The Failure of Thundercats (2011) & How Lego Accidentally Killed It

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In this video, we explore the reasons why the 2011 Thundercats reboot animated series was a failure.
Despite high hopes Thundercats failed to live up to expectations and was met with disappointment from fans.
Some blamed poor writing and character development. Some blamed low ratings. Some blamed low toy sales. And all of that was a factor but there was another reason involving Lego that isn't talked about as much.
Whether you're a fan of the original Thundercats or just curious about the 2011 series, we attempt to provide a look at why it was a failure. So, sit back, relax, and join us as we delve into the reasons behind the failure of the 2011 Thundercats series.
SOURCES:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunder...)
www.cbr.com/thundercats-2011-...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_Le...
/ cats2011-ros-revised
gizmodo.com/paul-dini-superhe...
web.archive.org/web/201109101...
www.hulu.com/series/thunderca...
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[@RockNerdRadio]

I still stand by this show as being one of the best reboots ever. It deserved better.

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

A lot better. What Cartoon Network did (and Warner and whoever continue to do) is just a joke. The fact that they made a show like roar just to rub salt in the wound and laugh at our pain is also awful.

[@gandalflotr2898]

This reason why I hate capitalism

[@yodasdad]

It was a smart reimagining.

[@heavymetalelf]

I loved this show (and I wasn't a *huge* fan of the original, I was just a tiny bit too young for it) I still think about it and all the cool stuff that might have happened

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

@@heavymetalelf Due to numerous circumstances even though I was probably just about the right age when the show was on or in syndication even I never really experienced it much. Honestly sadly due to other circumstances I didn't get to enjoy the newer thundercats even until sadly it had already long been cancelled. I just hate the fact that instead of even attempting a third version they just said screw it and turned it into that horrible CalArts monstrosity that was roar. There may have been a bit or even a lot of divisiveness with the 2011 version but I've heard pretty much nothing but hate for roar across the board. I don't even get what the point was. But suffice it to say I think they understood the fans were not amused and whatever new market they thought they was going to showed up never did.

[@TS-kb6lv]

the episode with the little leaf people that lived an entire life in 20min was profound. it encapsulated life, death and the circle of life in such an amazing way. still think of it to this day.

[@CaitiffPrimogen]

"Song of the Petalars" was an impressive episode. It broke through my cynicism and made me care about characters we'd only just met, and would likely never see again :(

[@klarn99]

Such an impactful episode.

[@0773W]

I remember that to this day

[@jessicajayes8326]

God, that one killed me.

[@andergustafson6664]

thats the only thing i remember from this series, peak television

[@MasonC2K]

I met Wiil Friedle at DragonCon a few years back. Most of the people were there to talk to him about Boy Meets World. He seemed ecstatic to talk about Thundercats. I asked him what happened. As said in this video, he said CN cancelled it due to lacks of merchandise sales. But what made it worse was they were initiallly they were given the green light for season 2. He was actually co-writing the episodes and they had already fully written 4 episodes on season 2. He really hated how it just ended the way it did because not only did it end on a cliffhanger but it ended with Mumm-ra winning. Will is a really down to earth guy. If you ever get the chance to talk to him do so.

[@knightmarepilot4832]

Thank you for the explanation.

[@GaaraFan01]

That’s heart breaking 😭

[@guardianvalor962]

Are you sure he said it ended with "Mumm-ra winning?" I think the very final scene made it clear that the animals of earth were well on their way to forming an alliance.

[@MasonC2K]

@guardianvalor962 yes. But imagine the MCU ending with Infinity War. You would end with Thanos winning.

[@ArthurHILL-xp8bv]

Thundercats season 2 two girls names Willa and Nyada sisters in those bow and arrow is next.

[@zebuta2216]

I'm a 90's child here, I watched the original Thundercats when they had reruns. When the 2011 Thundercats came on Cartoon Network me and my brother were so excited because of the Nostalgia and the awesome looking designs for the characters. We were both so sad how it got abruptly cancelled. Then when Thundercats Roar came out I was disappointed at the poor art direction. This just goes to show long time fans that corporate greed can ruin a good thing.

[@geardog24]

Honestly, if Cartoon Network wasn't going to honor their deal and give us two seasons, they should've at least had the decency to make a movie to wrap things up.

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

I mean that's essentially what Nick did with rise of the TMNT. The problem is it seems like they just didn't care enough to even bother with that. The fact they just completely dropped the show with no ending or any final anything to it whatsoever it's such a slap in the face. And they pretty much had the chance they would have with Warner Bros at this point I don't know if anything is likely from them now. No matter how popular was/is I'm not sure you could open Discovery's purse-strings enough to even get this made with the current circumstances.

[@wisconsinking323]

​@@JohnDoe-wq5eu But we still don't know if Rise of the TMNT is canonically the finale.

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

@@wisconsinking323 I've heard that the "movie" was basically the only way they could get the show wrapped up. I'm not sure exactly what all the hurdles were but it sounds like that was best-case scenario otherwise it would have just been left dangling forever.

[@caseysanborn1953]

This is actually heartbreaking to hear the full story. The 2011 series really was SO well done in all aspects of storytelling, animation, voice acting, and score. It is unbelievable that a freaking Lego deal is what took it down - especially when what Lego released was a complete rip-off of Lion-O/ThunderCats anyway. So sad that fans never got to see the complete story and 3 seasons planned. It really was a gorgeous show that deserved so much better.

[@StevenVillman]

@@caseysanborn1953 While I agree with you that _Thundercats_ (2011) really should have more seasons to finish off the story, as the first season was really well done there - it wasn't The LEGO Company's fault that _Thundercats_ (2011) got cancelled there; it was *_Warner Bros.'s_* fault for not including the Thundercats IP with the licensing deal with The LEGO Company, which is why The LEGO Company moved on and made the LEGO Legends of CHIMA IP. (Also, I don't have any respect for anyone who hates on the LEGO Legends of CHIMA theme and animated T.V. series; as it is one of my all-time favourite LEGO IP/themes and thus sorely miss it after 7 years of nothing from it - which is why I gave a Dislike on your comment, here.)

[@brainchild8626]

It hurt me so much when they canceled this version of the show... They ended it when it was gettin good.. 🥺🥺🥺

[@flashahhasavedeveryoneofus2824]

I feel exactly same

[@cedricjocelyn6888]

Not getting good it was already good, you mean when it was getting even better. 😂

[@assemblyrequired7342]

What I remember most was the vehicle designs. Even though the series started without technology, they ended up looking amazingly detailed and well-designed, and especially the flying vehicles, which looked sleek, and their Japanese anime influences were very obvious. A shame that these never made it into toy form.

[@mrg466]

It sucked!

[@mrg466]

@@cedricjocelyn6888 No it wasn't getting better! It was getting worse!

[@shroomer8294]

I always knew Lego Chima seemed to be very inspired by Thundercats but didn’t know they were actually be connected.

[@mrg466]

Connected, how?

[@messyjetski2549]

@@mrg466 watch the video you're commenting on

[@mrg466]

@@messyjetski2549 Ok

[@bdo7765]

I always wondered where Chima came from. It seemed so random. I NEVER would have guessed! Thanks for pulling back another curtain, Dan. Love your work.

[@wstine79]

I remember watching the panel for the ThunderCats reboot at the San Diego Comic-Con 2011. Having Larry Kinney voicing Claudius was a perfect way to pass the Baton to the next Lion-O.

[@alexanderwsm6296]

*Sword XD

[@commissarjb]

I was at that panel too! Loved getting to watch the first episode.

[@aguywitha280z]

I was there too with my wife. Both of us grew up with ThunderCats. Got a photo with Larry Kinney after the panel. He was such a nice guy.

[@risel56]

I can't believe Dan low-key just hit us with a -Toy- Secret Galaxy double feature.

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

I loved how he treated roar, acknowledged it and moved right along.

[@zainmudassir2964]

​@@JohnDoe-wq5euas it should be

[@csxanatos653]

@@zainmudassir2964 😆

[@StevenVillman]

@@JohnDoe-wq5eu Yeah... but I *_really_* don't like it when he hated on and slandered the _LEGO Legends of CHIMA_ animated T.V. show and related LEGO IP/theme of the same name, which is *_THE_* only reason why I gave this KZbin video a Dislike! 😑

[@junrosamura645]

@@StevenVillman Why shouldn't he? Would you like it if someone took your favorite show and rebranded it into something else? It's not even a good show.

[@brianquincyscott1955]

I grew up with the series...I was fully ready to see where the 2011 series was gonna go. I liked how they tied the old into the new.

[@flashahhasavedeveryoneofus2824]

Same was disappointed when season 2 was canceled

[@billlyons7024]

The remix of original story ingredients was good. I liked Mumm Ra as an alien overlord. The episode where we saw Liono's ancestor fighting Mumm Ra was also excellent, they created some interesting history and lore in this series.

[@mrg466]

This show sucked!

[@trollwithoutcontent2788]

You “grew up with it”? Isn’t that a bit of an exaggeration? It was on for two years. We watched it, had the toys too…but I can’t claim to have grown up with it

[@Notathug]

As an 80s kid I loved the original series but as a got older I could see it as little campy by today's standards. The 2011 series was outstanding and being in my early thirties back then I could really enjoy the update to character designs, storytelling, and phenomenal animation. Even easter eggs that connecting to other cartoon series like Tiger Sharks and Silverhawks. A tragedy that series didn't a finale.

[@thelaughingstormbornagain1297]

I loved this show and actively annoyed friends about watching it who in turn did the same to others. It was a great show that deserved to tell a much larger story.

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

Unfortunately it was just put out in a time when Cartoon Network was doing a lot of crap that was not cool. The cancellation of not only the entire toonami block but action pretty much entirely from the channel. Which included the infuriating cancellation of numerous DC properties including Young Justice. The last ten years have seen some of the worst changes at Cartoon Network and this was just the most painful poke in the eye (to the fans) I can remember.

[@AronGKatz]

Yeah and I can't believe we got the stupid reboot for kids instead. I'm ok with those reboots as long as we get a conclusion to our current universe favorite but no

[@TheMulToyVerse]

@@JohnDoe-wq5eu the art style was different from the OG, but didn’t feel out of place… the tone was both familiar but more evolved than the original and the designs were amazing without losing the sense of who each character was People kept saying that it felt like a moral lesson overtone kind of show, but then carried on about how the original wasn’t EXACTLY LIKE THAT Both OG Thundercats and OG He-Man had heavy “lesson of the day” themes. They were both shows targeted to kids that provided basic themes to consider and a progression of character growth He-Man literally had post-episode “in todays episode/adventure” interactions with the audience to summarize and reenforce the topic addressed So it always baffled me how people felt that Thundercats 2011 was heavy handed with a “lesson” while forgetting that it was a theme carried over from the 80’s version

[@TheMulToyVerse]

@@AronGKatz I’m still holding out hope for a proper Teen Titans season 6 However I can appreciate the lite-hearted and episodic nature of TT: Go and the style definitely grew on me, especially since the retained the original cast On the flip side, I saw the trailer for Thundercats Roar! and immediately felt absolutely nothing whatsoever It looked like a poor man’s cross between Titans Go and Steven Universe but without any of the fun of the former or charm of the latter

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

@@TheMulToyVerse The issue is people have total blind nostalgia for the original 80s cartoon and are willing to look past many huge glaring flaws and issues because they have emotional ties to it from their childhoods. I can understand that but at the same time I can see the issue that causes. Also if I might just chime in on that other comment you made the biggest problem with Teen Titans go is the fact they can't not crap on the fans of the original every chance they get. The show's almost 10 years old and they're still doing that crap which comes off hella petty and frankly bitter that people still like the original over them. Roar was simply garbage. It really felt like the worst tendencies of teen titans go where they just couldn't not mock fans of the original show. Plus it was basically a retelling of the 80s version but just much much worse. Roar was not only redundant but totally unnecessary. Nobody needed a "comedic" version of that original 80s cartoon.

[@RetroWasteLand81]

I loved the 2011 series so much. It was a perfect compliment to the original series. Thanks Dan for reopening the wounds that was the 2011 series. Don’t even get me started on “Thundecats Roar”🤬. Well I guess I’m go need to schedule an appointment with my therapist now.

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

Roar not only opened old wounds but also poured salt directly into them. The fact it came almost exactly 10 years after the infinitely superior previous version was just a complete slap in the face like I couldn't believe.

[@Ozymandias2x]

Ah, good ol' Thundercats Roar. "Hey, let's have the show reboot made by a talentless hack who copies whatever he sees is popular without regard for context, and also hated the original show!"

[@starvinmarvin351]

This deserved at least a 2nd season. Such great story telling.

[@mrg466]

Sucked!

[@lordtickledck7012]

At the very least, they finish the story as a comic series

[@jonsolo4776]

At least Wildstorm got their crack at doing what I thought was some excellent lore building within the world and some expansion and fleshing out further of some of our favorite characters from the 80s. Plus there's that HeMan crossover floating out there, as well.

[@user-iw6bu4iq4r]

That or have a movie to rap up the show. Sure it had a few "adult themes" going on towards the end but... If The Owl House, a show about a lesbian witch, I'm not nocking on the LGTBQ community, but if it can get 3 seasons why can't Netflix pick this up and finish it?

[@joshuataylor7443]

Can you explain why it great?

[@drl213]

I loved the original as a kid and loved the 2011 version as an adult. I enjoyed almost all the updates and felt they did a great job staying loyal to the source material. It was heartbreaking that we didn't get a decent ending, whether the final season or a movie or something. Didn't know about the Lego deal but still wish there was a way to get the ending the fans desperately want.

[@mrg466]

No, it sucked!

[@shortstuba2006]

I wish this series had never ended. When Toonami brought it back in 2012/2013 for another run, I seriously thought that maybe we were gonna get a 2nd season. But it was all for naught.

[@proto245]

You're not the only one. Even the people at Toonami were incredibly annoyed they pulled the rights away from them.

[@OtakuUnitedStudio]

A couple minor points, having experience the series first hand at the time it debuted: The toys were not on the shelf when the show aired its first 13 episodes. It went on a hiatus halfway through to allow them to get to the stores. There were rumors that seem to hold water that they weren't going to make it a merchandise driven show but the executives at the network decided to do it anyway, hence why they showed up so late but not as long as it would normally take for that kind of production. The magnetic Thunder Link feature isn't present in every toy. There were basic figures that don't have it at all and then special ones that did, and what it did depended on the figure and what it was meant to interact with. I was a fan of the original series but the reboot was way cooler. I watched the original in syndication on Cartoon Network after school for years, especially after the Toonami block debuted. Hearing it was getting a modern reboot was about as cool to me as seeing Transformers get a movie.

[@SagittariusAyy]

So basically, similar case to what happened with Sym-Biotic Titan?

[@crimsonmask3819]

The original series had terrible toy tie-in issues, too, iirc.

[@EternalEmperorofZakuul]

Imagine if WB sold the thundercats license to another company

[@OtakuUnitedStudio]

@@EternalEmperorofZakuul Please, I wish. They're clinging to it like an angry raccoon even though they're barely doing anything with it.

[@fhetty]

Honestly one of the best animated shows I've ever seen. Thundercats 2011 was a triumph of storytelling. We the fans want this amazing series back!

[@mrg466]

I don't, it sucked!

[@a1pha_star]

I hated the love triangle… Poor Lion-O. 😭

[@mrg466]

@@a1pha_star I'm glad Lion-o didn't get Cheetara, it made the story more real!

[@roba5098]

@mrg466 EXACTLY! Its people like @alphastar1965 that complained how LionO didnt get the girl when really they were just too immature to appreciate good writing and storytelling.

[@mrg466]

@@roba5098 The show had its good, but it also had its bad. The Good: Tygra and Snarf was a big improvement . The bad: I hated their version of Panthro and the arms he couldn't even control! I also hated how The Thunder kittens were sillier, had tails and worst of all, they were thieves. Yet, my main issue, they lost focus on getting revenge for their king and father, (plus the king, wasn't necessary a good guy either, which was more realistic)...which isn't always a focus in a animated shows, but is a reality in terms of making the show more realistic. Many rave about this show, but I think many miss the flaws I see in it . Lastly, the episodes started getting worse. I know, because I own the entire series. Enough said.

[@cheezeofages]

I have to say "Mumm-Ra" is probably one of my favorite villain names. It just has such a good ring to it. Has that weird mix of being silly and fun to say but believable as the name of an intimidating ancient evil. Nobody can deny if they found out they were fated to be the destroyer of an ancient evil sorcerer called "Mumm-Ra" they'd go "That's kind of a cheesy name, but I am still concerned."

[@cybercop0083]

Yes. I also like Silverhawks Mon-Star. With his star shaped eyepatch😂

[@ORLY911]

the god Ra but evil and all corrupting, has gravitas to it

[@JohnKelly2]

I was the perfect audience for the Thundercats reboot. I grew up with the show, and I'm a toy collector. I watched and loved the show, but I had no idea there was a toy line. I coincidentally found 4 of the figures in the package at a thrift store a couple of weeks ago.

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

Yeah, the fate of this show parallels almost perfectly the whole Young Justice situation. Another well-produced show that didn't sell the needed amount of action figures or whatever and was cancelled out right. Of course it finally got a continuation where is this one seems likely to linger on as a dangling thread forever.

[@vancexel]

I didnt see any commercials for the toys nor games. It's hard for people to know things exist unless you tell.

[@Dargonhuman]

Same. I had no idea there was even an associated toy line until after the show was cancelled and I saw someone randomly comment that the cancellation was due to low toy sales and I was like, "Toys? There were toys?" Even now, 12 years later, this video is the first time I'm hearing about the video game.

[@BullseyeRey]

One of the things i liked about this series is how they made the Lizardmen sympathetic. They had legitimate gripes with the cats.

[@hakkaigojyo10]

It's very rare for me to enjoy a reboot of my favorite show but this was the exception. I'll never understand why it was cancelled.

[@ralcolfwolfcoon8207]

TMNT 2012?

[@Fabio-lq7wb]

@@ralcolfwolfcoon8207 TMNT 2003 was better. TMNT 2012 was pretty good, but 2003 was the best take on the animated Turtles ever done IMO, at least until the 6th and 7th seasons.

[@CaitiffPrimogen]

"Song of the Petalars", "The Duellist and the Drifter" and WilyKat/WilyKit's adventures with Tookit live rent free in my memories. I liked the original show as a kid (but can see it's flaws now), and thought the 2011 reboot did a great job of honouring the original, while updating things so it was internally consistent, and entertaining to an older audience

[@Dorelaxen]

"And we're movin' on!" Thank you, Dan. THANK YOU. I grew up with the original show, but I really enjoyed this one. The updated designs, the better story telling. Snarf not talking. I liked how the Mutants were made MUCH more formidable and dangerous than the original show, where they were mostly just for comic relief (having Jackalman be a Hannibal Lecter type character was absolutely brilliant). Elephant men that are super forgetful? Hell yes! Real shame we never got more than we did.

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

The problem was it was almost like a doomed project from the get-go. Seeing is what Cartoon Network have become at that point they did cancel toonami they didn't really have any action shows left and I believe before or after this I can't remember which we had the whole Young Justice situation that was the exact same thing. A great show that was supposedly needing to sell toys didn't and was even though it had great ratings cancelled.

[@jcjc4164]

It seems like this show should have been on a national free to view network that any kid could have watched for free. Saturday morning cartoons were still being shown in 2011. Just a thought.

[@gir2195]

I will not stand for this Snarf slander /jk

[@tompatchak8706]

We had just moved out of our house, there was a hoarder living next door:( In with my in laws AND my son had just had open heart surgery. Lots going on that summer. But one thing that calmed me was sitting down and watching this with my 3 year old daughter and loving it

[@trainman666]

Well it is a small comfort to know that the show wasn't cancelled because it was bad. Man, it had SO MUCH potential that'll now never be realized.

[@Michael-fd1gx]

Cartoon Network judges a show based on toy sales that they never advertise for.

[@brandonanderson2689]

I loved Thundercats 2011, the storylines were very interesting & seeing it end like it did was a gut punch

[@DragonKingX78]

I agree.

[@urbz6712]

Like Wolverine and the X-Men, one perfect season then nothing.

[@brandonanderson2689]

@@urbz6712 that's another one that hurt, so did Green Lantern the Animated Series

[@Tensen01]

Grew up on the Original, which was my favorite show at the time. Absolutely loved the reboot, and was very sad when it got cancelled.

[@DragonKingX78]

I really loved both versions.

[@mandisaw]

Grew up with the OG series, didn't like that the reboot lacked the original's unique sci-fi/pulp fantasy elements. Might well have been a good show, but it felt too generic-fantasy to scratch the ThunderCats itch for me. I was also leery after the cancellation of the He-Man/MotU reboot and Young Justice that CN was just not fully committed to its own shows. Didn't want to invest time/energy into a show that was likely to get the axe - and I was right

[@LadyTanglepath]

The animal-people designs were so distinct and neat in this series. I was really interested in the world building. The bird people and dogs and also all those other species hinted in the space scifi past reveal episode.

[@LORDS.And.Hammers]

I still think of episode 4 “Song of the Petalars” all the time. It felt like a feature length movie and hit me so hard. I still keep my fingers crossed for another season. 🤞🏽

[@AlexJimenezLit]

The "...And moving on!" comment reflected my sentiments regarding Thundercats Roar so precisely that I finally liked and subscribed to this channel.

[@AaronEiche]

My wife and I really enjoyed the 2011 Thundercats series. We watched it and were disappointed when it didn't come back. I'm not much of an anime fan, but the complexity of the story was very welcome. It's a shame it didn't continue.

[@VicRaptor2589]

Such an underrated show, I personally loved the reboot.

[@mrg466]

It sucked!

[@yowatchie]

I don’t think you know what underrated means.

[@thenonexistinghero]

@@yowatchie I think reception was lukewarm at best. Personally I loved it. It was a shame it was canned after just 1 season.

[@starmantheblaziken1453]

I unironically liked Chima for its own sort of thing and still do past the endings. Even with a more clear picture on Thundercats and their tried reboots, it is sad what was done to that series when it was trying as hard as it could.

[@joenic4662]

The original Thundercats opening was so amazing and iconic. It was bizarre that this version just didn't even have an opening. Maybe they knew they couldn't capture the magic again, so they didn't bother or were afraid to try. I wish they just used the original song with updated animation.

[@robseman5212]

The original opening was, IMO, the best one out of all 80s series. I don't think they believed they could top it, and they would be right.

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

@@robseman5212 It also seems like they were going in a different direction not so Saturday morning cartoony. For better or worse it was certainly a decision.

[@Ryushikaze]

@@JohnDoe-wq5eu You could have done an epic orchestral version of the theme, not the full thing mind, but the opening line or two, at maybe 3/4 to half tempo and it would have suited the new tone perfectly

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

@@Ryushikaze I wouldn't mind seeing an interpretation it could be very cool.

[@robbybevard8034]

They explicitly said "the original is the best animated opening of all time. We can't match or beat that, so there's no point in trying." The original opening was a minute and a half long, and Cartoon Network wanted 15-30 second openings like Adventure Time or Regular Show. There was just no way to do it justice in that time. I understand the restraints but the opening is the entire reason the original ran as long as it did. They shoulda made an attempt.

[@stanstansky5522]

This is how you do a remake! Has its own story and legacy but pays homage and is so respectful to the original, absolutely tragedy it was cancelled

[@DragonKingX78]

Yeah this one and the 2002 He-Man series were great.

[@da1prospek]

I really loved this show. It’s cancellation stills saddens me all these years later

[@DaRealCheeseboy]

Every episode of Secret Galaxy is like a treat to me as I only watch them when I’m doing my weekly chores around the apartment and this episode is no exception. Well done, as always.

[@House31x]

This show was so damn amazing. I was so pissed when it was cancelled and no one else picked it up.

[@billlyons7024]

Plus it ended on a cliffhanger!

[@ladynikkie]

This and Young Justice deserved better

[@House31x]

@@ladynikkie I was sooooo geeked when they announced the return of Young Justice and but the latest run just wasn't at the same level of the original. I was so disappointed.

[@mrg466]

It sucked!

[@mrg466]

@@ladynikkie I give you points for Young Justice, but this show sucked!

[@LowellLucasJr.]

I friggin' knew CN was secretly supporting Lego over Thundercats in 2011! At that time, Ninjago was being pushed heavily by the CN marketing team while Thundercats struggled to keep its commercials and scheduling. Chima was Definitely a final nail into its coffin, as it straight up made " Lego Thundercats" more popular than the actual rebooted show. Pretty dirty from the network but more was to come in the form of Thundercats Roar.

[@Menleah]

Another great video, Dan! I remember the episode about the Petalars (sp?) that aged in reverse being really good - a lot packed in to a 22min episode. I recently watched the pilot of the original series. It's still so good. Great world building in that first season.

[@balgus82]

I honestly loved this show. Had a lot of great ideas with only a few problems. I was absolutely devastated when it was canceled. You also missed the part where cartoon network kept changing the time slot without notice and the huge delay between the first and second half of the season airing.

[@rga1605]

It's really sad they never really finished the story, it was so great

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

Even over decade later I refuse to completely give up hope. But with even delauren cancelled Young Justice finally getting a continuation/ending and roar coming along to rub salt in our wounds and laugh at our pain I really need to just let it go.

[@dreamguardian8320]

Yes, it's sad that it was cancelled. Almost as sad as when they cancelled the Tell Tale Game of Game of Thrones. If there's one thing I can not stand, it's being left on a permanent and painful cliffhanger.

[@xftbllplyr2091]

Mum-ra got Pumyra pregnant and they had a kitten who killed Lion-0, captured the Sword of Omens, the Book of Omens, the rest of the stones and married snarf

[@LowellLucasJr.]

It saddens me more when you find out what the 2011 show was planning for a second season. The showrunners, including Lion-O himself, revealed the following: *Slithe was going to have an origin story, revealing why he hated the cats; which was the tiger tribe were performing target practice on the nesting grounds of his family and people...eradicating many. * Pumira was going to be the new leader of " The Mutants", Slythe, Vulureman, Monkiyan and Jackalman. *Pumira would get an upgrade and have an insectoid like form and attack Lion-o...only for Tigra to jump in the way and get stabbed protecting the life of his little brother.

[@balgus82]

It wasn't the Tiger clan thar killed Slythe's family. It was Lynxo. The Tiger clan was a hidden clan the other Thundercats didn't know about until they were encountered in the show.

[@immediateegret2120]

I was too young for the original Thundercats when it came out, and it didn't seem to do as well in syndication as some of its brethren, so I didn't adopt later the way I did with series like TMNT. I remember seeing a couple episodes of the reboot and enjoying it. It was exactly the kind of reboot I wanted (and still want) for my own favorite 80s cartoon, Exo-Squad. I don't recall why I didn't follow it more closely; I suspect I was too busy working to be able to catch it consistently. It's a shame that the 2011 iteration won't be continued, but I think the success of reboots like Princesses of Power and Legendary Defender on Netflix suggests that there's still hope for someone to try again... Or at least, there _would_ be if it weren't owned by WB.

[@acedout223]

There was an episode where Liono had to retrieve his sword back from a collector. After losing, he was mentored by a rabbit that taught him how to "bend like the willows". That was a great example of storytelling that the original just never could produce. After that, I became a huge fan and waited years for the next season to come out. Just like so many times, they left the series with such great promise (aka 80s D&D) and ruined by not completing the story. Here is to hoping they eventually find interest to come back with some original voices to complete it despite both creators passing. It is a testament to their legacy but an example of corporate greed ending such a well thought idea.

[@JohnWilliams-cr2sz]

If memory serves this show also kinda led to the creation of Critical Role. I think working on this is where Matt and Liam first became friends and Liam's birthday one shot game was planned, which eventually led to their home game, which eventually became Critical Role.

[@ReaverPrime]

Just like with ExoSquad, I'll always be salty that the TC reboot ended without a real resolution. Especially since Pumyra was such a compelling character.

[@maicalk5405]

they wrote tigra to be insufferable over the most petty reason in the show while not expanding upon any character development

[@blackdragon6]

Cartoon network has a history of killing Teen/Young Adult centric cartoons. Remember Young Justice and Symbiotic Titan?

[@kadosho02]

This chapter of the series deserved to continue. With so much anime out now, a chance for it to finish this arc would be ideal. Sigh. Just bites how things turned out The cast, music, animation, and story were excellent. Seriously it needs to be given another chance

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

The biggest issue is here we are in the HBO Max era (or rather shortly the discovery Max era if I remember correctly what they're rebranding it to) but Warner is pretty much on a short leash with their current ownership. Even though it would be a perfect project to resurrect I almost guarantee it won't happen. It's such a shame to it would be so awesome to finally finish the series but I feel like it will forever be a lingering thread never to be finished.

[@kadosho02]

@@JohnDoe-wq5eu sigh true. It ended way too soon

[@Progearspec]

Agreed but with,david zaslav in charge now that will probably never happen.Far as animation goes anything that as seen for loss of profit is being canceled.

[@kadosho02]

@@Progearspec 🤦 Somehow Velma has earned a second season. That logic hurts my brain

[@streetman88]

@John Doe Even if they did bring this awesome series back, it is almost guaranteed that they will basterdize it in some way or another (like they have with so many other iconic franchises 🙄). Heck, they already did with that dumb reboot called thunder cats roar. That's why so many of us true fans. Stomped a gigantic mud hole in that abomination and it's pony tail wearing producer 😠👎.

[@wendellstephens6311]

I miss cartoons having openings in general, they're rare as hell nowadays. Most shows now just have a short ring tone with the title flashing.

[@Minusoh]

I didn't know what a Thundercat was at the time but I _adored_ the 2011 show as a kid. I don't think I saw every episode on account of being 10 and not knowing how to work the recorder in our cable box, but I did take notice of when I stopped seeing commercials for new episodes. Now, the funny thing is, I was also a huge Ninjago fan at the time, so when Chima started airing, I watched that too. I got bored of it pretty quickly and started wondering why there weren't any new Ninjago episodes (haha, fancy that), but not once did I think "Huh, this is kinda like that Thundercats show." Now, before even clicking this video, seeing "Thundercats" and "Lego" in the same sentence made it instantly click in my head. It makes me so sad. Despite watching all 41 episodes of Chima, I look back on the 10 or so episodes of Thundercats I saw a lot more fondly.

[@strataseeker2981]

I watched the 80s show occasionally, but it wasn't required viewing when I was a kid. The 2011 show hit a really great balance for me of taking it seriously, but not grim-dark. They had some great characterization, fantastic updates to all the designs, and some top notch vocal performances. Such a tragedy it was cut short without getting a proper ending.

[@mrg466]

It sucked!

[@brucebickley6866]

Sure this has been said already but that episode of ThunderCATs (2011) with those flower people that only live one day...One of the greatest stories ever told, ever!

[@Orosian5]

Out of curiosity, I decided to watch the 2011 intro and the original back to back. Gotta admit, even in my 40s, the original still gets me psyched. It stimulates the imagination and fantasy more.

[@TreyMcDonaldAnimator]

This still pisses me off. My parents were HUGE Thundercats fans and I was in love with this series. It's unjustified what they did with something so beautiful in storytelling and animation.

[@Elvisbackpack]

This was the best kind of reboot. It didn't shit on the old show, it respected it completely. It also carved out its own niche and told its own story.

[@SonicSlicer]

I went into the 2011 series fully expecting to hate it having grown up with the original at the cherubic age of 5 years old, as reboots tend to poop the bed or dump on the original source material. However, even only having one season it blew my expectations out of the water, shame on WB for letting this drop the way it did.

[@gundambassexe31]

I remember the Thundercats 2011 ! Too bad it was near the end of 2010s when action shows and cartoons were declining and being cancelled...

[@Juggtacula]

Also Lion-O got shafted in the romance game. Cheetara who was absolutely leading him on ends up going out with Tygra instead. And Pumyra was a spy the whole time and blames Lion-O for something that is 100% not his fault.

[@stephen3164]

The formula of success for these toy commercial series/shows in the 1980’s was in part bc of its captive audience. Few people had cable, no dvrs, no streaming services. No internet. No social media. As a latchkey kid, you had all the choices of 2-3 channels of whatever the networks decided kids could watch after school and on Saturday mornings. That’s why these shows worked so well - as long as the animation and story telling were halfway decent, kids would watch. Today, the struggle is real. With so many tv channels, and streaming services offering near endless viewing options, it’s a huge challenge to capture an audience to the point that merch and toy lines from the show can be supported - which is why shows like The Mandalorian and Stranger Things did something impressive - got people to all watch the same thing at about the same time.

[@superquad7]

I wished we could get one movie or a comic book that could tie up everything from this cartoon. This series rocked hard, and it's a shame on Cartoon Network for canceling it.

[@1977Bast]

As someone who grew up watching Thundercats, I really liked this remake. I wish it had gone one longer. I would love a new one on netflix. They already did He-man, Voltron, and She-Ra, all which I really enjoyed!

[@davidd.1319]

netflix wrecks every classic ip kids show it touches with needless workness. lets not have netflix ruin any more of my childhood. maybe crunchyroll or hidive can make it happen.

[@Appalachiosaurus22]

@@davidd.1319 Shut up old man

[@davidd.1319]

@@Appalachiosaurus22 really? That is your response. What are you 12? You think I am old. At least I have lives long enough to know a thing or two and have a valid point based on experience. I was 6 when the original Thundercats came. Out. I am not particularly old.

[@Appalachiosaurus22]

@@davidd.1319 Holy shit dude, you're in your 40s and your whining about "wokeness" in modern day cartoons? Some people just never grow up I guess.

[@davidd.1319]

@@Appalachiosaurus22 are you even old enough to be on you tube. Isn't it 13+ to be here

[@khlgrn68]

I wanted to see Thundercats,Silverhawks and Tigersharks together. I remember an elder looking Thunderian in one of the earlier Silverhawks episode. It gave the impression they were all in the same universe. The 2011 Thundercats gave us the cameo of Monstar, one of the Tigersharks, and flying hawks I was floored that they linked them like that. I really wanted to see how it would’ve worked. They probably would’ve gone into Tigersharks and explored Silverhawks after the 2011’s foundation was established. I did love the callback of 2011 Lion-o using his sword against Mumm-ra in season 1 which was similar to the 1980s intro.

[@woutervandeweghe5265]

WB and Netflix should come together to make season 2. It's never too late to continue the story and Netflix will have something like Disney has now with X-Men 97

[@jesseperry9602]

I LOVED the original Thundercats and still do even with all its silliness that I now can see but couldn't back then. The 2011 series hit at the exact right time for me to fall back in love with the franchise with its more adult themes and more serious tone. I will forever Stan for the episode where Lion-O meets those little forest guys that age like flowers so they have an entire life time in the space of a stroll for Lion-O. Such a neat idea. Thundercats Roar also is a thing that existed.

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

@JessePerry I think the reason I truly truly hated roar was the fact that it was such salt in the wound. After the mess of the 2011 version and non-ending to have that be the very next anyting in the universe was just such a slap in the face. I mean I know that Cartoon Network seems to find great joy in poking the fans in the eye these days but that was just so unnecessary and uncalled for.

[@Dynaman21]

What went wrong? Hoo boy. There’s a lot to be said, but I stand by my theory that the show was six years too early, since it arrived JUST before streaming took over our lives and made this kind of television feasible. Still better than Roar, which was written off for taxes and essentially sent straight to hell.

[@ToysWeRemember]

Informative and fun as always!

[@mrmacross]

I really enjoyed the pilot. It was interesting through the end, though it was getting stagnant in that there were too many episodes when Lion-o acted rashly in the beginning and had to learn his lesson by the end. You can do that a few times early on but it had gotten stagnant by the end of the first season. I also was pretty annoyed that they tried to build up Lion-o and Cheetara's relationship only to bait and switch it. Yeah, I understand that Tigra/Cheetara was a comic storyline, though I think it's fair to point out that the original show's creators never sanctioned it and I didn't think the new show was obligated to renew the comic's status quo. Still, it should've gotten another season.

[@KnowNothingNerd]

Grew up with the original and enjoyed the reboot. Really liked he episode where Lion-O met the species that lived their whole life in a day.

[@NewYork975]

I loved this series, nothing wrong with it in my opinion. And that one episode with the tree people, damn still one of the best animated episodes I’d ever seen ever.

[@DragonKingX78]

One of many great animated series that ended way too soon.

[@andrewgreeb916]

the annoying thing is they did everything right, but they still failed. More like the people above them failed

[@meyeneetuks4680]

@@andrewgreeb916 All cuz the big guys making the decisions wanted to get the big bucks from selling toys. It isnt fair. It really isnt

[@mcart4762]

Honestly this was the perfect reboot. Changed the story from the original to make it fresh but kept everything that worked. I adored this reboot and would love to see more. Oh and Thundercats roar sadly existed. Moving on I kick myself for not buying the Thundercats 2011 figures to encourage more episodes to be made. There was real potential. I'll end on this, if animaniacs can be thankfully and brilliantly returned to us (love the new series!) Hulu, please continue Thundercats!

[@Minetic]

Back in 2010-2012 animation tried to cater to us with good story telling and action with Young Justice, Thundercats, Generator Rex, Transformer Prime, and few more. Now got slap stick farts jokes with Titans Go, Uncle Grandpa and the like.... where did we go wrong.

[@alanblanks]

I loved the new take, I would have loved to see more of it. Mumm-ra's first transformation was perfect and hit all the right notes.

[@BugsyFoga]

The early 2010’s was certainly a truly fascinating time for action cartoons .

[@neilhannan5112]

Funny 2010 Action Shows Walked so that 2020 Shows like Rottmnt and upcoming show like Unicorn Warrior Eternal

[@johnnyd3158]

Yeah, today’s kids are missing out on some of the best action shows from the 90s and 2000s.

[@reapersritehand]

While the 10s was drawing us back in the 20s was like f that let me destroy every cartoon u loved

[@BoisegangGaming]

Yeah but also a time where they just got canceled left and right. (Cough Cough) Symbionic Titan

[@RockerMicke1]

more like the death of action cartoons it was the a horrible era for them

[@twindadsgamingkev6040]

Bro. Love the channels! Tell me you have a video about bionic six. Besides the tcats, probably my all time fav.

[@bengrauartwork]

I loved the 2011 series, I also grew up with the og one. I lived seeing that Mike Young logo. I was happy Lion O had pants and the direction it was going, the curse on Tigra's clan, and more, things I didnt like were the cyborg ewoks or the battlestar galactica teddybears from the OG series turning Panthro in to Jax and Mumrah's teeny tiny head. In the intro what hooked me inw as seeing Moonstar and the friggin Tigersharks on Mumrahs ship. Jackalo was a savage. he ate three bird dudes like a hoagie. Vulture was cool as usual. and yeah I was satisfied with this single only incarnation of the show, even signed the petition. after that there was nothing Thundercats related. yup. ( I hope the do one of Kidd Video if they haven't already, cmon it was a cool ISekai like power team and captai N. )

[@DSWappropriate]

I love 2011 Thundercats!

[@Shin_Lona]

Honestly, this and GI JOE Resolute were the best reboots of any kind to this day. They delivered a proper update with modern animation and design, while maintaining a respect for the original series.

[@nobo1982]

This show failed for me by eliminating the two most intriguing parts of the original series, liono being a kid who wakes in an adult body and being expected to lead his people and the group trying to carve out a life as strangers in a new world.

[@wiidlbeetle3857]

I’ve always wanted them to make a more serious, grownup version of Thundercats. Grittier and darker.

[@anxioustoad174]

I watched the original series on Teletoon Retro and then when I saw Thundercats(2011) on normal Teletoon I just assumed it was the same show but was greeted by a completely different but still very similar show instead. As I had already seen the original series I was already familiar with the characters, world, and story so I was hooked immediately. I still hold hope that Thundercats(2011) will return someday.

[@karaokeblokey26]

Absolutely amazing work. The professionalism of your work is outstanding. A lot of KZbinrs could learn so much from you. Thank you so much for your content always 5 star.

[@maximusprime3459]

It failed because like everything else that gets rebooted and fails because the generation they're trying to reach outside of the set fanbase could've cared less about it.

[@paulm7631]

Funny thing about thundercats roar, the end of the teen titans go crossover, the original Lion-O appears at the end, and snarf is off to the side "Guess no one cares about old Snarf." camera pans out, "Or you....." and 2011 Lion-O is standing there. I really wish they could let Netflix or Hulu produce the 2nd+ seasons and finish the story.

[@jasonschuck2096]

I still say if the episode with the plant/insect elves who age in a day (the show got weird) had been in Star Trek TOS rather than a Thundercats reboot, it would be held out as a sci fi classic to this day.

[@Tattoosandjorts]

It was a great show. Whenever I see/hear thundercats I always think of how this series ended and what could of been.

[@DragonKingX78]

Yes, the show deserved like 3-5 seasons.

[@leafyishereisdumbnameakath4259]

Never seen the show but can still see its an underrated masterpiece. Every time I think of 2010s cartoon network I think of this even though I never saw it. It still represents that era the best. Lego Ninjago season 2 is also a masterpiece.

[@jmartindale24]

I have fond memories of TC from the 80s. Watching the cartoon as a kid and wishing I had the Thundertank and Cat’s Lair toys…I didn’t know anything about the 2011 reboot, but I’m definitely going to check it out. I collect the Super7 figures currently (finally got the Thundertank) and look forward to anything and everything Thundercats.

[@gofigure6251]

This was great story telling and great animation.... a real shame.... Both versions of Thundercats were Awesome! yes thats right BOTH... There was only two

[@DragonKingX78]

I agree, there are only two Thundercats series.

[@tenorsaxes4life]

Back then as a kid, I always wondered what happened to the 2011 series. The 2011 series caught my eye and I was glued to the screen because I wanted to know what happened next. The timing though made it hard due to school. I always hated Cartoon Network for that after realizing years later that they did it on purpose. It was then after that (and of course that crappy show reboot of Teen Titans Go that always left a bad taste in my mouth) I decided to no longer support Cartoon Network and Warner Brothers.

[@radcatassassin1572]

They also had a podcast on what would have happened for season 2. The creators had a game plan for season 2 and how the series would ended it really is a shame that the creators where not able to have the series finish.

[@wannabkain4400]

This show was amazing and it still hurts to this day it got canned! It was amazing.

[@imj3688]

I LOVED this show. It was so sophisticated with gorgeous art direction and style. I really miss it - Have always wished for a T.V. special or a D2V release that could wrap it up. It's too far gone though, it's gone forever now.

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

Yup, I'm afraid so. With the current Discovery Warner situation the chance of getting anything is slim to none and slim just left town. I mean they luckily we're able to get the continuation of Young Justice done before the current merger. It would probably have suffered the same infinite non-ending fate otherwise.

[@THE_bchat]

"It's too far gone" ... is it? It's a cartoon, so it's not dependent on what the voice actors look like. And it's the 21st century, all the entertainment is at everyone's fingertips. New fans can binge-watch the earlier episodes at their leisure. The studio doesn't have to waste time re-introducing characters to a new audience before they continue the story, the internet can do that for them. I know continuing the series won't happen. The major tv/movie studios are stuck in the past when it comes to how to handle their content, and still think they need to reboot anything that's been dormant for more than a few weeks. One day, hopefully, someone who understands how the internet works will be put in charge.

[@W0lfenstrike]

I saw the 2011 reboot and I was BLOWN away by how much they improved EVERYTHING from the original! It's a damn shame they sabotaged themselves with the unrealistic expectations of relaunching a toyline for kids in the 2010's.

[@ericblugo]

Hi Dan - what’s your opinion on the Voltron reboot on Netflix? Why do you think that worked and we got a full-story without a major toy line? I know there were a few things produced, but at least we got a full story.

[@itsdantaylor]

Honestly I loved the 2011 remake but felt it REALLY started to take a down turn around ep like 11 or 13? I also heard about some of the plans for what the story would have been for a season 2 and honestly it sounded like it ending where it did was more of a mercy than anything. Nothing against the animation or the VA's they were phenomenal, it was really just the writing which i felt took some pretty bad turns after the first really good 10 or so episodes.

[@joshuabrown6461]

The only good plan they had was Slithes's face turn. Everything else, nope.

[@jaredjudnich]

I am a much larger fan of MOTU, its truthfully my favorite IP of all time, but this TCats series is lightyears ahead of Filmation or MYP. The intricacies of the storytelling and the subtle changes to the mythos are just superb. I absolutely love this series.