How to watch
ThunderCats Watch Order in the correct order
How to watch the ThunderCats series in order
Last updated: September 30 2026
Written by: ChronoBob
ThunderCats has clawed its way through multiple animated series since the 1980s, from the sword-swinging original to modern reboots. This guide lays out the watch order for the heroic cat warriors of Third Earth.
ThunderCats follows a group of feline humanoid heroes led by the young lord Lion-O, who flee their dying homeworld and crash-land on Third Earth, where they battle the evil mutant Mumm-Ra. A staple of 1980s action animation, the franchise has been rebooted several times, each version reimagining the ThunderCats' adventures for a new era.
π Release Order
Release order follows the animated series from the classic original to its later reinventions.
- ThunderCats (1985)
- ThunderCats (2011 reboot)
- ThunderCats Roar (2020)
Since each series is its own separate continuity and retelling, they don't form a single connected timeline.
π Story Chronology
Each version tells its own complete origin for the ThunderCats, so the chronology exists within a given series rather than across all three.
- ThunderCats (1985) β the classic adventure on Third Earth
- ThunderCats (2011) β a darker, serialized reboot
- ThunderCats Roar (2020) β a comedic reimagining
Which Order Should You Choose?
Newcomers can start with whichever tone appeals to them, since each series stands alone. The 1985 original is the nostalgic classic, the 2011 reboot offers a more serialized, action-driven story that many fans consider the strongest, and ThunderCats Roar takes a lighthearted, comedic approach. If you want the definitive modern take, begin with the 2011 series; for nostalgia, start with the original. There's no need to watch them in any particular sequence.
π Related Guides
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