So it’s that time of decade again where something from the 1980s is getting a reboot, and for the second time this decade it’s going to be the ThunderCats franchise. Announced via a “Behind the Scenes” video on Youtube via Cartoon Network, we are introduced to Lion-O and his group of ThunderCats once again. This also has the Producer, Victor Courtright, talking about how Thundercats lends itself to comedy and how proud he is about making the show because he is a fan and all that other bullshit that these types of people are contracted to say before a show comes to air. Feel free to take a moment to watch the video below and take a look for yourself.
Now before you go getting all internet opinion on the for or against this show, let’s take a moment to remember that this is the SECOND time that Thundercats has been rebooted in the last 10 years. As pointed out in the well written tweet below, Thundercats had a reboot in 2011. Unfortunately since Cartoon Network was expecting viewership numbers like Nickolodean was getting with the return of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles at the time, they moved the show into impossible ratings slots after a 4 month mid-season hiatus; and then cancelled the series altogether. You could also put the cancellation of the 2011 series on the fact that no one wanted to buy the terribly made toys that flooded shelves at the time too, but that is just the way marketing goes. So the 2011 reboot, which is actually worth a watch if you can get your hands on it, goes the way of so many shows on Cable TV (A victim of a group of companies holding onto outdated media rights and methods in a time where streaming media is skyrocketing) and is cancelled before it really had a chance to shine.
For those upset over Thundercats right now: there was a visually stunning, heartfelt, story driven, action oriented reboot of Thundercats in 2011 that exceeded all expectations and showed a passionate respect to the source material. Nobody watched it and it was cancelled. pic.twitter.com/KuSfOAr9gu
— Arin Hanson is playing HOMEBODY (@egoraptor) May 18, 2018
Now compare the look of the animation above to the animation in the video. Done that? Good. Now you’ll understand why we are seeing reactions such as the ones below when it comes to Thundercats Roar.
https://twitter.com/LakelPruitt/status/997544299096031232
I hope it gets cancelled during the first episode. Looks like no effort went into it. I say this as a fan of the original growing up. The first reboot was going in the right direction until it got cancelled. This just looks bad.
— 🏳️🌈 Joshua Carpenter 🎮 (@hsojlightfoot) May 18, 2018
They got Thundercats looking like Steven Universe was locked in a Grundle Fly pod with Clarence and I am sad. pic.twitter.com/t1shBkgNDT
— Threads/IG @ JLBarrow (@JLBarrow) May 18, 2018
https://twitter.com/upstarchamback/status/997558757650587648
Also, adding to the outrage, the Director Jeremy Polgar came out on Twitter and engaged with the “haters” in a “I don’t give a fuck what you think” manner… Bad idea bro.
Yo! I'm directing on @victorgogogo s Thundercats series! Hate all you want but this show rocks! #thundercats #animation #sakuga https://t.co/AKlNe3IlfU
— Jeremy Polgar (@Jpolgar1) May 18, 2018
This is not an apology, but I really think it's important to seriously take a look and process how fuck'n awesome this show's intro is. It was masterfully boarded by the show creator and animated by @StudioYotta. This is what we're really making pic.twitter.com/qc2R7vLysO
— Jeremy Polgar (@Jpolgar1) May 18, 2018
Suffice to say, but this hasn’t gone down well. If there is anything that the whole “Comic Books Pros”, “ComicGate” and Diversity & Comics debate has shown us, it’s that telling long term fans of the product that you currently have creative control over to “fuck off” or “bring it haters” is not the way to talk to your locked in audience. Sure, ThunderCats Roar is made for the younger crowd and those who like shows like Adventure Time and Steven Universe (aka people with short attention spans or mental issues) but for some reason those shows draw in a good sized adult viewership, not to mention that the first ones who will tune into ThunderCats Roar won’t be children but the adults who grew up on ThunderCats in the 1980s and even fans of the 2011 reboot. Those aren’t the fans you want to swat away from the show you are making because it will keep them from letting their children watch the show and then it’ll get cancelled like so many others.
In today’s world where feedback in instant, maybe the people behind shows like this need to realize that this feedback is done out of loyalty to the brand that they are now in charge of. But nope, these creators take things as a personal attack and lash out in defense, making a barrier between them and the audience. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if ThunderCats Roar now doubles down on insulting the long term fans of the brand because of the backlash instead of listening to them and going back to the drawing board and create something that doesn’t come off as an insult to 2 generations of staff who worked on the brand and the millions of fans around the world… But what do I know, I’m just a white breaded nerd; and what we say means nothing.
