List of ThunderCats characters


The following is a list of characters that appear in the American animated series ThunderCats, its 2011 reboot, ThunderCats Roar, and its related media.

Original ThunderCats

Jaga

Jaga is also known as "Jaga the Wise" and is based on the Jaguar. Lion-O regards him as the strongest of the ThunderCats. When he was younger, Jaga was the Lord of the ThunderCats and rescued a young Hachiman from the Jade Dragon. He also served as an adviser and protector of the Lord's family, wielding the Sword of Omens. After Claudus was blinded, Jaga became the guardian of the Eye of Thundera, the Sword of Omens, and the Treasure of Thundera. Prior to Thundera's destruction, Jaga gathered the nobles of the ThunderCats to escort Lion-O and the Eye of Thundera to safety, but did not survive the trip to Third Earth due to volunteering to pilot the damaged ship and died of old age. However, he reappears on Third Earth as a ghost to guide Lion-O, who initially is the only one who can see him. After Jaga's physical body is trapped in another dimension "The Astral Prison", Lion-O travels there to rescue him.
In the 2011 series, Jaga serves as head of Thundera's cleric warriors, possessing knowledge of ancient secrets and having the ability of superhuman speed as well as projecting lightning from his staff. In his prime, he wielded the Sword of Omens in a duel against Ratilla. He sacrifices himself to allow Lion-O and his group to escape, resulting in him being tortured into revealing the location of the Book of Omens to Mumm-Ra. After his soul is sealed in a lantern that Jaga later destroys to save Lion-O, his soul resides within the Book of Omens and becomes Lion-O's guide. When Lion-O encounters Jaga in the entrance to the Spirit World, he tells him of the challenges he must undergo to gain a second chance in life. After he fails the final test, Jaga allows Lion-O to return to the living to save the other ThunderCats, even though it would exile his soul to Limbo by sunrise. However, after he saves his friends, Jaga tells him that it was a test and allows him to remain among the living. Jaga's character was described as being based on "Wisdom".

Lion-O

Lion-O is the leader of the ThunderCats and is based on a Lion, who inherited the position of "Lord of the ThunderCats". He wields the Sword of Omens, which possesses various magical abilities, most notably allowing him to see across great distances with "Sight Beyond Sight", and the Claw Shield, a gauntlet that launches grappling lines from its claws. The Sword was forged from the same star as the Sword of Plundarr, with the Eye of Thundera embedded in its hilt once belonging to a beast who Jaga's ancestors imprisoned in a gem after sacrificing themselves to save the Thunderians from him. Though twelve years old at the time of Thundera's destruction, Lion-O aged to adulthood during the trip to Third Earth when his suspension capsule failed to prevent him from aging. Throughout the series, he matures and learns what it takes to be a true leader
In the latter half of the first season, he undergoes the "Anointment Trials", consisting of contests of strength, speed, cunning, and intelligence, and the Mutants unsuccessfully attempt to exploit him to leave the ThunderCats without a leader. After defeating Mumm-Ra in the heart of his pyramid, Lion-O is crowned the Lord of the ThunderCats in an inaugural ceremony.
In the 2011 series, Lion-O is a teenager both mentally and physically. Though hotheaded, he is patient and understanding and seeks for the races of Third Earth to be treated equally. Initially, he is the only one to believe that technology, a foreign concept to the ThunderCats, and Mumm-Ra exist. His mother died in childbirth, and his ancestor, Leo, assisted in defeating Mumm-Ra. After Cheetara, who he has feelings for, confesses to Tygra, he attempts to court Pumyra; however, she reveals her loyalty to Mumm-Ra and that she was manipulating him.
In ThunderCats Roar, Lion-O is depicted as being child-like, with his antics annoying the ThunderCats. Lion-S is his long-lost sister.
He is known as León-O in the Spanish version, Leo in the German version, Starlion in the French version, and Lion in the Brazilian version. He was originally known as Lion-L in the English version.
Creators Ted Wolf and Leonard Starr described Lion-O character as being based on "Courage".

Panthro

Panthro is based on the Panther. Physically the strongest of the group, he is skilled at martial arts and serves as the chief mechanic/engineer and pilot for the ThunderCats with his knowledge. With help from Tygra, he builds the vehicles the ThunderCats use on Third Earth, such as the ThunderTank, Feliner and ThunderClaw, ThunderStrike, and HoverCat. Despite his loyalty to his friends and duty, living by the ThunderCats warrior code, and calm and collected, he can have a short temper. He wields a pair of nunchaku with open-away cat-paws, and the spikes on his chest bands can be used as projectile weapons or rappelling lines.
In the 2011 series, Panthro is one of Claudus' soldiers, who is sent with his friend Grune to find the Book of Omens. During their search, Grune betrayed Panthro and Mumm-Ra was awakened; in the ensuing struggle, Panthro fell down an abyss and was presumed dead. However, he survived and constructed the ThunderTank, which he uses to save Lion-O's group from Slythe's platoon. He is later revealed to have known Dobo when they were slaves in a gladiator arena called The Pit run by the Dogs, with Dobo coming to resent Pantro when he escaped after learning that they were to face each other in a deathmatch. Though he questions Lion-O's ability to lead, Panthro eventually accepts him as the new king. When Grune and Slither Panthro attack the Elephants' village against Mumm-Ra's orders, he duels with Grune and loses his arms while trapping Grune in the astral plane, with the Berbils later building him mechanical arms.
Creators Ted Wolf and Leonard Starr described Panthro's character as being based on "Physical strength" and "Death".

Tygra

Tygra is based on the tiger and is calm and analytic, considering every part of the problem before making a decision. He is the ThunderCats' architect and scientist, having created the Cat's Lair and the Tower of Omens, and Lion-O often calls upon him as a second-in-command and for advice. He can create mental illusions and wields whip-like bolas, with which he can become invisible.
In the 2011 series, he is the adopted older brother of Lion-O, who was a member of the Tiger Clan until the other cat clans forced them to live in the frozen mountains far from Thundera due to their loyalty to Mumm-Ra and the Ancient Spirits of Evil. They sent Tygra away from their home in the mountains when the Spirits demanded they slay Tygra in exchange for greater power. His piloting skills come from his ancestors, who served as pilots under Mumm-Ra. Sent to Thundera as a baby by his biological father Javan, Tygra was raised by Claudus and his wife. After her death, having both the right to succeed his foster father and the only mother he knew, Tygra grew to hate Lion-O and questions his decisions after he becomes the new Lord of the ThunderCats. Furthermore, Tygra fell in love with Cheetara when they met as children, though he believed that she never returned his feelings. Tygra and Cheetara become a couple after Cheetara confesses her love for him; soon after, Tygra meets his birth father and inherits his whip.
In ThunderCats Roar, Tygra is depicted as a neat freak. He is known as Tigro in the Spanish, German and French versions. Creators Ted Wolf and Leonard Starr described Tygra's character as being based on "Integrity".

Cheetara

Cheetara is based on the Cheetah and the only adult female ThunderCat until Pumyra's introduction. She often serves as a voice of reason and possesses a sixth sense that allows her to feel when danger or evil is near. She also possesses incredible speed, which she can only for brief periods, and wields a baton that expands into a bō which can grow or shrink in size.
In the WildStorm/DC Comics book series, she marries Tygra and they raise twin cubs. The miniseries ThunderCats: The Return reveals that she was a slave of the mutants during Lion-O's time training in the Book of Omens. Though it hints at romance between her and Lion-O, it also indicates that she came to resent Lion-O for not rescuing her sooner and that her feelings shifted towards Panthro, who is implied to reciprocate her feelings when he and Lion-O rescue her from the Mutants. In 2024, she starred in a solo comic book series.
In the 2011 series, Cheetara is one of the last remaining cleric warriors. As a child, she tried to join the Order of Cleric, but Jaga rejected her due to her impatience. However, after she decided to show Jaga she had the patience by waiting in front of the Order's doors, during which Tygra helped her sustain herself and gave her a flower, he accepted her. She initially serves to support Lion-O, as she does not shun his interest in technology and supports his kindness towards other races. Tygra and Lion-O harbor romantic feelings for her and compete for her love, but she later becomes a couple with Tygra, abandoning her duties as a Cleric to save his life.
In ThunderCats Roar, Cheetara has an athlete personality. She is known as Chitara in the Spanish version, Geparda in the German version, and Félibelle in the French version. Creators Ted Wolf and Leonard Starr described Cheetara's character as being based on "Speed".

WilyKit and WilyKat

WilyKit and WilyKat with Kat being the cautious older brother and Kit the adventurous younger sister. Though troublemaking, they can hold their own in combat, as they use tricks and traps and wield slingshots, trick lariats, and capsules, balls and other gimmick weapons carried in pouches and on their belts. They ride on "space boards", flying devices that resemble surfboards.
In the 2011 series, they are younger and were originally from a low-class family in the countryside living with their mother, their father, and their two siblings. After their father died in a tornado, they resolved to run away from home to find the lost city of El Dara and become rich. However, upon arriving in Thundera, they were forced to become street urchins to survive. When the Lizards attack Thundera, they escape and later join the ThunderCats. Like in the original series, WilyKat possesses gimmick weapons, with his primary weapon being a grappling hook called a Flick. WilyKit possesses a Flupe, a special musical instrument that she uses to play a soothing melody that their mother once sung to them and which can put others in trances. During her time with the Elephants, she learned to use it to shatter boulders when in tune with their trumpets. After WilyKit gains a spiritual outlook on life as she and her brother become more involved with the ThunderCats, she assumes Cheetara's role of Cleric. They later acquire hoverboards from the Berbils as well as the Forever Bag, a magic bag once possessed by thieves that has an infinite storage space, activated by the magic word "rankinbass".
In ThunderCats Roar, WilyKit is tomboyish, while WilyKat is the more mature of the duo.
They are known as Felina y Felino in the Spanish version and MiniKit und MiniKat in the German version.