Pre-Toy Fair 2011: Bandai's 8 inch Classic Collector Thundercats Lion-O Figure

No NEW news on this line but a new image dropped by Warner Brother's Consumer Products for the masses, ensuring that juuuust about all the surprises have now been leaked from Bandai's Thundercats line. Good job WB! Sorry Bandai.

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

Early talk had Lion-O ans Mumm-Ra taking the lead on series 1 but the official listing says otherwise. We'll know more in one week! CLICK HERE to see more toys from the line.

*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.