Cartoons play an important role in the overall development of children, despite what parents or experts might think. The more visually appealing, the more vibrant and the more creative an animated flick is, the more it helps in enlightening children and broadening their horizon.
There are now many more interesting and technically advance cartoons on television than ever before, so let us look at a few of them and find out what makes them so interesting and special.
Young Justice
Young Justice is about super-strength protégés who were previously the sidekicks to superheroes. There is Aqualad as the team leader, while Robin, Superboy, Kid Flash and others make up the rest of the team.
They handle the covert missions of the Justice League which are equally important for the safety of the universe.
The show airs weekly and follows a storyline that keeps you waiting for more. It debuted last year in January but some, especially comic book fans, have been disappointed that the series is not an adaptation of the comic of the same name, but a new take on the lives of the teenage superheroes. For others, this very factor has made it a must-watch amongst both
youngsters and those way past their youth.
Appearances by DC Comics heavyweights Superman, Batman, Green Arrow, the Flash and others has helped in making this series successful. However, as the storyline goes, Speedy decides to go solo rather than be treated like a kid, a step that strengthened the bond between the remaining members of the team. Speedy, formerly the sidekick of Green Arrow, does help them out as Red Arrow when the need arises, and seems smarter than the rest of the protégés who take orders without questioning them (strange, right!).
But who wouldn’t take orders if they were given by those who defend the universe from all kinds of evils? I would!
Thunder Cats
They are back, they are different but still they respond to Lion-O’s Thunder Cats Ho! Thunder Cats is the reboot of the popular series of the Eighties which pitted the Cats from Thundera against the mighty Mumm-Ra, the ever-living and his goons. The good and the bad still fight over the eye of Thundera but in this new version, the characters have been altered to make it more interesting.
The show began with an hour-long premiere last July and so far has aired 13 episodes, with more to come before the conclusion of the first season.
In the newer version, the Thunderians are made to flee their kingdom after a successful attack by the Lizard army, led by the evil sorcerer Mumm-Ra and former Thunder Cat Grune, the Destroyer. Led by the young heir to the throne Lion-O and aided by the powerful Sword of Omens, the band of Thunder Cats moves around to find and safe-keep the Book of Omens to defeat Mumm-Ra once and for all.
But soon after finding the book, Lion-O and the Thunder Cats discover that they have to find three stones of power before Mumm-Ra. There are a lot of dissimilarities between the new incarnation of Thunder Cats and the original one. Here Panthro is an older cat, Tygra and Cheetara are shown as older than Lion-O, who is also Tygra’s stepbrother and the new Lord of the Thunder Cats after the murder of their father Claudus. WilyKit and WilyKat are the same carefree set of cats that follow no one while Snarf is there as well, but doesn’t talk.
In one of the episodes, it is disclosed that Thunder Cats and Mumm-Ra were once allies, and it is the shock of learning such a fact that makes Lion-O alter the course of history. While some episodes may seem as childish and unnecessary, let me assure you that they are part of the bigger picture. Each story has a message in it, and before the 20 minutes are over, the message is conveyed and the story moves on.
Voltron Force
It may not be the first version of the successful animated series of the Eighties to hit the market but it is beyond doubt the best yet! Voltron Force takes place years after the original five lions were ostracised, stripped of their duty as Defenders of the Universe and sealed on the planet Arus for causing trouble during a celebration parade.
The team (expect team leader Keith and the pilot of the Black Lion) is relegated to teaching cadets in the Galaxy Alliance academy. Doesn’t sound interesting? It didn’t hit me as well until Keith returns and unites the five lions and the team members Lance, Hunk, Pidge and Princess Allura. They also take three new Alliance cadets under their wings — Daniel, Vince and Larmina — who continue to surprise their mentors as well as themselves.
As the series moves ahead, the viewers get to know that the Drule King Lotor has returned with a dark energy that can destroy the galaxy. Voltron Force does its best to save the universe, and succeeds on numerous occasions.
The new series differs from the original one because in the earlier version of the series, killing a RoBeast (Robot Beast) seemed to be the end of that episode, whereas in the current incarnation, the RoBeast is least of the team’s issues. Every character has a back story and a Volt-com, a gadget that enhances their powers, while the up-gradation of Voltron continues to amaze the viewers. There is an episode in which the Robot Lions are blocked in their lairs so that they can’t form Voltron, whereas in another, Voltron is cut into two after forming the deadly Blazing Swords!
This time, King Lotor is more powerful than he had ever been, and despite initial failures, he manages to give Voltron a tough time. But when you have traitors like Sky Marshall Wade on the inside, who needs a villain. The corrupt official in the Galaxy Alliance succeeds in his attempts to have the Robot Lions for himself, but is captured during the course of the series. However, the attempts on destroying Voltron does damage the Robot, and it is only due to the excessive amount of serious repairing from Pidge and Vince that helps the Robot get back on its feet.
So for those who have just started watching these programmes on TV, one hopes that the recap of the earlier version of the same series would help you understand and enjoy these new characters better. Have a nice time!
There are now many more interesting and technically advance cartoons on television than ever before, so let us look at a few of them and find out what makes them so interesting and special.
Young Justice
Young Justice is about super-strength protégés who were previously the sidekicks to superheroes. There is Aqualad as the team leader, while Robin, Superboy, Kid Flash and others make up the rest of the team.
They handle the covert missions of the Justice League which are equally important for the safety of the universe.
The show airs weekly and follows a storyline that keeps you waiting for more. It debuted last year in January but some, especially comic book fans, have been disappointed that the series is not an adaptation of the comic of the same name, but a new take on the lives of the teenage superheroes. For others, this very factor has made it a must-watch amongst both
youngsters and those way past their youth.
Appearances by DC Comics heavyweights Superman, Batman, Green Arrow, the Flash and others has helped in making this series successful. However, as the storyline goes, Speedy decides to go solo rather than be treated like a kid, a step that strengthened the bond between the remaining members of the team. Speedy, formerly the sidekick of Green Arrow, does help them out as Red Arrow when the need arises, and seems smarter than the rest of the protégés who take orders without questioning them (strange, right!).
But who wouldn’t take orders if they were given by those who defend the universe from all kinds of evils? I would!
Thunder Cats
They are back, they are different but still they respond to Lion-O’s Thunder Cats Ho! Thunder Cats is the reboot of the popular series of the Eighties which pitted the Cats from Thundera against the mighty Mumm-Ra, the ever-living and his goons. The good and the bad still fight over the eye of Thundera but in this new version, the characters have been altered to make it more interesting.
The show began with an hour-long premiere last July and so far has aired 13 episodes, with more to come before the conclusion of the first season.
In the newer version, the Thunderians are made to flee their kingdom after a successful attack by the Lizard army, led by the evil sorcerer Mumm-Ra and former Thunder Cat Grune, the Destroyer. Led by the young heir to the throne Lion-O and aided by the powerful Sword of Omens, the band of Thunder Cats moves around to find and safe-keep the Book of Omens to defeat Mumm-Ra once and for all.
But soon after finding the book, Lion-O and the Thunder Cats discover that they have to find three stones of power before Mumm-Ra. There are a lot of dissimilarities between the new incarnation of Thunder Cats and the original one. Here Panthro is an older cat, Tygra and Cheetara are shown as older than Lion-O, who is also Tygra’s stepbrother and the new Lord of the Thunder Cats after the murder of their father Claudus. WilyKit and WilyKat are the same carefree set of cats that follow no one while Snarf is there as well, but doesn’t talk.
In one of the episodes, it is disclosed that Thunder Cats and Mumm-Ra were once allies, and it is the shock of learning such a fact that makes Lion-O alter the course of history. While some episodes may seem as childish and unnecessary, let me assure you that they are part of the bigger picture. Each story has a message in it, and before the 20 minutes are over, the message is conveyed and the story moves on.
Voltron Force
It may not be the first version of the successful animated series of the Eighties to hit the market but it is beyond doubt the best yet! Voltron Force takes place years after the original five lions were ostracised, stripped of their duty as Defenders of the Universe and sealed on the planet Arus for causing trouble during a celebration parade.
The team (expect team leader Keith and the pilot of the Black Lion) is relegated to teaching cadets in the Galaxy Alliance academy. Doesn’t sound interesting? It didn’t hit me as well until Keith returns and unites the five lions and the team members Lance, Hunk, Pidge and Princess Allura. They also take three new Alliance cadets under their wings — Daniel, Vince and Larmina — who continue to surprise their mentors as well as themselves.
As the series moves ahead, the viewers get to know that the Drule King Lotor has returned with a dark energy that can destroy the galaxy. Voltron Force does its best to save the universe, and succeeds on numerous occasions.
The new series differs from the original one because in the earlier version of the series, killing a RoBeast (Robot Beast) seemed to be the end of that episode, whereas in the current incarnation, the RoBeast is least of the team’s issues. Every character has a back story and a Volt-com, a gadget that enhances their powers, while the up-gradation of Voltron continues to amaze the viewers. There is an episode in which the Robot Lions are blocked in their lairs so that they can’t form Voltron, whereas in another, Voltron is cut into two after forming the deadly Blazing Swords!
This time, King Lotor is more powerful than he had ever been, and despite initial failures, he manages to give Voltron a tough time. But when you have traitors like Sky Marshall Wade on the inside, who needs a villain. The corrupt official in the Galaxy Alliance succeeds in his attempts to have the Robot Lions for himself, but is captured during the course of the series. However, the attempts on destroying Voltron does damage the Robot, and it is only due to the excessive amount of serious repairing from Pidge and Vince that helps the Robot get back on its feet.
So for those who have just started watching these programmes on TV, one hopes that the recap of the earlier version of the same series would help you understand and enjoy these new characters better. Have a nice time!
