In 2011 Cartoon Network showed a reboot of
the 80s classic Thundercats. This series tells of the struggles between the
ThunderCats and the evil sorcerer Mumm-Ra, following the destruction of their
home, the kingdom of Thundera. To stop Mumm-Ra taking over the universe they
must roam the planet Third Earth to find ancient powerful weapons. This series,
because it was only given one season (26 episodes of the 52 planned), didn't
tell a complete story. It thus only chronicles the growth of Lion-O from an
adolescent lion into the great king of the Thundercats he will become. In the
first episode Lion-O is told he must go through a rite of passage to become
king. Throughout the episodes we can see how Lion-O feels inferior to his
father, such as from Panthro’s comments in episode 5, and he feels he needs to
prove himself. Also in the first two episodes we also see how he is inferior to
his adopted older brother, the tiger Tygra and there is a great rivalry between
them. Although he never does the actual rite of passage the following 20+
episodes really act like this for him, after his impromptu coronation in
episode 2, and as a way for him to prove he deserves to be king despite the
qualities of his older brother. In his development we also get potentially
contradictory messages about how to lead but really it seems to be complex comments
about leading and politics nowadays as well.
A more 80s inspired, stylised fanart. http://th03.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2011/230/1/8/mumm_ra_bustin_out_by_naldridge-d472qf8.jpg
One of the most important phrases throughout
the season of Thundercats is “Sight Beyond Sight”. It refers to Lion-O being
able to use the Sword of Omens as a mystical telescope to scout out his enemies
and more importantly help him find the Book of Omens and Stones of Power, which
he needs to defeat Mumm-Ra. However, in the first episode Jaga, the wise
cleric, associates “Sight Beyond Sight” with the qualities of a good leader,
not just some hallucinations or visions. It means that a leader should be able
to lead with a clear view of all issues and then act accordingly. When Lion-O has
troubles with his “Sight Beyond Sight” powers it is because he is not looking
at the bigger picture. This happens numerous times. For example when Lion-O is
looking for the Book of Omens, in episode 6, the sword fails to work. However. after Lion-O is given some
guidance. the sword works and he finds a switch, which ultimately leads him to
the Book. But this idea is presented in more detail and more importantly when Lion-O
is looking for the first Stone of Power. After the sword shows him it is in the
elephant village, he cannot find the stone. He is told this is because he cannot see the bigger picture. This is illustrated when
he kills the Wraiths, bugs that eat the elephants’ fruit, but doesn't realise their
buzzing keeps away a bigger threat, in the form of a rock giant that could eat
the village. He is told he cannot see the bigger consequences of his actions
and he sees the sword as merely a tool or weapon (and thus his political
position to get what he wants, Cheetara). He needs a larger perspective on his
leadership in general. So he goes to the Forest of the Magi Oar, where again the
sword fails, and Lion-O is again told to look at the bigger picture, this time
by Zig the Wood Forger. After talking to the real forest guardian Viragor, he
realises both the bigger picture and how this bigger picture is what he is
fighting for. After learning his lesson Lion-O returns to the elephant village
where he applies his new skills and knowledge, finds out where the Stone of
Power is and then further applies what he has learned to find the stone in the
Astral Plane, in episode 13, when both Tygra and Mumm-Ra could not. In this he
learns his rivalry with Tygra is not the aim of his leadership, but his (or rather their) real goal is to find the Stone and help their people and that Tygra is in
fact on his side and really wants to help him, even when he questions Lion-O’s
judgement. Likewise Lion-O learns, from his experience of the elephants, that having
everything (all the fruit) and achieving this with violence is not important,
survival and peace between species is more important. Thus the first half or so
of the season was based on Lion-O learning how to lead whilst viewing the
bigger picture and keeping this in mind.
Jaga introduces the idea of "Sight Beyond Sight". http://th03.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/f/2011/221/2/a/jaga_jaga____by_njay-d45yz4c.png
However, at the same time Lion-O is told he must pay attention to the smaller details of tasks if he is to succeed. He cannot just focus on the bigger picture if he is to achieve it. This happens in episode 6 where he is trying too hard to look at the bigger picture. Cheetara tells him that if he looks too hard he will miss what is right in front of him. It means that in this episode, when they must go through a series of traps, they are almost killed numerous times. The details are important too. But what is more important, what is the show trying to say? Well the key to this whole argument is episode 3, the first episode where Lion-O is truly a king making the decisions for his people. In this he follows the bad example of the Fishman captain, Koinelius Tunar, who wants to kill the Ramlak because it destroyed his people’s lovely ocean oasis, drying it up into a desert sea. He focuses only on revenge and he is willing to sacrifice his crew in his pursuit of revenge. But when he does his he forgets the truly bigger picture. This is who exactly he was leading or fighting for. In episode three Lion-O realises that the captain was wrong in just wanting to kill the Ramlak and that he is really should have been working for his people, or those who he is leading, because he really should want to restore the Desert Sea for the livelihood of his people. Lion-O learns, from the bad example of the pirate captain, that there is no point in sacrificing his people’s interests (or rather their lives) for some goal, because you want to achieve this goal to help your crew. You are leading them for their benefit and it is all undone if they are killed in the process. The “bigger picture” is not the goal you want to achieve; it is in fact WHY you want to achieve this goal. So we must pay attention to the big picture, we must remember the big goal of politics, but we must not ignore the small details in the hopes of achieving this dream. In other words the bigger picture must be remembered and then the smaller details must be evaluated if they are achievable and in touch with this bigger goal. If we don’t have the bigger picture in mind the smaller details will be irrelevant.
However, at the same time Lion-O is told he must pay attention to the smaller details of tasks if he is to succeed. He cannot just focus on the bigger picture if he is to achieve it. This happens in episode 6 where he is trying too hard to look at the bigger picture. Cheetara tells him that if he looks too hard he will miss what is right in front of him. It means that in this episode, when they must go through a series of traps, they are almost killed numerous times. The details are important too. But what is more important, what is the show trying to say? Well the key to this whole argument is episode 3, the first episode where Lion-O is truly a king making the decisions for his people. In this he follows the bad example of the Fishman captain, Koinelius Tunar, who wants to kill the Ramlak because it destroyed his people’s lovely ocean oasis, drying it up into a desert sea. He focuses only on revenge and he is willing to sacrifice his crew in his pursuit of revenge. But when he does his he forgets the truly bigger picture. This is who exactly he was leading or fighting for. In episode three Lion-O realises that the captain was wrong in just wanting to kill the Ramlak and that he is really should have been working for his people, or those who he is leading, because he really should want to restore the Desert Sea for the livelihood of his people. Lion-O learns, from the bad example of the pirate captain, that there is no point in sacrificing his people’s interests (or rather their lives) for some goal, because you want to achieve this goal to help your crew. You are leading them for their benefit and it is all undone if they are killed in the process. The “bigger picture” is not the goal you want to achieve; it is in fact WHY you want to achieve this goal. So we must pay attention to the big picture, we must remember the big goal of politics, but we must not ignore the small details in the hopes of achieving this dream. In other words the bigger picture must be remembered and then the smaller details must be evaluated if they are achievable and in touch with this bigger goal. If we don’t have the bigger picture in mind the smaller details will be irrelevant.
Another example proves this. When he is in
the Forest of the Magi Oar, episode 11, the Thundercats encounter the Wood
Forgers, lead by a certain Zig, who saves them from “evil” spirits when the
Sword of Omens fails to work. The Wood Forgers try to protect the forest
through their paper based magic and proudly show the Thundercats their paper
mill where they make thousands of pieces of paper in a day. They are then
attacked by the “evil” monster bird known as Viragor. After his conversation
with the bird and seeing the forest destroyed, Lion-O realises he is not truly
putting the pieces of the puzzle together, just as he couldn't with Zig’s
puzzle previously. Cheetara had earlier questioned if the forest could sustain the
paper mill and then Lion-O confronts the Wood Forgers on their deforestation, saying
how they have lost sight of the bigger picture, protecting the forest. How can
they be protecting something they are destroying? The answer is that they are not.
Zig says that some (trees) must suffer for the greater good, but this just
proves he has lost sight of what the greater good really is, just as the pirate
captain had. So we must find solutions to the problems, but in order to find
the correct smaller steps in our large solution we must remember the why of the
goal. Why do the Wood Forgers want to defeat Viragor? To protect the forest.
Are their methods saving the forest? No, they are only destroying it. Viragor
was in support of the Wood Forgers when they used dead branches on the forest
floor to make paper, but in gaining power they became power hungry and lost
sight of their true goal. So too we can explain why the Soul Sewer is evil and
misguided in this way, he forgot the bigger picture. We can also say why sacrificing
the baby Tygra would have been wrong for the mountainous Tiger clan, because he
was part of who they were ultimately trying to protect. Their idea of one life
for many does not hold up because their methods are not keeping in mind their “greater
good”.
As I said above, another part of the all
important episode three lesson was how the captain showed nothing but anger in
choosing revenge over anything else. Another part of Lion-O’s growth is how he
views the relationship between his emotions and leadership. In particular Lion-O
must suppress his aggressive emotions to be a good leader, as they can distract
him from seeing the bigger picture and make him forget what or who he is truly
leading for. He must especially contain his anger and revenge. In episode three
he learns that anger and focussing on revenge is definitely a bad emotion to a
leader, as it consumes the fishman captain and makes him lose sight of the
bigger picture, the true goal of his mission. In fact more often than not Lion-O’s
anger is connected to pride. In particular Tygra is able to make Lion-O angry,
due to their intense rivalry and this makes Lion-O forget his true goals. This
is evident during their struggles over the crown throughout the first half of
the series. Lion-O’s pride is especially high because he is usually seen as
inferior to Tygra at many times: first in their contest to ring the bell, both
before their father’s death and then during his trials to return to life; in
making military decisions, such as when they return to the elephant village and
Tygra has a better idea in attacking the lizards; and just in terms of strength
and mental fortitude, when they fight to ring the bell at the start and in the Astral Plane. In fact this whole
political rivalry culminates with their fight in the Astral Plane, as Lion-O is
in the mind of being betrayed (because he has been warned by the elephant Anet
of this). In the place where thoughts become reality, a sword appears before
Tygra and the two fight, agreeing to end their rival for the throne there and
then, also having just learnt Tygra caused Lion-O to be trapped in a well as
kids and then abandoned him (when Liono thought it was just an accident).
Although Tygra wins their battle, it is put to an end in terms of politics when
Tygra reveals he truly respects Lion-O and would never betray his brother and
king. Just like when they were kids, Tygra never abandoned Lion-O, he just
regretfully went to find help. The two realise their rivalry can only bring destruction
upon themselves so they put it away, for the mean time. However, Lion-O’s pride
returns even more viciously when, after they return from the Astral Plane,
Tygra betrays Lion-O, by kissing Cheetara, the girl both of them had been vying
for.
The rivalry between brothers caused Lion-O to lose his way. http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2012/292/5/f/knock_it_off_dad_by_reaperclamp-d5ic3xv.jpg
So why is Lion-O’s pride wrong? Often Lion-O’s
pride actually leads to him wrongly questioning others ideas. This happens
numerous times, for example when his pride towards Panthro leads him to
attacking the mine, rather than waiting for night, and this backfires. In the most
extreme case this pride actually led to paranoia and questioning everyone else’s
motivation behind giving him alternate ideas. The main example of this is (after
feeling betrayed by both Tygra and Cheetara with their kiss) Lion-O stubbornly
goes up an exposed mountain cliff-face, to find the next Stone of Power,
despite others telling him not to. This leads to an ambush by Mumm-Ra’s three
generals, as predicted by Panthro, and ultimately Lion-O’s death as he falls
off the mountain in the ambush. Although everything turns out well, the fact
this happens leads to Lion-O’s trials to see if he is a worthy king, and the
only part he falls in is his pride, namely towards his brother. Well basically
pride, just like anger and revenge, clouds judgement. It causes Lion-O to make
the wrong moves because he is doing things for the wrong reasons. In other
words, Lion-O’s pride makes him lose sight of the bigger picture so his
decisions are not carefully weighted enough for the good of his people; they
are aimed at proving that he himself is a good leader, better than all others. In fact Lion-O’s pride (and this leads to
his anger and revenge) is also caused by a deep undercurrent of feeling
unworthy, which has been causes him to want to prove himself. His rivalry with
Tygra has usually ended with him looking inferior. So too his feeling of
unworthiness, when compared to his father Claudus by Panthro, who says his
father was a true leader. Panthro subsequently reprimands Lion-O by saying
respect must not be demanded of someone but should be earned. We must remember Lion-O’s
coronation was done at the last possible second in a very quick manner by Jaga,
as they escaped Thundera. So too in the Drifter episode Lion-O just feels the
need to prove he and the Sword of Omens are better than all others, when he
competes in the contest to cut a large rock. Hubris is shown throughout the
town but Lion-O’s undercurrent of feeling unworthy is then reveals when he
becomes too proud to walk away from the Duelist and ends up losing the Sword of
Omens.
In contrast to pride from feeling that they are lacking, a leader must have self-belief so that they don’t have to feel they need to prove themselves. They cannot be depressed and have no confidence in what they are doing. Lion-O expresses this side of a leader during his Trials in order to earn his second life. He says that some of the tasks, especially those set by Cheetara and Panthro are impossible, but they respond if he thinks that then the tasks will be impossible. He is taught (like in Emrick’s episode too) not to view anything as impossible and without hope, and that he should have confidence in his abilities. This of course culminates with Panthro’s trial where Panthro shows him that Lion-O is a great leader, and he need not be the strongest (nor faster than Cheetara) he just needs to lead with confidence. Like when he frees the lizards in the first two episodes, he is told to have faith in his ideals when others question him. In the Drifter episode Lion-O learns the leader does not have to be the strongest but must be have enough self-awareness to know their weaknesses and shortcomings to hide them or use them to their advantages. The analogy of the willow is used because, although it is not as strong as other pieces of wood, it is flexible enough to bind the other pieces of wood. This perspective helps him win the fight with the Duelist as he realises he is not as strong as the Duelist but compensates this with tactics. So Lion-O may not be the strongest, fastest, or most stealthy or wise but he needs to be like the willow and use his team to the best of their abilities. This is why he is able to overcome his trials after death.
During the two episodes of The Trials of Lion-O
is where Lion-O fully becomes the sort of ideal leader that he should be. In
his first trial he is able to find the key off of WilyKit and WilyKat, because he
uses smell rather than sight. Although this just seems like a fun way for him
to get past the optical illusions created by the “real” WilyKit and WilyKat, it
really just shows Lion-O’s experience with perspective. He is able to push past
the illusions and find the truth, showing he can push past the distractions and
understand the true goal and bigger picture of leadership. Lion-O’s second trial
is beating Cheetara in a race through a maze. After getting over his confidence
issues he uses a bird to fly over the maze and beats the very quick feline to
the key. This symbolises a growth from his pride induced mistake that lead him
to his trials. He learns to use teamwork in an innovative manner. He realises
the power of teamwork and innovation is better than any individual's solo judgement and power. Next Lion-O
is challenged by Panthro to a pseudo-sumo match. Again, after some confidence
issues, Lion-O realises the true goal of his challenge as to show his qualities
as a leader, rather than test him as an entity who is not strong or fast. He
shows the confidence a leader needs and orders Panthro out of the ring, learning
his lesson about how a leader must have self-belief to be successful. We should
remember it was Panthro who scolded Lion-O previously for his pride, saying
respect must be earned, not demanded or taken for granted. Subsequently Lion-O must
prove that he is not too proud when he rematches Tygra in a bell ringing contest.
When Liono loses, because he still holds this rival in him (due to the kiss
between Cheetara and Tygra), Lion-O feels hugely regretful. He realises his
pride has got the best of him, so he forsakes his soul in order to return and save his
gang. He gives up all he has, he gives up his pride with his soul in the “ultimate”
sacrifice for his people. Lion-O is thus rewarded when he is given his second life without having
his soul taken. Thus Lion-O succeeds his trials, just as he had succeeded in
taking on the role of Leo, the first and idealised king of the Thundercats, in
a flashback. His second life is symbolic of him becoming the ideal leader
against whom we can judge others. It is relevant these last two challenges of
confidence and arrogance were within the palace, showing Lion-O was proving
himself worthy of the throne with these. It is also relevant that during this
time Tygra fails as a leader in his attempt to reclaim the Sword from Mumm-Ra and his generals, but when Lion-O
returns he succeeds. Thus Lion-O finally surpasses his older brother. Lion-O also
learns throughout this time both pride or rather arrogance is bad but he must
still have confidence in his abilities.
One of Lion-O's first trials involved reenacting the deeds of his ancestor, Leo. http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/244/5/4/54961aae0b77e03a8a0814ae156eed72-d48jrga.jpg
You can read more about how Lion-O, rather than being shown as an inferior leader by comparison, is shown as the ideal one in the second half the Thundercats series. The second part to this essay is here: http://animevigil.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-politics-of-third-earth-part-2-lion.html
One of Lion-O's first trials involved reenacting the deeds of his ancestor, Leo. http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/244/5/4/54961aae0b77e03a8a0814ae156eed72-d48jrga.jpg
You can read more about how Lion-O, rather than being shown as an inferior leader by comparison, is shown as the ideal one in the second half the Thundercats series. The second part to this essay is here: http://animevigil.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-politics-of-third-earth-part-2-lion.html
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