Tight Squeeze

Tight Squeeze

November 15, 1985 TV Episode ThunderCats

Studio
Rankin-Bass Productions, Pacific Animation Corporation
Distributor
Telepictures Corporation

Synopsis

After the Mutants fail to ambush and defeat the ThunderCats with Vultureman's new Thundrainium cannon, Vultureman, furious about the failed attempt and the loss of his weapon, activates a self-destruct built into each of his inventions or repaired machinery, and all the Mutant technology disintegrates. To even the odds, Slithe asks Mumm-Ra to send an electrical energy creature to destroy all the equipment in Cats Lair, which also seals up the door to the Sword Chamber, trapping the Sword of Omens inside along with all the ThunderCats' weapons. The Mutants attack, and manage to capture Cheetara and Panthro. Snarf must climb into the ventilation shafts to reach the Sword Chamber from within, but Jackalman follows him trying to capture him. Outside, Lion-O is attacked by Slithe and Monkian, and later Mumm-Ra. After Snarf successfully gets the Sword back to Lion-O, Lion-O summons Panthro and Cheetara (freeing them) and they defeat Mumm-Ra and the Mutants.

Characters

Lion-O, JackalMan, Cheetara, Wilykit, Luna, Queen Luna, Tygra, Wilykat, Monkian, Panthro, Red-Eye, Hammer-Hand, Captain Cracker, Grune The Destroyer, Mongor, Mumm-Ra, Tug-mug, Amok, Snarf, Slythe

Credits

Producing

Producer
Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr (Executive Producers)
Supervising Producers
Peter Bakalian, Lee Dannacher

Writing

Writer
Stephen Perry
Head Writer
Leonard Starr
Script Supervisor
Peter Lawrence

Voices

Voice
Larry Kenney (Lion-O, JackalMan), Lynne Lipton (Cheetara, Wilykit, Luna, Queen Luna), Peter Newman (Tygra, Wilykat, Monkian), Earl Hyman (Panthro, Red-Eye, Hammer-Hand, Captain Cracker, Grune The Destroyer, Mongor), Bob McFadden (Snarf, Slythe), Earl Hammond (Mumm-Ra, Tug-mug, Amok)

Music

Music
Bernard Hoffer

Animation

Animator
Tsugu Kubo, Minoru Nishida, Katsuhito Akiyama, Akihiko Takahashi, Yukimatsu Ito, Yuji Yatabe, Kazafumi Nomura (Pacific Animation Corporation)

Crew

In Charge of Production
Masaki Iizuka
Based on Characters Created By
Ted Wolf
Project Development
Leisure Concepts
Psychological Consultant
Robert Kuisis
Recording Staff
John Curcio (Dialogue), Michael Farrow (Music), Tom Perkins (Editorial), Larry Franke (Editorial)
Effects
Peter Cannarozzi
Secondary Character Design
Jim Meskimen
Production Staff
Tony Giovanniello, Matthew Malach, Connie Long, Heather Winters

Companies and other credits

  • Project Development: Inc

Production notes

ThunderCats was first marketed in 1983, but the series was not released until two years later.

The services of psychologist Robert Kuisis, Ph.D. were retained to ensure that ThunderCats offered children moral guidance. Dr. Kuisis reviewed each episode throughout production; as well, he offered comments on each show in a "Synopses and Morals" booklet given to TV stations.

"The anime style was introduced into the design to allow our Japanese animators to inject some of their creativity," recalled executive producer Arthur Rankin, Jr.