Let’s take a trip back to 1985, sitting in front of our television screens and waiting eagerly on a Saturday morning to watch ThunderCats. We all remember the beloved animated show about those cat-like humanoids, and their ventures on the Third Earth as they battled the evil Mumm-Ra.
As ThunderCats has evolved into a worldwide franchise that fans are flocking to relive, toys and pop vinyls of the beloved felines are becoming more and more valuable. The power of nostalgia has now spurred reboots filling our TV screens, movie theatres and toy stores around the world.
To celebrate one of our favourite shows, we’ve put together the ultimate beginner’s guide to ThunderCats. So if you’re a collector wanting to know more about Thundercats action figures, and the franchise more generally, you’re certainly in the right place.
What is ThunderCats?
ThunderCats is a franchise originating with an animated television series that ran from 1985 to 1989. The series spawned a toy line, a comic book series, movies, video games, a 2011 reboot and even a 2020 reboot on Cartoon Network. It may have been probably the most successful animated series of its time and remains a wildly popular cult classic today.
Its origins go back to early 1984, when writer and creator Theodore Walter “Tobin” Wolf (a.k.a. Ted Wolf) vocalised his idea about human-like cat folk to Steve Weston, a friend of his. Weston pitched the idea to producers Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass, who liked it so much they decided to make it into a television series.
Animation for the series was done in Japan by the company Pacific Animation Corporation (PAC), with voices and music recorded in the United States.
Original animated series (1985-1989)
The original ThunderCats series followed the action-packed adventures of a team of human-like / cat-like aliens known as ‘Thunderians’ from the planet Thundera. With their planet becoming sick, these feline extra-terrestrials are forced to leave their homes in search of a new future.
The ThunderCats are powered by the ‘Eye of Thundera’, moulded into the hilt of a sword known as the ‘Sword of Omens’. But as they escape their planet, the ThunderCats are attacked by the enemies of Thunderians, known as the ‘Mutants of Plun-Darr’ who want to seize the Sword for themselves.
With their fleet destroyed, the ThunderCats must head towards “Third Earth” (a much longer journey than originally planned). But upon reaching Third Earth and building their new home (the “Cat’s Lair”), the Mutants track them down. They’re recruited by an evil sorcerer named Mumm-Ra to get the Eye of Thundera and destroy the ThunderCats.
It is here that the real challenge for our feline friends truly begins.
Names of the ThunderCats
The main characters in the original ThunderCats series are:
- Lion-O
- Tygra
- Cheetara
- Snarf
- Panthro
- WilyKit
- WilyKat
Reboot (2011)
The 2011 reboot of ThunderCats differed significantly from the original show of the 1980s. For a start, Thundera wasn’t separate from Third Earth – it was just a dominant realm. The story itself was quite different, although major themes remained the same.
The producer and writer of ThunderCats, Michael Jelenic, said that the old show featured basic forms of technology, like swords and whips. But they wanted to make the hybrid of science fiction and fantasy a “bigger deal” with the 2011 relaunch.
Animation for the relaunch was done by the U.S.-based Warner Bros. Animation and Tokyo-based Studio 4°C.
The show was unfortunately cancelled after the first season.
ThunderCats Roar (2020)
Premiering on Cartoon Network in February 2020, ThunderCats Roar gives the franchise a new look, telling again the story of the ThunderCats facing off Mumm-Ra after crashing onto the mysterious Third Earth.
While the story was more or less the same, the tone and design was completely different and it did receive some criticism amongst long-term fans. The look appeared rather child-like, and possibly explained by the show was cancelled in November 2020 after just one season.
ThunderCats toys and pop vinyls
ThunderCats released a range of toylines, both to complement the original series and 2011 reboot.
These toys ranged from action figures of the main characters and villains to the iconic locations of the series such as the Cat’s Lair and Mumm-Ra’s Tomb Fortress.
Things got even more exciting with the release of a whole line of ThunderCats Funko Pop vinyls in 2013 as part of the Pop! Television series. Pops featuring Lion-O, Mumm-Ra, Snarf, Cheetara and more became available.
Manufacturers
The original 1980s line was manufactured and distributed in the United States by LJN and Kidworks, while the reboot line was created by Bandai.
Other manufacturers and distributors included:
- Rainbow Toys – part of LJN (United Kingdom)
- Grand Toys (Canada)
- ChildBro (Hong Kong)
- Otto Simon (Holland and Belgium, distributing figures across Eastern Europe)
- Glasslite (Brazil)
- Playful (Argentina)
- Macplay (Mexico)
The pop vinyls, of course, were made by U.S.-based Funko Inc.
How much are ThunderCats toys worth?
The value of different ThunderCats action figures varies significantly, but can range anywhere between USD $50 for an opened Cheetara to a USD $900 unopened Lion-O.[1]
Prices will differ depending on whether a figure is opened, unopened, in mint or poor condition, and whether they are real or bootleg. An unopened Panthro may go for USD $110, while a mint condition Cat’s Lair can go for up to USD $370.[2]
If you’re looking to buy or sell your ThunderCats toys, our team here at TAG are ready to negotiate. Get in touch with our friendly team and we’ll give you an idea of how much your action figures are worth.
