Thundarr the Barbarian

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Thundarr the Barbarian is an American post-apocalyptic animated series, created by Steve Gerber and produced by Ruby-Spears Productions.[1] The series ran for two seasons on ABC from October 4, 1980, to October 31, 1981, and was rerun on NBC in 1983.[2]

Plot

Thundarr the Barbarian is set in a future (c. 3994) post-apocalyptic wasteland of Earth divided into kingdoms and territories, the majority of which are ruled by wizards, and whose ruins typically feature recognizable geographical features from the United States, such as New York City, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Seattle, the Badlands, Mount Rushmore, Denver, Atlanta, Boston, San Antonio and its Alamo, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Cape Canaveral, and the Grand Canyon. Other episodes with recognizable settings are set outside the United States, and include Mexico and London. Another notable feature of this future Earth is that the Moon was broken in two pieces. The shattered moon and the ruins of the former human civilization were caused by the passage of a comet between the Earth and the Moon in 1994, which, from scenes shown in the opening sequence, caused radical changes in the Earth's climate and geography. However, by the time period in which the series is set, the Earth and Moon seem to have settled into a new physical balance. Earth is reborn with a world of "savagery, super-science, and sorcery" far more chaotic than "Old Earth" (the show's name for the pre-apocalyptic world).

The hero Thundarr (voiced by Robert Ridgely), a muscular warrior, and companions Princess Ariel, a formidable young sorceress, and Ookla the Mok, a mighty lion-like biped, travel the world on horseback, fighting injustice. Their main adversaries are evil wizards who combine magical spells with reanimating technologies from the pre-catastrophe world.[3] Some of these malevolent wizards enlist the service of certain mutant species to do their bidding.

Other enemies include The Brotherhood of Night (a group of werewolves who could transform others into werewolves by their touch), the cosmic Stalker from The Stars (a predatory, malevolent cosmic vampire), and various other mutants. Intelligent humanoid-animal races include the rat-like Groundlings, the crocodile-like Carocs, and talking hawk-like and pig-like mutants. New animals that existed include fire-shooting whales, a giant green snake with a grizzly bear's head, and mutated dragonflies and rabbits.

Thundarr's weapon is the Sunsword that projects a blade-like beam of energy when activated, and can be deactivated so that it is only a hilt. The Sunsword's energy blade can deflect other energy attacks as well as magical ones, can cut through nearly anything, and can disrupt magical spells and effects. The Sunsword is magically linked to Thundarr and as such, only he can use it; however, this link can be disrupted.[Note 1]

Characters

  • Thundarr (voiced by Robert Ridgely) is a barbarian who was once a slave to Sabian until he was freed by Princess Ariel and given the Sunsword which he uses as a weapon in his fight against evil wizards and other villains. Thundarr, along with his friend Ookla, are largely unknowledgeable about the world so they rely on Ariel's guidance.
  • Ookla the Mok (voiced by Henry Corden) is a Mok, a humanoid lion-like creature. In Thundarr the Barbarian's backstory, Ookla and Thundarr were enslaved in the court of the wizard Sabian until Ariel helped them escape. As a Mok, Ookla has great strength, and he usually fights by ripping up wreckage and clubbing his enemies with it. On a few occasions, he uses a longbow that fires a type of paralyzing arrow. However, he is also the most likely of the heroes to charge right into an enemy attack and he is also easily enraged by unusual nuisances or threats. Moks dwell in their own territory, ruled by a king; they fear and hate water.
  • Princess Ariel (voiced by Nellie Bellflower) is a powerful sorceress. In the episode "Battle of The Barbarians", it is revealed that Thundarr was once a slave of the evil wizard Sabian before being freed by Princess Ariel. Her most common feats of sorcery involve creating light constructs such as archways and bridges over chasms, exploding spheres, levitating weights, and summoning nets or shields. She can also produce powerful energy blasts, blinding light, and magically reanimate machines. When her wrists are bound together, she cannot work her magic, and is vulnerable to capture.

Production

The series was the creation of comic book writer Steve Gerber. Gerber and friend Martin Pasko were having dinner in the Westwood area one night during the time Gerber was developing the series. Gerber commented to Pasko that he had not yet decided upon a name for the wookiee-like character the network insisted be added to the series, over Gerber's objections. As the two walked past the gate to the UCLA campus, Pasko quipped, "Why not call him Oo-clah?"[4] Pasko later became one of several screenwriters also known for their work in comics, such as Roy Thomas and Gerry Conway, to contribute to the show.[citation needed] After writing several scripts, singly and in collaboration with Gerber, Pasko became a story editor on the second season. Other writers included Buzz Dixon and Mark Jones.[5]

Comic book writer-artist Jack Kirby worked on the production design for the show. The main characters were designed by fellow comic book writer-artist Alex Toth. Toth, however, was unavailable to continue working on the show, so most of the wizards and other villains and secondary characters that appear on the show were designed by Kirby. He was brought onto the show at the recommendation of Gerber and Mark Evanier.[6]

Twenty-one half-hour episodes were produced by Ruby-Spears Productions, an animation house formed by former Hanna-Barbera head writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears,[7] and aired from October 1980 to October 1981 on the ABC network. Despite decent ratings, the show was cancelled, as Paramount wanted to make room in the programming schedule for Laverne & Shirley in the Army.[8][9] Reruns of Thundarr appeared on NBC's Saturday morning lineup in 1983.

Episodes

Season 1 (1980)

All episodes of season 1 were directed by Rudy Larriva and produced by Jerry Eisenberg.[10]

Template:Episode table

Season 2 (1981)

All episodes of season 2 were directed by Rudy Larriva and John Kimball, with animation supervision by Milt Gray & Bill Reed.[10]

Template:Episode table

Cast

  • Robert Ridgely as Thundarr, Manhat Dweller (in "Secret of the Black Pearl"), Mindok's Henchman (in "Mindok the Mind Menace"), Elder (in "Stalker from the Stars"), Security Guard (in "Portal Into Time"), Tavern Drunk (in "Battle of the Barbarians"), Judag (in "Den of the Sleeping Demons"), Yondo's Henchman (in "Master of the Stolen Sunsword")
  • Nellie Bellflower as Princess Ariel, Manhat Dweller (in "Secret of the Black Pearl"), Dr. Craft (in "Mindok the Mind Menace"), Mina (in "Stalker from the Stars")
  • Henry Corden as Ookla the Mok, Gemini (in "Secret of the Black Pearl", "Last Train to Doomsday"), Caroc Leader (in "Secret of the Black Pearl"), Rider (in "Raiders of the Abyss"), Zet (in "Valley of the Man-Apes"), Zogar (in "Battle of the Barbarians"), Tavern Drunk (in "Battle of the Barbarians"), Tork (in "Den of the Sleeping Demons"), Yeek (in "Tavern of the Sleeping Demons"), Skullus (in "Wizard Wars"), Villager (in "Wizard Wars"), Metaloid (in "Fortress of Fear"), Slave (in "Fortress of Fear"), Captain Willows (in "Island of the Body Snatchers"), Vortak (in "City of Evil"), Yondo's Henchman (in "Master of the Stolen Sunsword"), Mutant Deputy #2 (in "Trial by Terror"), Fashion Show MC (in "Prophecy of Peril")
  • Dick Tufeld as Opening Narration

Additional voices

  • Michael Ansara as Vashtarr (in "Prophecy of Peril")
  • Marlene Aragon as Maya (in "Prophecy of Peril")
  • Liz Aubrey as Valerie Storm (in "Prophecy of Peril")
  • Michael Bell as Yondo (in "Master of the Stolen Sunsword"), Wolmak (in "Master of the Stolen Sunsword"), Villager (in "Master of the Stolen Sunsword")
  • Alan Dinehart as Ponce (in "Treasure of the Moks")
  • Al Fann
  • Joe Higgins as
  • Stacy Keach Sr.
  • Keye Luke as Zevon (in "The Brotherhood of Night"), Infernus (in "The Brotherhood of Night"), Kublai (in "Battle of the Barbarians")
  • Chuck McCann as Artemus (in "Trial by Terror"), Korb (in "Trial by Terror"), Mutant Deputy #1 (in "Trial by Terror"), Villager (in "Trial by Terror")
  • Nancy McKeon as Tye (in "Harvest of Doom", "Last Train to Doomsday")
  • Julie McWhirter as Stryia (in "Attack of the Amazon Women")
  • Shepard Menken
  • Alan Oppenheimer as Mindok (in "Mindok the Mind Menace"), Morag (in "Raiders of the Abyss"), The Old Wizard (in "Raiders of the Abyss")
  • Avery Schreiber as Octagon (in "Wizard Wars")
  • Hal Smith as Simius (in "Valley of the Man-Apes")
  • Joan Van Ark as Captain Kordon (in "Treasure of the Moks"), Queen Diona (in "Attack of the Amazon Women"), Cinda (in "Prophecy of Peril")
  • Janet Waldo as Circe (in "Island of the Body Snatchers")
  • William Woodson as Crom (in "Portal Into Time"), Traffic Cop (in "Portal Into Time"), Lord Argoth (in "Fortress of Fear")

Crew

  • Alan Dinehart - Voice Director

Broadcast

The series ran on ABC from October 4, 1980 through September 12, 1982 with two seasons and 21 total episodes and performed well in the ratings.[11]

The series was rebroadcast on Cartoon Network from October 1992 through October 1996.[11]

Home media releases

The debut episode of Thundarr the Barbarian was released on DVD as part of Warner Home Video's Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1980s compilation series. The DVD set, containing episodes of ten other shows, was released on May 4, 2010.[12] It is now available for online download through Amazon.com.

On September 28, 2010, Warner Archive released Thundarr the Barbarian: The Complete Series to DVD in region 1[13] as part of their Hanna–Barbera Classics Collection. This is a Manufacture-on-Demand (MOD) release, available exclusively through Warner's online store and Amazon.com.[14] The DVD set is branded as part of the Hanna-Barbera Classics Collection[15] as Thundarr and the other 1978–1991 Ruby-Spears programs were sold to Turner Broadcasting in 1991 alongside Hanna-Barbera by Great American Broadcasting.[citation needed] On April 6, 2021, Warner Archive also released Thundarr the Barbarian: The Complete Series on Blu-ray.[16] Unlike the DVD release, the Blu-ray release restored the Ruby-Spears Productions logo, but the Filmways logo was still removed for the first season (due to being copyrighted by Hanna-Barbera). Despite the fact that Warner was also responsible for a worldwide distribution rights of MGM products in physical home media, in which Filmways are now part of Orion Pictures' library.

Influence

In a November 2017 interview with Revolver, Morbid Angel guitarist Trey Azagthoth stated that the band's new album, Kingdoms Disdained, is based on Thundarr the Barbarian,

"Thundarr the Barbarian [inspired the new album's title]...In the year 1994, a runaway planet hurtling between Moon and Earth unleashes cosmic destruction. Man's civilization is cast in ruin. 2,000 years later Earth is reborn. A strange new world arises from the old — a world of savagery, super science, and sorcery. But one man bursts his bonds to fight for justice with his companions — Ookla the Mok and Princess Ariel. He pits his strength, his courage and his fabulous Sun Sword against the forces of evil. He is "THUNDARR - THE BARBARIAN!!!"[17]

There is also a filk band from Buffalo, New York called Ookla the Mok.[18] The series was referenced and was involved in the plot of the third-season episode "One Watson, One Holmes" of the CBS television series Elementary.[19] In Fairlady #3, by Brian Schirmer and Claudia Balboni, the characters Dunkarr, the Barbarian, Ari and Oosk were inspired by the main characters in the series.[20]

Merchandise

Toys

Action figures of the three main characters were released by Toynami in 2003.[8] A board game was released by Milton Bradley Company in 1982.[21]

Comics and books

A Sunday strip illustrated by Jack Kirby was planned, but the project was canceled.[22][23] Whitman Comics had a Thundarr comic book project with scripts by John David Warner and art by Winslow Mortimer that never went to press.[24] Whitman instead published a coloring book in 1982.[25]

Dynamite Entertainment announced plans in July 2024 for a Thundarr comic debut.[26] The comic book was lanched in February 2026, written by Jason Aaron with art by Kewber Baal and variant covers by Michael Cho, Rob Liefeld, Dan Panosian, Francesco Mattina, Joseph Michael Linsner, Björn Barends, and others.[27][28]

Analysis

The show's entry in The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction notes that "Like many other animated works of its time with innovative settings, Thundarr the Barbarian has enjoyed a modest cult following. In the sf context it is notable as one of the first instances of the Post-Holocaust Ruined Earth theme appearing in Western animated Children's SF: an influential contribution to the late twentieth-century visual Science Fantasy [SF megatext], as a vehicle through which many young viewers in the 1980s and 1990s were first introduced to a number of related tropes.".[29]

Notes

  1. ↑ The episode "Master of the Stolen Sunsword" details events where the Sunsword needs to be recharged, and viewers learn it becomes linked to whoever does the charging.

References

  1. ↑ Woolery, George W. (1983). Children's Television: The First Thirty-Five Years, 1946-1981, Part 1: Animated Cartoon Series. Scarecrow Press. pp. 290–291. ISBN 0-8108-1557-5. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  2. ↑ Hyatt, Wesley (1997). The Encyclopedia of Daytime Television. Watson-Guptill Publications. p. 431. ISBN 978-0823083152. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  3. ↑ Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 845–846. ISBN 978-1476665993.
  4. ↑ Eury, Michael (2006). The Krypton Companion. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 158. ISBN 1-893905-61-6. We passed one of the entrances to the UCLA campus and when I saw the acronym on signage, the phonetic pronunciation leapt to mind.
  5. ↑ Terrace, Vincent (1985). Encyclopedia of Television Series, Pilots and Specials: 1974–1984. New York: New York Zoetrope. p. 419. ISBN 0-918432-61-8.
  6. ↑ Ro, Ronin (2005). Tales to Astonish: Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, and the American Comic Book Revolution. Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 209–210. ISBN 9781582345666.
  7. ↑ "Thundarr The Barbarian – Joe Ruby & Ken Spears Interview". Thundarr.com. Archived from the original on April 5, 2002. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Mark Evanier (March 5, 2003). "Live by the Sword". News from Me. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  9. ↑ Mark Evanier (September 15, 2018). "Barbaric Corrections". newsfromme.com. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Public Catalog - Copyright Catalog (1978 to present) - Basic Search [search: "Thundarr the Barbarian"]". United States Copyright Office. Retrieved March 28, 2017.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Lenburg, Jeff (1999). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. Checkmark Books. p. 532. ISBN 0-8160-3831-7. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
  12. ↑ Corey, Joe (May 7, 2010). "Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1980s, Vol. 1 – DVD Review". IGN.
  13. ↑ "Thundarr the Barbarian - The Complete Series". TV Shows on DVD. September 28, 2010. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  14. ↑ Lambert, David (September 21, 2010). "Thundarr the Barbarian – 4-DVD Release of 'The Complete Series' Available Next Week...But Online Only". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on December 24, 2011. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
  15. ↑ Shostak, Stu (January 16, 2013). "Interview with Joe Ruby and Ken Spears". Stu's Show. Retrieved 2013-03-18.
  16. ↑ Anderson, Kyle (May 3, 2021). "The '80s Cartoon Glory of THUNDARR THE BARBARIAN". Nerdist Industries. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Thundarr the Barbarian (1980–1981)". imdb.com. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Rand Bellavia, Montante Family Library Director, Reflects on Other Gig, Ookla the Mok | D'Youville". dyc.edu. October 6, 2017. Archived from the original on May 24, 2022. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Elementary Recap - Hacker Conspiracy Theories: Season 3 Episode 18 "One Watson, One Holmes"". April 9, 2015.
  20. ↑ Parkin, JK (June 26, 2019). "'Fairlady' pays tribute to a classic 80s cartoon". Smash Pages. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Thundarr the Barbarian". BoardGameGeek. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  22. ↑ Morrow, John A. (2008). Kirby Five-Oh!: Celebrating 50 Years of the "King" of Comics. TwoMorrows Publishing. ISBN 978-1-893905-89-4.
  23. ↑ Morrow, John (June 5, 2018). Jack Kirby Collector #74. TwoMorrows Publishing.
  24. ↑ Evanier, Mark. "Thundarr on TV and Almost in Comics". NewsFromME.com. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  25. ↑ "Thundarr The Barbarian - Merchandise". Thundarr.com. February 14, 2007. Archived from the original on February 14, 2007. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  26. ↑ "'DuckTales' and 'Thundarr' Join Dynamite Lineup as 'The Boys' Publisher Celebrates 20 Years". Forbes.
  27. ↑ Cronin, Brian (October 6, 2025). "Beloved Animated Series Returns With New Stories". CBR. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  28. ↑ Comments, Jude Terror LOLtron | (February 3, 2026). "Thundarr the Barbarian #1 Preview: Unleash the Sunsword". bleedingcool.com. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  29. ↑ Konieczny, Piotr (2026). "SFE: Thundarr the Barbarian". The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. Retrieved May 3, 2026.

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