From beyond any known galaxy, bringing with them the laws and ideals of their doomed planet, ThunDERa, come the THUNDERCATS. JAGA, the wise...TYGRA, the invisible ... CHEETARA, the quick ... WILYKAT & WILYKIT, the junior cunning duo ... PANTHRO, the deadly ... and SNARF. THE THUNDERCATS - all sworn to serve their young Lord, LION-0, and to instruct him in the secrets of the "Eye of ThunDERa," the "eye" embedded in the hilt of the Sword of Omens, is the source of the THUNDERCATS' power.

Pursuing the THUNDERCATS to Third Earth and determined to possess the "Eye" for their own evil purposes are the hideous MUTANTS from the planet Plun-Darr, led by the reptilian S-S-SLITHE. They form an unholy alliance with the ageless devil-priest MUMM-RA.

"EXODUS"

Social order is maintained by a respect for the laws and ideals of one's community. The duty of Lion-O and the ThunderCats, as laid out by Jaga, is to carry the Code of Thundera: to live a life based on truth, justice, honor, and loyalty. Truth is being consistent with fact and reality. Justice is the quality of being fair. Honor is integrity and having a sense of ethical conduct. And Loyalty is being faithful to one's ideals and peers. In addition, being responsible to the Code means to combat evil in whatever form it appears.

The development of moral standards and a mature conscience occurs progressively from childhood to adolescence and adulthood. The progression is through three levels. In the first level, one is responsive to labels of right and wrong but in terms of reward and punishments as consequences of action or in terms of the physical power of authority figures.

In the second level, the expectancies of others in the community are considered valuable and actions relate to their expectations in terms of conforming to and maintaining the social order. Finally, moral values are defined autonomously as valid apart from the authority of groups or a person's identification with groups (Kohlberg, 1970).

KOHLBERG, L. (1970). Moral development and the education of adolescents. In R.F. Prunell (Ed.), Adolescents and the American High School. New York: Holt, Reinhart & Winston, Inc.

The MUTANTS form an unholy alliance with MUMM-RA and set forth to destroy the THUNDERCATS. LION-0 uses his mighty Sword of Omens for the first time as he lets loose with his thrilling call: "THUNDER-THUNDER-THUNDER THUNDERCATS ... HO!" A beam of light streaks from the hilt of the sword and projects the image of the roaring cat in the sky for the others to see. The sword grows in length and strength as LION-0 wins in his first encounter with MUMM-RA who has transformed himself into a fearsome warrior from another age. "Where evil exists, MUMM-RA lives.

"THE UNHOLY ALLIANCE"

Lion-O is taught to respect all life and that all living things have as much of a right to life as he does. Those who practice evil do not respect the rights of other creatures nor do they feel mutual obligations among each other. Often their evil has penetrated so deeply that they do not respect even themselves. Lion-O learns in this episode that evil's worst enemy is its own unspeakable face.

Growth in morality involves an understanding of reciprocity and equalitarianism. Rather than being self-centered and guided only by an orientation to punishment and obedience, children must be taught to consider the expectancies of others as well. This development is aided by recursive thinking, learning to view the relation of oneself and another from the point of view of the other (Flavell, 1968).

FLAVELL, J. (1968). The Development of Role-Taking and Communication Skills in Children. New York: J. Wiley.

The THUNDERCATS meet the BERBILS, a group of robot teddy bear-like creatures from the planet RO-BEAR. Their leader, RO-BER-BILL captures LION-0 and SNARF but the THUNDERCATS soon learn that the BERBILS are 11 good guys" and they help them defeat their natural enemies, the GIANTORS and the TROLLOGS. Making matters worse, MUMM-RA transforms himself into a swarm of locusts and he descends upon the BERBILS' crops. LION-0 and the mighty sword defeat him. In triumph, the BERBILS agree to help the THUNDERCATS build the Cats' Lair.

"BERBILS"

Lion-O learns the value of friendship and the importance of cooperation. When groups have interests in common, joining together and sharing their talents and resources can best serve their welfare.

The ThunderTank is given a trial run as the THUNDERCATS attempt to liberate the BRUTEMEN from slavery. The MUTANTS are using them to build the evil Castle Plun-Darr S-S-SLITHE uses "Warp Gas" to turn the otherwise meek BRUTEMEN into raving monsters. Using the Sword of Omens, LION-0 sees PANTHRO in trouble. The sword forms an energy field which pushes the Warp Gas back at the MUTANTS, who themselves become meek. The BRUTEMEN are freed and the THUNDERCATS have once again triumphed over evil and tyranny.

"THE SLAVES OF CASTLE PLUN-DARR*'

Freedom is a basic personal right that must be respected. Lion-0 learns the enslavement of others for one’s own purposes is to be resisted. And he knows that the rightness of actions carries its own reward apart from any reward or gratitude that might be received from others.

The highest level of moral conscience is that in which the moral value resides in conformity by the self to shared standards, rights and duties. It is a level beyond that in which moral value resides in performing good or right roles, in maintaining conventional order, and in the expectancies of others. At the highest level, morality is based on universal principles (Kohlberg, 1963).

While looking for Thundrillium (the ThunderTank's source of power), TYGRA gets caught in the Cave of Time, aging him rapidly and making him too feeble to leave. LION-0 rushes to assist, but WILLA - a Forest Warrior - warns him that he is not quick enough to escape the cave's magic. CHEETARA's super speed enables her to rescue TYGRA without any ill-effect. WILLA directs them to the Geyser of Life where (after battling the winged snakes who guard the fountain) TYGRA is restored to his true age.

"TROUBLE WITH TIME"

Patience is a worthwhile virtue. Acting on impulses is shortsighted and often foolhardy. Sometimes it is important to temper impulses and delay before acting. Thinking through a situation can save time, can avoid creating additional problems, and can lead to more desirable results. The ability in pre-school children to delay gratification of impulses by waiting is an important index of cognitive and social competence, coping skills, and school performance at an adolescent age (Mischel, in press). An important element which influences the ability to delay when faced with a situation calling for either an immediate gratification or a delayed but more desirable outcome is the way in which the rewards of an action are thought about. If the mental representation of the immediate reward is arousal-generating (e.g., focusing on the taste of pretzels), the delay is lengthened (Mischel, 1981).

MISCHEL, W. (In Press). Delay of gratification as process and a person variable in development. In D. Magnusson and V.P. Allen (Eds.), Interactions in Human Development. New York: Academic Press.

MISCHEL, W. (1981). Metacognition and the rules of delay. In J. Flavell and L.D. Ross (Eds.), Cognitive Social Development: Frontiers and Possible Futures (pp. 240-271). New York: Cambridge U. Press.

MUMM-RA transforms himself into a PUMA (PUMM-RA) and stages a fake heroic deed (saving CHEETARA from the MUTANTS) in order to convince the THUNDERCATS that he is one of them, from their home planet of ThunDERa He is accepted and almost succeeds in his evil plan to capture the Cats' Lair, but his energy force deserts him and he turns back to MUMM-RA before the eyes of the THUNDERCATS.

"PUMM-RA"

In this episode the ThunderCats realize that trust must be earned, since first appearances may be deceiving. Learn to judge people by central characteristics and not superficially.

Another lesson involves responses to problems. When faced with a problem with an uncertain resolution, it is best not to act impulsively on instincts or to use physical strength alone. Reason and ingenuity are often called for, and they can generate the best means of reaching a goal.

When faced with interpersonal problems, the ability to defer acting and to engage in the processes of thinking about the situation is important in children. Some significant thinking skills are the capacity to generate alternative solutions to the problem, the capacity to consider the consequences of social acts, and the ability to articulate step-by-step means to reach a particular solution. These skills have been shown to be mediators of social adjustment in children. Training in exercising these cognitive skills will enhance children's social adjustment (Spivack, Platt, & Shure, 1976).

The Code of ThunDERa is called into action as LION-0 saves a Unicorn from the evil "BERSERKERS" and their leader, "HAMMERHAND." LION-0 is assisted in his struggles by a magic ring, given to him by the Unicorn. PANTHRO's amphibious ThunderTank ferries them to safety and the terror of HAMMERHAND is crushed.

"THE TERROR OF HAMMERHAND"

Altruism is devotion to the interests of others and is exemplified by Snarf and Lion-O's efforts to help the defenseless Unicorn against the violent Hammerhand. Their efforts are unexpectedly rewarded by the reciprocal aid given them by the Unicorn. Sometimes when we stop to help others, we end up helping ourselves.

WILYKIT and WILYKAT go to the aid of a friendly WOLLO who is being robbed by two gargoyle-like creatures. A chase leads WILYKAT to become imprisoned in BARON KARNOR's Tower of Traps. LION-0 comes to the rescue after overcoming a series of evil traps (Octopoids, acid pits, menacing Scabbard Pendulums); he confronts and defeats the living GARGOYLES and saves WILYKAT, with the help of the THUNDERCATS.

"THE TOWER OF TRAPS"

A trick played on someone, like Lion-O played on Snarf, is not necessarily funny, when viewed from the other's perspective. Before playing a trick, it is important to put oneself in the other person's shoes. Similarly, it is important to be aware of the motives for others' actions. Parents or elders worry about us not necessarily because they don't trust us, but because they care about us. It is important to express feelings we may have for others so they accurately know what we're feeling. In this episode, Wilykit and Snarf express feelings they have for Wilykat and Lion-O.

Greed or being avaricious towards material resources is ultimately wasteful and destructive. Things are meant to be used judiciously for productive purposes, not sealed away and preserved, like the treasures Baron Karnor hoarded. In like manner, feelings and positive emotions for people we care for are meant to be expressed and shared with them, not hidden inside us. And we should try to be aware of the feelings others have and be considerate of them.

Social sensitivity is the ability to perceive accurately and comprehend the behavior, feelings, and motives of other individuals. In general, social sensitivity increases as children grow older, and preadolescence is a period when extensive growth in this ability takes place. Social sensitivity also increases as intelligence increases. And socially sensitive children are viewed as more socially adjusted by peers and teachers, especially in their leadership and friendliness. (Rothenberg, 1970).

While investigating a series of earthquake tremors, TYGRA falls beneath a split in the earth and confronts a giant worm head in the subterranean world of the MOLE PEOPLE. Following the beast, TYGRA enters the "Garden of Delights" where SILKY (half woman, half flower) feeds him a strange fruit. Blinded to the fact that both SILKY and the WORM are MUMM-RA in disguise, the dazed TYGRA abducts the Sword of Omens and aids the devil priest in imprisoning the THUNDERCATS. WILLA and the WARRIOR MAIDENS narrowly escape MUMM-RA's hypnotic powers and again ally themselves with the THUNDERCATS to foil the evil plot and return the Eye of ThunDERa to LION-0.

"THE GARDEN OF DELIGHTS"

In this episode, Tygra yields to the temptation of enjoying immediate gratification, represented by the mind altering fruit given him by Mumm-Ra in disguise. The offering proves addictive and its effects lead Tygra to a distortion of his responsibility as a ThunderCat and to a different moral struggle between his allegiance to the Eye of Thundera and a misplaced allegiance to Mumm-Ra's powers of suggestion.

MANDORA of the interplanetary Control Force, enlists LION-0 and SNARF to pursue three criminals they unwittingly released from her cell sled. Rocketing through the sky on her Electra Charger space bike, they find PLUTAR in alliance with the LIVING OOZE. MANDORA zaps the prisoner and the OOZE with her enzyme gun. MANDORA’s Boomslang device catches the machine/man BURNOUT. The MUDHOGS imprison our group when they catch up with the last pickpocket QUICKPIC. LION-0 regains the Eye of ThunDERa in time to summon the cavern in the ThunderTank and scare off the MUDHOGS with blinding rays of light.

"MANDORA THE EVIL CHASER"

While looking for valuables in an abandoned tomb, two BOLKINS (short sheep-faced beings) accidentally release a ghostly renegade named GRUNE. Stealing into the Cats' Lair, GRUNE drains the fortress of their power source Thundrillium and goes on to destroy a WOLLO village and forge a mighty weapon from a fire-rock of Thundrainium, a unique substance that weakens the THUNDERCATS. JAGA appears to wage a final battle with GRUNE, having fought with him long before on the planet ThunDERa. Weakened by the Thundrainium, JAGA is losing. LION-0 risks his life and projects all his strength into JAGA's failing form, tossing him the Sword of Omens. With this boost of ThunderCat power, JAGA defeats the ghostly warrior, blasting GRUNE into nothingness. JAGA returns the Sword to LION-0 just in time for the Lord of the ThunderCats to survive.

"THE GHOST WARRIOR"

The decision by the Bolkins to commit wrongdoing for economic gain results in unforeseen negative consequences by releasing Grune, the former ThunderCat. Grune has betrayed the Code of Thundera for the sake of greed and self-advancement. When Grune threatens to destroy the ThunderCats and wreak revenge on Jaga, Lion-O and Cheetara make life-threatening sacrifices to help Jaga and defend their society. Jaga ultimately permits Grune to determine his own destruction by honestly revealing his evil intentions rather than letting him pose as a false friend.

This episode illustrates that the skills and talents each of us possess must be appraised honestly, based on our performance. And our skills must be used appropriately for the welfare of all and not for our own selfish motives. The heroic sacrifices and appropriate use of talents and skills of Cheetara, Lion-O, and Jaga counter Grune’s ruthlessness and misuse of his talents and gifts. The cohesiveness and welfare of society depends on every individual's contributions to the common good.

MUMM-RA allies with the Egyptian princess TA-SHE to gain the Doomgaze, an entrancing power, which could enslave the THUNDERCATS. To free her from the Timewarp Prison, they need three elements: a tuft of CHEETARA's hair, a Unicorn's golden shoe, and a BERBIL's tear. The MUTANTS, aided by a MAN-O-WAR CLOUD, gather the elements and kidnap RO-BER-BELLE. The Thundercats pursue through the Desert of Phosphorous Sands, the Crumbling Cliffs of Vertigo, and the Field of Daggers. As TA-SHE's freeing ritual begins on Mount Anguish, the THUNDERCATS attack. TA-SHE needs LION-0 as the hero who will take her place in the Timewarp and uses the Doomgaze to enrapture him. CHEETARA (a woman herself) is not mesmerized by the princess' beauty and brings LION-0 out of the trance. Defeated, TA-SHE fades back into her prison and MUMM-RA angrily disappears into the darkening skies.

"THE DOOMGAZE"

Lion-O becomes infatuated by Ta-She's beauty and falls under her hypnotic spell. Even in the face of imminent danger to himself, Ro-Ber-Belle, and the other ThunderCats, he is unable to see through her appearance and grasp the essential evil beneath her charm. Only when rescued by Cheetara does he regain his judgment, discern the superficiality of her looks, and reflect on the dissimilarities between them.

Attraction between friends in early stages of childhood may be based on superficial characteristics like geographical location or favorite activities. As children grow older, other factors become significant like interests, cooperative behavior, and sharing possessions. Approaching adolescence, central characteristics like intimacy and loyalty become important and personal similarities in behaviors and attitudes are hallmarks of lasting friendships (Kandel, 1978).

The THUNDERCATS track a falling meteor of Thundrillium, their power source, to Hook Mountain - the icy landscape ruled by SNOWMAN and his giant cat SNOWMEOW. LION-0 and SNARF offer friendship in exchange for the meteor, but SNOWMAN wages a battle for the "prize." LION-0 uses his power as Lord of "Cats" to command SNOWMEOW to obey him instead of his master. The MUTANTS enlist VULTUREMAN and his Flying Machine to steal the meteor, but SNARF and SNOWMEOW join forces to destroy the sky craft, sending the evil forces running. LION-0 saves SNOWMAN from the Bottomless Chasm and friendship is pledged and accepted.

"LORD OF THE SNOWS"

Lion-O is motivated to set out on an independent mission to find Thundrillium, essential for the ThunderCats' existence. Despite the threat of danger, he sees the journey and its successful conclusion as a necessary personal mission to prove his competence and certify his passage into adulthood. When confronted by Snowman, he offers a pact of honor, but Snowman's reply is a test of combat to see if Lion-O can gain his respect and be worthy of such an alliance. Jaga once more teaches Lion-O that it is intelligence in conjunction with strength that succeeds. Faithful to his belief in the Code of Thundera, Lion-O rescues the defeated Snowman from death in order to gain his respect and initiate the alliance.

Achievement motivation is the desire to master problems, improve skills and abilities, and to do well in a particular area. It involves a spontaneous evaluation of one's performance against standards of excellence and an experience of satisfaction when the performance is successful. One element in children's level of achievement motivation is their attributions concerning success and failure in a task. Four attributions or reasons for behavior and outcome can be identified: ability, effort, task difficulty, and luck. These causative factors influence children's reactions to their behavior and their expectations about future performances. They can be considered in two dimensions: internal/external and stable/unstable. Task difficulty and luck are causes external to the individual and if outcome is attributed to those causes, effort to achieve is less likely to be made than if the outcome is attributed to ability and effort, which are causes controlled by the individual. Ability and task difficulty are stable causes, whereas effort and luck are unstable and changeable. Attributions about success and failure made to a stable cause are more likely to effect expectancies about future performance than those made to unstable causes. For example, a child who attributes outcome to his ability will expect success or failure in a similar task if his ability is considered adequate or not. And the child in this instance is likely to work hard, persist in the task, and try to succeed. A child who attributes outcome to task difficulty will expect success or failure if the task is considered easy or hard. On the other hand, a child who attributes outcome to unstable factors like the amount of effort made or luck will have uncertain expectancies about his performance (Weiner, 1974).

MUMM-RA raises the MUTANTS' buried spaceship from beneath the Desert of Sinking Sands. The MUTANTS regain their superweapons (SkyCutters and NoseDiver flying machines) and attack the THUNDERCATS. LION-0 and PANTHRO pursue the NoseDiver underwater with the ThunderTank. They encounter a GIANT EEL and, with the help of parent SEA-QUINES, they rescue a baby SEA-QUINE pinned beneath the tank. The MUTANTS are defeated, but retain their super vehicles and return to MUMM-RA's tomb to plan a next assault.

"THE SPACESHIP BENEATH THE SANDS"

JAGA informs the homesick LION-0 that the Time Capsule containing the history of ThunDERa is still intact somewhere on Third Earth. The quest to find the capsule leads LION-0 and SNARF into a battle with a BLACK WIDOW SHARK before they escape over the Bridge of Light built by the Unicorns. TYGRA confronts the MOLEMASTER in the cave of the MOLEMEN, CHEETARA fights off a giant serpent, PANTHRO narrowly escapes a huge CRABMAN, and the ROCKMEN have to be overcome by LION-0 and SNARF. The Time Capsule is found in the possession of an over-muscled CAVEMAN. LION-0 arm-wrestles him for the 'prize' and winning, the THUNDERCATS take their capsule home.

"THE TIME CAPSULE"

A person's sense of identity includes identification with social, ethnic, racial, and religious groups into which one is socialized. This identification begins early, but is consolidated in adolescence. Lion-O's search for the Time Capsule is motivated by his desire to learn about his heritage. His motivation is strong since he missed his significant adolescent years when identity formation occurs. In that period, reasoning powers move beyond the particular and concrete to the general and hypothetical and are able to encompass more comprehensively such concepts as race and class.

The MUTANTS bombard the WARRIOR MAIDENS' Treetop Kingdom with liquid fireballs mechanically launched from their new Firethrower. TYGRA becomes invisible and sneaks into Castle Plun-Darr through the moat to investigate. He loses his bolo, becomes visible and is strapped to the Four Winds catapult device by the MUTANTS. LION-0, SNARF, and WILLA, aided by WILLA's pet spider, BUSHY, scale the walls of Plun-Darr and rescue TYGRA just in time. The MUTANTS accidentally explode their own serpent's head fuel room in their attempt to catch the fleeing THUNDERCATS

"THE FIREBALLS OF PLUN-DARR"

The extremes of enmity and friendship are contrasted in this episode. The Mutants' indifference and disdain for the Warrior Maidens lead them to use the Treetop Kingdom as targets to perfect their weaponry. Willa reflects bitterly on how innocents are often victimized when wars break out. In contrast to the Mutants' disinterest are the sentiments of Tygra and Lion-0. Tygra is indignant over the firebombing and resolves to help the Warrior Maidens. Lion-O expresses marked concern and vigilance for his friend Tygra, as he is unable to take his safety for granted. In the end, by acting on their concern for others, they are able to destroy the Mutants' fireball launcher and affirm their friendship with Willa.

MUMM-RA transforms himself into a troll GRYGORY GRYGION and tricks LION-0 into attacking TYGRA and breaking the Sword of Omens. JAGA tells them that combat between two THUNDERCATS brings on the Curse of Balthaz, rendering the broken Sword powerless. RO-BER-BILL guides them to a mercenary, the INFLAMER, who forges the Sword with the Star Fire in the heart of the Volcano. The INFLAMER turns against the THUNDERCATS, however, and the ThunderTank has to blast into the Volcano to save LION-0 and the renewed Sword. In anger, the INFLAMER blows up the Volcano. LION-0 uses the Sword's force field to shield the Tank from the fire rocks as it rides to safety.

"ALL THAT GLITTERS"

Lion-O, tricked by Mumm-Ra, acts instinctively and impulsively in attacking Tygra, who he thinks is a robber. Realizing the tragic consequences, he admits to Jaga he should have taken time for reflection before lie acted. In contrast to his impulsive action are his calculated persistence and his unwillingness to give up in the task of locating the dwarf star. These actions, inspired by planning and motivation, lead to a successful reforging and reclamation of the Sword of Owens

MUMM-RA calls upon the DRILLER to kidnap PANTHRO with the aid of sleeping potion. MUMM-RA makes a mold of the sleeping PANTHRO and creates a PANTHRO CLONE, bringing it to life with the spirit ghost of HAMMERHAND. MUMM-RA drops the real PANTHRO into the Bottomless Chasm. The CLONE spreads destruction and terror on Third Earth and attacks the villages of the WOLLOS, WARRIOR MAIDENS, and BERBILS. The villagers believe the THUNDERCATS have turned against them. The real PANTHRO escapes from the Chasm in time to save their reputation and to confront the horrendous CLONE. LION-0 uses the Sword's power to aid PANTHRO in destroying the CLONE. The angry spirit of HAMMERHAND returns to MUMM-RA and smashes the PANTHRO mold.

"SPITTING IMAGE"

Trust between friends and moral judgment in general is based on a true reading of one's character, intention, and action, not on misrepresentation or false judgment based only on appearances. However, damaging appearances may seem one must be sure of the reality before making inferences about another's intentions and behavior. What evil deeds the Wollos and even the ThunderCats attributed to Panthro turn out not to have been performed by him, and it is shown he has not betrayed his character and been untrustworthy by intending evil. Concern for truth and the capacity for moral judgment often demands penetrating superficial appearances to reach the underlying character and intentions of individuals.

The ability to differentiate between events that are intended and those not intended or accidental and the ability to differentiate between types of intended actions, good or bad, develop over time in children. Younger children tend to rely on the consequences of one's actions rather than intentions in ascribing blame. "Children by approximately 6 years of age appear to be able to infer whether another person's actions are intended or accidental and to use such inferences in assigning blame or credit. This tends to be the case whether the consequences of the action are good, neutral, or negative, but not when they are extremely negative. At this same age, children use information about whether intentions are good or bad if positive consequences are negative" (Shantz, 1975, p. 295). In evaluating and teaching moral judgment in children, it is helpful to distinguish outcome and intention in the sense of intended vs. accidental actions and good, neutral, and negative consequences.

SHANTZ, C. U. (1975). The development of social cognition. In E. M. Hetherington (Ed.), Review of Child Development Research (Vol. 5). Chicago: U. of Chicago Press.

LION-0 awakes on his birthday to learn that he has .1 come of age" and must undergo the Anointment Trials a ritual every Lord of the THUNDERCATS has had to survive from the beginning of THUNDERCAT history. LION-0 proceeds weaponless towards his first trial: PANTHRO's Trial of Strength. He escapes the Acid Lake, the Great White Void, the Vortex, and the CRABMEN. LION-0 encounters PANTHRO. An earthquake interrupts their wrestling. LION-0 slips into a crevice and PANTHRO offers help. LION-0 refuses: "The Code mustn't be violated." PANTHRO attempts to stop a bolder from rolling into the WOLLO village...LION-0 helps him, throwing the bolder off course, and proving his great strength. He has passed the first trial and moves on to meet CHEETARA's test.

"LION-O'S ANOINTING FIRST DAY: THE TRIAL OF STRENGTH"

Lion-0 begins a series of trials as a rite of passage, which, if passed successfully, will sanction him as Lord of the ThunderCats. Since the rite is linked to the Code of ThunDERa, it is not surprising that even in the midst of the trial he and Panthro, who must play out antagonistic roles, are true to the Code and show concern for one another and the Wollos. Lion-0 is gratified by his success as he moves on to the next trial. Snarf, as representative of the ThunderCats' community, joins him in that recognition.

The rituals of our lives, whether secular rites such as school ceremonies or promotions, or religious ceremonies serve many different functions. Sociologically, they serve to bind us together under a common set of customs. Metaphysically, they serve to define reality by a particular meaning-system. And psychologically, they serve to help us define an individual identity and attain individuation within the group. Children must be given tasks appropriate to their age of development, whether cognitive, physical, social, or emotional. In succeeding according to their level of mastery, they achieve a sense of self and identification within their peer group and within society as a whole. It is helpful to portray tests, like Lion-O's trials of strength or the variety of tests and challenges children must pass in their lives, as opportunities for children to achieve and attain a sense of competence. When they succeed in a task, it is also important for them to feel the gratification and their role in the success rather than pass it off as the result of luck or external circumstance.

WILYKAT and WILYKIT explore the Ruined Temple. They move a hexagonal rock and unwittingly free MONGOR, the external image of Fear. They are scolded for releasing the monster and leave the Lair. The other THUNDERCATS set out individually to find them. MONGOR grows in power and size as he ravages the countryside. He encounters TYGRA and wraps him in a geometrical structure. He captures CHEETARA in a force field, and anchors PANTHRO's shoulder spikes into the ground. WILYKAT and WILYKIT return to the Ruined Temple and study the hieroglyphics on the rock. They learn that MONGOR needs fear to maintain his power and can be defeated if you do not look him in the eye. They tell this to LION-0. He destroys MONGOR's power by reflecting his force fields. CHEETARA, TYGRA, and PANTHRO are freed from their constraints. LION-0 no longer fears MONGOR and orders him back to his prison, which is sealed forever.

"MONGOR"

In this episode, Mongor appears as a creature who represents fear and the destructive negative elements of this emotion. Lion-0, on advice from Wilykat and Wilykit who have discovered this ancient wisdom, learns not to let fear feed on itself and become more dangerous and invincible. Using their advice, he is able to deflect Mongor's energy and conquer the emotion. No longer fearful, Lion-O becomes invulnerable to Mongor and is able to face him and defeat him. Wilykat and Wilykit encounter fear of a different kind, a positive respect for the anger of the adult ThunderCats. Even though Snarf has to chide the ThunderCats from scolding too harshly, Wilykat and Wilykit recognize their elders' anger is justified because of their own misdirected adventure. In the end, recognition of culpability and credit by both the younger and older ThunderCats bring about a reconciliation and expression of relief over the defeat of Mongor.

The MUTANTS create WARBOT, a Plun-Darrian war robot, to destroy Cats' Lair. Unaware of this, LION-0 enters the Time Capsule's hologram and travels back in time and space to his home planet ThunDERa. He arrives the day before the destruction of the planet, and all is in turmoil. LION-0 is reunited with his childhood pet, KANO, who leads him to his blind father, CLAUD-US. LION-0 fights off S-S-SLITHE and VULTUREMAN who menace CLAUD-US for the stolen plans of the WARBOT. CLAUD-US gives LION-0 the plans. CLAUD-US remains on ThunDERa and LION-0 travels back to Third Earth through the hologram to find the THUNDERCATS battling the WARBOT. LION-0 utilizes CLAUD-US' secret plans to pierce the WARBOT's absorber disc, short-circuiting and destroying the monster robot.

"RETURN TO THUNDERA"

Lion-O, as Lord of the ThunderCats, shows curiosity to learn of his heritage. By traveling back in the time capsule, he seeks to learn about the culture of his ancestors. It was this culture that engendered the code by which he and the other ThunderCats live and which serves as their sustaining force. Lion-O's interest and journey is rewarded with some technical knowledge and a lesson. The plans of the Warbot help him defeat the Mutants' plans to destroy the ThunderCats. And the lesson is that history can be a significant teacher. An awareness of one's heritage and the events that shaped the present can aid us in understanding and living in the present and in avoiding mistakes in building a better future.

In seeking to find out about his heritage, Lion-O is confirming his identity as a ThunderCat. One's identity is socially bestowed, socially sustained, and socially transformed. It is the process of socialization by which individuals become prepared for the roles they will play in society. Children become socialized by various agencies within society, such as the family, peer groups, the media and the school system. The beginnings of the child's appreciation of roles is achieved in his interactions with adults and peers as he perceives different roles are required in different contexts and he learns to recognize the expectations of others in his own behavior.

SNARF searches the Cats' Lair and discovers all the THUNDERCATS have disappeared. The LADY UNICORN KEEPER informs SNARF and RO-BER-BILL that she saw the MUTANTS capture each of the THUNDERCATS and the Sword of Omens. The MUTANTS bring the THUNDERCATS to MUMM-RA's pyramid, and wrap them in mummy bandages, leaving them immobile. SNARF uses his special talent of communicating with the creatures of the Third Earth and calls upon a PACKBAT, a spider, and a woodpecker-like bird to aid him in rescuing his friends by penetrating the pyramid. SNARF frees LION-0 who uses the Sword to give the other THUNDERCATS the power to break free from their mummifying bandages. LION-0 uses the Sword to throw MUMM-RA's reflection back on him, and he shrinks back into his tomb in defeat.

"SNARF TAKES UP THE CHALLENGE"

Snarf, whose boasting is often a reaction to his own insecurity, is forced to discern and rely on his own abilities when the other ThunderCats are captured. Assuming responsibility, he uses his unique talent to communicate with and be friendly with the creatures of Third Earth to rescue the ThunderCats.

OFFICER MANDORA arrests the renegade robot CRACKER and takes his Space Freighter to the Grey Planet Prison. CRACKER traps her and releases all the prisoners. MANDORA sends her bike Electra Charger to bring LION-0 to her aid. The "reformed" pickpocket, QUICK-PIC, helps LION-0 rescue MANDORA by pushing the Orbit Brake and bringing the planet to a halt. LION-0 is kidnapped by the Captain and when the freighter is in deep space again, he is made to walk the plank. MANDORA and QUICKPIC retrieve the lost Sword of Omens and pursue the freighter. They arrive just in time to catch LION-0 as he falls through infinity. LION-0 signals the THUNDERCATS with the Sword's Eye to warn them of CRACKER's arrival on Third Earth. The THUNDERCATS trap CRACKER and his robot crew in a steel net. MANDORA and QUICK-PIC set off to return them to the Prison Planet.

"MANDORA AND THE PIRATES"

Lion-O does not hesitate to go to the aid of his friend Mandora. And Mandora, in turn, rescues Lion-O when he is in trouble. Both Lion-O and Mandora stand-up for Quick-Pic in seeking a pardon for him. He has earned their support by his reform and the good deeds he performed in assisting them in combat against Cracker and the prisoners.

Friends are worthy of support and assistance, and when we interact with them, we feel a camaraderie and closeness. Sometimes, however like Quick-Pic, when we do something wrong that we are ashamed of we are isolated from friends. We must never feel that we cannot change or make amends or that we must always be an outsider. When we do something with good intentions to make-up with our friends for what we've done wrong, we will be accepted back into their friendship.

TARTARA, the CRYSTAL QUEEN, steals the ARIETTABIRD and cages it in her Crystal Kingdom. The ARIETTABIRD's beautiful song brings a fruitful harvest to the BERBILS and now without it, their crops will die. LION-0 pursues TARTARA, but she freezes him in a transparent case of crystal. SNARF follows to the KINGDOM, frees the ARIETTABIRD, and requests that it sing its highest notes. LION-O's cage shatters with the bird's high-pitched song and he signals the other THUNDERCATS with the Sword's Eye. PANTHRO arrives in the ThunderTank to rescue LION-0 and SNARF. The ARIETTABIRD escapes and returns to the BERBIL village, assuring them of another fruit-filled season.

"THE CRYSTAL QUEEN"

Everyone is entitled to a place and function in society and the right to serve a useful purpose, even if it is not readily apparent in a superficial assessment. Lion-O and the other ThunderCats begin to cut down Snarf's responsibilities and deprive him of feeling useful, when he begins to show signs of aging by being absent-minded at times. Snarf responds with a discrimination to remain necessary, and he is able to show through his participation in a successful mission that he still can contribute. Aging persons still have much to contribute if we allow them.

THE TRIAL OF SPEED"

LION-0 undergoes CHEETARA's Trial of Speed, the second test in the Anointment Trials, which he must pass in order to remain Lord of the THUNDERCATS. LION-0 escapes a man-eating MANDRAGA FLOWER, the two-headed GAW RAK-RAK, and the dwarf-like PIRRITS. Meanwhile, CHEETARA dodges the MUTANTS' spaceships. With five miles remaining in the race, LION-0 almost gives up, believing that it is useless to try and beat CHEETARA's Super-Speed ability. LION-0 decides that he does not want to lose the race by quitting, and gives his greatest effort to the finish line. LION-0 wins the race and learns that CHEETARA's Super-Speed has a two-mile limit. LION-0 passes CHEETARA's Trial of Speed, earning his insignia as well as the other THUNDERCATS' admiration. LION-0 goes on to face the next trials of WILYKAT and WILYKIT.

"THE ANOINTING OF LION-0 - THE SECOND DAY:

THE TRIAL OF SPEED"

Lion-0 is faced with another trial as part of his Anointment Trials, and again the ThunderCats, while respecting the rules of the trials, find themselves acting together against outside forces. Each of them knows the purpose of the test and accepts his adversarial role in it. Sometimes elders will test or challenge children to teach a lesson or for a greater good, as in these trials. In this trial, Lion-0 learns once more, as he had in the past, to use his ingenuity in addition to his physical attributes. But mainly he learns task persistence. He learns not to assume he will fail before trying. He also learns not to give up in the course of a task, even though success looks doubtful. This quality of not giving up pays off for him and he succeeds in his second trial.

Children differ in how they perceive failure and the causes for it. Children who are helpless or perceive themselves unable to overcome failure attribute failure on a task to uncontrollable factors such as lack of effort. Having experienced failure, their performance decreases and they spend little time searching for ways to overcome failure. As a result, they give up easily in new tasks. Mastery oriented children attribute failure to controllable factors such as effort. Rather than ruminating on the causes of the failure, they direct themselves to attainment of a solution by testing hypotheses using self-instruction and self-monitoring. Helpless children might benefit by being trained to seek solutions by hypothesis testing like mastery-oriented children (Diener & Dweck, 1978).

SAFARI JOE, an intergalactic Big Game Hunter, arrives on Third Earth to hunt the THUNDERCATS. Using his Multi-Barreled Gattling rifle, he captures each of the THUNDERCATS and imprisons them in cages of Thundraniun, which drain them of their strength. JAGA appears and tells LION-0 of the THUNDERCATS' capture, warning him of SAFARI JOE's powers. LION-0 falls into the hunter's camouflaged pit, but uses the Claw Shield as a decoy and escapes. LION-0 and SAFARI JOE make a pact: LION-0 must fight him without the Sword of Omens and he will release the THUNDERCATS. LION-0 cleverly lures SAFARI JOE to the Cats' Lair basement where he and SNARF spook SAFARI JOE into a cowardly surrender. PANTHRO reprograms MULE, SAFARI JOE's robot, giving him a positive work directive.

"SAFARI JOE"

Safari Joe, who covers up his insecurity and cowardice with a false bravado, is exposed as dishonest and dishonorable when he changes from being the hunter to being the hunted. He cannot admit to himself and others the truth about himself. In this episode, it is shown that even the ThunderCats have strengths and weaknesses, just like we do. Being honest with ourselves about our abilities and accurately appraising them allows us to be open, honest and truthful in our representing ourselves to others. Friends respect one another more when each is truthful and realistic in one's self-appraisal. Having a weakness is not cause to cover up and be deceitful in relating to others. No one is perfect and we all have both strengths and weaknesses.

MUMM-RA summons the DRILLER to destroy the Cats' Lair by drilling a tunnel from the Acid Lake to the Lair's foundations. The Sword of Omens shows LION-0 the source of the danger and TYGRA, having analyzed the acid, concludes that the alkaline Sponge Fog can only neutralize it. Using the ThunderTank, the THUNDERCATS cut out a section of the Sponge Fog and take it back to the Lair to wedge it beneath the foundations, in the path of the acid. The journey is dangerous and the THUNDERCATS are forced to fight off ROCKMEN, a MECHANOSECT, and a GIANT BEETLE. When the Thundertank's transmission fails and LION-0 investigates, he is almost crushed by a GIANT WORM. Summoned by the Sword, the THUNDERCATS save him. MUMM-RA, who has witnessed their entire journey, severs the Bridge of Light and causes the ThunderTank to plunge into the River of Despair, where it turns upside down and loses the precious section of the Sponge Fog. LION-0 retrieves the Tank and the Sponge and the THUNDERCATS pack the Sponge into the Lair's foundations, saving their home and defeating MUMM-RA.

"RETURN OF THE DRILLER"

TURMAGAR, the TUSKA, a walrus-like humanoid, crash-lands his Gomplin at the Cats' Lair and asks for help. A GIANT TECHNOPEDE threatens his country’s water supplies. Leaving PANTHRO and the THUNDERKITTENS behind to repair the GOMPLIN, LION-0 and the other THUNDERCATS take TURMAGAR back to Tuskania in the ThunderTank. During the journey, LION-0 has to rescue TYGRA from a hypnotic VAMPIRE MERMAID. When they arrive, the THUNDERCATS confront the GIANT TECHNOPEDE. The balance of the battle is swung in LION-O's favor only when PANTHRO and the THUNDERKITTENS arrive on the repaired Gomplin. The mission is accomplished; the water supplies saved.

"TURMAGAR, THE TUSKA"

A damaged alien spacecraft makes contact with CHEETARA's Sixth Sense. The effort involved in this telepathic communication drains her strength. She ages rapidly. The THUNDERCATS have to find the crashed spacecraft if they are to save CHEETARA - but the MUTANTS get there first. They are able to understand its strange technology and MONKIAN attacks it, ripping its Control Center (the element with which CHEETARA communicates) from the framework and taking it back to Castle Plun-Darr LION-0, WILYKAT, and WILYKIT break into the Castle to rescue it, while PANTHRO and TYGRA repair the framework of the alien craft. At the climax of the fight between LION-0 and the MUTANTS, the spacecraft itself flies in and drives the MUTANTS out. It is operating under direct control of the now desperately weak CHEETARA. TYGRA and PANTHRO fit the rescued Control Center into the spacecraft and it leaves Third Earth.

"SIXTH SENSE"

Cheetara's intuition, or Sixth Sense, is focused onto the friendly Delta Spacecraft, which uses her as a means of communicating and seeking help. Though she becomes emotionally drained and even her life is placed in danger, she understands what the Spacecraft is experiencing and vicariously feels and experiences what it is subjected to. She is able to sense what is needed to rescue the craft, even associating with it to the point of functioning as its life-force until its Control Unit is replaced.

In persons, empathy is that quality represented by Cheetara's experience in this episode. Empathy includes three components: the ability to discriminate and label affective states in others, the ability to assume the role and perspective of others, and the ability to emotionally feel the affective state of the observed person. It is an important quality because it may be an antecedent for the acquisition and development of pro-social behaviors like generosity, altruism, helping, and cooperation. Since it has been shown to have an inverse relationship with aggression, it is viewed as a means of regulating aggressive behavior, because being able to identify with the painful consequences of an aggressive act can inhibit acting aggressively. In general, empathy is easier for children when the observed person is similar to the observer, e.g., boys are more empathic observing boys and girls observing girls (Feshbach, 1978). Efforts to enhance empathic skills by helping children gain the perspective of others, role-play, be sensitive to affective skills, and be emotionally responsive can be important to children in their personal and moral development.

FESHBACH, N. D. (1978). Studies of empathic behavior in children. In B. A. Maher (Ed.). Progress in Experimental Personality Research (Vol. 8). New York: Academic Press.

While out swimming, WILYKIT is apparently devoured by a huge, green, amphibious monster. The monster is a robot, HERKY, belonging to DOCTOR DOMETONE, latest in a long line of guardians of the Great Oceanic Plug. The Plug prevents the seas from pouring into Third Earth's molten core, extinguishing the fires, heralding an Ice Age and destroying all life. Far from threatening WILYKIT, DOCTOR DOMETONE has traveled to the Cats' Lair to ask the THUNDERCATS for help: SCRAPE, a salvage expert from Blue Plunder, is trying to pull the plug in order to drain the ocean and retrieve rocks from the ocean floor. The rocks are needed to fuel his planet. It seems that DOCTOR DOMETONE's mission may be too late, for SCRAPE's giant ELECTRIC EEL has already broken into the PLUG's protective dome, and scared DOCTOR DOMETONE's staff off, before he, LION-0 and the THUNDERKITTENS arrive in HERKY. HERKY overcomes the ELECTRIC EEL, but SCRAPE escapes with WILYKAT, locking himself into the PLUG's dome and proceeding with his plan to drain the ocean. LION-0 summons the THUNDERCATS and PANTHRO seals off the dome with a compressed air bubble. SCRAPE is sucked out of the dome and escorted to the Grey Prison Planet by OFFICER MANDORA. WILYKAT is rescued and a communications line is set up between the Plug and the Lair to ensure the safety of Third Earth.

'”DR. DOMETONE"

Dr. Dometone teaches the ThunderCats that we live in balance with the forces of nature. Sometimes the balance of nature is precarious and fragile, and it requires our intervention to maintain its equilibrium. The interventions, however, must be taken with great care, for any interference into the ecological system has the potential to set off a chain of consequences.

JAGA is captured by NEMEX, the Astral Imprisoner. Only LION-0 can save him. He enlists the NETHERWITCH to transport him to the Astral World. Unknown to him, the NETHERWITCH is another manifestation of MUMM-RA. Having trapped LION-0 in the Astral World, MUMM-RA encourages the MUTANTS to attack the Cats' Lair, using VULTUREMAN's Thundranium Cannon. LION-0 succeeds in rescuing JAGA from NEMEX. At the same time, he frees BRODO, an ancient wizard and long-time enemy of MUMM-RA. BRODO is able to return LION-0 to Third Earth in time to destroy the Thundranium Cannon, rally the THUNDERCATS and defeat the MUTANTS.

"THE ASTRAL PRISON"

Lion-0 displays great bravery and inner strength in confronting the unknown. He is willing to take the risks demanded for the sake of rescuing Jaga, who in captivity in the Astral World is resisting the efforts of Nemex to deprive him of his knowledge and autonomy. Lion-0 enters into the world of the spirit where things are less tangible to him than matter. For us, it sometimes takes great courage to enter into our own inner world of feelings and emotions when we encounter our wishes and fears. Often these are unknown and unclear to us. Only when we acknowledge this feeling side of ourselves can we integrate the wishes and fears into our lives. If we do not face them, we run the risk of being in conflict with ourselves and, like Jaga in captivity, of losing our self-determination by being dominated by our inner impulses. Acknowledging our emotions allows us to integrate them into our lives and be in control of our feelings and actions.

Disguising himself as an exquisite and helpless DIAMONDFLY, MUMM-RA entices LION-0 into the monstrous domain of SPIDERA, Queen of Eight Legs. SPIDERA entraps LION-0 and SNARF in her web. In the process, LION-0 loses the Sword. The other THUNDERCATS try to free them and are immobilized one by one though not before TYGRA seizes the fallen Sword and throws it to SMARF. With great effort, SNARF frees his powerful tail from his cocoon prison, catches the Sword and flicks it to LION-0. LION-0 bursts his bonds and inspires the THUNDERCATS to free themselves. They concentrate all their powers on SPIDERA and destroy her.

"QUEEN OF 8 LEGS"

The ThunderCats enter into a Kingdom of Webs, where the evil of deception and the entanglements, which follow, are represented. Mumm-Ra uses deception to try and entrap Lion-0 in the domain of frenzy, hate and rage. But an honest awareness of what is happening allows Snarf, Lion-O and the other ThunderCats to break the bonds of deception.

Sometimes we succumb to the lure of deceit as an easy way out of difficult situations. We may deny we have uncomfortable feelings of envy or anger towards someone and try to disguise our feelings. Or we may deny we have done something wrong and misrepresent what happened to friends, parents, or authorities. When something like this happens and we chose to be deceitful and dishonest we find, like the Kingdom of Webs, our entanglements growing larger and larger, since deception has a way of expanding. To maintain our story, we must lie more and more to others and ourselves and gradually we feel trapped and guilty. The only real solution to situations like this is to be honest and own up to feelings or our actions both to others and ourselves. Then we can deal with the reality of the situation and resolve it rather than covering up. And in doing so, we are relieved of the burden of lying and the entanglements and guilt it creates. Digging within ourselves for honesty and perseverance, like Snarf did, can lead us back to a state of openness and harmony with others.

WIZZ-RA appears before CHEETARA. Disturbed by him, she considers asking the other THUNDERCATS for advice, but fears they will ridicule her. Eons previously, WIZZ-RA and MUMM-RA had fought a titanic battle high above the Egyptian desert. WIZZ-RA lost due to the accidental intervention of the SPHINX and was banished to the Seventh Dimension, permitted to reappear once every 7,000 years for just a single day. With him, he took the Enchanted Golden Helmet of mind control. MUMM-RA brings a CHEETAH statue to life and uses it to entrance CHEETRA and seize the Golden Helmet when WIZZ-RA finally breaks through from the Seventh Dimension. With it, he gains control over the THUNDERCATS. He ignores CHEETARA, however, believing her to be powerless in her trance. This over-confidence leads him to relax the spell on her and she and SNARF are able to retrieve the Golden Helmet, free the other THUNDERCATS and return WIZZ-RA safely to the Seventh Dimension.

"DIMENSION DOOM"

When Cheetara dreams and then sees Wizz-Ra for the first time, she is puzzled and confused. Instead of sharing her knowledge and confusion with the other ThunderCats and seeking guidance, she withholds for fear of being laughed at and dismissed.

When we do not share our uncertainties and fears with those we feel close to, we run the risk of feeling alienated. And when we withhold telling them something that has happened or that we encountered that we may not understand or be troubled by, we run the risk of some misfortune occurring. True friends and people who care about us will not dismiss us, but will listen to us and help and support

LION-0 undergoes the third of his Anointment Trials, which each LORD OF THE THUNDERCATS must pass to prove he is worthy of his inherited title. The Trial of Cunning pits LION-0 against the THUNDERKITTENS: a race through the Maze of Infinity. The THUNDERKITTENS have the advantage of having reconnoitered the maze and plan a number of diversions to confuse and delay LION-0. The MUTANTS take advantage of the fact that LION-0 must pass the trials unarmed and cannot accept help from anyone, so the trial includes a number of skirmishes with them.

In the maze, LION-0 is captured by half-blind CAVE DWELLERS who believe he is an OVERLORD - an over-earth-man whose ancestors feared the CAVE DWELLERS' books and forced the gentle creatures to live below ground. To punish LION-0, they try to force him to read until his eyesight fails. LION-0 escapes the CAVE DWELLERS and prevents the MUTANTS from destroying their books.

Meanwhile, the THUNDERKITTENS are trapped above a fiery chasm and call for help. Even though he is sure this is just another THUNDERKITTEN trick, LION-0 investigates. The CAVE DWELLERS help him rescue the THUNDERKITTENS, who were indeed in real danger. LION-0 finally wins the race through the maze, tricking the THUNDERKITTENS by roping them to a rock.

"LION-O’S ANOINTMENT THIRD DAY: THE TRIAL OF CUNNING"

A volcanic eruption releases the ROCK GIANT, a huge lava monster. MUMM-RA suborns this GIANT to destroy the THUNDERCATS. The storm, which accompanies the eruption, strands the THUNDERKITTENS in a forest. LION-0 and PANTHRO set out in the ThunderTank to rescue them but, before LION-0 and PANTHRO can reach them, JACKALMAN attacks the THUNDERKITTENS in a SkyCutter. The THUNDERKITTENS conjure up a Flying Saucer from their magic pellets, cause JACKALMAN to crash and seize the SkyCutter. When LION-0 and PANTHRO see the SkyCutter, they assume it is hostile - and almost shoot the THUNDERKITTENS out of the sky. No sooner are the THUNDERCATS safely in the ThunderTank and en route for the Cats' Lair, than the ROCK GIANT attacks pursuing the ThunderTank all the way to the Lair's doorstep. LION-0, PANTHRO and the THUNDERKITTENS manage to escape from the Tank before it is wrecked. The ROCK GIANT proves impervious to the THUNDERCATS' weaponry and LION-0 eventually faces it alone. JAGA appears and urges LION-0 to recall how the ancients used the power of extreme heat and cold to split and shape even the hardest rocks. LION-0 uses the Sword of Omens to bring the ROCK GIANT to white heat, and then lures him into the icy waters of the Lair's moat. The sudden change in temperature shatters the ROCK GIANT.

"THE ROCK GIANT"

This episode teaches us respect for the forces of nature and how learning about nature and the basic laws of physics can be useful. The ThunderCats are forced to deal with electrical storms with thunder and lightning, volcanic eruptions, magnetic fields, and earthquakes, which are unleashed by the Rock Giant. In the beginning of the episode, Wilykit and Wilykat learn from Lion-O the practical benefit of not standing under trees in a thunderstorm. Later, Lion-O uses the basic laws of expansion and contraction brought about by the heat and cold of fire and water to destroy the Rock Giant.

The knowledge that we learn in our education serves a practical purpose in helping us live our lives. We should strive to learn all we can about natural science so that we can use the forces of nature to our advantage and be safe from their dangers.

Infuriated by the MUTANTS' excuse that the Sword of Omens is invincible, MUMM-RA summons HACHIMAN, a legendary Samurai, and his sword, the ThunderCutter. He deceives HACHIMAN into believing that LION-0 is evil. HACHIMAN confronts LION-0 while the THUNDERCAT is en route to the Warrior Maiden's Kingdom with NAYDA. They engage in a fierce contest of egos and NAYDA saves them both from destruction. Even this narrow escape does not prevent LION-0 and HACHIMAN from continuing their confrontation - but neither the Sword of Omens or the Thunder-Cutter will obey its master. LION-0 and HACHIMAN realize that they are both honorable and that HACHIMAN has been deceived by MUMM-RA. They join forces, only to be attacked by S-S-SLITHE and MONKIAN in SkyCutters. They capture S-S-SLITHE and take him to the Treetop Kingdom. MUMM-RA summons a NINJA who assumes the form of GUMLA the TABBUT and infiltrates the Treetop Kingdom by pretending to negotiate for S-S-SLITHE's release. During the night, he transforms himself back into the NINJA, arms S-S-SLITHE and warns that the MUTANTS will attack at dawn. The NINJA now attempts to destroy HACHIMAN, using NAYDA as a hostage. She neutralizes his bargaining power by diving toward the ground, oblivious to the mortal danger. LION-0 hurls the Sword of Omens at a tree trunk. The Sword sticks and NAYDA saves herself by grasping the hilt. LION-0, RACHIMAN, the WARRIOR MAIDEN's and the THUNDERCATS defeat the MUTANT's attack.

"THE THUNDER-CUTTER"

Honor is excellence of character, aspects of which include dignity, integrity, courage, and pride. In this episode, Lion-0, who lives by the Code of Thundera, meets the Samurai, Hachiman, who also lives by a code that includes honor. The honor of Hachiman, however, is almost subverted by the deception of Mumm-Ra, who attempts to have him and his sword fight on the side of evil against Lion-O and the Code of Thundera.

During the course of their encounter, Lion-O and Hachiman, blinded by a false bravado, lose their perspective and engage in a duel. Neither claims he can back down and maintain respect and honor. But true honor is not a confrontation, which ignores the rightness, justice, and truth of one's actions. In a stand-off in which these principles are ignored, no one wins. Were it not for the practical good sense of Nayda, both Lion-O and Hachiman would have perished for a distorted notion of honor. They are brought to their senses by the power of their swords, which are unable to be used for evil purposes. Reminded of true honor, they join forces and persevere against Mumm--Ra, the Mutants, and the honorless Ninja

In our lives, we must be careful to learn the real definition of honor, which involves reference to rightness, justice, and truth. We must be on guard so that we do not fall victim to a false bravado, which ignores judgments about the purposes of our actions.

PANTHRO invents Holograph-Recorders to 'film' the THUNDERCATS' experiences on Third Earth for incorporation into a Time Capsule through which future generations can learn. MUMM-RA overhears the plan and believes it provides an opportunity to attack each THUNDERCAT in isolation. He summons robots and war machines from the past, creating a mechanical plague to destroy the THUNDERCATS. The TECHNOPEDE fights PANTHRO; the WARBOT fights TYGRA; the DRILLER fights CHEETARA - who also has to contend with ROCKMEN; WILYKAT and WILYKIT are pursued by the MECHANOSECT. LION-0 witnesses the THUNDERCATS' plight through the Sword of Omens but, before he can do anything to help, the MUTANTS set him upon. He summons his colleagues, who escape their individual opponents and rally to LION-O's side. Throughout this episode, SNARF tries to record his important domestic chores - but only succeeds in trapping himself high on a washing line. His humiliation is, of course, recorded for all to see.

"MECHANICAL PLAGUE"

The DEMOLISHER is a fearsome creature driven only by the desire to fight and destroy. If there's no one to fight for pay, then he'll fight for pleasure. His victories are witnessed - and opponents drummed up - by his sidekick, the DIRGE. The DEMOLISHER lands on Third Earth to challenge MUMM-RA, not knowing that such a challenge is made futile by MUMM-RA's immortality. When he has defeated MUMM-RA and is about to destroy him forever, MUMM-RA flees into the Pyramid, summoning the DEMOLISHER after him. There, he indicates LION-O's image in the Cauldron, taunting the DEMOLISHER and inciting him to challenge the THUNDERCAT. LION-O's initial reaction to the DEMOLISHER's challenge is to avoid a fight, but he is eventually forced to defend himself. The fight reaches a stalemate, which LION-0 breaks by summoning the other THUNDERCATS - not to destroy the DEMOLISHER, but to prevent him from fighting until he effectively destroys himself. Respecting the DEMOLISHER's prowess and courage, he tries to persuade him to fight for the Code of ThunDERa, but the DEMOLISHER is driven only by violence and he teleports himself and the DIRGE back to his spacecraft, leaving Third Earth forever.

"THE DEMOLISHER"

The Demolisher is a mercenary, who seeks violence for violence's sake, and fights without regard for any principles. He has no beliefs and fights not for a cause, but merely as an exercise in strength. As a result, he appears out of control and is a victim of his own disorder and confusion.

RATAR-0, the most powerful of all the Mutant Warlords, comes to Third Earth and takes control of the MUTANTS. RATAR-0 brings SNARFER, SNARF's nephew, with him after capturing him on the Planet of Snarfs. Knowing that the THUNDERCATS will help SNARFER, RATAR-0 allows him to escape and seek the THUNDERCATS' help. RATAR-0 uses SNARFER as the bait, which will lure the THUNDERCATS into combat with his spaceship, the RatStar. The Rat's Eye is the equivalent of the Eye of ThunDERa and the conflict is reduced to a struggle between these two symbols. Allied to LION-O's massive strength, the Eye of ThunDERa wins, and SNARFER is freed.

"FELINER - PART ONE"

The ThunderCats learn that friends and relatives of Snarf survived the destruction of Thundera and established a planet of Snarfs. Inspired by this information and the excitement of Snarf, they muster their forces; defeat the Mutants, and free Snarfer. The desire to rescue a kin and be reunited with their social group is more powerful than the desire of the Mutants to do evil.

The THUNDERCATS have virtually completed their spacecraft, the Feliner, but cannot make it fly because they lack a Megacondensor. Desperate to return SNARFER to his home, SNARF suggests that the THUNDERCATS might find a condenser in the wreck of the RatStar. The episode follows the THUNDERCATS' efforts to retrieve this vital component, opposed by RATAR-O, the MUTANTS, and MUMM-RA. Eventually, they succeed and blast-off for the Planet of Snarfs with SNARFER. Right up until the last moment, it seems that SNARF will want to return with SNARFER and will leave the THUNDERCATS. At the last moment, however, he decides to stay with LION-0.

"FELINER - PART TWO"

Inspired by Snarf's idea, the ThunderCats pursue the hyperspace megacondenser, which they need to repair the Feliner and take Snarfer home to the planet of Snarfs. Because the part is so valued by them, it becomes the object of pursuit also for both Mumm-Ra and Ratar-0. As a result, the ThunderCats are called upon to use extra effort to obtain it. Once the Feliner is repaired, Snarf must make a critical decision of choosing to return to the planet with Snarfer or to remain with the ThunderCats. Although his kinship bonds and his curiosity draw him, he finally decides it is his present life with the ThunderCats that he values most.

The story of Excalibur, the greatest sword in history, is revealed to MUMM-RA. MUMM-RA determines to obtain Excalibur and to defeat LION-0 and the Sword of Omens. MUMM-RA transforms himself into King Arthur and summons the Lady of the Lake. MUMM-RA goes to the Cats' Lair and at first succeeds in persuading the THUNDERCATS that he is a most powerful and honorable knight. The THUNDERCATS become suspicious of MUMM-RA/King Arthur because of his un-knightly behavior and arrogance. MUMM-RA/King Arthur taunts LION-0 and maneuvers him into a joust. Excalibur and the Sword of Omens rip themselves free of their combatants and fight independently. But, having defeated the Sword of Omens, Excalibur refuses to obey the evil MUMM-RA/King Arthur. Merlin appears and entrusts Excalibur to LION-0, who returns it to the Lady of the Lake.

"EXCALIBUR"

Lion-O and the ThunderCats learn that the Code of Thundera that they live by is shared by others and is part of a universal moral code. They are introduced to Merlin, caretaker of Excalibur, and to the legend of King Arthur and his code of justice, truth, honor, and loyalty. And they learn, after witnessing the futile attempt of Mumm-Ra to subvert the code for evil purposes, that true morality in its highest form is an end in itself and rests on universal moral principles. Any attempt to subvert it or ignore it, as in the foolish duel of Mumm-Ra and Lion-O, is doomed to failure.

One theory of moral development holds that moral judgment proceeds through levels from the avoidance of punishment, to social conformity, to an autonomous and internalized set of values (Kohlberg, 1963). An important distinction to make in considering moral behavior is between general moral principles and social conventions. Children, as early as between the ages of 4 and 6, have the ability to distinguish moral issues, based on principles like justice, fairness, and the welfare of others, from social conventions, arbitrary rules of conduct sanctioned by custom and tradition, like types of clothing or using first names or titles in addressing people (Turiel, 1983). Helping children make such distinctions is an important part of fostering their moral development.

KOHLBERG, L. The Development of Children's Orientation Toward a Moral Order: 1. Sequence in the Development of Moral Thought. Vita Humana, 1963, 6, 11-33.

LION-0 undergoes the fourth trial in his Anointment Trials, a series of tests every Lord of the THUNDERCATS has had to pass in order to be worthy of the inherited title. This trial is TYGRA's trial of Mind Power and LION-O's goal is to reach the Desert of Sinking Sands - not a difficult objective in itself. However, TYGRA uses his mind power to create illusions which distract LION-0: a windy blizzard on a clear day; darkest night when it is daytime; and pathways which lead nowhere. LION-0 is forced to decide what is REAL and what is not. The most challenging illusion is TYGRA's reaction of the destruction of LION-O's home planet, ThunDERa. LION-0 relives the fear he experienced when he was a young boy leaving his doomed planet, ThunDERa. Through this illusion, LION-0 confronts and overcomes the greatest fear that has tormented him since he arrived on Third Earth. When LION-0 finally succeeds in overcoming TYGRA, and his own fear of being afraid, he discovers that his final trial will match him against MUMM-RA.

"LION-O'S ANOINTMENT FOURTH DAY: THE TRIAL OF MIND POWER"

In his fourth trial, Lion-O learns the powers of concentration and the ability to focus his mind on making judgments. Confronted with Tygra's ability to create illusions, Lion-0 copes by judging correctly what is real and what isn't. Guided by this power of right judgment, he meets his greatest fear, that he will be afraid again, brought on by the nightmare of Thundera's destruction. Facing the fear and judging it to be in the past and no longer realistic, he triumphs over both the fear and Tygra in the trial.

A giant ICE KING is accidentally released from his glacial prison and attacks the Castle of the Snowmen, defeating the SNOW KNIGHT. The SNOW KNIGHT sends SNOWMEOW to ask the THUNDERCATS for help. After a series of confrontations and misunderstandings, it transpires that the ICE KING is searching for an egg in which his one-time Princess is trapped. When he finds it, he melts away, entering the egg and reuniting himself with his Princess.

"THE SECRET OF THE ICE KING"

An S.O.S. from the edge of a Black Hole in deep space sends LION-0, SNARF and CHEETARA out in the Feliner. CAPTAIN SHINER, a Prussian space mercenary working for MUMM-RA, captures LION-0 and SNARF. The Sword of Omens is seized and MUMM-RA appears. He hurls the Sword into the Black Hole. CHEETARA returns to the Lair to get help. She and PANTHRO eventually seize CAPTAIN SHINER's ship and head for the Black Hole, which, it turns out, is no more than a "clean-up space device" devised by Venusians many light centuries ago. They rescue the Sword and CAPTAIN SHINER appears to go down with the ship in the aftermath of the adventure. In the closing seconds, however, he is seen sailing his ship into deep space.

"SWORD IN THE HOLE"

Mumm-Ra's complicated attempt to destroy the Sword of Omens is foiled by the extraordinary teamwork displayed by the ThunderCats. Each uses his unique abilities in cooperation with the others for the common good. Panthro, using his courage and knowledge of scientific theory, shows no fear of the unknown in leading their commandeered ship into the Black Hole. And he calls upon his technological knowledge to power them out. Lion-O displays his belief in Jaga and the Sword's powers and uses his will power to summon the Sword. Cheetara shows her determination and perseverance in not giving up on them when they vanish into the Black Hole. And even the mercenary Shiner, who was originally in conflict with the ThunderCats, acts on their behalf and his own with his spacemanship when they encounter the space debris. As a result of the cooperation, the Sword is rescued and the ThunderCats are able to return home.

Cooperation is a basic and necessary requirement for maintaining the welfare and stability of society. A norm of reciprocity governs our interactions and is universally found in all moral codes. People help those who help them and do not injure those who have helped them (Gouldner, 1960). Moreover, when two or more groups in society are in conflict, in the face of compelling goals which are appealing to both groups and need the energies of both groups to be achieved, conflict is reduced and cooperation established (Sherif, 1958). We have much to gain when we seek to work in cooperation with the groups we contact in our daily lives. We should seek to make our interactions cooperative not only when faced by a super ordinate goal or crisis, but in the normal course of events. In doing so, both we as individuals and society as a whole benefit.

MUMM-RA has a phial of miniaturization gas. VULTUREMAN builds a mechanical WOLFRAT to infiltrate the gas into the Cats' Lair. The THUNDERCATS are immediately reduced to nine inches high. Knowing how vulnerable the THUNDERCATS are in this state, MUMM-RA orchestrates a MUTANT attack on the Cats' Lair. The THUNDERCATS' only hope is SNARF; they armor SNARF and use him as a battle charger while TYGRA works on an antidote. The THUNDERCATS finally take the antidote, and SNARF, getting an accidental whiff of it, grows to huge proportions. In his gigantic state, SNARF terrifies the MUTANTS and puts them to flight.

"THE WOLFRAT"

Sometimes in our minds we may overemphasize the importance of certain physical characteristics. We may feel bad or worry that we are at a disadvantage if we don't possess a quality. For some, physical size and strength is a desirable trait. But often it is given too much importance. In reality, the lack of a physical quality does not have to be a deficit and it may be counterbalanced by other characteristics.

In this episode, the ThunderCats find themselves physically mismatched in fighting the Wolfrat, when they are cut down in size. However, they use speed, improvisation, teamwork, and determination to persevere against the robot and the Mutants. The lesson for us is that we must never place too much importance on any one characteristic, but should strive to grow in and use all of our personal qualities. It is our whole personality that counts, not any one trait.

In this episode, a Kymera Craft, a sleek and visually appealing spaceship, pursues a Terator Starship, an extremely ugly spaceship. Manning these two ships, respectively, are the TERATOR and the KYMERA. Like the Terator Starship, the TERATOR is an ugly creature; like the Kymera Craft, the KYMERA is a beautiful creature. The Terator Starship escapes the attacking Kymera Craft and descends to Third Earth landing at the Cats' Lair. When LION-0 sees the Terator Starship and it fails to respond to his request for identification, LION-0 automatically assumes that the Terator Starship is evil and attacks the spaceship. In retaliation, the TERATOR uses laser beams rendering LION-0 immobile blocking his attempts to signal the other THUNDERCATS; even the Sword of Omens won't obey LION-0. As the TERATOR begins to communicate with LION-0, he insists that LION-0 attacked him first, that he means no harm, and that he is not LION-O's enemy. The Kymera Craft reappears and the Terator Starship is shot down. The Kymera Craft returns to the Lair and the KYMERA explains to LION-0 that the TERATORS are his enemies and that he is searching the galaxies for survivors of the latest TERATOR raids on his planet. LION-0 responds that this is exactly the same story the TERATOR told him about the KYMERA. The KYMERA warns LION-0 never trust a TERATOR and anyone can tell by their appearance that they are evil. As LION-0 doubts the KYMERA's word, the KYMERA attacks him. LION-0 realizes that the KYMERA is evil and the TERATOR is good. As the Kymera Craft begins to leave the Cats' Lair, LION-0 summons the other THUNDERCATS with the Sword and they pursue the Kymera Craft in the Feliner. The Terator Starship returns and aids the Feliner in battling the Kymera Craft. LION-0 destroys the Kymera Craft with the Sword of Omens, and the Terator Starship is saved.

"GOOD AND UGLY"

Lion-O and Snarf make the mistake of equating two aliens' looks with their character and intentions. Because they have never encountered a spaceship or creature like the Terator, and because its looks, mannerisms, and sounds are ugly and foreign to them, they consider it hostile and seek to defend themselves by attacking it. On the other hand, because the Kymera is handsome and pleasing, they assume it is friendly. When their assumptions are proven wrong, they and the other ThunderCats are forced to do battle to avoid the Kymera's destructive purposes and to help the Terator. Often our assumptions about others are based on peripheral in-characteristics rather than essential ones. Because some persons may be handsome or pretty, we judge them to be good, and because other persons are not pleasing in appearance, we view them to be bad. This episode represents a lesson we know from our own experiences to be true - that appearances may be deceiving and we must go beyond looks to determine the qualities of persons. In a broader context, the lesson can be extended to include how we use stereotypes, or generalized conceptions of other persons, races, or classes. While generalizations about other groups may serve a constructive purpose in helping us to identify and classify peoples, e.g., in teaching us the cultural mores of an ethnic group, they may also be the sustaining roots of prejudice. Prejudice consists of rigid and hostile attitudes directed towards a group or an individual because he is a member of a group. When our generalizations become unwarranted and applied indiscriminately to individuals, we are guilty of prejudicial attitudes and feelings. It is a difficult task to assure that our stereotypes and generalizations are not unfounded or used indiscriminately. We must always be on guard so that we do not fall victim to prejudicial thinking.

VULTUREMAN invents a Voice Imitator, which imitates the THUNDERCATS' voices. He uses it to lure each of the THUNDERCATS into perilous situations. A GIANT BEE attacks CHEETARA; TYGRA confronts a GIANT WRESTLING TABBUT; and the THUNDERKITTENS are trapped in the Vortex. LION-0 does his best to rescue each of the THUNDERCATS from their dangerous situations, and PANTHRO finally deduces that the cause of the confusion is VULTUREMAN's Voice Imitator. PANTHRO turns the tables on the MUTANTS by using the Voice Imitator to steer them in to a multiple SkyCutter/NoseDiver pile-up. TYGRA speaks for all of the THUNDERCATS when he re-affirms that they should always rely on communication with one another and try to work collectively against their attackers in the future.

"DIVIDE AND CONQUER"

Through the use of a voice imitator, the Mutants almost succeed in deceiving and conquering the ThunderCats. Isolating each of them from the others, they seek to preoccupy and destroy them individually. The ThunderCats unwittingly play into their hands by not calling for help and working together. Only when the ThunderCats are able to band together once more are they able to turn back and beat the Mutants.

Sometimes we enter into a way of thinking that tells us we are better off being alone or trying to do something without any support or help from our family and friends. This can be a deceptive and dangerous way of thinking. Even if we seek to achieve something independently, we don't have to do it in isolation and without anyone's knowledge and support. In some instances, isolation can even be dangerous, e.g., when we go swimming alone, or when we try to face some danger alone. We live in a social network of family and friends, who are important to us and are there to help us. We must not let ourselves feel too isolated to ask for help when we need it.

While searching for Thundrillium, LION-0 discovers that there is a tribe of tiny people on Third Earth. They are furious with the THUNDERCATS because every time they roar out of the Cats' Lair in the ThunderTank or battle the MUTANTS, or MUMM-RA, they flatten the little people's villages, homes, and crops. The little people, the MICRITS, take revenge against the THUNDERCATS by confiscating all of their weapons and vital THUNDERCAT equipment - thus leaving them vulnerable to the MUTANTS. The MUTANTS seize this perfect opportunity and attack the Cats' Lair. Without their weapons and machinery, the THUNDERCATS are forced to fight barehanded. Meanwhile, the MICRITS capture LION-0 and the Sword of Omens, and pin them down to the group with light strands of Thundranium. SNARF searches for LION-0 and when he finally finds him, LION-0 offers SNARF as a captive in exchange for himself, if the MICRITS will let him go. LION-0 reasons that if the MICRITS allow the MUTANTS to battle the THUNDERCATS without their weapons and machinery, the THUNDERCATS will be defeated and with the MUTANTS in charge, terror and destruction will reign on Third Earth. The MICRITS agree. LION-0 signals the THUNDERCATS with the Sword of Omens and takes the THUNDERCATS' confiscated weapons to the Cats' Lair. LION-0 returns the weapons to each of the THUNDERCATS and the MUTANTS are defeated. Keeping his word, LION-0 returns to the MICRIT village and SNARF is released. The THUNDERCATS set up a marker system delineating the boundaries of the MICRIT territory.

"MICRITS"

The ThunderCats, being unaware of the tiny Micrits, unwittingly cause damage to their community. Angry, the Micrits fought back and, in turn, almost unwittingly helped the Mutants defeat the ThunderCats and spread evil and destruction willfully. Lion-O convinces the Micrits to agree to a pact to free him long enough to rescue the other ThunderCats. Bringing their weapons to the besieged Lair, Lion-O and the ThunderCats rout the Mutants. Afterwards, to prevent further damage to the Micrits, they alert themselves to the boundaries of their territory by erecting signposts. Frequently, a bad outcome, for example, some damage or hurt feeling in others, is the result of our inadvertently doing something without full knowledge or after not paying attention. The lack of knowledge and awareness on our part can have serious repercussions. In evaluating the wrongdoing and our blame, it is important to distinguish our knowledge from our intent. Our blame is less if we do something wrong by accident than if we do it knowingly. In this episode, the ThunderCats caused damage only because of their lack of awareness of the Micrits' existence. The Mutants, on the other hand, sought by intent to cause destruction. Nevertheless, whether a bad outcome is the result of inadvertence or wrong intention, the damage and suffering is real. Therefore, we should not only avoid intending something wrong, but we should also seek to be as aware of things as we can and to be sensitive to others' feelings. In that way, we can avoid causing negative results inadvertently. Our chances for avoiding wrongdoing and problems are much better when we are aware, attentive, and sensitive to our surroundings.

The concluding trial in LION-O's Anointment Trials, a series of tests each of the LORD of the THUNDERCATS has had to pass in order to prove himself worthy of his inherited title, pits him against the evil MUMM-RA. In this trial, LION-0 must face MUMM-RA alone, without the aid of the other THUNDERCATS and without the Sword of Omens. JAGA appears and offers LION-0 advice, but LION-0 decides to go his own way. MUMM-RA summons the MUTANTS and commands them to destroy LION-0 before he gets to the pyramid. The MUTANTS attack him and trap him in an underground pit, which is similar to MUMM-RA's pyramid. While underground, LION-0 encounters and overcomes many of MUMM-RA's obstacles; a faceless BOATMAN; a living ceiling; a huge, one-eyed cocoon; the INFLAMER. LION-0 finally reaches MUMM-RA's pyramid and engages in battle one-on-one with MUMM-RA. During the battle, LION-0 realizes that MUMM-RA's sarcophagus is the source of his regenerating power. LION-0 hurls the sarcophagus into the boiling Cauldron. MUMM-RA turns to ashes. JAGA appears again and praises LION-0 for his heroism and bravery. LION-0 vindicates his own plans by defeating MUMM-RA, thus proving that he is indeed worthy of his inherited title.

"LION-O'S ANOINTMENT FINAL DAY: THE TRIAL OF EVIL"

The Anointment Trials of Lion-O climax in his confrontation with Mumm-Ra himself. Having survived the earlier trials presented by the ThunderCats, he enters into his final trial equipped with his heroic qualities of strength, courage, cunning, and wisdom. Realizing he must face Mumm-Ra alone and having been prepared accordingly, he refuses Jaga's offer of advice and resolves to rely independently on his own inner strength and ability. Entering into the realm of wondrous forces and powers, Lion-O endures until he finds he understands the source of Mumm-Ra's power, his sarcophagus. Destroying the sarcophagus, Lion-0 vanquishes Mumm-Ra and by winning his final trial is anointed Lord of the ThunderCats. As a hero destined to become Lord of the ThunderCats, Lion-O did not shirk from the responsibility to grow in self-awareness, in the development of his character and abilities, and in the courage and willingness to use them for the betterment of others. We too bear a similar responsibility and can learn from the example of Lion-O. We have our own abilities and talents that we must seek to understand, cultivate, and express. We should do so in the spirit of courage and prudence. Often it is our own inner fears and emotions that block our development, create inhibitions, and seem to overwhelm us. By facing our fears and our inner world of emotions, by sharing them prudently with adults and friends we trust, we grow in understanding ourselves. And by responsibility using our talents and abilities in our lives we become, like Lion-O, as essential member of our community.

VULTUREMAN invents a Super Power Potion, which gives him great magical powers, enabling him to mesmerize and defeat TYGRA. VULTUREMAN then makes a deal with MUMM-RA: He will share the potion in exchange for MUMM-RA's secret to everlasting life. VULTUREMAN asserts his authority over the other MUTANTS, putting S-S-SLITHE in a trance. He attacks and defeats PANTHRO as the latter searches for TYGRA. S-S-SLITHE recovers and commands the MUTANTS to search for the potion. As they discover it, MUMM-RA materializes and confiscates the vial. Meanwhile, VULTUREMAN challenges LION-0 and is about to defeat him when his super powers wear off. MUMM-RA appears and denies VULTUREMAN's plea for another dose of super power. LION-0 destroys the potion and VULTUREMAN slinks away defeated.

"THE SUPER POWER POTION"

Vultureman becomes a formidable foe against the ThunderCats when he invents a Super Power Potion. Empowered with its effects, he makes a pact with Mumm-Ra to destroy the Mutants and the ThunderCats in exchange for Mumm-Ra's secret of everlasting life. However, his pride and his ambition are his undoing, when the effects of the potion and his power prove to be temporary. Mumm-Ra turns out to be an unreliable and selfish ally, who withholds the remaining potion from him. Reduced back to the limits of his normal powers, Vultureman is defeated by Lion-O and the ThunderCats.

Vultureman is guilty of a pride and an over inflation of his abilities and importance when he extends himself beyond normality. Deluded into thinking he is permanently more powerful than others he acts with egotistical and antagonistic independence, by turning against his friends, the Mutants, and by negotiating an alliance with Mumm-Ra. Since the alliance is not based on honor or friendship, Vultureman is left to his own devices when the effects of the potion wear off, and he is taught a difficult lesson.

The impulse to overinflate our opinion of ourselves and to set ourselves apart from others is a common one we face when we have succeeded in something. For example, when we win a competition or excel in an examination, we become so self-assured that we may unrealistically compare ourselves to others and think we are better than they in all things, and we falsely judge that we will never need their help and collaboration. But time has a way of balancing such opinions and teaching us to be more realistic about appraising our own and others' abilities. The truth is that we do not excel in everything at all times and in life we will endure both successes and failures, winning and losing, being competent in some areas and less so in others. Part of maturity is learning from this lesson. It is good to have a proper sense of our true worth. But the attempt to see ourselves as unconditionally better than others is unwarranted. We are part of a community of persons and each of us has unique talents and abilities.

The THUNDERKITTENS discover a MAGICAL HARP, strum it and release CHARR-NIN, a genie who has been imprisoned inside. MUMM-RA sees this action in his Cauldron, transforms into a BOLKIN and thus disguised seizes the HARP. MUMM-RA promises the genie freedom if only he destroys the THUNDERCATS. Complying with MUMM-RA's wish, CHARR-NIN imprisons LION-0 in the center of Third Earth and later brings the THUNDERKITTENS to him. LION-0 directs the THUNDERKITTENS to distract CHARR-NIN allowing him time to free himself and summon the other THUNDERCATS. But CHARR-NIN is able to capture them all in magical bonds. He demands his freedom from MUMM-RA, who reneges on the deal. When the two fight, CHARR-NIN's powers are weakened, allowing the THUNDERCATS to escape. They leave MUMM-RA and CHARR-NIN for dead, but MUMM-RA rises again, for he is ever-living.

"THE EVIL HARP OF CHARR-NIN"

WilyKit and WilyKat give in to the alluring promises of gratification offered by the genie Charr-Nin. Unsuspecting of his motives and reliability, they bring him to the Cats' Lair. Once there, however, Charr-Nin is transformed from something pleasurable to something dangerous. For he himself falls prey to the allures of freedom offered by Mumm-Ra, and he turns against the ThunderCats. It takes extraordinary events for the ThunderCats to extricate themselves from his magic. Only when Mumm-Ra and Charr-Nin square off in a duel of powers can they escape.

We must be careful when presented with promises of instant and easy gratification, which appear to be pure gift and have no strings attached. We must always evaluate with reason and responsibility the motives of others, especially if they are strangers, who offer us something for nothing. Such offers are most often illusory and the person will expect something from us. In some cases, the promises can be dangerous, if the person is out only for his own gain. It is not in our own best interests to accept anything from a stranger. And we should always be suspicious when we encounter situations that appear to be offering something for nothing.

The MUTANTS ambush the THUNDERCATS, but lose the battle -and a NoseDiver. S-S-SLITHE blames VULTUREMAN's faulty technology for the loss of the vehicle. VULTUREMAN, enraged, activates a self-destruct circuit in their weapons. Acting on S-S-SLITHE's request, MUMM-RA evens the score by sealing the Sword Chamber with the Sword and all the THUNDERCATS' weapons inside. Using primitive weapons, the MUTANTS attack the Cats' Lair, overpowering CHEETARA and then PANTHRO -but not before PANTHRO realizes that an air-shaft will grant access to the sealed Sword Chamber. SNARF crawls through the air-shaft, pursued by JACKALMAN. Meanwhile, LION-0 fights MONKIAN and S-S-SLITHE hand-to-hand but is weakened when MUMM-RA appears and engulfs him in a force field. SNARF arrives with the Sword. LION-0 uses it to free the other THUNDERCATS. Together they defeat MUMM-RA and the MUTANTS.

"TIGHT SQUEEZE"

This episode depicts the importance of technology in our modern way of life and the necessity to use it in conjunction with a moral code. When Vultureman activates the self-destruct circuits in all their weapons, the Mutants are left only with primitive instruments. They call upon Mumm-Ra, who seals off the ThunderCats from their weapons and short-circuits the Lair's controls. Assured the ThunderCats are weaponless, the Mutants set out to attack them on what they think will be equal footing. But the ThunderCats, led by Lion-O, call upon their inner resources and allegiance to their values. They have always lived with the guiding principle that technology is a means to be used in conjunction with a just end. Their ends are determined by their moral code, which is exemplified early in the episode when they display a willingness to save even their enemies. Fortified by their inner strength, the ThunderCats withstand the attack. Lion-O is reunited with the Sword of Omens, which represents their code and the proper use of technology. He frees the ThunderCats and their weapons, and they repel Mumm-Ra and the Mutants, who lack a comparable morality and inner strength.

We learn in this episode that an inner strength and power is available to us in our lives when we live according to a code of values. When we follow a code of morality based on conscience and the betterment of society, we act in confidence and with an inner strength. Part of a moral code involves reflection on how society links the tools, weapons, and instruments of modern technology with ends of a value system, which respects life and justice. The evaluation is a judgment about how to use technology, which as a means can be used for various kinds of ends. A right morality will assure that technology is used for the benefits of good in society and not for destructive purposes.

MUMM-RA summons MONKIAN to his pyramid to strike a bargain: If MONKIAN steals the Sword of Omens, MUMM-RA will make him ruler over part of Third Earth. Willing to pay any price for the power, MONKIAN accepts. MUMM-RA gives MONKIAN magic spheres, which give him super powers, enabling him to lay siege to the Cats' Lair. After winning a battle with LION-0 by magically turning into a giant, MONKIAN captures LION-0, SNARF, and the Sword and returns to MUMM-RA. At the pyramid, LION-0 now battles MUMM-RA for absolute rule of Third Earth. MONKIAN defeats MUMM-RA, then is reminded that his power has a price: MONKIAN may never leave the pyramid. MONKIAN gives up his power and flees. LION-0 now battles MUMM-RA for possession of the Sword and defeats him with the help of the other THUNDERCATS.

"MONKIAN'S BARGAIN"

Monkian, driven by a lust for power, bargains with Mumm-Ra to control the northern sector of Third Earth. To receive the magical spheres of power he promises any price, not caring what it will be. Later, Lion-O uses Monkian's drive for power against him, by challenging him to defeat Mumm-Ra and rule all of Third Earth. When Mumm-Ra extracts the price of his bargain it turns out to be Monkian's freedom. Confronted with this, Monkian gives in, acknowledging he is not willing to pay such a high price for power.

Monkian blindly entered into a bargain, being so enraptured by the possible payoff that he neglected to find out and consider what it would cost him to obtain his goal. Whenever we select a goal and set out to attain it, we do best to acknowledge we will have to make sacrifices and exert an effort to reach the goal. We should consider whether we are willing to pay the price, before we commit ourselves to the goal. If we join a club, we will have to participate and share in the duties. If we play a sport, we will have to attend practices, play by the rules, and express teamwork. If we want to play a musical instrument, we will have to take lessons and practice. And if we want to receive good grades, we will have to study.

A person who usually succeeds in what he sets out to do is not one who commits him beyond an effort he is willing to make. Otherwise his attempts end in failure by giving up when faced with hard work. When you take on a project or goal, learn to consider what is demanded before you commit yourself. And commit yourself fully only when you are ready to make the total effort.

WILLA is practicing her long-bow skills when a warning device alerts her to a MUTANT attack. WILLA and her sister NAYDA fight back until a MUTANT laser beam sets their roof afire. JACKALMAN kidnaps WILLA and takes her to Castle Plun-Darr. The THUNDERCATS rush to rescue her. TYGRA and NAYDA render themselves invisible and enter the Castle. TYGRA pretends to be a ghost and frightens JACKALMAN into releasing WILLA. TYGRA and WILLA fight S-S-SLITHE and MONKIAN and escape to the nearby forest, where they try unsuccessfully to become visible again. They realize only the Eye of ThunDERa can restore their visibility. They set out to find LION-0 and are attacked by VULTUREMAN. They subdue him and defeat MONKIAN, JACKALMAN, and S-S-SLITHE. LION-0 arrives on the hijacked Flying Machine and holds the MUTANTS off until he can summon the other THUNDERCATS. The MUTANTS are forced to retreat to Castle Plun-Darr. The Eye of ThunDERa restores TYGRA and WILLA to their normal states.

"OUT OF SIGHT"

Tygra uses his ability to become invisible to help defeat the Mutants and assist Willa, Nayda and the Warrior Maidens. But he and Nayda receive a scare when they cannot undo their invisibility and be seen again. Finally, through the powers of the Sword of Omens, they become visible and normal once more. Persons who are shy find themselves wishing at times that they were invisible, or at least not so evident to others. Their shyness makes them feel self-conscious and awkward in the presence of others. And it is hard for them to make their accomplishments known so they can be noticed and receive credit for what they have done. Often they choose to withdraw and remain in the background, even though they would rather be active and a part of the group.

Shyness is a problem for many, and we should try to be aware of our friends and classmates who show signs of it. One way of helping them is to be sensitive to them when they are feeling bashful and gently to encourage them to join in activities. In this way they can feel part of the group and receive positive feedback on what they do. Once persons who are shy begin to be active they learn to believe in themselves and their fears and self-conscious thoughts are unfounded. Often this change begins with friends' concern and interest in helping. Like Lion-O, who helped Tygra and Nayda become visible again, we can help our shy friends become comfortable being in groups and in being noticed.

JACKALMAN steals VULTUREMAN's Flying Machine and attacks LION-0 and PANTHRO in the ThunderTank. The renegade MUTANT then enlists MOLEMASTER and the DRILLER into his own private "army" and plans to pulverize the THUNDERCATS. First, JACKALMAN's "army" defeats the other MUTANTS in battle. Then the DRILLER attacks CHEETARA as she tends to a UNICORN in trouble. She is able to defeat the DRILLER, who is rescued by JACKALMAN in the Flying Machine. A BOLKIN alerts the THUNDERCATS that the Wollo Village is under siege by JACKALMAN's "army". JACKALMAN uses the VariCannon and an Aerial Mine against the THUNDERCATS. LION-0 battles the other MUTANTS, uses the Sword to summon his fellow THUNDERCATS, and together they defeat the MUTANTS and JACKALMAN's "army."

"JACKALMAN'S REBELLION"

It is Jackalman's turn to rebel against the other Mutants and seek to satisfy his quest for absolute power. In seeking to establish his reign of terror, he is out for his own gain and not that of all the Mutants. At various times, each of the Mutants has separated from the group and sought to benefit individually at the expense of the others. They show no willingness to conform to the social norms necessary for group cohesiveness. In contrast with the Mutants' divisiveness is the allegiance and conformity of the ThunderCats to their moral code. We can learn from them the values of being a member of a social group.

Groups achieve their goals and society itself is sustained by individual conformity to norms. By participating in-group activity, an individual gains many social rewards. He receives recognition, a shared pride in achievement, a sense of belonging and approval, and a way of perceiving the world (Hollander and Hunt, 1970, pp. 409-415). If we participate in a group and feel a part of it by sharing in its common purpose, we have much to gain. Separating ourselves and becoming a loner, or trying to achieve only our individual goals and neglecting common goals, can only lead to failure and alienation.

Hollander, E.P. and Hunt, R.G. (Eds.). (1970). Current Perspectives in Social Psychology (2nd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.

MUMM-RA summons the MUTANTS and threatens to banish them from Third Earth unless they bring him the Sword of Omens. While LION-0 is mountain climbing, the MUTANTS ambush him with Thundranium cartridges. LION-0 summons TYGRA and PANTHRO with the Sword. As the weak LION-0 hangs on the edge of the mountain's cliff, JACKALMAN grabs for the Sword and both of them go over the edge, into a river, and over a waterfall. The other MUTANTS mistakenly cause a rockslide, which traps them, TYGRA and PANTHRO in the mountain's cave. They call a temporary truce, which the MUTANTS plan to violate as soon as they escape. JACKALMAN seizes the Sword from an unconscious LION-0 and climbs up the mountain. LION-0 catches up to him. JACKALMAN refuses to surrender the Sword and it takes him for a wild ride. The Sword flies through the air, twisting and turning, with JACKALMAN holding on to the handle, finally embedding itself in the mountain face high above the river. LION-0 saves the dangling Mutant and commands the Sword to return to his hand. He then frees the other MUTANTS, TYGRA and PANTHRO from the cave. Once free, the MUTANTS start to battle the THUNDERCATS again, only to discover that while inside the cave, PANTHRO and TYGRA emptied the MUTANTS' weapons of ammunition.

"THE MOUNTAIN”

Jackalman's obsession with power prevents him from working together with Lion-O to rescue them, when they are confronted by a common danger. Instead, he takes advantage of Lion-O's good deed saving him from drowning to steal the Sword of Omens. However, the power of the Sword proves to be a power that Jackalman cannot control, because it is based on goodness. Lion-O regains the Sword and uses it to free the ThunderCats and repel the Mutants.

The source of the ThunderCats' power is the power of goodness and a moral code, which comes from within. It is exemplified in this episode by Lion-O's good deed rescuing Jackalman and by Panthro and Tygra's cooperative working together with S-S-Slithe and Monkian to escape from the cave. The Mutants, on the contrary, seek power in external force and in evil, and they show no allegiance to an internal morality. This is why they are no match for the Sword of Omens and the ThunderCats. Real strength and power rests in a morality based on conscience and the judgment of discerning good from evil. We should strive in our lives not to base our actions on external circumstances or rewards, but on the rightness of the actions themselves.

JACKALMAN ambushes SNARF and attempts to steal the Sword of Omens. This gives PANTHRO the idea to make a duplicate Sword as bait for the MUTANTS. Leaving SNARF at the Lair, the THUNDERCATS spread the word that the Lair is unguarded. Two TROLLOGS overhear this and inform the MUTANTS. JACKALMAN and MONKIAN go to the Lair, seize the duplicate Sword and capture SNARF. They hand over the duplicate Sword and SNARF to S-S-SLITHE, who goes to MUMM-RA with a deal for power. MUMM-RA overpowers S-S-SLITHE and seizes the Sword. The real Sword alerts Lion-O that SNARF is in trouble. LION-0 and PANTHRO rush to rescue SNARF from the pyramid. LION-0 summons the other THUNDERCATS with the real Sword, blasts through the pyramid's wall and saves SNARF. Confused by the real Sword in LION-O's hand, MUMM-RA summons the Eye of ThunDERa in his duplicate Sword. The Eye flickers and opens to reveal a mirror instead of the Eye of ThunDERa. MUMM-RA is repelled by his own hideous reflection.

"EYE OF THE BEHOLDER"

The ThunderCats' use of trickery in making a duplicate Sword of omens to trap the Mutants backfires when Snarf is caught and kidnapped by Monkian and Jackalman. But the inability of the Mutants to work together among themselves or with Mumm-Ra leads to Snarf's rescue. S-S-Slithe uses a might-is-right philosophy to take the Sword of omens and Snarf from the other Mutants. But his prediction that someone stronger always comes around proves correct when Mumm-Ra seizes the Sword from him. Lion-O, however, foils Mumm-Ra's hopes to learn the secret of the Eye of ThunDERa, by exposing the sword as a fake and using its mirror to reflect Mumm-Ra's evil image back upon himself.

Mumm-Ra's inability to withstand the sight of his own image typifies the lack of self-respect felt by someone who knowingly does evil. The ability to make good moral judgments resides in each of us. Even S-S-Slithe shows he is aware of what he is doing by citing his philosophy that might is right. But we pay a price when we ignore our moral judgments and follow an evil course. Wrongdoing leads not just to the loss of respect by others, but to something much more critical.

It leads eventually to the forfeiting of a precious asset, the ability to believe in respect ourselves. When we do something wrong, we feel guilty. This feeling serves a good purpose, because it reminds us that we have gone against our moral code. And when we ignore our moral judgments, we run the risk of losing our self-respect, like Mumm-Ra. Our goal should be like that of the ThunderCats, to live in harmony with our moral code and with ourselves.

Angry at the MUTANTS' failure to destroy the THUNDERCATS, MUMM-RA transforms into a meek BERBIL and tricks SNARF into bringing him inside the Cats' Lair. MUMM-RA overpowers PANTHRO, turning him into a ZOMBIE/SLAVE. MUMH-RA enslaves WILYKAT and WILYKIT as they play, enslaves CHEETARA as she investigates their cries of terror, and enslaves TYGRA, but not before the latter realizes who is behind it all and warns SNARF. SNARF escapes to tell LION-0, who is away camping. They split up to search the Lair. SNARF is enslaved. Under MUMM-RA's power, all the THUNDERCATS attack LION-0 together. LION-0 flees the Lair, chased by MUMM-RA, who wears a mirror mask to protect himself from the Sword's reflection. LION-0 uses the Sword to break MUMM-RA's spell on the THUNDERCATS. Together, they defeat MUMM-RA.

"THE MUMM-RA BERBIL"

Mumm-Ra disguises himself as an innocent Berbil to try and defeat the ThunderCats. He plays upon their altruism to gain entrance into the Lair. Once inside, he casts a spell on them and, seizing them with slave bracelets, he transforms them under his command. Mumm-Ra's plan almost succeeds, when only Lion-O is left unaffected by the spell. Lion-O chooses not to use the Sword's powers against his fellow ThunderCats, because he believes in their ability to remain true to their real identities. Instead, he flees in order to fight Mumm-Ra alone with the Sword of Omens. In battling him, Lion-O calls forth the Sword's power. His faith in the ThunderCats proves well-founded, because their response to the Sword's emblem is stronger that Mumm-Ra's spell, and they free themselves from the spell. Returning to Lion-O's aid, they help him defeat Mumm-Ra.

What a person is really like is based on his personalities, which are his characteristic patterns of behavior and modes of thinking in reacting to the environment. Lion-O was tested when the other ThunderCats turned against him. But because his friendship was based on his knowledge of his friends' true personalities and not on superficial characteristics, he did not lose faith in them. If we choose our friends in this way, we can believe in them in times of crisis or when we hear misleading things about them, because we will know what they are really like. And because personality tends to be consistent over time, if we choose friends carefully, we can expect our friendships to last and be rewarding over a long time.

In an effort to prove them worthy of being THUNDERCATS, the THUNDERKITTENS borrow the other THUNDERCATS' weapons and practice with them. The MUTANTS, who gain possession of the weapons, ambush them. The THUNDERKITTENS keep the theft a secret from LION-0 and go to Castle Plun-Darr to get the weapons back. They surprise MONKIAN as he vainly poses in front of a mirror with PANTHRO's Nun-Chuks. The MUTANTS attack and the THUNDERKITTENS escape back to the Lair using their magic pellets. The THUNDERKITTENS return later with LION-0 to engage the MUTANTS. LION-0 calls the other THUNDERCATS using the Sword--then a Mutant Heat Ball causes him to drop it. The THUNDERKITTENS are able to subdue the MUTANTS first with a magic pellet, which causes a tidal wave, then with another, which engulfs the MUTANTS in laughing gas. The THUNDERCATS reclaim their weapons.

"TROUBLE WITH THUNDERKITTENS"

Wilykat and Wilykit, attempting to prove they are grownup, secretly take the weapons of the adult ThunderCats in order to learn how to use them. However, when the Mutants discover them, they lose the weapons in a skirmish. They return to the Cats' Lair, ashamed of what they have done and fearful of punishment. In their fear, they decide to take the dangerous risk of breaking into Castle Plun-Darr alone to try and regain the weapons. But they are repelled by the Mutants and again return to the Lair. Finally, they own up to what they have done by admitting their deeds to Lion-0. After a brief expression of anger, Lion-O does not seek to punish them, but plans a way they together can retrieve the weapons. They are successful in this and, in an act of forgiveness, Lion-O protects them by not letting on to the other ThunderCats what happened.

Sometimes we get caught up in the same sequence of events Wilykat and Wilykit experienced. Trying to be grown-up, we impulsively attempt something foolish that is beyond our abilities. Often this leads to some accident. And, frightened of discovery and punishment, we either avoid owning up to what we've done or we do something else to try and undo the original act. There is another sequence of events possible, which we can learn from Wilykat and Wilykit. It begins by not starting with the assumption that our parents or authorities will treat our misfortune by showing us disapproval and punishment. Often, like Lion-0, they will not react with anger, but with understanding and forgiveness. Then, when that happens, we won't feel we individually have to deny the act or secretly attempt to rectify it. Instead, our parents or authorities will help us take responsibility and work with us to make things better. We should not assume adults would act negatively. Acknowledging this can be a smart lesson, which will save us from further foolish accidents and will make it easier to be responsible for our actions.

The RatStar, manned by the MUTANTS, attacks the Feliner. S-S-SLITHE, MONKIAN and JACKALMAN are ejected from the RatStar and fall toward the ground. They are saved from certain destruction by MUMM-RANA, a female mirror image of MUMM-RA, a force for good who lives in a White Pyramid. MUMM-RANA is led to believe that the MUTANTS are good and the THUNDERCATS evil. MUMM-RA enthralls her and turns her power against the THUNDERCATS She puts the Sword of Omens in stasis and threatens the Lair itself. LION-0 disguises himself as a wealthy TABBUT and, with TYGRA's help, sets himself up to be robbed by the MUTANTS. MUMM-RANA witnesses the attack, and the true and evil nature of the MUTANTS is revealed to her. The revelation breaks MUMM-RA's spell and MUMM-RANA releases the Sword of Omens. MUMM-RANA and the THUNDERCATS now defeat MUMM-RA and the MUTANTS, but her ordeal threatens to destroy MUMM-RANA. In a desperate race for time, the THUNDERCATS return her to the White Pyramid, where her powers are rejuvenated.

"MUMM-RANA"

When the Mutants, in the RatStar, lose a confrontation with the ThunderCats' Feliner, their ship breaks up and they plunge free into space. But they find themselves rescued by Mumm-Rana, and they discover her and her world. Mumm-Rana, who lives in a pyramid with a tomb chamber, appears at first to be just like Mumm-Ra. But she is, in reality, his opposite. Where Mumm-Ra is the epitome of evil, Mumm-Rana is a spirit of good. Mumm-Ra appears and, after a stand-off, succeeds in taming her by casting a spell on her. He convinces her that the ThunderCats are evil enemies and she in her goodness must help vanquish them. Together, Mumm-Ra and Mumm-Rana attack the ThunderCats. They prove formidable. Because the Sword of Omens will not harm goodness, it is disarmed by Mumm-Rana and placed in a cocoon. And the ThunderCats are exiled. It is only when Lion-0 is able to impress upon Mumm-Rana that they are good and not evil that the ThunderCats are able to persevere. The realization of Mumm-Rana releases her from Mumm-Ra's spell and she frees the Sword of Omens. Together, Lion-0 and Mumm-Rana confront Mumm-Ra and repel him. And the ThunderCats are able to return Mumm-Rana to her habitat and resuscitate her powers. Good and evil are indeed opposites, and Mumm-Rana and Mumm-Ra represent their characteristics in this episode. The peace and serenity of Mumm-Rana contrasts with the estrangement and self-hatred of Mumm-Ra. Evil may at times seem more powerful than good, because it is ruthless and plays by its own rules and not the accepted rules of a moral code. it may even set aside goodness for a time. But in the overall scheme of reality, good is stronger and its effects more powerful. Human nature has a basic propensity for wholeness and to be in peace and harmony with itself, rather than fragmented and alienated. When it responds to goodness, our nature is strong and secure, full of the power that comes from self-respect. This sense of wholeness and fulfillment is a stronger attraction ultimately than the effects of evil, which breeds only disrespect.

We should commit ourselves, like Lion-O and Mumm-Rana, to alignment with the course of goodness. In doing so, we will receive the highest reward, self-respect.

CREETARA and TYGRA are aboard the Feliner when it is caught in a galactic meteor storm and badly damaged. LION-0 and PANTHRO attempt to bring the Feliner in for a safe landing. WILYKAT and WILYKIT are stranded in the storm raging on another part of Third Earth. They seek shelter inside a Suspension Capsule (which was used during the ThunderCats voyage from ThunDERa to Third Earth) and get stuck in it. They call Cats' Lair for help. The MUTANTS, who set out to capture them, intercept their message. LION-0 and SNARF take the ThunderTank to search for WILYKAT and WILYKIT. S-S-SLITHE gets to them first and tows the Suspension Capsule with the THUNDERKITTENS inside back to Castle Plun-Darr. Meanwhile, the galactic meteor storm sends the Feliner spinning out of control. LION-0 uses the Eye of ThunDERa in the Sword to guide it to safety. MUMM-RA learns of the THUNDERKITTENS' capture and steals them from the MUTANTS. The other THUNDERCATS chase MUMM-RA in the ThunderTank. It is WILYKAT and WILYKIT who turn the tide when they inflate one of their Magic Pellets into a Mirror Balloon. MUMM-RA sees his own reflection in the balloon and returns to his Pyramid, defeated. SNARF finally frees the THUNDERKITTENS from the capsule by giving it a good swift kick.

"TRAPPED"

The chaos of a powerful storm and the actions of the Mutants upset the calm of the ThunderCats. An electrical storm endangers the return in the Feliner of Cheetara and Tygra when the controls are damaged and communication is lost, and WilyKat and WilyKit find themselves trapped in an old suspension capsule after climbing in to stay dry. In the face of these dangers, Lion-O calls on the Eye of Thundera. He uses its beam projected into space to guide in the Feliner. And he combats Mumm-Ra with it to free the ThunderKittens, aided by their quick thinking.

We learn from this episode not to give up hope even when things seem really bad. And we also learn that panic in the face of danger is not productive, but that remaining calm and being resourceful is more likely to help us. The constancy and stability of the Eye of Thundera proved important in guiding Cheetara and Tygra home. Our own stability and persistence in times of trouble will help us as well. As Cheetara says, "You're not trapped until you stop trying." WilyKat and WilyKit persevered and didn't give up, and they were even able to help Lion-O defeat Mumm-Ra. Our own perseverance and determination are important traits to develop. They can help us when we meet with a crisis or when things are not going well.

A spaceship freighted with a lethal radioactive sphere is on a collision course for Third Earth. If it crashes, Third Earth will be destroyed. LION-0 and PANTHRO take the Feliner up to intercept the spaceship and neutralize the danger. MUMM-RA materializes before the MUTANTS to strike a deal: Seize the sphere and they will all rule Third Earth with its threat of total destruction. The MUTANTS accept the bargain. MUMM-RA creates a storm, which enables JACKALMAN to secretly board the Feliner. As LION-0 and PANTHRO intercept the spaceship, JACKALMAN steals the radioactive sphere. He later ignores the deal he has made with MUMM-RA and the other MUTANTS and makes off with the sphere for himself. An enraged MUMM-RA seizes JACKALMAN and takes him to his Pyramid. The MUTANTS, realizing they have been double-crossed, give pursuit. The THUNDERCATS, realizing that Third Earth is in great danger, follow. MUMM-RA fights all of them as he scales the face of the Pyramid. He is toppled from the Pyramid in a hail of THUNDERCAT firepower, and defeated when PANTHRO thrusts the sphere in MUMM-RA's face: MUMM_ RA sees his own reflection there and flies to the safety of his crypt. The THUNDERCATS explode the deadly sphere deep in outer space. Third Earth is safe.

"THE TRANSFER"

A spaceship with a radioactive reactor device, powerful enough to destroy all of Third Earth, sets off a power struggle among the Mutants, Mumm-Ra, and the ThunderCats for its control. The ThunderCats seek to neutralize it, but Mumm-Ra and the Mutants seek to use its threat of destruction to control the planet. Mumm-Ra and the Mutants begin by working together, but Jackalman double-crosses the other Mutants and seeks the device and power for Mumm-Ra and himself. Mumm-Ra then turns against Jackalman and seizes the reactor for himself. A fight ensues involving the Mutants, Mumm-Ra, and the ThunderCats all-vying for the radioactive device. Finally, the ThunderCats persevere, but not before an acrobatic rescue by Panthro prevents the bomb's detonation. Harmony is restored when the ThunderCats safely explode the reactor in space.

Some forms of nuclear power and energy are so destructive that if misused they can threaten the harmony of the world order as we know it. To ensure that they are used safely, the world powers cooperate by means of arms treaties or policies of deterrence. Such cooperation is essential for the safety of the world. Political cooperation on a societal level by nations has its origins in cooperation among individuals, families, and community groups. Because of the importance of such cooperation it is important that we learn the value of cooperation and seek to engage it in our daily lives. We should strive to seek ways of working with others we come in contact with every day, rather than being disruptive or antisocial. As shown in this episode, actions, which sometime seem to have only a small effect on others, like cooperation between individuals, have in them the seeds of actions, which have a momentous effect on the lives of everyone, like cooperation among nations.

VULTUREMAN invents the Shifter, a device that switches one person's personality into another's body. He uses it on PANTHRO's personality in SNARF's body. The reverse PANTHRO and SNARF drive the ThunderTank together and locate the other THUNDERCATS. When S-S-SLITHE questions the value of VULTUREMAN's Shifter, an angry VULTUREMAN switches S-S-SLITHE's and JACKALMAN's personalities and bodies. Thus transformed, the MUTANTS set out to attack the Lair. They meet the ThunderTank en route and topple it into a crevasse. SNARF in PANTHRO's body is trapped beneath it. The Sword of Omens alerts LION-0 to the MUTANT attack. He and WILYKAT rescue SNARF in PANTHRO'S body and set off for the Cats' Lair. VULTUREMAN uses the Shifter on LION-0 and WILYKAT, but together they use the Sword to scramble the Shifter's rays and return each ThunderCat to his rightful body. Then they bounce the Shifter ray toward the MUTANTS to switch their bodies and personalities. The MUTANTS retreat in confusion. Summoned by the Sword, CHEETARA, TYGRA, and WILYKIT appear belatedly to find everything back to normal.

"THE SHIFTER"

Vultureman invents a Shifter, a weapon that shifts the personalities and bodies of two individuals. He uses it somewhat indiscriminately to enact a series of switches in the ThunderCats and Mutants. The Mutants seize upon the confusion created to attack the Cats' Lair. In the battle the transformed Mutants and ThunderCats find it hard to adapt to their new bodies. And Vultureman affects another switch by shifting Lion-O and WilyKat. Lion-O in his new body tries to call upon the powers of the Sword of Omens, but finds in his transformed state that it will only respond to both him and WilyKat together. Once in action, however, the Sword rescues the ThunderCats by turning the switching laser gun back on Vultureman and the Mutants. And it reverses the transformations in the ThunderCats, returning them to their normal selves.

Persons are made up of both physical attributes, including their body, and of mental, social, and emotional attributes, including their personality. It is the attributes together that make up the person as a whole, and not just one kind of attribute. This episode portrays this fact by showing characters experiencing their personality being switched into another's body. And when Lion-O and WilyKat get switched, it takes both parts of Lion-O, his body and personality, to call on the Sword's powers.

We should consider this whenever we are tempted to envy someone else for a particular characteristic, whether a physical, mental, social, or emotional quality. Each of us has particular characteristics of our own and taken together make us unique. We do not gain anything by concentrating on what we don't have and trying to be like others. Rather, we do better if we learn more about all of our own unique talents and skills and cultivate them. Then we can be a total person in our own right.

MUMM-RA transforms into "MUMM-RA the DREAM MASTER" and summons spectral "DREAM SELVES" from the sleeping PANTHRO CHEETARA, TYGRA, WILYKAT and WILYKIT. Thus, the DREAM MASTER defeats the "DREAM SELF" of each THUNDERCAT in a nightmare-like battle of wills. He casts a spell, causing them to fall asleep during a real battle with the MUTANTS. They wreck the ThunderTank. Then MUMM-RA traps their DREAM SELVES within golden urns. He plans to toss the urns into the Whirlpool of Infinity -- thus destroying the THUNDERCATS' real selves. But SNARF alerts LION-0 to the Sword's growl. LION-0 uses the Sword of Omens to locate MUMM-RA the DREAM MASTER, summon the other THUNDERCATS, and reunite them with their DREAM SELVES. MUMM-RA's spell is broken.

"DREAM MASTER"

Mumm-Ra disguises himself as the Dream Master, who is able to invade the dreams of Panthro, Cheetara, Tygra, and the ThunderKittens. In their dreams Mumm-Ra exercises control over them, putting them in his power. Entranced by Mumm-Ra in this way, the ThunderCats' waking selves are unresponsive and ineffective fighting against the Mutants. Unaware of what has happened to them, they are listless and drained of energy and their normal powers. Lion-O, however, is warned by the Sword of Omens and finds out in time what Mumm-Ra's spell has done. As Mumm-Ra is about to drop urns containing the ThunderCats' dream selves into the Whirlpool of Infinity, Lion-O and the Sword rescue them. And when the Sword summons the ThunderCats, they wake from their sleep and are joined with their dream selves as unified once more.

When we sleep we experience a different form of consciousness than when we are awake. During this state we are aware of images, memories, fantasies, and at times powerful emotions. Sometimes the dreams are pleasant and at other times they are troublesome, and often it is confusing knowing whether the dream images are real or not. Dreaming, however, should not disturb us because it is a normal state of affairs. Our "dream self" and waking self" are the same person in a different form of consciousness. It is easy to conduce what we dream with objective reality, especially when the dreams contain memories of what happened during the day. But the dream images are nothing to be afraid of, and we should evaluate them when we are awake according to what we know is real. In doing so, we will find that we have no reason to fear our dreams.

MUMM-RA creates a museum whose paintings and statues come alive as the ThunderCats' more formidable foes. As Lion-O and SNARF prospect for Thundrillium, MUMM-RA turns into DR. DOMETONE and lures LION-0 to the deadly museum. SNARF fails to stop MUMM-RA and rushes back to the Lair for help. Inside the museum, a painting of SAFARI JOE comes alive and ambushes LION-0. LION-0 defeats SAFARI JOE only to face RATAR-O, who jumps out of a painting and attacks. RATAR-0 traps LION-0 in the electrical force of his Electro Sais, but LION-0 breaks free. MUMM-RA appears and douses LION-0 with Warp Gas. The gas makes LION-0 too scared to fight, so he runs. Meanwhile, the other THUNDERCATS set out in the ThunderTank to rescue LION-0. Once within MUMM-RA's museum, they decide LION-0 must be inside one of the paintings. WILYKAT and WILYKIT enter the SAFARI JOE painting. The other THUNDERCATS drive the ThunderTank into a painting of SPIDERA, who traps the ThunderTank in her webs. SAFARI JOE captures the THUNDERKITTENS in sacks. LION-0 revives to confront MUMM-RA, who transforms into a duplicate of LION-0. LION-0 defeats his own duplicate. Then he uses the Sword to free the other THUNDERCATS from the evil paintings.

"FOND MEMORIES"

Mumm-Ra, lures Lion-O into a trap in the guise of Dr. Dometone, who convinces Lion-O that the residents of Third Earth have erected a cave museum in the ThunderCats' honor. Once inside, however, Lion-0 is confronted by many of the evildoers he faced in the past when paintings of them come alive. Valiantly he holds off them and Mumm-Ra, one by one, until he is made vulnerable by warp gas. The ThunderCats arrive to help him and they each take on a villain. Lion-O recovers from the warp gas to fight Mumm-Ra, who has taken on Lion-O's likeness as a statue. Lion-O defeats him and calls on the Sword of Omens to call the ThudderCats back from their battles.

The episode recounts many of the variants of evil Lion-O and the ThunderCats have faced during their stay on Third Earth. Once again they emerge victorious in the confrontations. Lion-0 is given a reminder by falling for the trap set by Mumm-Ra that the deeds of ThunderCats are not done for conceit or vanity. Rather, their actions and their lives are destined for serving as faithful adherents to the Code of Thundera. As ThunderCats they are called upon to live for truth, justice, honor, and loyalty. It is a code, which no evil can overcome because it is based in good. And in remaining loyal to it the ThunderCats serve as role models for us, who in our lives are also called upon to live morally.