The ThunderCats have finally returned, and what character could be more suited to starting the ThunderCats Classics line than the franchise's lead, Lion-O. This 8-inch representation of the character's classic design is a fantastic action figure to mark the return of the line and a definite must-have figure.
Lion-O stands out in every category as a figure, and has only a few minor flaws. If you don't already have this figure and you love either the new or old ThunderCats cartoon, then getting Lion-O should be an easy choice.
Specifications
- Name: Lion-O
- Line: ThunderCats Classic
- Manufacturer: Bandai
- Scale: 8-inch
- Acccessories: Claw, short sword, long sword, and extra hand
Sculpt and Design
Lion-O's accessories are painted very well.
Corey TincherLion-O's sculpt is one that manages to mix the two-dimensional cartoon style of the character with the details of modern three-dimensional sculpting to which collectors are accustomed. All the important details of the character are represented faithfully. This includes the various minute details on his belt, sword, and glove. His face and hair have strong details that aren't too sharp to compromise the cartoon styling the character needs.
The only issues with Lion-O's sculpt are the sacrifices made at his numerous points of articulation. There is an especially odd-looking muscle coming over the swivel joint at his thigh. It breaks up the smooth appearance and catches the eye in a bad way.
It's also important to take note that Lion-O stands about 8 inches tall, and that Bandai recently announced that they will be producing the ThunderCats Classic line in a 6-inch scale going forward. That change doesn't inherently affect the quality of this figure, but does mean he won't match up with future releases in the line.
Paint and Color
A majority of Lion-O's color design comes from the hue of the plastic used to produce him. This is good in that it limits the chance of paint mishaps, but bad in that some of the plastic took the color differently. Certain parts of his body don't match up with other sections to which they are directly adjacent. This issue is only noticeable when looking at Lion-O up close and in certain lighting.
The details painted onto Lion-O's face and accessories are all extremely sharp and clean. His eyes are especially well done and really catch one's attention, pulling away from some of the weaker areas on his body.
Articulation and Posing
Lion-O can take a lot of fun poses.
Corey TincherLion-O's ability to move and be posed is far and away his strongest attribute. In the current trend to make figure's look better at the sake of lowered articulation, Lion-O is a welcome move in a different direction. This figure features a number of points of articulation that are all functional and smooth.
Posing Lion-O is a lot of fun because there is such a variety of posing options. Take practically any action pose you can imagine and Lion-O can probably be squeezed into it. Almost all of his joints are tight as well, making it a real joy to display and play with this figure. My specific figure has a slightly loose neck joint, but it rarely limits his ability to fit into or hold a pose.
Overall Thoughts
Lion-O is one of my favorite figures in recent memory. Not all collectors are as thrilled with this ThunderCats reboot, but Lion-O is one of the most fun and youthful action figures to hit the collecting world in a long time. That's something this industry needs, and Lion-O lives up to his line's moniker as a classic.
