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. The characters were originally featured in an animated television series named ThunderCats, running from 1985 to 1989.
History
The original ThunderCats show was animated in Japan 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.
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.
Later adaptations
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. During this time, a new series was published by Marvel UK consisting of 129 issues and was also published for three years. 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. 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, but it has since been reported that the movie was never greenlit, and as of 2017, has not been made. Concept art for the film has also been leaked online.
A second television series was launched in July 2011, but was cancelled after its first season.
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.
Characters
References
