Cartoon Resource Entry #001 - ThunderCats (1985)

THUNDERCATS

ORIGINAL AIR DATES: Jan 23, 1985 pilot, Sep 11, 1985-Sep 1990 in syndication
RERUNS: Mar 17, 1997-May 29, 1998, Aug 31, 1998-Oct 1998, Jan 25, 1999-Mar 12, 1999, Jul 19, 1999-Feb 27, 2000, Mar 27, 2000-May 4, 2001, Dec 31, 2001-Feb 22, 2002 and Apr 15-May 31, 2002 on Cartoon Network
EPISODES: 130
ANIMATION: Pacific Animation Corporation
PRODUCTION: Rankin-Bass Animated Entertainment and Leisure Concepts
CURRENTLY OWNED BY: Lorimar-Telepictures/Warner Bros TV

THUNDERCATS SUMMARY:
After their planet Thundera exploded, the ThunderCats came to Third Earth to start new lives.  But they were followed by the Mutants of Plundarr, and are also plagued by Mumm-Ra, the ever-living, a creature from Third Earth.  They seek Lion-O's mystic Sword of Omens.  When Lion-O needs help he raises the sword and shouts, "ThunderCats! HO!" to summon the other ThunderCats, Pantro, Tygra, Cheetara, Wilykit, Wilykat and Snarf to aid in his battles and protect Third Earth.

FACTS:
The series began production in 1983.

Unlike most 80's toy-related cartoons, ThunderCats was developed as a cartoon first by Leisure Concepts and Rankin-Bass, and then a toyline was made by LJN Toys, Inc.

In its first season, ThunderCats was the highest rated syndicated animated program.

Mumm-Ra's origin was never told or explained in the series bible.  He knows of the Eye of Thundera though before the ThunderCats land on Third Earth and has encountered other Plundarrians such as the Lunatacs.

Third Earth is likely a future version of our Earth.  The only humans on it are the Warrior Maidens. No male humans are ever featured and are considered extinct.  Hachiman, the samurai warrior comes from the past.

Thundrillium is a substance that powers the ThunderCats' vehicles and Cat's Lair.

Thundrainium is a substance that drains the ThunderCats of their strength.  It is known as
Fire Rocks on Third Earth.

The first episode, "Exodus", was a 40 minute pilot.  You can tell that scenes were cut out, as the music cues don't blend well.  It also featured a voiceover opening theme with summaries of the characters.

Outtakes of the voice recordings exist and can be found online.  They feature alot of foul language!

ThunderCats bears the distinction of being one of the 80's cartoons to feature more than 100 episodes, with Smurfs (256), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (193), The Real Ghostbusters (147), He-Man (130) and Voltron (124)

EPISODE GUIDE (in production order)
1st Season (1985-1986)
#001 "Exodus" (01.23.1985)
#002 "The Unholy Alliance" (01.23.1985)
#003 "Berbils" (09.11.1985)
#004 "The Slaves of Castle Plun-Darr" (09.12.1985)
#005 "Trouble With Time" (09.17.1985)
#006 "Pumm-Ra" (09.13.1985)
#007 "The Terror of Hammerhand" (09.16.1985)
#008 "The Tower of Traps" (09.18.1985)
#009 "The Garden of Delights" (09.19.1985)
#010 "Mandora-The Evil Chaser" (09.20.1985)
#011 "The Ghost Warrior" (09.23.1985)
#012 "The Doom-Gaze" (09.24.1985)
#013 "Lord of the Snows" (09.25.1985)
#014 "The Spaceship Beneath the Sands" (09.26.1985)
#015 "The Time Capsule" (09.27.1985)
#016 "The Fireballs of Plun-Darr" (09.30.1985)
#017 "All That Glitters" (10.01.1985)
#018 "Spitting Image" (10.02.1985)
#019 "Lion-O's Annointment First Day: The Trial of Strength" (11.12.1985)
#020 "Lion-O's Annointment Second Day: The Trial of Speed" (11.19.1985)
#021 "Lion-O's Annointment Third Day: The Trial of Cunning" (11.25.1985)
#022 "Lion-O's Annointment Fourth Day: The Trial of Mind-Power" (11.29.1985)
#023 "Lion-O's Annointment Final Day: The Trial of Evil" (12.16.1985)
#024 "Mongor" (10.03.1985)
#025 "Return to Thundera" (10.04.1985)
#026 "Snarf Takes Up the Challenge" (10.11.1985)
#027 "Mandora and the Pirates" (11.04.1985)
#028 "The Crystal Queen" (10.09.1985)
#029 "Safari Joe" (10.10.1985)
#030 "Return of the Driller" (11.05.1985)
#031 "Turmagar the Tuska" (11.22.1985)
#032 "Sixth Sense" (10.28.1985)
#033 "Dr. Dometone" (10.07.1985)
#034 "The Astral Prison" (10.08.1985)
#035 "Queen of 8 Legs" (11.07.1985)
#036 "Dimension Doom" (11.06.1985)
#037 "The Rock Giant" (11.20.1985)
#038 "The Thunder-Cutter" (10.29.1985)
#039 "Mechanical Plague" (11.27.1985)
#040 "The Demolisher" (11.13.1985)
#041 "Feliner-Part One" (10.31.1985)
#042 "Feliner-Part Two" (11.01.1985)
#043 "Excalibur" (12.02.1985)
#044 "The Secret of the Ice King" (12.03.1985)
#045 "Sword In the Hole" (11.08.1985)
#046 "The Wolfrat" (10.30.1985)
#047 "Good and Ugly" (12.04.1985)
#048 "Divide and Conquer" (12.06.1985)
#049 "Micrits" (11.18.1985)
#050 "The Superpower Potion" (12.12.1985)
#051 "The Evil Harp of Charr-Nin" (11.11.1985)
#052 "Tight Squeeze" (11.15.1985)
#053 "Monkian's Bargain" (11.14.1985)
#054 "Out of Sight" (12.10.1985)
#055 "Jackalman's Rebellion" (11.21.1985)
#056 "The Mountain" (12.11.1985)
#057 "Eye of the Beholder" (12.13.1985)
#058 "The Mumm-Ra Berbil" (11.26.1985)
#059 "The Trouble With Thunderkittens" (12.17.1985)
#060 "Mumm-Rana" (12.18.1985)
#061 "Trapped" (11.28.1985)
#062 "The Transfer" (12.05.1985)
#063 "The Shifter" (12.19.1985)
#064 "Dream Master" (12.09.1985)
#065 "Fond Memories" (12.20.1985)

2nd Season (1986-1987)
#066 "ThunderCats-HO!" Part One (09.10.1986)
#067 "ThunderCats-HO!" Part Two (09.10.1986)
#068 "ThunderCats-HO!" Part Three (09.10.1986)
#069 "ThunderCats-HO!" Part Four (09.10.1986)
#070 "ThunderCats-HO!" Part Five (09.10.1986)

3rd Season (1987-1988)
#071 "Mumm-Ra Lives!" Part I (09.15.1986)
#072 "Mumm-Ra Lives!" Part II (09.16.1986)
#073 "Mumm-Ra Lives!" Part III (09.17.1986)
#074 "Mumm-Ra Lives!" Part IV (09.18.1986)
#075 "Mumm-Ra Lives!" Part V (09.19.1986)
#076 "Catfight" (09.22.1986)
#077 "Psych Out!" (09.23.1986)
#078 "The Mask of the Gorgon" (09.24.1986)
#079 "The Mad Bubbler" (09.25.1986)
#080 "Together We Stand" (09.26.1986)
#081 "Ravage Island" (09.29.1986)
#082 "Time Switch" (09.30.1986)
#083 "The Sound Stones" (10.01.1986)
#084 "Day of the Eclipse" (10.02.1986)
#085 "Sideswipe" (10.03.1986)
#086 "Mumm-Rana's Belt" (10.06.1986)
#087 "Hachiman's Honor" (10.07.1986)
#088 "Runaways" (10.08.1986)
#089 "Hair of the Dog" (10.09.1986)
#090 "Vultureman's Revenge" (10.10.1986)

4th Season (1988-1989)
#091 "ThunderCubs!" Part I (10.13.1986)
#092 "ThunderCubs!" Part II (10.14.1986)
#093 "ThunderCubs!" Part III (10.15.1986)
#094 "ThunderCubs!" Part IV (10.16.1986)
#095 "ThunderCubs!" Part V (10.17.1986)
#096 "Totem of Dera" (10.20.1986)
#097 "Chain of Loyalty" (10.21.1986)
#098 "Crystal Canyon" (10.22.1986)
#099 "The Telepathy Beam" (10.23.1986)
#100 "Exile Isle" (10.24.1986)
#101 "Key to Thundera" (10.27.1986)
#102 "Return of the ThunderCubs" (10.28.1986)
#103 "The Formula" (10.29.1986)
#104 "Locket of Lies" (10.30.1986)
#105 "Braclet of Power" (10.31.1986)
#106 "Wild Workout" (11.03.1986)
#107 "Thunderscope" (11.04.1986)
#108 "The Jade Dragon" (11.05.1986)
#109 "The Circus Train" (11.06.1986)
#110 "The Last Day" (11.07.1986)

5th Season Season (1989-1990)
#111 "Return of Thundera!" Part I (11.10.1986)
#112 "Return of Thundera!" Part II (11.11.1986)
#113 "Return of Thundera!" Part III (11.12.1986)
#114 "Return of Thundera!" Part IV (11.13.1986) (last appearance of the Mutants, except Vultureman)
#115 "Return of Thundera!" Part V (11.14.1986)
#116 "Leah" (11.17.1986)
#117 "Frogman" (11.18.1986)
#118 "The Heritage" (11.19.1986)
#119 "Screwloose" (11.20.1986)
#120 "Malcar" (11.21.1986)
#121 "Helpless Laughter" (11.24.1986)
#122 "Cracker's Revenge" (11.25.1986) (last appearance of Pumyra and the Lunatacs)
#123 "The Mossland Monster" (11.26.1986) (last appearance of Tygra)
#124 "Ma-Mutt's Confusion" (11.27.1986)
#125 "Shadowmaster" (11.28.1986)
#126 "Swan Song" (12.01.1986)
#127 "The Touch of Amourus" (12.02.1986)
#128 "The Zaxx Factor" (12.03.1986) (last appearance of Vultureman)
#129 "Well of Doubt" (12.04.1986)
#130 "The Book of Omens" (12.05.1986)

VOICE ACTORS
Earl Hammond (1921-2002) as Amok, Claudus, Hachiman, Jaga, Mumm-Ra, Ratar-O, Ro-Bear Berbils, Snowman, Top-Spinner, Tug-Mug and Vultureman
Earle Hyman (1926-2017) as Ancient Spirits of Evil, Captain Cracker, Cruncher, Grune The Destroyer, Hammerhand, Mongor, Panthro and Redeye
Larry Kenney (1947) as Jackalman and Lion-O - Larry Kenney's Facebook
Lynne Lipton as Cheetara, Luna, Mandora, Nayda, Willa and Wilykit
Robert McFadden (1923-2000) as Captain Bragg, Ma-Mutt, Ram-Bam, SSSltyhe, Snarf and Snarfer
Peter Newman (1942) as Bengali, Monkian, Tygra and Wilykat
Doug Preis as Alluro, the Guardian of the Book of Omens, Captain Shiner and Lynx-O - www.dougpreis.com
Gerianne Raphael (1935) as Chilla, Jaguara, Mumm-Rana and Pumyra