Beyond Thundera Podcast

Beyond Thundera Podcast
  • 5.0 (2)
  • TV & Film
  • Weekly

Welcome to Beyond Thundera — the podcast where Hall of Omens author Sean McKeone teams up with ThunderCats writer, Peter Lawrence to talk about the secrets, stories, and creative madness behind ThunderCats and everything that came after. We’re talking SilverHawks, TigerSharks, and the wild world of 80s and 90s animation. Expect behind the scenes info, untold production stories, toy talk, guests, and plenty of laughs! We are going to be joined by crew from all aspects of production, voice actors & fellow fans that want to share their personal stories as to why the shows means so much to them.

  1. 2d ago

    The Burning (1981) at 45: Screen Writer Peter Lawrence Reveals the Stories Behind the Horror Classic

    What if one of the most memorable slasher movies of the 1980s was originally supposed to be something completely different? This week on Beyond Thundera, we're stepping away from ThunderCats and into the world of classic horror as Peter Lawrence takes us behind the scenes of the 1981 cult favorite The Burning. And he's got some incredible stories to tell! Peter was the film's screenwriter, working alongside the Weinstein brothers during their early years in the movie business. Now he's sharing his firsthand memories of how The Burning came together, including the surprising origins of Cropsey, the connection to Friday the 13th, and why his original vision for the movie looked nothing like the bloody slasher fans know today. We also get into his experiences with Harvey and Bob Weinstein, a heated dispute over writing credits, and the unusual story behind Cropsey's infamous garden shears. And here's something you probably wouldn't expect: Peter admits that despite writing The Burning, he's never actually sat down and watched the entire movie! Plus, he reveals that he's held onto something from the original production that horror collectors would love to get their hands on. Whether you're a longtime fan of The Burning, grew up on Friday the 13th and classic 80s slashers, or just love hearing the stories behind the movies, this is a fascinating look at a piece of horror history from someone who was actually there. What's your favorite 80s slasher movie, and where does The Burning rank on your list? Let us know in the comments, and subscribe for more conversations with the people behind the movies and shows we grew up loving!

    The Burning (1981) at 45: Screen Writer Peter Lawrence Reveals the Stories Behind the Horror Classic

  2. Oct 22

    From ThunderCats & Rankin/Bass to Hollywood Legends & Groucho Marx: John Curcio's Incredible Career

    You might recognize John Curcio's name from the credits of ThunderCats, but his incredible career in entertainment goes back long before Lion-O ever raised the Sword of Omens! This week on Beyond Thundera, we're joined by the veteran recording engineer for a fascinating trip through decades of animation, music, and entertainment history, including his work with Rankin/Bass Productions and some of the biggest names in show business! John takes us behind the scenes of classic Rankin/Bass productions, including Festival of Family Classics, and shares memories of working with Jules Bass, Maury Laws, Bernie Hoffer, and Larry Franke. Ever wonder how animated television shows were put together before computers and today's digital recording technology? John recalls the days of mixing entire cartoons using little more than a stopwatch, along with stories about the people, music, and recording techniques that helped bring these beloved productions to life. But John's career reaches far beyond the world of animation! Hear his incredible stories about working with legendary producer Phil Ramone, painstakingly editing recordings of Groucho Marx, and crossing paths with entertainment icons like Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Ethel Merman, and Maynard Ferguson. From his early dreams of becoming a singer to finding himself working alongside artists whose records he grew up listening to, John shares a lifetime of fascinating experiences, unforgettable personalities, and behind-the-scenes memories. It's another trip beyond the cartoons and into the stories of the people who helped make entertainment history! Whether you're a fan of ThunderCats, classic Rankin/Bass animation, Saturday morning cartoons, music history, or good old-fashioned nostalgia, there's plenty to enjoy in this conversation! Be sure to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE to Beyond Thundera for more conversations with the incredible writers, artists, voice actors, musicians, and creative talent behind the shows we grew up loving! And let us know in the comments which of John's stories surprised you the most!

    From ThunderCats & Rankin/Bass to Hollywood Legends & Groucho Marx: John Curcio's Incredible Career

  3. Oct 15

    ThunderCats, SilverHawks, & TigerSharks Artist Reunion w/ Jim Meskimen, Dennis Woodyard, & Pepe Moreno! Stories. Art, & Cartoon Secrets!

    You grew up watching ThunderCats, SilverHawks and TigerSharks. But you probably never imagined some of the things happening behind the scenes while these cartoons were being created!We're bringing together Jim Meskimen, Pepe Moreno and Dennis Woodard, three of the artists who helped shape the Rankin/Bass universe, alongside ThunderCats and SilverHawks writer and showrunner Peter Lawrence for a reunion that quickly turns into something much more than a trip down memory lane.What was it like working with Bob Camp? Apparently, it involved plenty of goofing around, wet towels flying across the studio, and somehow getting an incredible amount of artwork finished at the last minute!Then things get candid.What happened when the toy companies started influencing the cartoons? Why did the creative freedom begin disappearing? And what pushed Peter Lawrence to the point of wanting to walk away?We also get into original TigerSharks artwork, the unusual inspirations behind SilverHawks, forgotten voice acting credits, and plenty of stories from the people who were actually there making it all happen.Some of these stories are hilarious. Others offer a fascinating look at the realities of creating animated television in the 1980s.If you've ever loved these cartoons, collected the toys, or wondered how they were actually made, you're going to enjoy this one!Welcome back to the Beyond Thundera Podcast!Subscribe for more behind-the-scenes conversations with the people who created the shows we grew up loving, and tell us in the comments which cartoon you'd love to hear more about!For more on Jim Meskimen:Jim Meskimen’s official sitewww.jimmeskimen.comFollow Jim Meskimen on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063491981026Follow Jim on Instagram@jimpressions Subscribe to Jim Meskimen’s official Youtube Channel https://youtube.com/@UCMEV7kNfLED3O_LqNNDNjAA Check Out Jim featured on “ThunderCat of the Day” on Peter Lawrence’s official website https://www.gpeterlawrence.com/jim-meskimen-thundercat-of-the-day/For more on Dennis Woodyard:SUBSCRIBE to Dennis on YouTubehttps://youtube.com/@DennisWoodyard-DragonflyEntFollow Dennis J. Woodyard - Journeyman Artist on Facebook https://facebook.com/djwjourneymanartistCheck Out Dennis featured on “ThunderCat of the Day” on Peter Lawrence’s official website https://www.gpeterlawrence.com/dennis-woodyard-thundercat-of-the-day/For more on Pepe Moreno:Pepe’s official website:https://pepemorenostudio.com/Follow Pepe on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/pepemorenostudioFollow Pepe Moreno on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pepemorenostudiosBe sure to check out the EXCLUSIVE interviews with Jim & Dennis in the pages of Hall of Omens: Thunder-Verse https://thundercatstoyguide.com

    ThunderCats, SilverHawks, & TigerSharks Artist Reunion w/ Jim Meskimen, Dennis Woodyard, & Pepe Moreno! Stories. Art, & Cartoon Secrets!

  4. Oct 8

    The Secret Sounds Behind ThunderCats: Pete Cannarozzi & Steve Gruskin

    What did it actually take to make ThunderCats SOUND like ThunderCats? Pete Cannarozzi and Steve Gruskin were there, and this time they get deep into the stuff most fans never got to see: the synthesizers, recording sessions, sound effects, strange studio experiments and little creative decisions that helped give ThunderCats and SilverHawks their identities. Pete played across all 130 ThunderCats episodes and all 65 SilverHawks episodes, and some of the stories here are incredible. We get into the creation of SilverHawks sound effects, Street Frogs music being built in studios and basements, Jules Bass writing the lyrics, and what happened when musicians were basically told, “Here are the chords. Go to town.” And then things get brutally candid. Why did The Comic Strip struggle? Had the crew simply burned themselves out? Why did nobody want the TigerSharks assignment? And was Karate Kat actually the show that Rankin/Bass should have built everything around? Plus, Pete takes us beyond Rankin/Bass into the New York music scene, Ashford & Simpson, HBO’s The Baby-Sitters Club and life as a working studio musician when, as he puts it, the phone always rang. This is less a nostalgia trip and more a trip inside the studio with the people who were actually making these shows. Check out Pete Cannarozzi’s previous Beyond Thundera episode https://youtu.be/Ka9y0FlE5sI Pete Cannarozzi’s official website: https://petecannarozzi.com Thundercat of the day - Pete Cannarozzi: https://www.gpeterlawrence.com/pete-cannarozi-thundercat-of-the-day/ Check out Steve Gruskin’s previous Beyond Thundera episode https://youtu.be/uUxogVngXQU Hall of Omens: Thunder-Verse! The Unofficial Ultimate Collector's Guide To ThunderCats, SilverHawks, & TigerSharks www.thundercatstoyguide.com Peter Lawrence official website www.gpeterlawrence.com Be sure to Follow the Beyond Thundera Podcast on Instagram: @beyondthunderapodcast Hall of Omens: Thunder-Verse! The Unofficial Ultimate Collector's Guide To ThunderCats, SilverHawks, & TigerSharks www.thundercatstoyguide.com Peter Lawrence official website www.gpeterlawrence.com Be sure to Follow the Beyond Thundera Podcast on Instagram: @beyondthunderapodcast

    The Secret Sounds Behind ThunderCats: Pete Cannarozzi & Steve Gruskin

  5. Oct 1

    Lio Convoy Joins Beyond Thundera: Mumm-Ra, Rare ThunderCats History & More

    Lio  Convoy aka Thomas Guerra shares his passion for preserving the history of the original 1985 ThunderCats series, including rare scripts, animation cels, model sheets and hundreds of pieces of original production material. He also discusses James Gauthier’s incredible archive, including scripts, the ThunderCats series bible and an alternate ThunderCats intro that Lio says has never been publicly seen. Then the conversation turns to one of the greatest villains of ’80s animation: Mumm-Ra. Peter reveals one of the original rules behind writing the character, while the group explores the Ancient Spirits of Evil, the mystery surrounding Mumm-Ra’s origins, the Sword of Omens, the Satanic Panic, Toonami’s role in introducing ThunderCats to another generation and why leaving parts of Third Earth unexplained may have made the world even stronger. There are some fascinating pieces of ThunderCats history in this one, including stories and perspectives you’re probably not going to hear anywhere else. If you love ThunderCats, Rankin/Bass, Mumm-Ra, Lion-O, Toonami, ’80s cartoons, animation history or behind-the-scenes stories from the people who actually made these shows, subscribe to Beyond Thundera and let us know what part of the ThunderCats universe you want us to explore next. Lio Convoy’s official YouTube  https://www.youtube.com/@Lio_Convoy LioConvoy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lioconvoy LioConvoy on X https://x.com/LioManBad

    Lio Convoy Joins Beyond Thundera: Mumm-Ra, Rare ThunderCats History & More

  6. Sep 24

    ThunderCats Recording Crew Reunion - Inside the ThunderCats Recording Studio

    The original ThunderCats and SilverHawks recording crew reunites to reveal how Rankin/Bass created the dialogue, sound effects, music, voice performances, and final mixes behind two of the most iconic cartoons of the 1980s.Sean “Buddha” McKeone and Peter Lawrence are joined by Tony Giovanniello, Michael Ungar, Matthew Malach, John Crenshaw, Larry Franke, and Steve Gruskin for a rare behind-the-scenes conversation about the making of ThunderCats, SilverHawks, and the Rankin/Bass animation era. They share firsthand stories about directing the voice cast, recording actors together as an ensemble, editing analog tape by hand, creating sound effects, working with Bernard “Bernie” Hoffer’s legendary music, and producing episodes long before digital editing and Pro Tools.This one quickly stops feeling like an interview and starts feeling like you’ve been dropped into the room with the original crew while they swap stories they haven’t thought about in decades. If you ever wondered what it actually took to make ThunderCats and SilverHawks sound the way they did, this is the conversation you want to hear.The reunion also brings back stories about studio pranks, lost outtakes, late-night recording sessions, the close-knit production crew, and ThunderCats Live at Madison Square Garden, where the sheer size of the audience made them realize just how massive ThunderCats had become.If you love ThunderCats, SilverHawks, Rankin/Bass, 1980s cartoons, animation history, voice acting, sound design, analog recording, retro television, or behind-the-scenes entertainment stories, subscribe to Beyond Thundera for more firsthand conversations with the people who helped create the shows we grew up with. To see more of the original crew: Tony Giovanniello: Beyond Thundera w/ Tony Giovanniello - https://youtu.be/ym2VMDwbb9MSee Tony’s “ThunderCat of the Day” article on Peter’s official website https://www.gpeterlawrence.com/tony-giovanelli-thundercat-of-the-day/ Matthew Malach: Beyond Thundera w/ Matthew Malach -https://youtu.be/z0kukySskI0 John Crenshaw: Beyond Thundera w/ John Crenshaw - https://youtu.be/bPB8avnZka8 Larry Franke: Beyond Thundera w/ Larry Franke - https://youtu.be/5JlwwcOcajQ Check Out Larry featured on “ThunderCat of the Day” on Peter Lawrence’s official website https://www.gpeterlawrence.com/thundercat-of-the-day-larry-franke/ Steve Gruskin: Beyond Thundera w/ Steve Gruskin - https://youtu.be/uUxogVngXQU

    ThunderCats Recording Crew Reunion - Inside the ThunderCats Recording Studio

  7. Sep 17

    Comedian Brian Scott McFadden on His Father Bob McFadden, Snarf, ThunderCats & Finding His Own Voice

    Brian Scott McFadden, son of legendary ThunderCats voice actor Bob McFadden, joins Beyond Thundera for a rare and personal look at the man behind Snarf and the incredible voice acting career that extended through ThunderCats, SilverHawks and decades of animation. Brian shares what it was really like growing up with Bob McFadden, hearing famous voices and impressions around the house, visiting recording sessions and eventually following his father into voice acting and comedy. He also opens up about the more complicated side of his father, including a revealing conversation with Cheetara voice actress Lynne Lipton, and explains how Bob's remarkable knowledge of classic actors helped shape the voices and characters he created. The conversation also explores the history of voice acting, Mel Blanc, classic Hollywood influences, Bob's work as Steelwill on SilverHawks, rare recordings and stories from the New York recording scene that produced some of the most beloved cartoons of the 1980s. Join Sean "Buddha" McKeone and Peter Lawrence for another piece of ThunderCats history on Beyond Thundera, and subscribe so these stories continue to be heard and preserved. Brian Scott McFadden’s Official Website www.brianscottmcfadden.com Brian Scott McFadden on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/brianscottmcfadden Brian Scott McFadden on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/brianscottmcfadden Brian Scott McFadden on X https://x.com/bscottmcfadden

    Comedian Brian Scott McFadden on His Father Bob McFadden, Snarf, ThunderCats & Finding His Own Voice

  8. Sep 10

    Hear the Roar Author David Crichton Talks Saving ThunderCats History Before It Was Too Late

    Author David Crichton, creator of Hear the Roar: The Unauthorized and Unofficial Guide to ThunderCats, joins Sean "Buddha" McKeone and original ThunderCats writer Peter Lawrence for an incredible conversation about documenting one of animation's most beloved series. David reveals how a passion project turned into years of research, more than 100 interviews with the cast and crew, and one of the most comprehensive books ever written about ThunderCats. This episode explores the untold story behind writing Hear the Roar, the challenge of tracking down the people who created ThunderCats, and why preserving their stories became so important. David shares fascinating memories of interviewing legendary creators including Bernie Hoffer, Arthur Rankin Jr., Jules Bass, and many others, while Peter reflects on the making of the original series and why ThunderCats became something far greater than just another 1980s cartoon. The conversation also dives into the creative process behind Rankin/Bass, the influence of Japanese animation on ThunderCats, why the series continues to resonate with fans around the world, and what made the original show so different from later reboots. Whether you're a lifelong ThunderCats fan, interested in animation history, behind-the-scenes television production, or the process of preserving pop culture history, this episode is packed with rare stories and firsthand insights you won't hear anywhere else. If you enjoy rare creator interviews, animation history, ThunderCats, SilverHawks, Rankin/Bass, and behind-the-scenes stories from the people who made these iconic series, be sure to subscribe, leave a comment, and let us know your favorite ThunderCats memory. Every subscription and share helps us continue preserving these incredible stories for future generations. Hear the Roar by David Crichton on Amazon  https://a.co/d/4whRhZb Idiot Box Publishing https://idiotboxbooks.com/ Hall of Omens: Thunder-Verse! The Unofficial Ultimate Collector's Guide To ThunderCats, SilverHawks, & TigerSharks www.thundercatstoyguide.com Purchase Hall of Omens titles BigBadToyStore (BBTS): Hall of Omens: The Unofficial Ultimate Guide to ThunderCats Toys and Beyond - https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/product/variationdetails/283383 Hall of Omens: Thunder-Verse! The Unofficial Ultimate Collector's Guide To ThundeCats, SilverHawks, & TigerSharks: Standard Cover: https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/Product/VariationDetails/347600 Exclusive Kyle Lambert Cover https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/Product/VariationDetails/347612 Peter Lawrence official website www.gpeterlawrence.com

    Hear the Roar Author David Crichton Talks Saving ThunderCats History Before It Was Too Late
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Welcome to Beyond Thundera — the podcast where Hall of Omens author Sean McKeone teams up with ThunderCats writer, Peter Lawrence to talk about the secrets, stories, and creative madness behind ThunderCats and everything that came after. We’re talking SilverHawks, TigerSharks, and the wild world of 80s and 90s animation. Expect behind the scenes info, untold production stories, toy talk, guests, and plenty of laughs! We are going to be joined by crew from all aspects of production, voice actors & fellow fans that want to share their personal stories as to why the shows means so much to them.

Information

  • Creator
    Beyond Thundera Podcast
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    40
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Beyond Thundera Podcast
  • Show Website
    Beyond Thundera Podcast

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