Lion-O
The young prince who wields the Sword of Omens to protect Third Earth from evil.
Lion-O is a superhero and the protagonist of the ThunderCats franchise. He is the leader and the hereditary "Lord of the ThunderCats". Based on the lion, he wields the legendary Sword of Omens, which can fire bolts of energy and allows him to see across great distances with the embedded Eye of Thundera's power of "Sight Beyond Sight". He also carries the Claw Shield, a gauntlet that launches grappling lines from its knuckles. At the beginning of the series, Lion-O initially had the physical appearance and mind of a twelve-year-old. Due to his apparent suspended animation, he was physically aged to an adult, prompting him to start maturing to live up to his age.
Quick Facts
- Series
- ThunderCats
- First
- "Exodus" (ThunderCats); September 9, 1985
- Creator
- Tobin Wolf
- Species
- Thunderian
- Occupation
- Leader of the ThunderCats
- Gender
- Male
- Family
- Claudus (father); Leo (ancestor)
- Relatives
- Tygra (adoptive brother) in 2011 version
Lore & Background
In the 1985 series, Lion-O was a mere child of thirteen years old at the time of Thundera's destruction. He aged to adulthood during the trip to Third Earth when his suspension capsule failed to prevent him from aging too much. Although cunning and skillful, he is truly a child in a man's body, and throughout the series must learn what it takes to become a true leader and gain true maturity. In the second season of the show, Lion-O has to put all that he has learned to use in the 'Anointment Trials', which consist of contests of strength, speed, cunning, and intelligence (this last is referred to as 'mind-power' in the story arc) against each of the other ThunderCats. He is required to be unarmed for the contests, and the other ThunderCats are not permitted to assist him. The Mutants attempt, but ultimately without success, to take advantage of this last condition in an effort to leave the ThunderCats leaderless. In the episode 'The Trial of Evil', Lion-O battles Mumm-Ra in the heart of the villain's pyramid and discovers that Mumm-Ra is dependent upon his sarcophagus. However, Lion-O is crowned the true Lord of the ThunderCats earlier, in the episode 'The Doom-Gaze' (season 1, episode 5), not after a final battle with Mumm-Ra. It is hinted that he has romantic feelings for Cheetara, Willa, and Mandora.
Reader's Guide
In ThunderCats Roar, Lion-O takes a more comedic tone and is slow witted and easily frightened. Lion-O is renamed León-O in the Spanish version, Leo in the German version, Starlion in the French version, and Lion in the Brazilian version. Lion-O has appeared in different episodes of Robot Chicken, voiced by Seth MacFarlane. Lion-O has received a mostly positive reception from critics. Comic Book Resources ranked the character 8th Best thing about ThunderCats. io9 ranked Lion-O fifth best thing about ThunderCats.
More in Characters & Allies
Elsewhere in Thundercats
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