redskieslookfake (user info) at 2006-05-15 08:57:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
A fundemental feature of the Thundercats is the inherent homosexuality and other sexual references in it.
From Panthro with his spikes, to Tigra with his whip and self flaggelation tendencies, to Lion-O's phallus that grows when he shouts 'ho!' which makes his slitty eye glow.
Snarf is creepy too - fucking creepy. Male or female? you're not sure are you?
And why the fuck, as a cat, didn't Cheetara have three pairs of breasts?