Thundercats Ho! An Interview with Mike Jelenic
Dr. T: The original series had a very large cast by the time it wrapped up. So, what heroes and villains might we see returning in the future?
MJ: We look at the message boards and we see whom the original fans want to see, so as much as we can – without throwing characters in for some random reason – we want to make sure we have at least a cameo or a one-off for each of these loved characters. You'll see Pumyra, with several episodes devoted to her, even if our take on her is not the same as in the original series. That's our attitude for all these characters. We're thinking, like, "How can we work Safari Joe into this episode?" That's one reason that in episode five, the Driller showed up, just because he was one of the more popular villains from the old series. It's a bit of a balancing act figuring out where and how we're going to use these characters.
Dr. T: If you could handle another reboot, what would your choice be?
MJ: I would love to tackle a Robotech reboot. I think that's such a great concept, and I remember it very fondly from my childhood. I think that's going to have to wait until there's a Robotech movie, but hopefully that will be around sooner than later.
Dr. T: Is there any truth to the rumor that Wilykat and Wilykit are the secret love children of Cheetara and Garfield?
MJ: Ah…no comment on that one!
Dr. Toon wishes to thank Mike Jelenic for his time and insights. Thanks also to Warner publicist Winson Seto for arranging this interview for AWN.
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Good job maknig it appear easy.
Now we know who the senisble one is here. Great post!
You guys are Gay.
Why dont you take 7-Zark-7 and Snarf him up each others Ass.
I was eleven in 1985 and I just could not appreciate the original show but this one is definitely appealing to me now. It fixes a lot of what I saw as characterization flaws in the original. I am very happy with how Snarf is handled here because I just don't think that character would work as it was originally executed. Or at least it wouldn't work in a show that takes itself seriously nowadays.
One of the other problems I had was how Lion-O was just automatically accepted as their leader from the start when he was totally unproven. I really sympathize with Tygra in the new show because his attitude embodies a lot of the doubts I had about the original show's premise. Why should they have followed Lion-O right out the gate? Tygra's become the guy people love to hate now but I can't say I blame him for acting as he does.
I'm enjoying the pacing of the episodes. It actually feels like epic storytelling and not just a toy commercial. The villains aren't one dimensional as they were in the original series. I feel like I can understand where the conflict is coming from. I like how Lion-O is a lot more human. I am so glad he doesn't have the super heroic body and voice of the original. He's more identifiable and flawed and I don't always like him because he's so stubborn but that's the fun of it. I yell at him through the television a lot.
I have a four year old so Kit and Kat really get me in the gut sometimes. Their story is so tragic and probably the most emotionally compelling to me. I'm really getting attached to those two so I hope their arc resolves in a happy ending but what I like about this show is that it feels like nobody is guaranteed anything just because they're a "good" guy. It's beautiful stuff. I almost started crying during the Petallers episode and I had to laugh it off in front of my wife!
I really enjoy this iteration and it's made me a fan of the Thundercats concept whatever that's worth. I was always more of a robot guy so I never expected I'd be loving the Thundercats over the new Voltron and Transformers. What a 180 degree turnaround this is from 1985!
This reboot is seriously lacking. First off, NOT everyone hated Snarf the way he was, but that's not a big deal. Tygra as Lion-O's adopted brother seems rather pointless. He started out acting like an a-hole, but now he accepts Lion-O? How come Panthro was brought in on the 4th episode? Wily Kat and Kit are super annoying and bratty! And Mum-ra seems to have NO balls. And he drives a mummymobile? WTH????
And talking about not just throwing random characters in? What about the episode where Lion-O goes into the book and you had the Tigersharks and Mon-Starr in there?
I'm glad if it is indeed doing well, but to this fan, it's a bunch of malarky, with very little story continuity and plot holes that could swallow third earth!
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