ThunderCats Original Series on DVD

Warner Home Video has announced the July 12th release of ThunderCats Season 1, Part 1 (MSRP $19.97), which includes the first 12 episodes of the original Rankin/Bass ThunderCats series that aired in 1985. The original series, which chronicled the adventures of the feline exiles from the planet Thundera who bravely fight the vicious mutants intent on destroying them, was a huge hit in the 1980s inspiring a Marvel comic book series as well as numerous toys and action figures.

A new ThunderCats series produced by Studio 4C (Tekkon Kinkreet, Batman: Gotham Knight, Transformers Animated), is due to debut on the Cartoon Network this year. The new series has a more conscious anime look than the original ThunderCats, though the original series was also animated in Japan.

So far the Cartoon Network has not released a date for the debut of the new ThunderCats series, but in its press release announcing Season 1 Part 1 of the Original Series, Warner Bros. said it would be available “just ahead of the premiere of the all-new ThunderCats on the Cartoon Network," and Mezco Toys is releasing the first of its new series ThunderCats action figures, a new Lion-O figure in July as well.

New "Thundercats" Series Reveals Its Anime Roots

The new Thundercats animated series, which is being produced in Japan by Studio 4*C (The Animatrix, Batman: Gotham Knight, Tekkon Kinkreet, Halo Legends) and is set to debut on the Cartoon Network later this year, definitely has more of an “anime” look to it than the original 1980s Thundercats cartoon, even though that series was also animated in Japan.

While the Thundercats live-action movie appears to be stuck in Hollywood’s expansive “development hell,” the TV series, which was announced last summer, is on track for its 2011 debut and the new more anime-influenced character designs are on display in a recently released poster image and in the new series of licensed Thundercats toys based on the Cartoon Network series.


The new Lion-O has the faceted hairdo of a DBZ or Yu-Gi-Oh! character, while Cheetara is more waiflike in her new incarnation, and the bruising Panthro looks like he could have stepped right out of Heat Guy J. It turns out that the team’s pet/mascot Snarf, who does not appear in the poster illustration has a younger, somewhat less rotund appearance than the original character. The image of the new Snarf comes from the packaging of a new Thundercats Thunder Tank.

The sleek and powerful new Thunder Tank itself makes an interesting contrast to the original toy design. The packaging of the new Tank gives it a more massive appearance, but it also clearly pays homage to the original Thunder Tank concept.

"Mad" Cartoon Series Debuts

The new cartoon series based on Mad Magazine, Mad debuts on the Cartoon Network on Monday September 6th at 8:30 pm (ET, PT). The usual gang of idiots takes their parody-heavy satire to TV with features like “Avaturds,” “CSICarly,” and “Toys4Brats,” plus such Mad Magazine staples as “Spy vs. Spy,” Alfred E. Neuman, and cartoons by Don Martin and Sergio Aragones brought to life.

The Mad animated series was one of three new series (including the DC Comics-based Young Justice) announced by the Cartoon Network last spring.

New "Thundercats" Series on Cartoon Network

Warner Bros. Animation has started production on Thundercats, an all-new animated series for Cartoon Network based on the original series from the 1980s, which followed the adventures of a team of cat-like aliens. The new version, which is a collaboration between Warner Bros. Animation and Studio4C, the Japanese animation studio responsible for The Animatrix, Gotham Knights and Halo Legends, promises to give the characters a “new cutting edge look while remaining true to the compelling storyline and mythology of the original series.”

The series is set to begin airing on Cartoon Network in 2011.

The Thundercats property has seen a whirlwind of activity recently, with a CGI movie in the works, and a license for figures recently awarded.

Green Lantern Coming to Cartoon Network

Cartoon Network will air Green Lantern: The Animated Series, a new GL toon series, beginning in Fall 2011, according to Hollywood Reporter.

The new TV series is part of a broad campaign to expand the uses of the Green Lantern character, which includes the movie premiering June 17, 2011 ; videogames next May; “made-for-video;” expanded publishing; consumer products; and digital, including Motion Comics

Young Justice, Mad, Looney Tunes

Cartoon Network announced a number of new shows in its upfront presentations this week, including new DC superteam show Young Justice, an animated Mad, and a reboot of Looney Tunes. Young Justice, produced by Warner Bros. Animation with Sam Register (Teen Titans, Ben 10, Batman: The Brave and the Bold) exec producing, will include Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash, Superboy, Miss Martian and Artemis. Brandon Vietti (Batman: Under the Red Hood, Superman Doomsday, The Batman) and Greg Weisman (Gargoyles, The Spectacular Spider-man, W.I.T.C.H.) will produce.

The Mad animated series will feature comedy sketches on current movies, TV shows, games, and pop culture. Classic characters such as Alfred E. Neuman and Spy vs. Spy will appear. Register will exec produce for Warner Bros. Animation, and Kevin Shinick (Robot Chicken) and,(KaBlam!, The Andy Milonakis Show) will produce.

The Looney Toons reboot will put Bugs and Daffy in the burbs, along with other classic characters. Musical numbers will be branded Merrie Melodies, and Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote will appear in CG shorts.

Adult Swim to air FMA: Brotherhood

Funimation has confirmed that the Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim will start broadcasting the 26-episode Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood series on Saturday night, February 13th. The series will debut at midnight (ET, PT) and at 11pm (CT, MT). Produced by Bones (the same studio responsible for the first 51-episode FMA series), the new series hews much closer to the narrative of the popular Full Metal Alchemist manga by Hiromu Arakawa, but the basic saga of the Elric brothers who attempt to resurrect their mother with alchemy and pay a significant price for their effort remains the same.

L.A. Weekly is reporting that Funimation’s vocal cast for Brotherhood is also the same with a few exceptions: Maxey Whitehead replaces Aaron Dismuke as Alphonse Elric and J. Michael Tatum takes over from Dameon Clarke as Scar.

The Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood anime began airing in Japan last April and Funimation started streaming subtitled episodes of the series here in North America almost simultaneously.

Funimation plans to release FMA: Brotherhood in two half-season 2-disc sets with Part One (episodes 1-13, 325 min. $49.98) due on May 25th. Two things about the release are very significant. First of all the fact that a high profile title like FMA: Brotherhood is debuting in the multi-disc format means that single-disc releases for TV anime series have virtually become obsolete, and secondly Funimation is releasing Part 1 on Blu-ray ($54.98) the same day as the conventional DVD version, which signals the increasing importance of the hi-def format.

The acquisition of FMA: Brotherhood by Adult Swim was expected , but there may be additional anime-related announcements from the popular late night network that has been the most potent North American TV outlet in terms of spurring anime and manga sales, but which had been reducing the amount of anime it aired over the past 12 months.

Venture Brotherrs Action Figures

Bif Bang Pow! will produce a line of action figures, bobble heads, and vehicles based the Adult Swim show The Venture Bros. First up is a line of 7” resin bobble heads due out this spring. Articulated action figures will follow in the summer, featuring Dr. Venture, The Monarch, Brock Samson, Hank & Dean Venture, and others.

The deal was reached between Bif Bang Pow! and Cartoon Network Enterprises, which handles licensing and merchandising for Adult Swim.

Bif Bang Pow! has produced other tv-based toy lines, including one based on the hit show Lost

Adult Swim Increases Anime Programming

Starting on November 8th the Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim is revising its schedule once again with a 5-hour anime block that begins at 1am (ET, PT). In a major format change, the Adult Swim Saturday night schedule will not involve repeating shows broadcast earlier the same night. The Saturday night Adult Swim schedule begins with two hours of its original English language programming, which is followed by ten anime series including Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit and Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2, both of which had been banished to the “Milkman” hour of 5am (see “Adult Swim Cuts Back on Anime”) and Shin Chan, which had been dropped off the schedule entirely.

The anime portion of the new Adult Swim schedule begins with Bleach at 1am followed by Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit (1:30am), Code Geass (2am), and Shin Chan (2:30am). Then comes a parade of the Adult Swim's greatest anime hits--most of which will start with their first episodes—Fooly Cooly (FLCL, 3am), Death Note (3:30am), Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (4am), Cowboy Bebop (4:30am), Big O (5am), and Inuyasha (5:30am).
The new Adult Swim schedule represents an increase in the number of hours of anime programming from 6 hours to 8.5 hours per week and an even bigger expansion of the number of anime series, due largely to the ending of the practice of repeating the first 3 hours Adult Swim programming during the second late night 3 hour shift. Of course there is no telling how long Adult Swim will stick with this current schedule of anime programs.

The Banana Splits Return to TV

The Banana Splits are returning to the world of pop culture for kids in a big way, beginning on September 2nd when up to 130 1.5-2.5 minute shorts will begin airing on the Cartoon Network and Boomerang. The look of the group has been updated, but the characters remain the same. The property is designed to appeal to kids aged 4 to 7.

The re-launch includes a CD and DVD that will feature 13 new songs, and music videos; a new Website where the shorts can be viewed and the songs can be heard; Banana Splitsville, a live show and play-land at Hard Rock Park; a concert tour and other live appearances; plus a wide range of licensed merchandise including toys, games, books, and apparel.

The original property dates to 1968, when the Banana Splits Adventure Hour, a Hanna-Barbera show on NBC that featured comedy and music videos. The theme song, The Tra La La Song, was one of the most covered songs in the history of contemporary music.

The cross-over between music, TV, and licensing has been the domain of Disney in recent years, with the Cheetah Girls, Hannah Montana, High School Musical, and the Jonas Brothers cranking out success after success. The Banana Splits are aimed younger, however, perhaps in a play to go after territory that Disney doesn’t already dominate.