ThunderCats is an American/Japanese animated
series based on a group of catlike humanoid aliens. The show was created by
Tobin "Ted" Wolf and animated by Japanese animation studio Pacific
Animation Corporation.[1] The characters were originally featured in an
animated television series named ThunderCats, running from 1985 to 1989. The
original ThunderCats show was animated in Japan[2] while being produced,
written and voice acted in the United States. The series was originally
distributed by Rankin-Bass Productions' then parent company Telepictures
Corporation, which would later merge with Lorimar Productions in 1986.[3]
In January 1989, Lorimar-Telepictures was
purchased by and folded into Warner Bros., whose television syndication arm
would eventually assume distribution of the show; Warner Bros. has had the
rights to the series (and all Lorimar-Telepictures programming) from that point
on.There were also several comic book series produced. A ThunderCats comic book
series based on the animated series was originally published by Marvel Comics
through its Star Comics imprint in 1985, lasting for three years and twenty
four issues.[4] During this time, a new series was published by Marvel UK
consisting of 129 issues and was also published for three years.[5] Beginning
in 2002, ThunderCats titles were published by Wildstorm Productions, an imprint
of DC Comics (Warner Bros.' corporate sibling), and included five non canon
mini series and several one shots.[6] A side scrolling video game based on the
series, ThunderCats: The Lost Eye of Thundera, was published in 1987.
Items of clothing featuring the ThunderCats
logo and DVD boxsets of the original series enjoyed a resurgence in the
mid-to-late 2000s as nostalgia for the former children's favorite grew. It was
announced on June 7, 2007, that Aurelio Jaro was producing a CGI animated
feature film of ThunderCats, based on a script written by Paul Sopocy.
In October 2007, Variety revealed that Jerry
O'Flaherty, veteran video game art director, had signed on to direct. The film
was being produced by Spring Creek Productions. It was originally set for
release in summer 2010,[7] but it has since been reported that the movie was
never greenlit,[8] and as of 2017, has not been made. Concept art for the film
has also been leaked online.[8]
In January 2017, while talking about Resident
Evil: The Final Chapter, Milla Jovovich told We Got This Covered that she would
like to portray Cheetara in the film.[9]
A second television series was launched in July
2011, but was cancelled after its first season.
