Snarf! Snarf!
May 17, 2011 6:42 PM Subscribe
Didn't we have a moratorium on posting cute cat videos on metafilter?
Just kidding. I'm glad that they didn't turn Thundercats into some live-action mess.
posted by jabberjaw at 6:52 PM on May 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
Just kidding. I'm glad that they didn't turn Thundercats into some live-action mess.
posted by jabberjaw at 6:52 PM on May 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
Dang, I read it wrong and was all excited for some serious snark...
posted by Runes at 6:54 PM on May 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Runes at 6:54 PM on May 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
A shame that Seth McFarlane isn't doing this reboot as well as the Flintstones reboot. Can you imagine?
LION-O: "This is even worse than the time Panthro and I were fighting Mumm-Ra in Snorkland!"
CUT TO SCENE OF LION-O AND PANTHRO FIGHTING NUMM-RA IN SNORKLAND. ALLSTAR SEAWORTHY MAKES SOME KIND OF POP CULTURE REFERENCE. THEN EEK! THE CAT WALKS BY FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER.
posted by Effigy2000 at 6:57 PM on May 17, 2011 [16 favorites]
LION-O: "This is even worse than the time Panthro and I were fighting Mumm-Ra in Snorkland!"
CUT TO SCENE OF LION-O AND PANTHRO FIGHTING NUMM-RA IN SNORKLAND. ALLSTAR SEAWORTHY MAKES SOME KIND OF POP CULTURE REFERENCE. THEN EEK! THE CAT WALKS BY FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER.
posted by Effigy2000 at 6:57 PM on May 17, 2011 [16 favorites]
I get the odd feeling that I've already seen this about eight times.
posted by Countess Elena at 7:01 PM on May 17, 2011
posted by Countess Elena at 7:01 PM on May 17, 2011
Didn't we have a moratorium on posting cute cat videos on metafilter?
No.
posted by louche mustachio at 7:02 PM on May 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
No.
posted by louche mustachio at 7:02 PM on May 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
Much better looking than I feared, but Lion-O looks like a teenager... just doesn't add up.
posted by lubujackson at 7:02 PM on May 17, 2011
posted by lubujackson at 7:02 PM on May 17, 2011
It pleases me to be the first:
THUNDERCATS HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
(Or, if it's bad, THUNDERCATS NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!)
posted by Krazor at 7:03 PM on May 17, 2011
THUNDERCATS HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
(Or, if it's bad, THUNDERCATS NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!)
posted by Krazor at 7:03 PM on May 17, 2011
Correct, Thunderbirds are go. Thundercats just ho.
posted by Cold Lurkey at 7:10 PM on May 17, 2011 [16 favorites]
posted by Cold Lurkey at 7:10 PM on May 17, 2011 [16 favorites]
I fear Lauren Faust has spoiled me as far as reboots go.
posted by mccarty.tim at 7:12 PM on May 17, 2011 [6 favorites]
posted by mccarty.tim at 7:12 PM on May 17, 2011 [6 favorites]
Remember what they did with GI Joe? Remember Transformers?
It is shit man. It is all going to shit. Now if you will excuse me I have a date with a half-empty bottle of well whiskey.
posted by munchingzombie at 7:17 PM on May 17, 2011 [3 favorites]
It is shit man. It is all going to shit. Now if you will excuse me I have a date with a half-empty bottle of well whiskey.
posted by munchingzombie at 7:17 PM on May 17, 2011 [3 favorites]
Great. Thundercats is being rebooted. Fucking Seth MacFarlane is going to be doing his version of The Flintstones... There is going to be no corner of anything unsullied by this utter lack of originality in our media, is there?
posted by hippybear at 7:19 PM on May 17, 2011 [5 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 7:19 PM on May 17, 2011 [5 favorites]
Someone, somewhere, has been waiting for this moment.
posted by four panels at 7:22 PM on May 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by four panels at 7:22 PM on May 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
Metafilter 2.0: There is going to be no corner of anything unsullied by this utter lack of originality in our media!
posted by Nanukthedog at 7:23 PM on May 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Nanukthedog at 7:23 PM on May 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
There is such a thing as a good, or even amazing, reboot. I'm not getting my hopes up for this one, though.
posted by darksasami at 7:23 PM on May 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by darksasami at 7:23 PM on May 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
I still want the Thunderbirds back.
::sniff::
::snarf::
posted by Splunge at 7:23 PM on May 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
::sniff::
::snarf::
posted by Splunge at 7:23 PM on May 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
Wait, that McFarlane Flintstones thing wasn't an Onion article?
What is going on anymore?
posted by mccarty.tim at 7:25 PM on May 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
What is going on anymore?
posted by mccarty.tim at 7:25 PM on May 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
Remember when Kurosawa rebooted Macbeth? What a douche.
posted by Mister_A at 7:29 PM on May 17, 2011 [5 favorites]
posted by Mister_A at 7:29 PM on May 17, 2011 [5 favorites]
It pleases me to be the first:
THUNDERCATS HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
I thought it was
Thunder!
THUNDER!
THUNDERCATS! HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
posted by zardoz at 7:33 PM on May 17, 2011 [3 favorites]
THUNDERCATS HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
I thought it was
Thunder!
THUNDER!
THUNDERCATS! HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
posted by zardoz at 7:33 PM on May 17, 2011 [3 favorites]
Ancient spirits of evil, transform this decayed form into --
BOX OFFICE GOLD
posted by stinkycheese at 7:34 PM on May 17, 2011 [5 favorites]
BOX OFFICE GOLD
posted by stinkycheese at 7:34 PM on May 17, 2011 [5 favorites]
Clancy Brown as Grune the Destroyer...
I don't know anything about Thundercats but this sounds right to me.
posted by Trurl at 7:36 PM on May 17, 2011
I don't know anything about Thundercats but this sounds right to me.
posted by Trurl at 7:36 PM on May 17, 2011
This could be a rare case where the reboot is better than the original.
/ducks
posted by smirkette at 7:43 PM on May 17, 2011
/ducks
posted by smirkette at 7:43 PM on May 17, 2011
I fear Lauren Faust has spoiled me as far as reboots go.
Thats pretty much setting an impossible standard.
posted by Artw at 7:53 PM on May 17, 2011
Thats pretty much setting an impossible standard.
posted by Artw at 7:53 PM on May 17, 2011
Great. Thundercats is being rebooted. Fucking Seth MacFarlane is going to be doing his version of The Flintstones... There is going to be no corner of anything unsullied by this utter lack of originality in our media, is there?
The Flintstones was just a Honeymooners knockoff, anyway.
posted by shakespeherian at 8:00 PM on May 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
The Flintstones was just a Honeymooners knockoff, anyway.
posted by shakespeherian at 8:00 PM on May 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvmZ6E_dfUU&NR=1 <>just a cynical money-grab, did you notice that the opening shot could be a still from the original? The even kept the original's weird gray-red color palate. The production team behind this obviously includes some TRUE FANS.
That doesn't excuse the decisions to turn Lion-O into a teenager, draw Cheetarah super skinny with big boobs, and make Pantero, the "black" Thundercat, into a big hulking tank-person, but eh. There's some love here.
No reboot voice actor is gonna be as awesomely hammy as Larry-Kenny-as-Lion-O, though.
posted by subdee at 8:03 PM on May 17, 2011
That doesn't excuse the decisions to turn Lion-O into a teenager, draw Cheetarah super skinny with big boobs, and make Pantero, the "black" Thundercat, into a big hulking tank-person, but eh. There's some love here.
No reboot voice actor is gonna be as awesomely hammy as Larry-Kenny-as-Lion-O, though.
posted by subdee at 8:03 PM on May 17, 2011
To be fair, those cartoons were pretty crappy in their original iterations.
Soundwave, Laserbeak, the Constructicons and Dinobots beg to differ. Pretty crappy my ass.
posted by cashman at 8:04 PM on May 17, 2011 [3 favorites]
Soundwave, Laserbeak, the Constructicons and Dinobots beg to differ. Pretty crappy my ass.
posted by cashman at 8:04 PM on May 17, 2011 [3 favorites]
Correct, Thunderbirds are go. Thundercats just ho.
Aw, crap. You're right. Guess there's a wire crossed in the part of my brain dedicated to memories of bad 1980s cartoons. I suppose it's better off that I'm not devoting too many brain cells to that stuff...
Now, remember that show about Inspector Gadget, and his nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie? They used to fly a Sea Plane through the jungle to save the environment, right?
posted by schmod at 8:04 PM on May 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
Aw, crap. You're right. Guess there's a wire crossed in the part of my brain dedicated to memories of bad 1980s cartoons. I suppose it's better off that I'm not devoting too many brain cells to that stuff...
Now, remember that show about Inspector Gadget, and his nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie? They used to fly a Sea Plane through the jungle to save the environment, right?
posted by schmod at 8:04 PM on May 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
And why is Panthro nowhere to be found in the trailer?
posted by cashman at 8:04 PM on May 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by cashman at 8:04 PM on May 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
DAMN IT. That should have been a link, followed by an arrow saying "better trailer", and then "I don't think this is just a cynical money grab. HTML fail ;_;
posted by subdee at 8:05 PM on May 17, 2011
posted by subdee at 8:05 PM on May 17, 2011
And lo, another generation of furries is born.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 8:05 PM on May 17, 2011 [11 favorites]
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 8:05 PM on May 17, 2011 [11 favorites]
In fact I am going to redo my comment:
Better trailer.
I don't think this is just a cynical money-grab, did you notice that the opening shot could be a still from the original? The even kept the original's weird gray-red color palate. The production team behind this obviously includes some TRUE FANS.
That doesn't excuse the decisions to turn Lion-O into a teenager, draw Cheetarah super skinny with big boobs, and make Pantero, the "black" Thundercat, into a big hulking tank-person, but eh. There's some love here.
No reboot voice actor is gonna be as awesomely hammy as Larry-Kenny-as-Lion-O, though.
posted by subdee at 8:06 PM on May 17, 2011
Better trailer.
I don't think this is just a cynical money-grab, did you notice that the opening shot could be a still from the original? The even kept the original's weird gray-red color palate. The production team behind this obviously includes some TRUE FANS.
That doesn't excuse the decisions to turn Lion-O into a teenager, draw Cheetarah super skinny with big boobs, and make Pantero, the "black" Thundercat, into a big hulking tank-person, but eh. There's some love here.
No reboot voice actor is gonna be as awesomely hammy as Larry-Kenny-as-Lion-O, though.
posted by subdee at 8:06 PM on May 17, 2011
The difference between the Flintstones and the Thundercats this - one is a lame, corporate vehicle for ad sales targeted at those who don't know any better, but identify with childish stereotyping - poorly animated on the cheap by people who knew better, but gave it all up, every last shred of their artistic integrity for a measly buck... and the other is a cartoon about cat-people who like to fight.
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:08 PM on May 17, 2011
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:08 PM on May 17, 2011
To be fair, those cartoons were pretty crappy in their original iterations.
To be fair, if you actually watch Thundercats, it's also incredibly crappy and a naked toy-tie-in cash grab. It's not Captain Simian and the Space Monkeys. No Captain Simian at all.
posted by smoke at 8:08 PM on May 17, 2011
To be fair, if you actually watch Thundercats, it's also incredibly crappy and a naked toy-tie-in cash grab. It's not Captain Simian and the Space Monkeys. No Captain Simian at all.
posted by smoke at 8:08 PM on May 17, 2011
I've hated Thundercats ever since the fateful afternoon (in 1985, I guess) it replaced Voltron in my neck of the woods.
posted by The Card Cheat at 8:14 PM on May 17, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 8:14 PM on May 17, 2011 [3 favorites]
The Flintstones was just a Honeymooners knockoff, anyway.
I have no problems with that. But oh... oh... yes. I already can hear the echoes of complaints about whatever travesty that Seth inflicts upon The Flintstones, coming at us here via the sheer strength of them penetrating the multi-dimensional space-time continuum.
It's not going to be pretty. $5 says that Dino ends up talking. Can't have a MacFarlane show without a talking non-human.
posted by hippybear at 8:14 PM on May 17, 2011
I have no problems with that. But oh... oh... yes. I already can hear the echoes of complaints about whatever travesty that Seth inflicts upon The Flintstones, coming at us here via the sheer strength of them penetrating the multi-dimensional space-time continuum.
It's not going to be pretty. $5 says that Dino ends up talking. Can't have a MacFarlane show without a talking non-human.
posted by hippybear at 8:14 PM on May 17, 2011
But... but I thought those corporations that were trying to get my parents money for overpriced toys thought my generation was special! How could they turn around and nakedly pander to someone else's generation, right in front of me?
posted by shakespeherian at 8:15 PM on May 17, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by shakespeherian at 8:15 PM on May 17, 2011 [3 favorites]
Didn't we have a moratorium on posting cute cat videos on metafilter?
No.
Thank goodness!
posted by jabberjaw at 8:15 PM on May 17, 2011
No.
Thank goodness!
posted by jabberjaw at 8:15 PM on May 17, 2011
To be fair, if you actually watch Thundercats, it's also incredibly crappy and a naked toy-tie-in cash grab.
*looks around at the Thundercats toys decorating his office*
Haters gonna hate.
posted by nzero at 8:15 PM on May 17, 2011
*looks around at the Thundercats toys decorating his office*
Haters gonna hate.
posted by nzero at 8:15 PM on May 17, 2011
I think it looks good.
posted by hermitosis at 8:23 PM on May 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by hermitosis at 8:23 PM on May 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
> There is such a thing as a good, or even amazing, reboot. I'm not getting my hopes up for this one, though.
I would be all about any cartoon reboot if Craig McCracken and/or Lauren Faust had anything to do with it. I still mourn the loss of Powerpuff Girls and Foster's. My Little Pony is good but can't completely shine because of the Hasbro hand-holding.
posted by erstwhile at 8:25 PM on May 17, 2011
I would be all about any cartoon reboot if Craig McCracken and/or Lauren Faust had anything to do with it. I still mourn the loss of Powerpuff Girls and Foster's. My Little Pony is good but can't completely shine because of the Hasbro hand-holding.
posted by erstwhile at 8:25 PM on May 17, 2011
In fact, Larry Kenny is involved in the reboot. Crappy or not, this one's being made by fans of the original show.
posted by subdee at 8:27 PM on May 17, 2011
posted by subdee at 8:27 PM on May 17, 2011
Considering that Thundercats was (if I recall) one of the first toons to outsource its animation to Japan, resulting in way better action animation than anything else at the time (did HeMan ever actually move his entire head?), doing the reboot in an Anime-inspired style is not a problem to me (and the criticisms of character design have a lot to do with going Anime-style). Building more of the backstory than the original fixes a lot of what I considered its greatest weakness. So, I'm semi-optimistic.
I'm also rather happy with The Looney Tunes Show 'reboot'. The environments in which Bugs and Daffy interact are different (but then, so have OURS since the 40s and 50s), and the character designs are inspired by everything that's happened SINCE the originals (one nitpick: why do they keep giving that famous grey bunny a hint of purple?!?), but the personalities are still true to form, the comedic action is executed well, and they bring the funny. (I cringed when I heard the second episode would bring in Lola Bunny, a non-canon character and one of the 17 Factors That Made "Space Jam" awful, but the character turned out to be as Looney as any of Kristen Wiig's live action characters, and worked well. And if they're going to do stunt casting, Rene Aberjonois as Pepe LePew worked...)
MacFarlane doing The Flintstones doesn't really bother me; his shows are essentially closer to the "Flintstones" and "Jetsons" than to "The Simpsons". And I know I will giggle at his first 'dinosaur poop' joke.
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:28 PM on May 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'm also rather happy with The Looney Tunes Show 'reboot'. The environments in which Bugs and Daffy interact are different (but then, so have OURS since the 40s and 50s), and the character designs are inspired by everything that's happened SINCE the originals (one nitpick: why do they keep giving that famous grey bunny a hint of purple?!?), but the personalities are still true to form, the comedic action is executed well, and they bring the funny. (I cringed when I heard the second episode would bring in Lola Bunny, a non-canon character and one of the 17 Factors That Made "Space Jam" awful, but the character turned out to be as Looney as any of Kristen Wiig's live action characters, and worked well. And if they're going to do stunt casting, Rene Aberjonois as Pepe LePew worked...)
MacFarlane doing The Flintstones doesn't really bother me; his shows are essentially closer to the "Flintstones" and "Jetsons" than to "The Simpsons". And I know I will giggle at his first 'dinosaur poop' joke.
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:28 PM on May 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
Man, I'm done with these reboots. The last straw was when I actually went -- and paid cash money -- to see G.I. Joe, mostly out of a sense of obligation to my 10 year old self. Way I figure it, after having sat through that thing, we're square. If anything, my 10 year old self owes me.
posted by .kobayashi. at 8:51 PM on May 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by .kobayashi. at 8:51 PM on May 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
Okay, so in the Worldcon interview, they put up a picture of Panthro and the Thundertank. The whole room cheers for Panthro - I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that he is easily the most popular original Thundercat, after all he is the technical wizard, the strategist, Lion-O's teacher, in some ways the leader of the group, and he is voiced by a black man - but Ethan mistakes what everyone is cheering for, and starts to explain the thundertank. ;_;
Also, Larry Kenny jokes that Cheetara is the "original ho". OH KENNY NO!
I doubt many of you are gonna want to watch that whole interview, so I'll mention that Cheetara is "an anorexic ho" (said "ironically") to emphasize that she is speedy, while Panthro is a tank to emphasize that he is "strong". (Ethan: "We added more spikes!")
Also, the show creators mention that the original Thundercats were all around the same size and body type, while the new ones are a bit more polymorphic, supposedly so that it will be easier for the audience to tell them apart. (Um?) Wileykit and Wileykat have tails so that the show creators can discuss prejudice against tailed cats within Thundercat society.
Yeah, guys... maybe check the messages you are sending unconsciously, before trying to write in more messages.
posted by subdee at 9:02 PM on May 17, 2011 [5 favorites]
Also, Larry Kenny jokes that Cheetara is the "original ho". OH KENNY NO!
I doubt many of you are gonna want to watch that whole interview, so I'll mention that Cheetara is "an anorexic ho" (said "ironically") to emphasize that she is speedy, while Panthro is a tank to emphasize that he is "strong". (Ethan: "We added more spikes!")
Also, the show creators mention that the original Thundercats were all around the same size and body type, while the new ones are a bit more polymorphic, supposedly so that it will be easier for the audience to tell them apart. (Um?) Wileykit and Wileykat have tails so that the show creators can discuss prejudice against tailed cats within Thundercat society.
Yeah, guys... maybe check the messages you are sending unconsciously, before trying to write in more messages.
posted by subdee at 9:02 PM on May 17, 2011 [5 favorites]
Coming soon:
SILVERHAWKS (tm), starring BILLY RAY CYRUS (tm) as COL BLUEGRASS (tm), MILEY CYRUS (tm) as STEELHEART (tm) and UFC's (tm) MIRKO 'CROCOP' FILIPOVIC (tm) as MON*STAR (tm)!
posted by obiwanwasabi at 9:03 PM on May 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
SILVERHAWKS (tm), starring BILLY RAY CYRUS (tm) as COL BLUEGRASS (tm), MILEY CYRUS (tm) as STEELHEART (tm) and UFC's (tm) MIRKO 'CROCOP' FILIPOVIC (tm) as MON*STAR (tm)!
posted by obiwanwasabi at 9:03 PM on May 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
Someone, somewhere, has been waiting for this moment.
Isn't that just Carrot Top getting ready for one of his bar mitzvah gigs?
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 9:09 PM on May 17, 2011
Isn't that just Carrot Top getting ready for one of his bar mitzvah gigs?
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 9:09 PM on May 17, 2011
Remember when Kurosawa rebooted Macbeth? What a douche.
Yeah, I remember a lot of 350-year-old fanboys complaining in their... mimeographed fanzines that day. "Thankee for RAPTUS DE TENERI UNGUIS MEI, Kurosawa!" "Get thee one thinge straightly, churl. MACBETH. REJOICED. NOT. IN NOH." (Opposed, of course, by the 250-year-old fanboys: "lol iwn verily doth ye samarai sowrds seem cool, relaxe thy self for tis merely an entertainemaunt.")
Also the ending where Hamlet is all like "Banquo's ghost? This is Hamlet of þ'Avengeurs. We have a business proposition for thee..."
posted by No-sword at 9:09 PM on May 17, 2011 [8 favorites]
Yeah, I remember a lot of 350-year-old fanboys complaining in their... mimeographed fanzines that day. "Thankee for RAPTUS DE TENERI UNGUIS MEI, Kurosawa!" "Get thee one thinge straightly, churl. MACBETH. REJOICED. NOT. IN NOH." (Opposed, of course, by the 250-year-old fanboys: "lol iwn verily doth ye samarai sowrds seem cool, relaxe thy self for tis merely an entertainemaunt.")
Also the ending where Hamlet is all like "Banquo's ghost? This is Hamlet of þ'Avengeurs. We have a business proposition for thee..."
posted by No-sword at 9:09 PM on May 17, 2011 [8 favorites]
> The last straw was when I actually went -- and paid cash money -- to see G.I. Joe
A couple of years ago I flew from Toronto to Australia to China and back to Toronto. On the plane I watched a lot of movies - mostly mediocre to bad - and G.I. Joe was the only one I wasn't able to make it through. Even Crystal Skull wasbetter less bad.
posted by The Card Cheat at 9:14 PM on May 17, 2011
A couple of years ago I flew from Toronto to Australia to China and back to Toronto. On the plane I watched a lot of movies - mostly mediocre to bad - and G.I. Joe was the only one I wasn't able to make it through. Even Crystal Skull was
posted by The Card Cheat at 9:14 PM on May 17, 2011
So... Thundercats is Battlestar?
posted by Jon_Evil at 9:21 PM on May 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Jon_Evil at 9:21 PM on May 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
erstwhile: "My Little Pony is good but can't completely shine because of the Hasbro hand-holding."
To be honest, if it got any more awesome I'm not sure I could cope.
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 9:36 PM on May 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
To be honest, if it got any more awesome I'm not sure I could cope.
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 9:36 PM on May 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
Since some of the Metafilter bronies are here, this is the forum of choice for discussion of the show while avoiding the uh...4chan style...fanbase.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 9:59 PM on May 17, 2011
posted by furiousxgeorge at 9:59 PM on May 17, 2011
I don't remember how good the animation on the original was, but I'm hoping there's more fluidity here than the usual Clutch Cargo-esque anime style for talky scenes. Hard to tell from that clip.
Anyway, so many cartoons have been remade now, some awful, some decent. (The He-Man from the early 2000s was pretty good.) But they were all easy to ignore if you wanted to, and this'll be the same. Bay's Transformers were bottom of the barrel, but they don't change my perception of the old cartoon.
And I guess it'll be the same with the Flintstones, but that will be hard to avoid... Maybe the world ending in 2012 won't be such a bad thing.
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 12:02 AM on May 18, 2011
Anyway, so many cartoons have been remade now, some awful, some decent. (The He-Man from the early 2000s was pretty good.) But they were all easy to ignore if you wanted to, and this'll be the same. Bay's Transformers were bottom of the barrel, but they don't change my perception of the old cartoon.
And I guess it'll be the same with the Flintstones, but that will be hard to avoid... Maybe the world ending in 2012 won't be such a bad thing.
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 12:02 AM on May 18, 2011
Maybe the world ending in 2012 won't be such a bad thing.
Thundercats? Another Flintstones? I don't even want to think about what is going to happen with Akira. *sigh* We should be so lucky.
posted by chemoboy at 12:17 AM on May 18, 2011
Thundercats? Another Flintstones? I don't even want to think about what is going to happen with Akira. *sigh* We should be so lucky.
posted by chemoboy at 12:17 AM on May 18, 2011
It's such a shame Seth MacFarlane is doing Flintstones. I mean, his shtick is all about popular cultural references. How's that going to work in the show where stone age people go to Drive Through movies and play records using a bird as the stylus.
Anyway - This whole conversation is starting to remind me from a bit from Family Guy:
Lois: I think you just got to be in the "out" group. Whoever's on top, whoever's in power, whoever's successful, you gotta be on the other side or you don't feel like the smartest guy in the room. All you are, my dear, is a contrarian.
Brian: Oh, please, you could not be more off base.
Lois: Oh, yeah? Let me ask, what did you think of the movie Titanic?
Brian: Horrible, one of the worst movies ever made.
Lois: Mm-hm, what about Slumdog Millionaire?
Brian: Overrated, just a terrible movie.
Lois: Cocktail.
Brian: Actually, not a bad film. You know, as classically structured cinema, Cocktail was one of the best films of its era.
Lois: You make me sick, Brian.
posted by seanyboy at 12:56 AM on May 18, 2011 [3 favorites]
Anyway - This whole conversation is starting to remind me from a bit from Family Guy:
Lois: I think you just got to be in the "out" group. Whoever's on top, whoever's in power, whoever's successful, you gotta be on the other side or you don't feel like the smartest guy in the room. All you are, my dear, is a contrarian.
Brian: Oh, please, you could not be more off base.
Lois: Oh, yeah? Let me ask, what did you think of the movie Titanic?
Brian: Horrible, one of the worst movies ever made.
Lois: Mm-hm, what about Slumdog Millionaire?
Brian: Overrated, just a terrible movie.
Lois: Cocktail.
Brian: Actually, not a bad film. You know, as classically structured cinema, Cocktail was one of the best films of its era.
Lois: You make me sick, Brian.
posted by seanyboy at 12:56 AM on May 18, 2011 [3 favorites]
That coment would have been better if I'd actually spelt Mr McFarlane's name correctly.
posted by seanyboy at 12:57 AM on May 18, 2011
posted by seanyboy at 12:57 AM on May 18, 2011
I mean, his shtick is all about popular cultural references. How's that going to work in the show where stone age people go to Drive Through movies and play records using a bird as the stylus.
This isn't the first time I've heard this point raised, but wasn't the original series a satire of life in the '60s (eg, drive-throughs and records)? I think the old fogey writers even mocked "She Loves You." And it took me many years until I realized that Gary Cooper was the inspiration for "Rock Quarry's" voice.
The show was so... timelessly dated, somehow. I kinda dread the thought of the Flintstones doing trendy gags about social networks and reality TV. Like there's not already a saturation of hilarious satires on that already. Just... ugh.
I'd hate to see who ends up with the rights to the Peanuts franchise now. Nothing is sacred anymore. This Thundercats remake is just so harmless in comparison.
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 1:49 AM on May 18, 2011
This isn't the first time I've heard this point raised, but wasn't the original series a satire of life in the '60s (eg, drive-throughs and records)? I think the old fogey writers even mocked "She Loves You." And it took me many years until I realized that Gary Cooper was the inspiration for "Rock Quarry's" voice.
The show was so... timelessly dated, somehow. I kinda dread the thought of the Flintstones doing trendy gags about social networks and reality TV. Like there's not already a saturation of hilarious satires on that already. Just... ugh.
I'd hate to see who ends up with the rights to the Peanuts franchise now. Nothing is sacred anymore. This Thundercats remake is just so harmless in comparison.
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 1:49 AM on May 18, 2011
Looks pretty slick. Dug Thundercats back in the day. Trick to continuing to enjoy old school cartoons into adulthood: never rewatch them. No doubt that Thundercats reruns would today be as much a toy advertising bummer as Transformers and GI Joe and Visionaries and Silverhawks and Ninja Turtles reruns have proven to be when nostalgia has gotten the better of my judgment and I check one out. But sometimes remakes are interesting. And this one looks flashy and interesting, so huzzah.
Lately, though, I've been getting this weird feeling, like I've seen too many pulpy shows and movies to tell Sweeping Heroic Epic Music apart very much anymore. Lately, I can't tell if I'm hearing a new composition or a repurposed old one. I swear I've heard the Green Lantern movie music before somewheres. And this stuff too, like there's some Now That's What I Call Hero Music Vol. 7 floating around out there for people who make pulp trailers.
Somewhat more on topic: looking forward to return of the Sword of Omens, the single greatest phallic symbol in the history of forged, throbbing steel. Wag it around and shout at it a little, it grows three times it's size and Lion-O instantaneously completes puberty. Fucking tremendous. Can't wait.
posted by EatTheWeek at 2:00 AM on May 18, 2011
Lately, though, I've been getting this weird feeling, like I've seen too many pulpy shows and movies to tell Sweeping Heroic Epic Music apart very much anymore. Lately, I can't tell if I'm hearing a new composition or a repurposed old one. I swear I've heard the Green Lantern movie music before somewheres. And this stuff too, like there's some Now That's What I Call Hero Music Vol. 7 floating around out there for people who make pulp trailers.
Somewhat more on topic: looking forward to return of the Sword of Omens, the single greatest phallic symbol in the history of forged, throbbing steel. Wag it around and shout at it a little, it grows three times it's size and Lion-O instantaneously completes puberty. Fucking tremendous. Can't wait.
posted by EatTheWeek at 2:00 AM on May 18, 2011
*giggles excitedly like a little kid*
posted by talitha_kumi at 3:38 AM on May 18, 2011
posted by talitha_kumi at 3:38 AM on May 18, 2011
One of my friends has a very amusing spiel about Thundercats and Lion-O which might explain why he's a teenager...
In the original series, the Thundercats had travelled to Third Earth in a sort of cryo-sleep, but Lion-O's sleep capsule had malfunctioned and had aged him while he slept. So he should have had the mind of a child in the body of an adult.
This might explain why Lion-O is a younger version in the reboot. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a sort of kids-show-with-plot, like Avatar was.
posted by The River Ivel at 4:24 AM on May 18, 2011
In the original series, the Thundercats had travelled to Third Earth in a sort of cryo-sleep, but Lion-O's sleep capsule had malfunctioned and had aged him while he slept. So he should have had the mind of a child in the body of an adult.
This might explain why Lion-O is a younger version in the reboot. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a sort of kids-show-with-plot, like Avatar was.
posted by The River Ivel at 4:24 AM on May 18, 2011
That coment would have been better if I'd actually spelt Mr McFarlane's name correctly.
You did spell it correctly. Well, that first time, anyway.
posted by hippybear at 4:55 AM on May 18, 2011
You did spell it correctly. Well, that first time, anyway.
posted by hippybear at 4:55 AM on May 18, 2011
Needs, as mentioned, more Panthro. Much less Snarf.
I've forgotten about Silverhawks, though. Damn, shiny. So, anyway, when do we get to the reboot of Captain Power (the darkest "children's toy show" ever)?
posted by Ghidorah at 5:31 AM on May 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
I've forgotten about Silverhawks, though. Damn, shiny. So, anyway, when do we get to the reboot of Captain Power (the darkest "children's toy show" ever)?
posted by Ghidorah at 5:31 AM on May 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
It's such a shame Seth MacFarlane is doing Flintstones. I mean, his shtick is all about popular cultural references. How's that going to work in the show where stone age people go to Drive Through movies and play records using a bird as the stylus.
As someone else noted above, The Flintstones is chock full of pop culture references of the time, just put through the Stone-Age-ifier. Often these show up as characters: Rock Hudstone, Cary Granite, Perry Masonry, Ann–Margrock, Little Joe Cartrock, Sassie (dinosaur Lassie), etc. And don't forget the crossovers - both (an animated) Samantha Stephens and Yogi Bear appeared in the show.
posted by mikepop at 6:02 AM on May 18, 2011
It's not going to be pretty. $5 says that Dino ends up talking. Can't have a MacFarlane show without a talking non-human.
Even the trash compactors spoke on "The Flintstones"
posted by NiteMayr at 6:04 AM on May 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
Even the trash compactors spoke on "The Flintstones"
posted by NiteMayr at 6:04 AM on May 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
I can't believe they passed me over for Mumm-Ra. I do an AWESOME Mumm-Ra. Just ask me the next time you see me!
It's almost as good as my Dr. Claw, which has been known to give grown-ass adults chills.
posted by Eideteker at 6:15 AM on May 18, 2011
It's almost as good as my Dr. Claw, which has been known to give grown-ass adults chills.
posted by Eideteker at 6:15 AM on May 18, 2011
And yeah, Lion-O is supposed to be an adolescent trapped in a man's body. That's part of his character! The main part!
Meanwhile, on facebook, I've been working on Pinky & The Brain live-action action-drama reboot movie titles:
"Single Poit of Failure"
"Poit of No Return"
"A Bridge Too Narf"
"Rebel Without a Troz"
"L.A. Narfidential"
"Trozident Evil"
and a friend suggested: "Poit Break" (which I would totally watch. Can you imagine Gary Busey as Pinky? As both the Gary Busey character AND the Patrick Swayze character?)
</foopishderail>
posted by Eideteker at 6:20 AM on May 18, 2011
Meanwhile, on facebook, I've been working on Pinky & The Brain live-action action-drama reboot movie titles:
"Single Poit of Failure"
"Poit of No Return"
"A Bridge Too Narf"
"Rebel Without a Troz"
"L.A. Narfidential"
"Trozident Evil"
and a friend suggested: "Poit Break" (which I would totally watch. Can you imagine Gary Busey as Pinky? As both the Gary Busey character AND the Patrick Swayze character?)
</foopishderail>
posted by Eideteker at 6:20 AM on May 18, 2011
Everything from my childhood was perfect and sacred. It should be referenced with appropriate reverence often, and should exist preserved in the amber of my memory, safe from the ravages of time and maturity. It is beyond criticism, as any attempt to demean it is a direct attack on my childhood and, in fact, childhood in general. As its duly appointed custodian, I must be on guard constantly against others who may seek to touch it, knowing that they will not -- indeed, can not -- handle it with the proper respect and devotion it deserves. My three-word motto is and always shall be: Mint in Box.
posted by Legomancer at 6:27 AM on May 18, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by Legomancer at 6:27 AM on May 18, 2011 [3 favorites]
Eideteker: "Pinky & The Brain"
I'll just leave this here.
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 6:28 AM on May 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'll just leave this here.
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 6:28 AM on May 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
I like Cheetara's original hairstyle better. Why does it have to be changed to the expected, boring, long mane?
posted by Windigo at 7:04 AM on May 18, 2011
posted by Windigo at 7:04 AM on May 18, 2011
So can a 20 or 30 year old guy still ironically wear a Hot Topic shirt with the Thundercats emblem on it once it is no longer a childhood memory but a show currently airing new episodes on Saturday mornings?
posted by jermsplan at 7:04 AM on May 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by jermsplan at 7:04 AM on May 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
Hey it's that thing I recognize!
posted by Uther Bentrazor at 7:30 AM on May 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Uther Bentrazor at 7:30 AM on May 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
Dang, I read it wrong and was all excited for some serious snark...
I read it wrong and was excited too. Anything with puppets.
posted by mrgrimm at 7:34 AM on May 18, 2011
I read it wrong and was excited too. Anything with puppets.
posted by mrgrimm at 7:34 AM on May 18, 2011
So can a 20 or 30 year old guy still ironically wear a Hot Topic shirt with the Thundercats emblem on it...
Wait. Ironically?
Oh, dear. I've been doing it wrong.
posted by gurple at 9:57 AM on May 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
Wait. Ironically?
Oh, dear. I've been doing it wrong.
posted by gurple at 9:57 AM on May 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
I've forgotten about Silverhawks, though. Damn, shiny. So, anyway, when do we get to the reboot of Captain Power (the darkest "children's toy show" ever)?
INHUMANOIDS! The most lovecraftian kid's show ever, with scientists discovering ancient horrors lurking beneath the earth just waiting to destroy fragile humanity. The old toys were kinda crap, but luckily some fans home-made much more badass ones recently.
posted by FatherDagon at 11:08 AM on May 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
INHUMANOIDS! The most lovecraftian kid's show ever, with scientists discovering ancient horrors lurking beneath the earth just waiting to destroy fragile humanity. The old toys were kinda crap, but luckily some fans home-made much more badass ones recently.
posted by FatherDagon at 11:08 AM on May 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
There aren't many shows left for kids with positive messages and with heroes who kids can look up to. In one episode, for example, Liono decides to go hunting for sport when Jaga stops him and tells him his food supply is plentiful, and the animals have as much right to the lifeforce as he does.
They never killed their enemies either, they always let them go. The ThunderCats uphold the Code of Thundera: Truth, Honor, Justice, and Loyalty.
Many of the episodes ended with a lesson to be learned for the child watching. It wasn't just ThunderCats vs. Mutants and fighting, there were deeper lessons built into each episode. Regardless of the new animation style and so forth, I hope they continue with those lessons, and teach a whole new generation about Truth, Honor, Justice, and Loyalty. They are going to need it.
posted by banished at 12:19 PM on May 18, 2011
They never killed their enemies either, they always let them go. The ThunderCats uphold the Code of Thundera: Truth, Honor, Justice, and Loyalty.
Many of the episodes ended with a lesson to be learned for the child watching. It wasn't just ThunderCats vs. Mutants and fighting, there were deeper lessons built into each episode. Regardless of the new animation style and so forth, I hope they continue with those lessons, and teach a whole new generation about Truth, Honor, Justice, and Loyalty. They are going to need it.
posted by banished at 12:19 PM on May 18, 2011
shakespeherian: "Great. Thundercats is being rebooted. Fucking Seth MacFarlane is going to be doing his version of The Flintstones... There is going to be no corner of anything unsullied by this utter lack of originality in our media, is there?
The Flintstones was just a Honeymooners knockoff, anyway."
One thing: Tony Curtis doing the voice of "Stony Curtis". Instant classic.
posted by Splunge at 12:41 PM on May 18, 2011
The Flintstones was just a Honeymooners knockoff, anyway."
One thing: Tony Curtis doing the voice of "Stony Curtis". Instant classic.
posted by Splunge at 12:41 PM on May 18, 2011
i for one am appalled at this crassly commercial failure to treat with proper reverence the half-hour long toy commercials i watched as a child
posted by FAMOUS MONSTER at 1:36 PM on May 18, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by FAMOUS MONSTER at 1:36 PM on May 18, 2011 [3 favorites]
Man, the more I think about this the more it is bumming me out. Yes, the show had a small group of noble cat people fighting a bunch of cringing mutant toadies who in some cases literally looked like toads. It had a "smart, strong aristocrats vs. cowardly faceless hoards" theme. If you identified with a Thundercat, you were a superior individual aspiring to the old-timey heroic qualities of honor, loyalty and justice. And you probably didn't have much of a sense of humor about it, unless you were Larry Kenny.
But within the Thundercats, everyone contributed. And Panthro and Cheetara, the black guy and the woman, in some ways contributed the most. The other Thundercats were twin brats, an adolescent in an adult body, the comic relief, and a socially retiring genius scientist with an addictive personality who preferred to keep to himself. So it fell to Panthro and Cheetara to keep the group functional. "Strength" was Panthro's signature attribute but that meant more than just physical strength. Cheetara was one of the best female characters on TV.
So I am sad that the character design for Panthro seems to focus on physical strength. Not only that, but there's no way Cheetara can run fast with no visible muscles and big boobs bouncing around and getting in the way. ;_;
Holding out hope that the show is better than the character designs. But... not that much hope. Sigh.
posted by subdee at 3:59 PM on May 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
But within the Thundercats, everyone contributed. And Panthro and Cheetara, the black guy and the woman, in some ways contributed the most. The other Thundercats were twin brats, an adolescent in an adult body, the comic relief, and a socially retiring genius scientist with an addictive personality who preferred to keep to himself. So it fell to Panthro and Cheetara to keep the group functional. "Strength" was Panthro's signature attribute but that meant more than just physical strength. Cheetara was one of the best female characters on TV.
So I am sad that the character design for Panthro seems to focus on physical strength. Not only that, but there's no way Cheetara can run fast with no visible muscles and big boobs bouncing around and getting in the way. ;_;
Holding out hope that the show is better than the character designs. But... not that much hope. Sigh.
posted by subdee at 3:59 PM on May 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
Man, this is another failed remake. First of all, they should find the animators of Samurai Champloo. Second, what the hell is up with Panthro??? He was cool as hell! They already lost to the old show. Anyone remember the Sword of Omens vs Excalibur? I double damn do! They failed with the Transformers, and now with Thundercats. Cheetara will NEVER be faster, or hotter, than she was back in the old series. The powers that be are going to destroy He-Man next.
posted by Flex1970 at 4:59 PM on May 18, 2011
posted by Flex1970 at 4:59 PM on May 18, 2011
The powers that be are going to destroy He-Man next.
Whadya mean next?
posted by nzero at 6:24 PM on May 18, 2011
Whadya mean next?
posted by nzero at 6:24 PM on May 18, 2011
No doubt that Thundercats reruns would today be as much a toy advertising bummer as Transformers and GI Joe and Visionaries and Silverhawks and Ninja Turtles reruns have proven to be when nostalgia has gotten the better of my judgment and I check one out.
With Transformers and GI Joe at least, there are some funny moments that you get more out of as a grown-up than as a kid (and not in the "We're so naughty!" Shrek way). Destro once yelled at some Cobra lackeys to go do something, but they refused because "union rules" required them to take a coffee break. But Destro didn't care. Or when a Joe hacked into a Cobra database and commented on how good Cobra's benefits were.
And I think the Transformers animated movie holds up pretty well (except maybe for Wheelie). It even had an "Of Mice and Men" reference. Can you imagine that in Bay's version? Sure the cartoons were conceived to sell toys, but I like to think the writers had enough ambition to raise them just a wee notch above "30-minute toy commercial." And it's not like they had to.
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 9:19 PM on May 18, 2011
With Transformers and GI Joe at least, there are some funny moments that you get more out of as a grown-up than as a kid (and not in the "We're so naughty!" Shrek way). Destro once yelled at some Cobra lackeys to go do something, but they refused because "union rules" required them to take a coffee break. But Destro didn't care. Or when a Joe hacked into a Cobra database and commented on how good Cobra's benefits were.
And I think the Transformers animated movie holds up pretty well (except maybe for Wheelie). It even had an "Of Mice and Men" reference. Can you imagine that in Bay's version? Sure the cartoons were conceived to sell toys, but I like to think the writers had enough ambition to raise them just a wee notch above "30-minute toy commercial." And it's not like they had to.
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 9:19 PM on May 18, 2011
It's almost as good as my Dr. Claw, which has been known to give grown-ass adults chills.
One of the voice actors that did Dr. Claw was AT MY WEDDING, as a guest of one of my step-aunts.
... And I didn't find out until like 6 months later, when she was no longer dating him. DAMMIT.
As for this Thundercats reboot? Oh hells yes. I went back and tried to re-watch the original series when it was released on DVD... I think I made it through 2 episodes. See also: Transformers and GI Joe.
What I want to see is a remake of M.A.S.K.
And yes, for those of you who haven't yet, watch the 3rd Trailer.
posted by antifuse at 5:52 AM on May 19, 2011
One of the voice actors that did Dr. Claw was AT MY WEDDING, as a guest of one of my step-aunts.
... And I didn't find out until like 6 months later, when she was no longer dating him. DAMMIT.
As for this Thundercats reboot? Oh hells yes. I went back and tried to re-watch the original series when it was released on DVD... I think I made it through 2 episodes. See also: Transformers and GI Joe.
What I want to see is a remake of M.A.S.K.
And yes, for those of you who haven't yet, watch the 3rd Trailer.
posted by antifuse at 5:52 AM on May 19, 2011
> Destro once yelled at some Cobra lackeys to go do something, but they refused because "union rules" required them to take a coffee break. But Destro didn't care. Or when a Joe hacked into a Cobra database and commented on how good Cobra's benefits were.
Really? That's hilarious. Even as a kid I wondered how the hell Cobra recruited when they got their butt kicked every week. No-one got killed*, but every episode hundreds of their foot soldiers got captured and thrown into prison. Those must have been killer benefits.
* unlike, say, Battle of the Planets, where pretty much every episode ended with the villain's lair collapsing/exploding with a bunch of the lackeys still inside. How the hell did *those* guys recruit?
posted by The Card Cheat at 2:58 PM on May 19, 2011
Really? That's hilarious. Even as a kid I wondered how the hell Cobra recruited when they got their butt kicked every week. No-one got killed*, but every episode hundreds of their foot soldiers got captured and thrown into prison. Those must have been killer benefits.
* unlike, say, Battle of the Planets, where pretty much every episode ended with the villain's lair collapsing/exploding with a bunch of the lackeys still inside. How the hell did *those* guys recruit?
posted by The Card Cheat at 2:58 PM on May 19, 2011
INHUMANOIDS! The most lovecraftian kid's show ever...
posted by FatherDagon
Oh man. I was so happy when I remembered the name of this show. I managed to find a torrent and re-watched some of it, and it actually wasn't terrible (though some mouse-wheel fast forwarding was probably used).
posted by rosswald at 5:46 PM on May 19, 2011
posted by FatherDagon
Oh man. I was so happy when I remembered the name of this show. I managed to find a torrent and re-watched some of it, and it actually wasn't terrible (though some mouse-wheel fast forwarding was probably used).
posted by rosswald at 5:46 PM on May 19, 2011
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posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 6:50 PM on May 17, 2011 [4 favorites]