Targeting a younger audience?

I was thinking about the possibilities for the Thundercats in the future. My daughter is 3.5 years old and adores Thundercats! This got me thinking. Out of curiosity what would everyone think if they were to go n a different direction with a new incarnation of Thundercats and target a younger audience? Something like what has bee done with Transformers and their series Rescue Bots (obviously a different premise). Possibly an accompanying toylike along the lines of the Imaginext toys? I am not really sure this would work (or would even be good for the franchise) especially with mostly 80's odd being the core of established fans. It could be interesting to bring in a new generation of fans and potentially have a more mature cartoon in a few years after as these kids grow. Just a point of conversation.

That definitely is an interesting idea. I know a lot of TF fans who really like Rescue Bots and bought the toys.
I have never watched Rescue Bot but I heard it is good.
The biggest concern would be though that it would really have to catch on to younger viewers. Personally though on it's own I can't see a lot of us adult fans supporting it enough.
Although if there was another show or movie for older children/adults to enjoy it would really help.
Much like How Transformers had the movies and Prime cartoon going along with Rescue Bots.

"Mark M, post: 95451" said:

Personally though on it's own I can't see a lot of us adult fans supporting it enough.
Although if there was another show or movie for older children/adults to enjoy it would really help.
Much like How Transformers had the movies and Prime cartoon going along with Rescue Bots.

Yes, that is a concern I had also. Being a hardcore Thundercats fan I know I would support just about anything, but I know that's not true for a general fan. As you said it would be great to have something targeted at an adult audience also, but I am not sure how many options they would invest in simultaneously. I believe Imaginext is owned by Mattel. It would be very interesting to see an Imagindxt line for kids and a collectors line for adults.

I do love Thundercats but financially I just can't afford to support certain products they release like the Minimates, Mezco figures and the various statues.
I just try and limit my buying to things I am really interested in which would just be a standard toy line.

Some of my friends who collect Transformers are really obsessed about buying stuff to support the brand and they buy things they don't even like just to complete a series and support the toys.

How young can the audience be? Who was the original Thundercats aimed at? I watched it from as young as i remember and liked it. Sure it was a little scary with Mumm-Ra but for me it was just fun.

What i mean his, how much can you dumb it down and make it for children? Thomas the train level of children?

"Rizefall, post: 95570" said:

How young can the audience be? Who was the original Thundercats aimed at? I watched it from as young as i remember and liked it. Sure it was a little scary with Mumm-Ra but for me it was just fun.

What i mean his, how much can you dumb it down and make it for children? Thomas the train level of children?

Ya, I am not sure exactly if it would have to be "dumbed down". My daughter (3.5 years old) is super into both the original and 2011 series. There are a few concepts she doesnt quite grasp, but its her favorite! If targeting younger kids I could possibly see a bit more comedy and secondary characters geared toward younger minds.

It might be hard to make a very young child focused cartoon based on Thundercats. With Transformers it's simple enough in the sense that it people and big robots that change into cars and trucks and planes. But Thundercats might not work so well.

You can get anything aimed at anyone if you get someone who knows what they're doing. If you get someone who knows how to make a good Kid's show they can make any subject matter kid's friendly (look at tmnt, and it's original comic). In fact, I would say making TC a little kid's show is easier than even TF. I've said before, it's coo coo bananas. Kids are more willing to accept whimsy fun(TC had in spades) than us smarty-pants cynical adults/adolescents. And nothing is quite so kid formula friendly as Aesopian Narratives.

"NuudoruNoMasho, post: 95616" said:

You can get anything aimed at anyone if you get someone who knows what they're doing. If you get someone who knows how to make a good Kid's show they can make any subject matter kid's friendly (look at tmnt, and it's original comic). In fact, I would say making TC a little kid's show is easier than even TF. I've said before, it's coo coo bananas. Kids are more willing to accept whimsy fun(TC had in spades) than us smarty-pants cynical adults/adolescents. And nothing is quite so kid formula friendly as Aesopian Narratives.

That is true. The original especially had its share of coo coo. If nothing else, it is fun to discuss. I mean they were toying with the idea of making Thundercats a rock band before!

I wonder if WB will have anything up their sleeves for the 30th anniversary?

I would agree with NuudoruNoMasho, it depends on how good the people working on it are.
This might not be the best example but look at The Moomins, it was aimed at very young children but older children and even adults liked it.

Adssse, ideally it should be Classics action figures but knowing WB since the statues sold so well we can probably expect 30th anniversary commemorative left-handed chop sticks or motorcycle ashtrays. ;)

"adssse, post: 95618" said:

That is true. The original especially had its share of coo coo. If nothing else, it is fun to discuss. I mean they were toying with the idea of making Thundercats a rock band before!

[LEFT]No foolin! Never heard that before. (I'm still such a noob,) Kinda want that now. Liono voiced by Matt Thiessen... hehe
[/LEFT]

There was also one version where they were kids that transformed into adult Thundercats. There was some concept artwork done by LeSean Thomas (loved his Mumm-Ra btw).

"balgus82, post: 95624" said:

There was also one version where they were kids that transformed into adult Thundercats. There was some concept artwork done by LeSean Thomas (loved his Mumm-Ra btw).

Ya, that would have been an interesting take. Is this the same concept as the rock band theory that was thrown out? I noticed that in Leon's sketches he mentioned "wanna be rock star".

Mummra does look pretty cool, but I am not so sure about the others.

http://leseanthomas.deviantart.com/gallery/?catpath=%2F&q=thundercats"" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://leseanthomas.deviantart.com/gallery/?catpath=%2F&q=thundercats

I am so thankful that WB did not let this series happen. The concept and the designs are awful. I am not insulting his artistic ability, the designs would probably be fine for some other cartoon but definitely not as Thundercats.

"Mark M, post: 95637" said:

I am so thankful that WB did not let this series happen. The concept and the designs are awful. I am not insulting his artistic ability, the designs would probably be fine for some other cartoon but definitely not as Thundercats.

We don't know what would have happened. Things sound bad often until shown in presentation. The version we got sounds very good on paper... but the execution was messy. Rule of Gainax,"Own it". When someone clever works on something they love unashamedly, very often the thing just works. I wouldn't shoot it down just 'cause of concept art at any rate, since the line of thought as some real definite merit. Getting a kind of "Sonic Underground" vibe.

Going to point out also, that LeSean said that those concepts weren't even close to the final look in that version of the show.

There is no way anything good could come from a cartoon where the Thundercats are a rock band. :lionomad:
Even those odd designs Dan Norton did back in 2003 were better.

"Mark M, post: 95650" said:

There is no way anything good could come from a cartoon where the Thundercats are a rock band. :lionomad:
Even those odd designs Dan Norton did back in 2003 were better.

And why not?

For the record I don't believe this version was the Rock Band version. Even though I also don't think this version was the way to go.

"balgus82, post: 95663" said:

For the record I don't believe this version was the Rock Band version. Even though I also don't think this version was the way to go.

Probably not.^^ That would be very tough to pull off (although I shan't doubt that someone smarter than me could do it, I've seen madder concepts done solidly). More and more the "little kid's show" sounds a smart option, though. Something with a dose of levity in any event.