Switch Theme:

Thundarr The Barbarian  [RSS] Share on facebook Share on Twitter Submit to Reddit
»
Author Message
Advert


Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:
  • No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
  • Times and dates in your local timezone.
  • Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
  • Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
  • Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.
If you are already a member then feel free to login now.




Made in us
Legendary Master of the Chapter





SoCal

 AduroT wrote:
How is a Thundarr thread getting this much action? Oh, because it immediately derailed into complaining about woke Hollywood.


Yeah.

Kind of funny that the original cartoon had already been Secrets of the Oozed by concerned moms. So un PC to avoid punching and stabbing.

   
Made in gb
Ridin' on a Snotling Pump Wagon






That reminds me I need to watch Secret of the Ooze again.

I swear the original Turtles movies have absolutely no right being good.

They’re Turtles Movies, spun off from the cultural and marketing juggernaut that was the cartoon. They could and arguably should’ve just phoned it in.

Instead we end up with a brace of pretty damn good Kung-phooey movies.

   
Made in us
Legendary Master of the Chapter





SoCal

 warboss wrote:
I disagree with the requirement of "instead" but I do think there is wisdom in your advice on also stating what worked in this show.

While I preferred He-Man for various reasons (it was the new show with new episodes, had toys, was expanding, etc), I still liked Thundarr but for strangely the opposite reason.. it pulled off the technobarbarian theme alot better to me as a child than He-Man did where the tech was just something usually unnecessarily bolted on and the fantasy elements were preferable (Battlecat > Sky Sled!). It truly felt more integral to the episodes than with He-Man.



This is pretty much all I remember about Thundarr, the feel of the setting. He-Man basically felt like a radical, even dudical, toy commercial, but Thundarr felt like a world full of stories. Not that I remember any of them.

From He-Man I remember nothing but the theme song and the weird rotoscoped animation, specifically the re-used footage of someone walking towards the camera to punch it.

From Thundarr, I remember the backgrounds, the look of the characters, the opening narration and the feeling that provoked, and the sense of mystery about the world.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
 BobtheInquisitor wrote:
Vance wrote Tales of the Dying Earth, which codified the subgenre.


Would Thundarr be considered an edge case Dying Earth or post(postpostpostpost)apocalyptic instead? I was looking over the wikipedia entry on the genre and I think it's a grey area here with the setting being thousands of years after an apocalypse rather than the gradual natural dying out of the planet.


I personally would include any far future setting with magic and superstition in ascension and science forgotten except for it’s lingering horrors. I thought the Vance stories nailed it. I’d include Gene Wolf in the Dying Earth subgenre, as well as Stephen King’s Dark Tower books. Clark Ashton Smith’s Xothique might be more of an edge case in that I don’t remember there being any robots or other horrors of science, but they were written before the A bomb, so that tracks.

Technically Thundarr might not count? To me it feels very much like the Dying Earth.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2023/01/20 18:21:43


   
Made in in
[MOD]
Otiose in a Niche






Hyderabad, India

A lot of fondly remembered cartoons from the 80s and 90s reused animation shamelessly.

They were a bit better about it than Scooby or Yogi but it was there.

I was watching Dairugger (aka Space Voltron) and yeah, 30 second everyone get into to their ships sequence, 30 seconds to launch, 30 seconds to form Dairugger/Vehicle Voltron, 10 seconds to Form Blazing Sword. Then more subtle reuses of talking heads, reaction shots, etc. With not much work you could fill half an episode before you have to draw a single cell.

Sailor Moon, where everyone wore either a school uniform or a seishi uniform I bet you could do a whole episode only having animate the monster of the week.

But that's not the subject, the subject is Thundarr.

I, for one, am deeply offended by the super wokity woke and wholly imagine Hollywood exec who, between lines of coke, decided to make Ookla the Mooc, Ariel and Thundarr a polyamorous thuple and start each episode with 5 1/2 minutes of lavishly animated graphic sex.

 
   
Made in us
Decrepit Dakkanaut





The Battle Barge Buffet Line

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:

I, for one, am deeply offended by the super wokity woke and wholly imagine Hollywood exec who, between lines of coke, decided to make Ookla the Mooc, Ariel and Thundarr a polyamorous thuple and start each episode with 5 1/2 minutes of lavishly animated graphic sex.


You're such an optimist that it's quaint. We're more likely to have Ookla and Ariel team up to overthrow the abusive Thrundarr (now with an obvious combover instead of a mullet and bangs) and then have the orgy with just the two of them after Ookla's splashy gender reveal. I prefer your prior idea of a Liberace crossover episode (like the old Scooby Doo episodes with Don Knotts and Sonny and Cher!) as a musical overlord that Thundarr and friends redeem. Bonus points for a musical duet with Ookla of course.

We Munch for Macragge! FOR THE EMPRUH! Cheesesticks and Humus!
 
   
Made in gb
Perfect Shot Black Templar Predator Pilot





The Dark Imperium

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:


This is pretty much all I remember about Thundarr, the feel of the setting. He-Man basically felt like a radical, even dudical, toy commercial, but Thundarr felt like a world full of stories. Not that I remember any of them.

From He-Man I remember nothing but the theme song and the weird rotoscoped animation, specifically the re-used footage of someone walking towards the camera to punch it.

From Thundarr, I remember the backgrounds, the look of the characters, the opening narration and the feeling that provoked, and the sense of mystery about the world.




^ This. I'd go out on a limb to say most of us remember how the show made us feel, and not so much the episodes themselves. A major part of Thundarr were the voice actors, the music, and a setting that was outside of all safe zones so it had an edge other cartoons didn't.

For example I never felt any real urgency to He-Man. Maybe the episodes were better, but most times it felt predictable and was awash with '80s mores.

Since kids were spending so much time in front of the TV I guess the idea was to give them some food for thought since TV became a replacement for parenting.

In Thundarr there were no - public service announcements - as with He-Man, Gi-Joe etc) no message at all... it just dropped you in this jacked up future and ran with it. You were in charge of keeping yourself safe.

As to the PC question. By yesterday's standards Thundarr was a mildly be-grudged sexist, but by todays standards he'd be labeled misogynist up for cancel since he questioned Ariel's lead more often than not.

Did Thundarr hate women? Most certainly not... that aside, it was this straight forward attitude that made him stand out from dull characters like He-Man who's lines had to have been approved by 1980's media censors/ethicists.

By contrast Thundarr spoke his mind as things occurred to him, unfiltered.

Here's a great documentary with the creators on the history here:




So it can't be made by Hollywood now even though it was probably one of the few shows that featured a minority character as one of the leads.

From my understanding Ariel was part Chinese through her grandfather (correct me if wrong) in addition to this of course was her dark hair and complexation, atypical for a heroine of the time.

So in that regard Thundarr was ahead of the game if that's what's supposed to count.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2023/01/20 20:37:55


   
Made in de
Dakka Veteran





I seem to remember more of the Herculoids than Thundarr…. but my memory is pretty hazy. It was a long time ago.

And while I have been repeatedly disappointed by attempts to bring back childhood memory shows, I remain ever hopeful that I will see something decent once in awhile. My nostalgia is optimistic.

Also… I would love to see a decent Gamma World tv series based on the 1st edition artwork and modules…. as well as then being followed by a spin-off of Metamorphosis Alpha. It seems to me these things all influenced each other… bringing us to Fallout today… roll on Fallout TV series, ☢️

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2023/01/21 19:02:15


Rick, the Grumpy Gnome

https://thegrumpygnome.home.blog/ 
   
Made in us
Fixture of Dakka





EDIT: Getting overly political, letting it lie.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2023/01/21 01:40:25


CHAOS! PANIC! DISORDER!
My job here is done. 
   
Made in in
[MOD]
Otiose in a Niche






Hyderabad, India

Keeping on topic, it looks like Thundarr is owned by Warner/Discovery.

Which means they're unlikely to put up money to develop a half-forgotten old property, especially when they don't think Batgirl or a Scooby Doo prequel will be profitable enough.

They won't even keep old Looney Tunes and Sesame Street up on HBO.

So this may all be academic unless someone licensees the rights.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also relevant -

https://www.cbr.com/thundarr-barbarian-questions-answers/

WRT to its original cancellation I suggest the following pitch for Thundarr the Return:

Thundarr is captured by the Ka-Ren, a tribe of female psychic pacifists who tame his violent ways and turn him into their peaceful servant. However when the Cracked Heads, a tribe of insane violent raiders, attack they must undo it and restore him. After defeating them, with assistance from Princess Ariel and Ookla the Moq, Thundarr then turns to the camera and explains that while violence is wrong some foes can only be met with greater violence and that is when you need Thundarr! The! Barbarian!

Cue credits.

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 2023/01/21 08:49:29


 
   
Made in us
Fixture of Dakka




NE Ohio, USA

 AduroT wrote:
How is a Thundarr thread getting this much action? Oh, because it immediately derailed into complaining about woke Hollywood.


Well, since woke Hollywood would be the major problem with a Thundarr revival, is the thread really derailed?
   
Made in si
Foxy Wildborne







But can we agree that the original opening gives goosebumps?

Posters on ignore list: 36

40k Potica Edition - 40k patch with reactions, suppression and all that good stuff. Feedback thread here.

Gangs of Nu Ork - Necromunda / Gorkamorka expansion supporting all faction. Feedback thread here
   
Made in us
Decrepit Dakkanaut





The Battle Barge Buffet Line

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:
Keeping on topic, it looks like Thundarr is owned by Warner/Discovery.

Which means they're unlikely to put up money to develop a half-forgotten old property, especially when they don't think Batgirl or a Scooby Doo prequel will be profitable enough.


At least we know from the recent hit show Velma that if they do green light it then it'll be an entertaining and respectful continuation of the original.




I've never hated Lavergne and Shirley so much as now after I read the last bullet point. **Insert Mok roar here!**

I've been looking on youtube for clips and the show is definitely different than I remember. Hello, Swamp Virgin! Women, ha!




At least it prophetically predicted the collapse of the US comic book market. I'd also never have picked up on the dig on Marvel by Kirby either. I'm left wondering what additional onion peel layers I missed due to my tender age when watching it in reruns during the mid to late 80s.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
 lord_blackfang wrote:
But can we agree that the original opening gives goosebumps?


It absolutely does the job (especially with exposition) in getting you up to speed as a new child viewer but it doesn't/didn't give me goosebumps though. Thundercats did and still does for me though even though it was almost my last childhood fandom (I think TMNT came next/last). I'd also include the Xmen cartoon intro but I was a teen by then and it was also the 90's so I classify that with a different era along with Gargoyles.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2023/01/21 14:48:39


We Munch for Macragge! FOR THE EMPRUH! Cheesesticks and Humus!
 
   
Made in in
[MOD]
Otiose in a Niche






Hyderabad, India

In Episode 2 of Thundarr the Return he will fight the warrior women Lah'Vern and Shi'rili and their leader the pig man Sergeant Squealy, if they defeat him, it's all over.

The episode descriptions are worth reading

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laverne_%26_Shirley_(1981_TV_series)

The girls accidentally hijack a secret army rocket and get captured by aliens, who want to invade Earth.

The girls parachute in the middle of a jungle island and find themselves caught between the Zambulu tribe and a giant ape.

Assigned to the Navy, the girls are caught in the middle of a target test, while enemy spies are about to attack the laser cannon ship.


Maybe they were using old Thundarr scripts?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I've been looking on youtube for clips and the show is definitely different than I remember. Hello, Swamp Virgin!


Urchin! Swamp Urchin!

This message was edited 4 times. Last update was at 2023/01/25 08:38:11


 
   
Made in us
Fixture of Dakka





 Kid_Kyoto wrote:

Which means they're unlikely to put up money to develop a half-forgotten old property, especially when they don't think Batgirl or a Scooby Doo prequel will be profitable enough.


Ah... on that note, exactly such a prequel show centering on (and named after) Velma just got underway, three episodes out that I know of. And it's a prime example of why I don't want to see any more legacy franchises 'remade for modern audiences'. Freddy is written as an spoiled rich white kid, so dumb and pampered he can't even use silverware.

That's not a joke. He's literally handed a steak, a fork, and a knife in court and he cannot figure out how to use them. Cue everyone else laughing at the stupid rich white kid.

CHAOS! PANIC! DISORDER!
My job here is done. 
   
Made in de
Servoarm Flailing Magos




Germany

 Vulcan wrote:
 Kid_Kyoto wrote:

Which means they're unlikely to put up money to develop a half-forgotten old property, especially when they don't think Batgirl or a Scooby Doo prequel will be profitable enough.


Ah... on that note, exactly such a prequel show centering on (and named after) Velma just got underway, three episodes out that I know of. And it's a prime example of why I don't want to see any more legacy franchises 'remade for modern audiences'. Freddy is written as an spoiled rich white kid, so dumb and pampered he can't even use silverware.

That's not a joke. He's literally handed a steak, a fork, and a knife in court and he cannot figure out how to use them. Cue everyone else laughing at the stupid rich white kid.


That's just sad really. It sounds like they somehow managed to become less sensible, benevolent and aware than the average early 80s saturday morning cartoon. Back then it was all a bit silly and hamfisted, but at least they wanted to be inclusive and open-minded, if only to sell more stuff. These remakes sound like they don't even want that anymore, but just exist to produce media outrage and get a rise out of people.
   
Made in us
Nihilistic Necron Lord






Velma isn’t made for modern audiences though, it’s made to generate the hate and scorn that gets people to tune in to be mad at it.

 
   
Made in us
Decrepit Dakkanaut





The Battle Barge Buffet Line

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:

Urchin! Swamp Urchin!


That's just what the evil technomagocracy wants you to think. You need to rebel just like Thundarr did! Admittedly my interpretation does jive more with the overall tone of your remake though...

So I spent part of this morning watching youtube compilations of 80s cartoon intros... thanks, thread! Lol. It's been a while since I chomped down on breakfast listening to the intro from the Heathcliff and Mysterious Cities of Gold cartoons.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2023/01/21 22:24:36


We Munch for Macragge! FOR THE EMPRUH! Cheesesticks and Humus!
 
   
Made in us
Perfect Shot Black Templar Predator Pilot





The Dark Imperium

Does anyone know the Galtar-Thundarr connection?

   
Made in us
Battlefield Tourist




MN (Currently in WY)

This thread is..... something.....


Now, I look forward to the Dying Earth cinematic universe with Thundarr!, the Herculoids, and whoever else they manage to dig up (maybe the Sectaurs they same company did them too). Each with their own intro movie, who then team up in an epic cross-over film. As imagined by Kid Kyoto as the Executive Producer and Warboss as the head writer!



The Sectaurs: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sectaurs#TV_series

Support Blood and Spectacles Publishing:
https://www.patreon.com/Bloodandspectaclespublishing 
   
Made in us
Terrifying Doombull




Ok, thanks for that rabbit hole. I don't remember those as a kid, and am kinda glad of that. I absolutely don't want to overthink the ability to share an insects 'pleasure and pain.'

Didn't know the Coleco connection either, despite my first impression of a video game console was a ColecoVision (Though my family went with Atari). Didn't know they were originally the Connecticut Leather Company either and involved in Cabbage Patch Kids. That's rather wild, and a bit... something.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2023/01/24 23:03:57


Efficiency is the highest virtue. 
   
Made in us
Perfect Shot Black Templar Predator Pilot





The Dark Imperium

 Easy E wrote:
This thread is..... something.....


Now, I look forward to the Dying Earth cinematic universe with Thundarr!, the Herculoids, and whoever else they manage to dig up (maybe the Sectaurs they same company did them too). Each with their own intro movie, who then team up in an epic cross-over film. As imagined by Kid Kyoto as the Executive Producer and Warboss as the head writer!



The Sectaurs: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sectaurs#TV_series




I'll pass on the Sectaurs, but they could do Thundarr + Thundercats for some Age of Strife Terra 25K mash up.

Doesn't sound like there's much love for Galtar here, so I'll just drop this in for added trivia.

The connection between Galtar and Thundarr was a single reference that I held out for only to learn decades later, it was a joke / nod to Thundarr:



This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2023/01/25 02:13:11


   
Made in us
Nihilistic Necron Lord






It doesn’t include Thundarr because he was held by different rights, but for a big crossover from those various old cartoons you can check out the Future Quest comic series. Off the top of my head, Jonny Quest, Space Ghost, Herculoids, and Frankenstein Jr all make an appearance, but there’s also multiple more.

 
   
Made in in
[MOD]
Otiose in a Niche






Hyderabad, India

 Easy E wrote:
This thread is..... something.....


Now, I look forward to the Dying Earth cinematic universe with Thundarr!, the Herculoids, and whoever else they manage to dig up (maybe the Sectaurs they same company did them too). Each with their own intro movie, who then team up in an epic cross-over film. As imagined by Kid Kyoto as the Executive Producer and Warboss as the head writer!



The Sectaurs: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sectaurs#TV_series


Don't forget Thundercats who lived on 'Third Earth'

So, OK, in the Grim Darkness of the Far Future Earth has been devastated and colonized by aliens and interdimensional beings. The unleashed psychic energy has caused magic/psychics to become viable again (tip of the hat to Rifts). Various heroes fight to protect the innocent inhabitants of the dying Earth.

Yeah, I'd buy this.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
 AduroT wrote:
It doesn’t include Thundarr because he was held by different rights, but for a big crossover from those various old cartoons you can check out the Future Quest comic series. Off the top of my head, Jonny Quest, Space Ghost, Herculoids, and Frankenstein Jr all make an appearance, but there’s also multiple more.


I did not know about this book, something to look for later.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2023/01/25 08:37:24


 
   
Made in gb
Longtime Dakkanaut



London

 AduroT wrote:
It doesn’t include Thundarr because he was held by different rights, but for a big crossover from those various old cartoons you can check out the Future Quest comic series. Off the top of my head, Jonny Quest, Space Ghost, Herculoids, and Frankenstein Jr all make an appearance, but there’s also multiple more.


And Harvey Birdman...
   
Made in ca
Stealthy Dark Angels Scout with Shotgun





I LOVED Thundarr. I looked forward to it every Saturday morning. Looking back, it was really quite a bold story for its time a d certainly for a Saturday morning cartoon. I could see a live action movie or Prime series for sure. I can't believe there wouldn't be a huge fantasy for something like this.

What a blast from the past. Thanks for raising this memory.

Dark Angel Neophyte 
   
Made in br
Perfect Shot Black Templar Predator Pilot





The Dark Imperium

Spoiler:










I'd settle for a mini line at least.

   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut





Myrtle Creek, OR

Miniatures, you say?

https://interloperminiatures.com/miniatures/wasteland-wanderers/

Thread Slayer 
   
Made in in
[MOD]
Otiose in a Niche






Hyderabad, India

 Adeptekon wrote:


I'd settle for a mini line at least.


I'd be shocked if Crooked Dice doesn't already have you covered.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
As it turns out I am not shocked.



https://crooked-dice.co.uk/product/atomic-age-savages/

No sign of Princess Antenna but there are these dudes.

https://crooked-dice.co.uk/product/beastman-heroes/

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2023/01/29 12:03:27


 
   
Made in us
Perfect Shot Black Templar Predator Pilot





The Dark Imperium

Interesting brothers. I'm dying at the "Cocked Rifles" (closest they got to Hawkmen?)...and as far as Crooked Dice I see Thundarrcats so that's a good start.

When I look around at various fan interpretations, it seems Thundarr is just a tad off looking more often than with other super heroes and their fan spawns. Maybe I'm over-generalizing here. But if you wanted a good Thundarr you could just use a He-Man template.

Here's some different takes takes around the web, including some original concepts (couldn't figure out how to get them to preview so forgive me of the text links):

Ookla:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/21251429478408193/


Ariel:

https://www.pinterest.ie/pin/360710251414432932/
https://www.pinterest.ie/pin/21110691995329937/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/109775309655204560/sent/


Ookla, Ariel, Thundarr:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/350506783510472771/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/210613720067167255/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/104427285084930262/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/96545985752275183/


Thundarr:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/26740191520467617/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/54887689200594078/


Gemini & Knights

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1099370959013617367/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/30540103712653289/sent/ Thos shoulder pads





I had more, but apparently Pinterest get's tired if you're not using their App.

   
Made in us
Decrepit Dakkanaut





The Battle Barge Buffet Line

After watching a few Thundarr clips over the past two weeks, some interesting things have popped up in my youtube recommended feed. While not Thundarr (predates it by 2-3 years), this feels very similar and I have zero recollection of reruns of it in my childhood.





We Munch for Macragge! FOR THE EMPRUH! Cheesesticks and Humus!
 
   
 
Forum Index » Geek Media
Go to: