The first episode of the American animated television program ThunderCats Roar, which Warner Bros. Animation created for Cartoon Network, aired on February 22, 2020. It is the third television series in the ThunderCats franchise, following the original 1985 and 2011 television series. The show uses a plot similar to the original series. As of 2021, a ThunderCats movie is supposedly in the works from director Adam Wingard, per Variety, with MCU star Anthony Mackie expressing his desire to play Panthro.
In the franchise, the ThunderCats are forced to flee their dying home world Thundera and crash-land on Third Earth, where they battle numerous enemies commanded by the evil overlord Mumm-Ra. The tone of ThunderCats Roar is lighter and funnier than in prior iterations, making for a great series, even though it only lasted one season. It is crucial to be familiar with the characters from the original and the 2011 series because they were utilized extensively in the updated series. You can learn about each main ThunderCats character below.
Jaga
All ThunderCats have Jaga as their guide and warrior master. Jaga, who was born and raised in Thundera, established the ThunderCats' lineage and ideology and served as its leader. The ThunderCats were committed to upholding Thundera's holy code and promoting peace and justice. A wonderful, devoted, and sincere friend of King Claudus, the father of Lion-O, Jaga was one of the most outstanding members of the Thunderian council. He will succeed Claudus, who lost his sight fighting the Mutants, as Lord of the ThunderCats and guardian of the Sword of Omens. Before Grune's treachery, Jaga and Grune were close friends.
Lion-O
As the hereditary "Lord of the ThunderCats" and son of Claudus, Lion-O (voiced by Larry Kenney in the original series) is the ThunderCats' captain. Physically, Lion-O is incredibly powerful — almost as powerful as Panthro. He has the strength to move and raise huge items like machinery and boulders. In addition to his physical features, Lion-O has a strong sense of bravery and virtue. When protecting his comrades and friends, he is prepared to face any risk. Together with his companions and supporters, the ThunderCats, he goes on adventures on Third Earth and New Thundera from boyhood to manhood.
Panthro
Panthro is a male Thunderian nobleman who belongs to the ThunderCats. His fear of bats is his sole shortcoming. As the ThunderCats' main mechanic, engineer, and pilot, he is the next noble and the second-eldest after Jaga (until Lynx-O is presented). His name is a play on "Panther," the animal on which he is based, and "Anthro," a term used to describe people who exhibit animal inclinations and vice versa. Panthro fled his dying homeworld of Thundera with the other ThunderCat Nobles aboard their flagship. Panthro's voice actor, Earle Hyman, also plays Red-Eye and the Ancient Spirits of Evil. Additionally, you might recall his voice from The Cosby Show as Russell Huxtable, the father of Bill Cosby.
Tygra
Tygra is a distinguished Thunderian, scientist, architect, and ThunderCat. He has the ability to turn invisible, yet sufficiently powerful detectors can still detect him. His weapon of choice is a big bolo whip. He also chairs the council for the ThunderCats. Tygra, based on the tiger, is the one Lion-O frequently consults as second-in-command and for advice. He created all the ThunderCat buildings on Third Earth, including the Tower of Omens and the Cat's Lair, as well as the tools the ThunderCats used to explore New Thundera. He also possesses the talent of mind-power, which allows him to project lifelike illusions into the brains of others, although it is extremely taxing on him.
Cheetara
Cheetara is a female fighter who takes inspiration from the cheetah. She is a Thunderian noblewoman and a ThunderCat. She is the sole adult female ThunderCat (until the later appearance of Pumyra). Her most impressive physical trait is her amazing speed, which she employs in a battle to effortlessly outrun and dodge strikes. She also possesses the "Sixth Sense," an extremely demanding gift that enables her to glimpse into the past and the future. These visions may occur at random or when she caused them to arise, and it could take days or weeks for her to recover. Her weapon was the baton or bo staff, which could expand to any length and blast forth energy beams. She had a cuff on her left arm to contain it when not being used.
WilyKit and WilyKat
One group of ThunderCat Nobles departing the dying planet of Thundera included WilyKit and her brother WilyKat. They were around the same age as Lion-O when they escaped Thundera before it was destroyed. But unlike Lion- O's suspension capsule, theirs onboard the Thunderian Flagship functioned and preserved their ages. Jaga provided the ThunderKittens with new gear and weaponry to assist them to settle into their new environment. When the Mutants showed up there, the ThunderKittens fled with the other ThunderCats and beat them off with their new weapons. The two Thunderians are energetic and playful.
Snarf
Snarf, also known as Snarf Osbert, is a member of the Snarf species and served as nursemaid both as a youngster and an adult (to Lion-O's dismay). Snarf's fearlessness and loyalty rival those of any full-sized ThunderCat, even if he tends to overthink things and leans toward pessimism. This is especially true when he defends Lion-O. Snarf only has a few skills, but one of them is his ability to talk to animals. He serves the ThunderCats the majority of their meals as their cook. Snarf is highly agile due to his little stature and can fit through spaces no one else can. When the ThunderCats need to snoop somewhere, this is really helpful. Snarf demonstrates that he is a ThunderCat exactly like the rest, even though he's of a different species.
Mumm-Ra
Mumm-Ra, who serves as the ThunderCats series' major nemesis, has a complete command of magic. He frequently enlists the Mutants of Plun-Darr in his plots to eliminate the ThunderCats as pawns. Ancient Third Earther Mumm-Ra is a sorcerer and demon-priest. Mumm-Ra sought a means to live forever by turning to the Ancient Spirits of Evil because he was unable to accept death. In the series, Mumm-Ra is shown as being purely wicked, but also having sympathy at times (at least, for his pet, Ma-Mutt). He has evolved into a cruel, crafty, vicious, cynical, and remorseless figure who never appears to be able to predict the mutants' treachery, and is therefore unafraid to do the same. Mumm-Ra typically rests in his Black Pyramid as a dried-up corpse; nevertheless, he has the ability to change into a muscular demon who confronts the ThunderCats for the duration of an episode before being forced back into his tomb.
Claudus
Lion-O's father and the former Lord of the ThunderCats is named Claudus (sometimes written Claudius). Contrary to common perception, when the ThunderCats managed to escape Thundera's devastation, Jaga was not Lion-O's blood relative; rather, he served as a mentor for the young heir. The most famous ThunderCats of all time were probably Claudus and Jaga. In contrast to Lion-O, Claudus has a deeper skin tone, a lengthy mane, and a beard that is yellow. Up to Thundera's destruction, Claudus presided over it. He battled the Mutants of Plun-Darr during a conflict in which he lost his sight. For practically the entirety of the original series, nothing was known about Claudus' fate until the Shadowmaster, an old foe who had once attacked the ThunderCats in New Thundera, made an appearance.