ThunderCats is an American animated television series that was produced by Rankin/Bass Productions debuting in 1985, based on the characters created by Tobin "Ted" Wolf. The series follows the adventures of a group of cat-like humanoid aliens. The animation was provided by Pacific Animation Corporation. Season 1 of the show aired in 1985, comprised of 65 episodes, followed by a TV movie entitled ThunderCats - HO! in 1986. Seasons two, three, and four followed a new format of twenty episodes each, starting with a five-part story; these aired from 1987 to 1988, 1988 to 1989, and 1989 to 1990, respectively.

Neil Goldman claims that the series was one of the highlights of the 20th century in the song "You've Got a Lot to See" in "Brian Wallows and Peter's Swallows".

In the second segment of Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story, called "Bango Was His Name Oh" Lion-O, Cheetara and Snarf are in Cats' Lair. Lion-O uses the Sword of Omens to watch Cheetara in the bathroom urinating. Larry Kenney, as Lion-O and Lynne Lipton, as Cheetara, reprise their roles from the TV show.

Lion-O appears in the Robot Chicken universe in Road to the Multiverse and also as a toy in "April in Quahog".

In "German Guy", Peter asks Herbert to tell Meg "Thunder thighs are on the move, Thunder thighs are loose": A parody to the opening theme lyrics.

Quagmire has a sleep-deprived hallucination of Joe Swanson as Cheetara in "Baby Got Black".

The sword that Peter carries in "Three Directors" is the Sword of Omens.