Thundarr the Barbarian
Sabre and sorcery on a broken Earth with a writers' room of Kirby, Gerber, and Ellison. 21 episodes of broken sun America. Shout Factory Blu-ray is the only real way in.
Cast & Key People
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Our Review
Cast & Key People
▶
Our Review
Thundarr the Barbarian (1980) is a animation and action series from NBC. Episodes run about 22 minutes. It premiered on October 4, 1980. Viewers rate it 7.4 out of 10. It is currently ended. It runs 2 seasons.
What Thundarr the Barbarian Is About
Thundarr the Barbarian is set in a future (3994 AD) post-apocalyptic wasteland divided into kingdoms or territories — the majority of which are ruled by wizards – and whose ruins typically feature recognizable geographical features from the United States, starting in New York City and working itself to Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Mount Rushmore, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.. Other episodes with recognizable settings are located in Mexico, while one is in 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 runaway planet 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 balance. Earth is reborn in a world of “savagery, super-science, and sorcery.” where everybody must fend for themself. Among those who became liberated includes Thundarr, equipped with record breaking strength and determination, Princess Ariel a sorceress and wise magician, and Ookla The Mok, a beast from another planet, as well as their faithful steeds, and allies. This anime styled series attempted to break barriers not attempted until years later, while Thundarr The Barbarian made 21 episodes, an average amount for a Saturday morning cartoon.
What to Expect When You Watch
Episodes run about 22 minutes, which keeps the pace tight, spread across 2 seasons and it leans into its animation/action roots while leaving room for the quieter character beats.
Performance-wise the series leans on Robert Ridgely, Nellie Bellflower and Henry Corden to carry the emotional weight, with the rest of the ensemble filling out the world around them.
Cast and Creative Team
Robert Ridgely, Nellie Bellflower, Henry Corden and Dick Tufeld lead the cast.
Key roles include Robert Ridgely as Thundarr The Barbarian; Nellie Bellflower as Princess Ariel; Henry Corden as Ookla the Mok; Dick Tufeld as Narrator.
Why It Stands Out
Fans of animation, action and adventure have a clear reason to give this one a shot. It sits comfortably alongside NBC’s other originals, a 7.4/10 audience score puts it in steady company and it commits to its premise instead of hedging between tones.
Released in 1980 and carried by NBC with the series still ended, it lands hardest with animation and action viewers.
How Thundarr the Barbarian Compares
If Thundarr the Barbarian lands for you, the next stops are Avatar: The Last Airbender, Death Note and X-Men: The Animated Series, which share its animation/action lean.
Each of those sits at a different point on the same spectrum, so they make a natural follow-up once you finish the run here.
Where to Stream
Thundarr the Barbarian comes from NBC. Check your preferred platform for current availability, since regional rights move around.
Disclosure: We may earn a commission if you sign up for a streaming service through links on this page. This helps support our independent reviews.
On the whole Thundarr the Barbarian is the kind of series that rewards a patient watch, with Robert Ridgely and Nellie Bellflower doing the heaviest lifting, a tone that stays true to its animation/action roots, It has held up since 1980 and so if the premise sounds like your lane, the execution holds up.
The Bottom Line
Thundarr the Barbarian is a safe bet for anyone already inside the animation and action lane, the audience score holds around 7.4/10 and so there is little risk in starting it tonight.
Verdict: 7.4/10. Watch it if you want animation/action you can settle into.
