Toy Fair 2011 : Thundercats Unleashed

While popular media mine your childhood for new movies and cartoons (based on old cartoons), the toy companies snap up the rights and before long, the pegs of Toys R Us will start looking a bit familiar. Here's a preview of the next big thing, which you'll remember as the last big thing from over 20 years ago. THUNDERCATS!! (click the links for stacks of pics on our Flickr)

BANDAI scored a ton of attention before the big show even started this year as info leaked out of the UK Toy Fair. Their main focus is the new cartoon, for which we'll see 4 inch figures of iconic heroes including Lion-O, Panthro, Cheetara, Tygra, Wily-Kit and Wily-Kat and the everliving evil of Mumm-Ra (Mummy form for 4 inch and beefed up for the deluxe figures) and Grune the Destroyer. Those deluxe figures have a light and sound feature built in. Grune comes with an expanding mace accessory while Mumm-Ra is wrapped in his wings until his magnet triggers the wings to explode out. Magnets in the back of each figure trigger action features in the vehicles and playsets as well. The 4 inch figures have around 12 points of articulation.

Basic figure and Vehicle packs kick off with two Thunder Bikes; one for Tygra with a light up laser and one for Lion-O with a drill (both activated by the magic of magnets. It's science, y'all.) You'll also see a Lizard Cannon with one of Slythe's Henchmen. Not to worry, Snarf hasn't been left out. He's included in the cockpit of the Thundertank, which fits the 4 inch figures. The tank features lights and sounds as well as two buttons on the back that launch Thunder Bikes out from under the claws. Those basic vehicle bikes actually fit under there! The eyes light up, the cockpit opens and when Snarf is in the driver's seat, the call to action sounds.

The Tower of Omens is the big playset for the 4 inch line packed with lights, sounds and action triggered by the magnets in each figure. The top of the tower has a projection feature which will project the TCats logo onto the wall, calling all feline warriors to battle. The tower also comes with an exclusive Lion-O figure, a working catapult and a small basic vehicle, modeled after the original Cat's Lair (for all you die hards.) My Bandai rep told me they are going to see about adding more paint details before final production, so this is NOT the final look of the Tower of Omens. Now the box says the whole tower playset converts into a hulking Thunder Vehicle, but my reps didn't mention it once, so we'll see if that makes the final cut to production.

The 6 inch line also focuses on the new show with more emphasis on articulation, detail and scale from figure to figure so that Lion-O is smaller than Panthro, and both cower in the shadow of Mumm-Ra! Each has around 16 points of articulation. If you want to bump that up to 18 points, you'll have to graduate to the Classic Thundercats 8 inch line. Why 8 inch? To pay homage to the original LJN line. Lion-O and Tygra will start this line off. Each come with key accessories for each character. These should hit around August with the rest of the lot.

For role play we'll see Lion-O's Claw Gauntlet you can wear on your arm or your hip and the Sword of Omens in dagger form which plugs into the claw and pops up with the push of a button. The main event is the full sized Sword of Omens with a hilt that pops up and says "Give me sight beyond sight!" in Lion-O's voice while an LED in the eye lights it up. You'll actually find one side of the sword has the eye and the other has the TCats symbol (as this shifts in the cartoon when he calls the crew into battle.) Holding down a button extends the blade as it shouts "Thunder ..Thunder..Thundercats HO!" The blade extends out to 18 inches.

Everything should be on shelves this July/August.

MEZCO won't be left out of the action. Standing 20 inches tall from sword tip to his feet, the Lion-O Deluxe Figure is ready to dominate your shelf space. 7 points of articulation are packed into this rotocast piece. Will the Claw Shield be removable? They don't know yet, as they are still working on it. The sword is removable though. This should retail for around $39.99 and hits this July. Mumm-Ra is rumored to be the second figure in the line.

Now if you're looking for the ULTIMATE in Thundercats collectibles, look no further than Pop Culture Shock Collectibles' 18 inch mixed media statues. Lion-O was the first piece to blast through Sideshow Collectibles' pre-order system with an exclusive featuring light up eyes. Now Mumm-Ra is on deck and should be up for pre-sale any day now as they put the finishing touches on this massive, everliving statue. The Lion-O statue stands 32 inches high from the rock base to sword tip, so there's no telling how big Mumm-Ra will end up being, seeing as he is to scale with Lion-O and has an equally massive base. Here's a couple of teaser pics of the still in-progress Mumm-Ra, as the wrappings and such exploding off of him still need to be added. Lion-O should be shipping in April.

*UPDATED! : Bandai Thundercats Toy Line Pre-Order Listings

Yea, it's clear the flood gates are opened. Seeking to cash in on the rush of links and forum chatter, online retailers have begun listing all Bandai has to offer for pre-orders. Here's the breakdown...







4 Inch Action Figure Line : Based on the ALL NEW ThunderCats animated adventures as seen on Cartoon Network. Crafted with great detail and quality, collectors and kids can play or display their favorite ThunderCats Heroes and Villains in their own environment and recreate scenes from the TV show. All 4” figures include an embedded magnet in the figure for interaction with multiple SKUs across the line, activating unique features. Each of the 4” figures comes with a weapon and/or accessory that is unique to each character. $7.99 each. Series 1 will include the following figures:

- Lion-O
- Tygra
- Panthro
- Cheetara
- Wily-Kit
- Wily-Kat
- Mumm-Ra (Mummy)

Deluxe 4 Inch Action Figures : Each of these 4” Deluxe Figures utilizes the embedded magnet to unlock unique actions! Each figure comes with a base and/or accessory. Series 1 will include:

- Lion-O
- Grune
- Tygra
- Mumm-Ra

Basic Vehicle with Figure Series : Roll into battle with these ALL NEW ThunderCats vehicles. Each of these vehicles comes with a semi-articulated figure (with embedded magnet). The Bikes can combine with the Deluxe ThunderTank for added play. Unique Actions and features activate with magnet. Basic 4” figures can also ride and play with basic vehicle. Series 1 will include:

- Bike with Tygra and LED Accessory
- Bike with Lion-O and Drill Accessory
- Lizard Cannon with Lizard Warrior and Missile-Launching Feature

Deluxe Vehicle : ThunderTank Deluxe Vehicle - Roll into battle with the ALL NEW 2011 ThunderCats ThunderTank! The ThunderTank comes with a 4” scaled Snarf figure, designed to activate the magnetic “ThunderCats Hooo!” sound efx. Launch the Bikes with a simple push of a button. All 4” figures can ride and play with the ThunderTank. MSRP around $29.99

Playset : Tower of Omens Deluxe Playset - Recreate iconic moments as seen in the all NEW ThunderCats animated cartoon with the Tower of Omens playset. Set comes with an exclusive 4” figure. All 4” Basic figures can play and interact with the Tower of Omens, unlocking amazing features. MSRP around $41.99

6 Inch Collector Action Figures : Based on the ALL NEW 2011 ThunderCats animated show! Each of these 6” figures includes 18 points of articulation and comes with each characters iconic weapons. Series 1 is set to include:

- Lion-O
- Panthro
- Mumm-Ra

8 inch Classic Collector Action Figures : Based on the classic 1980’s animated ThunderCats cartoon! Each of these 8” figures includes 18 points of articulation and comes with each characters iconic weapons. Series 1 is to include the following figures:

- Lion-O - with long Sword of Omens, short Sword of Omens, ThunderClaw
- Tygra

(no mumm-ra?! bummer) It may be notable to collectors that Wily-Kit and Kat are only 1 per case in any assortment offered, so be prepared to battle the scalper hordes for them and perhaps Cheetara as well.

ThunderCats Deluxe Roleplay Sword : Wield the power of Lion-O and become a ThunderCat with the mystic Sword of Omens! With an extendable blade, lights and sounds, kids can let their imaginations roar with Lion-O on his destined path to become king. $19.99.

UPDATE: New figure pics courtesy of Frosty over at Collider, who rules at such things.

*UPDATED!: Bandai's New Thundercats Toys Shown at UK Toy Fair

The New York International Toy Fair is still a month away, but right now, across the water, there is plastic EVERYWHERE!!! Bandai has been showing off their Thundercats cartoon and classic action figures, and even though the room is riddled with NO PHOTOGRAPHY signs, some muppet went ahead and took crappy camera phone pictures anyway. Since we usually have a friend at the show reporting back to us on everything he saw, we don't feel guilty in describing what is shown in as great detail as is humanly possible...and with crappy camera phone pics omitted.

The core line for the new cartoon is clearly in a 3 and 3 quarter scale, matching what most other companies are releasing right now (so sad.) At the very least we'll be getting a little scale with the figures as Panthro towers over his team mates who all come up to his chest. We've also gotten word that the figures are fairly well articulated for their size and are packed with details that are sculpted rather than just painted on. Lion-O, Cheetara, Panthro and Tygra were shown. The boards on the wall also mention that Mumm-Ra is in the new show. Make a note that the look of the new show, while true to the original designs and instantly recognisable as their classic counterparts, is a little more Anime that you're accustomed to, with Lion-O looking more like a teenager and Panthro now HUGE and bearing the scars of battle.

All hope is not lost as we've heard there are also deluxe versions on the way in a 5-6 inch scale. It makes more sense that these would be 6 inch, as 5 puts them too close to the 3 and 3 quarter figures they'll be releasing by the ton. While I grumble about the tiny scale, with small figures often comes vehicles and playsets and Bandai is on board with this thinking. The deluxe playset is a sort of tower rather than the classic Cat's Lair. The deluxe vehicle is the Thunder Tank and it includes one figure...SNARF!! I'm betting you can thank Amanda Burns for that addition. There is also a light cycle looking Thunder Bike that comes with Lion-O. We hear the bike actually fits inside the Thunder Tank. Looks like Batman has some competition. All figures are said to "link up" with the vehicles and playsets, probably to activate action features, sounds and lights that may be included. This is cleverly called "Thunder Lynx"! I applaud the dorkiness.

As for the classic cartoon, an 8 inch Collector line of action figures is on the way. The design is said to be loyal to the original show and the figure itself will remind you of Mattel's Masters of the Universe Classics line, where they maintain the look and feel of the original characters but update articulation and toy design for a sturdier, more modern action figure. This line starts with Lion-O and Mumm-Ra, natch'. Why 8 inches, you may ask? This puts them in scale with the classic line, but sadly, out of scale with most everything else you own. Celebration time for TCats fans for sure, and tears for others...as that is the way of toy collecting.

For role play, so far we'll see the Sword of Omens (still named properly) that starts out small and telescopes to full size. The eye in the center MIGHT even change to the TCats symbol as it does in the cartoon...or maybe you just flip it around and it is on the other side. We'll find out soon enough. Either way, I'd bet cash money it lights up. The eye is large enough to hold a light.

Everything should be hitting this Fall.

Updated with a pic thanks to Bleeding Cool! ..until we are asked to take it down of course.
Updated again with an official pic from the WB.

UPDATE 1/27: A friend had a nice conversation with the crew manning the TCats stand and pulled some new info out of them. YAY Jedi Mind Tricks!! The Thunder Lynx is indeed a magnet gimmick that activates all sorts of hidden features on vehicles and the Cat Lair/ Tower thing. We are also told that the Mutants are a part of the new show and will get toys further down the line. I shudder to think what their "update" looks like. A last bit of random info is that Lion-O and his sword are bonded when he accepts the mantle, which is why we see him normal looking as a teenager and then sort of armored up with an older look. As he grows, the sword grows with him and provides with with increased power and armor to go with it.