'Thundercats' (2011): The Complete Series Blu-Ray Review - Reboot Series Blazes An Entertaining New Path
The ThunderCats are back! A generation after becoming beloved animation icons, the mighty survivors of Thundera returned for a bold, new re-imagining that mixed the best of the past with the boldness of the new. After the destruction of the cat civilization of Thundera by the evil Mumm-Ra, young Prince Lion-O leads a small band of survivors to safety. As the threats of Mumm-Ra ring in their ears, these determined cats know what they must do: find the Book of Omens. Using his powerful Sword of Omens, Lion-O guides his friends, facing vicious foes and making fantastic new allies while racing towards a showdown with Mumm-Ra. Now all 26 episodes are available in 'sight beyond sight' 1080p HD on Blu-ray Disc as they were meant to be seen. So get ready to rip into the action with Lion-O, Tygra, Panthro, Snarf, Cheetara, Wily Kit, Wily Kat and hear the battle cry of 'ThunderCats Ho!' once again, for the very first time!
For thoughts on Thundercats: The Complete Series, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:
Video Quality
Thundercats looks pretty wonderful on Blu-Ray with its 1080p transfer in 1.78:1 originally released in 2014. The series consists of 26 episodes and is given two discs. Even with so many episodes packed on a disc, there is never a sense that the disc is struggling to hold everything, as compression artifacts are far from a common occurrence. While the streaming version on Hulu is also a good option, these Blu-Ray discs help refine the image even further by eliminating any unwanted compression artifacts or digital nuisances of that nature.
There is the occasional odd animation anomaly or background banding, but deficiencies in the transfer are kept to a bare minimum. There is no visible damage or shortcoming that was spotted while checking out these episodes. Everything looks impeccably clear for a favorable viewing experience. Colors are exceptionally vibrant and bold throughout the entire run. The animation aesthetic lends itself to creative character outlines brought to life with firm lines, along with some very imaginative backgrounds that look lovely in high definition. Black levels tend to be very deep with no crush detected. This presentation treats the series well on Blu-Ray. Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray set comes with a formidable DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that serves the show well. Sound effects from action scenes and other kinetic moments provide a memorable force in the low end that is appreciated. The show deploys some effective environmental sounds that render well in the stereo mix. Dialogue is given the proper prominence in the track with a clear presentation in the center speaker that holds firm even when different environments are being engaged. Music is momentous without drowning out other important elements. This presentation delivers what you need for the experience, even if a full surround sound track may have buoyed things a bit. Optional English SDH subtitles are available. Special Features
There are no special features provided on these discs. Final Thoughts
Thundercats is a very entertaining update to the original series that brings more of a mature tone to the proceedings while doing its best to respect what came before it. Some characterization choices appear to be a bit misguided, but we largely appreciate the depth brought to the characters. The anime-inspired animation is gorgeous throughout the season, and the vocal performances add some gravitas to the material. It is not a perfect continuation, but it definitely deserved more than one season to grow. The Blu-Ray set from Warner Archive delivers in the A/V department, but it does not bring any supplemental features to the table. Fans of the franchise with an open mind should give this a shot. Recommended
Thundercats: The Complete Series can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
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