ThunderCats (1980s)
Common Sense says
- Boomerang
- Kids' Animation
- 1985
Parents say
Kids say
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the catlike heroes in this '80s cartoon are champions of justice and defend the weak and oppressed, but their methods are often violent. Weapons like stun darts, swords, and whips are prevalent, and although visible injuries are rare, a character's death is part of at least one storyline. Happily, though, there are some instances in which the heroes deter an onslaught without force, so viewers do see that there's always a choice to be made in confrontational situations. The array of mutant villains are bound to frighten the very young, but older kids who aren't bothered by this sort of content might enjoy the show's action. The series' animation style definitely dates it, but its messages about loyalty, determination, and perseverance are just as relevant today as they were during the show's original run.
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User Reviews
Really Good, but kind of... tounge in cheek,
OK original show, but i liked it more than the 2011 version
What's the story?
The death of the planet Thundera leaves a group of its natives adrift in space, and when they come under attack from their intergalactic enemies, the Mutants of Plun-Darr, only the passengers of one spacecraft escape with their lives. With their ship damaged, the THUNDERCATS head for the nearest livable planet, Third Earth, where they set up camp and befriend some of the locals. Unfortunately the Mutants follow them there and join forces with the ancient evil sorcerer Mumm-Ra (voiced by Earl Hammond), who's also bent on stealing the Eye of Thundera, which bestows the Cats' power and is set in a sword entrusted to the heroes' leader, Lion-O (Larry Kenney). Together with Panthro (Earle Hyman), Cheetara (Lynne Lipton), WilyKit (Lipton again), WilyKat (Peter Newman), and Tygra (Newman again), Lion-O must protect the Eye of Thundera from its would-be captors and help their new neighbors settle the score with some of their enemies as well.
Is it any good?
ThunderCats exemplifies the ubiquitous action-adventure cartoons at the disposal of children -- especially boys -- of the '80s. It plays out much the same as its peers like BraveStarr and Transformers; a band of heroes risks their lives to fend off their nefarious enemies and to help the downtrodden they encounter, all the while teaching their young viewers a thing or two about morality. While this cartoon isn't as blatant in its delivery of positive messages as, say, He-Man, its heroes still stand up for what's right and band together to protect the innocent.
Violence is an unavoidable byproduct of the show's good-vs.-evil plot, but by today's standards, it's fairly tame. Many of the characters use weapons like laser guns or stun darts, but when an opportunity exists to deter an enemy without force, the heroes take it, which sends messages to kids about making good choices. The storylines also center on themes like loyalty and courage, so there are plenty of issues to discuss with your kids at the show's end.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about heroes. In what ways are the ThunderCats' actions heroic? What qualities do you most admire in them? Who are some of your heroes?
How does this cartoon compare to some of your modern favorites? Did you like this one's animation style? How are the characters different? Are the show's messages still relevant?
What rules should exist about violence in TV shows? Do you think seeing violence in a cartoon affects you? What shows have you seen that are more violent than this one? Did the content scare you?
TV details
- Premiere date: January 23, 1985
- Cast: Earl Hammond, Larry Kenney, Lynne Lipton
- Network: Boomerang
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Superheroes, Adventures, Friendship
- TV rating: TV-Y7-FV
- Available on: DVD, Streaming
Themes & Topics
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.