Last June, it was announced that Warner Bros. was producing a new ThunderCats animated series for Cartoon Network. Based on the classic 1980s TV show, Lion-O, Tygra, and the rest are expected to roar back onto the small screen sometime this year.

Warner Bros. Animation’s Sam Register said, “In addition to being Warner Bros. Animation’s first anime series, ThunderCats marks our most ambitious foray yet into fantasy. The realism and dynamic visual style we’ve achieved are sure to thrill viewers, and the cool weapons, vehicles and technology should help the show appeal to a diverse audience.”

The storyline of the new series was explained this way: “A sweeping tale combining swords and science and boasting ferocious battles with the highest of stakes, the grand origin story of Prince Lion-O’s ascension to the throne — and of those who would thwart his destiny at any cost — takes on epic dimensions in this sharp new telling. As the forces of good and evil battle each other in the quest for the fabled Stones of Power, Lion-O and his champions learn valuable lessons of loyalty, honor and mortality in every episode.”

Todd Casey, a writer on the new ThunderCats series tweeted the first image of some of the main characters; Lion-O, Cheetara, Tygra, and Panthro. There’s no word if other characters, like WilyKit and WilyKat, will be part of the reboot. Voice actor Matthew Mercer announced last year that he would be the new voice of Tygra.

The new ThunderCats is a collaboration between Warner Bros. Animation and Studio4C of Japan.

What do you think? Do you like the new look? Will you give it a try?