What is SilverHawks?
SilverHawks is an animated superhero series produced by Rankin/Bass and distributed by Lorimar-Telepictures in 1986 — the same studio and team behind ThunderCats. It was deliberately conceived as the "space equivalent" of ThunderCats: if Lion-O and his tribe defended Third Earth, the SilverHawks patrolled outer space against intergalactic crime. In total 65 episodes were produced, and we already covered his direct meeting point with Thundera in our article on the official ThunderCats X SilverHawks crossover.
History and Origin
After the success of ThunderCats, Rankin/Bass sought to repeat the formula with a different approach: instead of humanoid felines on a wild planet, a squad of cyborg agents patrolling the Limbo Galaxy. Leadership of the team falls to Quicksilver (Captain Jonathan Quick, former head of Interplanetary Force H), accompanied by Lieutenant Colonel Bluegrass, the twins Steelheart and Steelwill, and the young prodigy Copper Kidd. His main antagonist, Mon*Star, became an almost perfect mirror of Mumm-Ra: both could transform into all-powerful versions of themselves by reciting a special incantation.
The ThunderCats Connection
SilverHawks didn't just share a studio with ThunderCats: it reused much of the same voice cast and writers. Larry Kenney (voice of Leon-O), Peter Newman, Earl Hammond, Doug Preis and Bob McFadden appear in both productions, and both series were animated by the same studio, Pacific Animation Corporation (PAC). For fans who grew up with both series in the '80s, this continuity of voices and visual style made ThunderCats and SilverHawks feel like sister universes — an intuition that the franchise itself would end up confirming with the official crossover.
SilverHawks Key Data
| Fact | Description |
|---|---|
| Release year | 1986 |
| Study | Rankin/Bass Productions, distributed by Lorimar-Telepictures |
| Episodes | 65 |
| Team leader | Quicksilver (Captain Jonathan Quick) |
| main villain | Mon*Star, voice of Earl Hammond (also voice of Mumm-Ra) |
| Animation | Pacific Animation Corporation (PAC), the same as ThunderCats |
7 Curiosities about SilverHawks
- SilverHawks was explicitly designed as the "space" answer to ThunderCats, same action-moral formula adapted to outer space.
- Shares at least five main voice actors with ThunderCats.
- Mon*Star and Mumm-Ra use the same narrative device of transformation through a ritual spell.
- Copper Kidd, one of the SilverHawks, communicates using computerized whistles and tones, a character design unique to the Rankin/Bass production.
- The twins Steelheart and Steelwill were humans partially converted into cyborgs, an unusual premise for an '80s children's series.
- The series used the same animation (PAC) as ThunderCats, which explains the visual similarity between both productions.
- The official crossover between both franchises confirmed that Thundera and the Limbo Galaxy belong to the same shared universe.
In the 2026 Movie
Warner Bros. Pictures Animation officially confirmed a new ThunderCats animated film at the Annecy Festival on June 22, 2026, although there is still no confirmed director, voice cast or release date. With the official ThunderCats
Do you remember SilverHawks from the 80s? Tell us in the comments which character was your favorite.
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⚡ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ⚡
What is SilverHawks?
SilverHawks is an animated superhero series produced by Rankin/Bass and distributed by Lorimar-Telepictures in 1986 — the same studio and team behind ThunderCats. It was deliberately conceived as the "space equivalent" ...
What should you know about: History and Origin?
After the success of ThunderCats, Rankin/Bass sought to repeat the formula with a different approach: instead of humanoid felines on a wild planet, a squad of cyborg agents patrolling the Limbo Galaxy. Leadership of the ...
What should you know about: The ThunderCats Connection?
SilverHawks didn't just share a studio with ThunderCats: it reused much of the same voice cast and writers. Larry Kenney (voice of Leon-O), Peter Newman, Earl Hammond, Doug Preis and Bob McFadden appear in both ...
What should you know about: SilverHawks Key Data?
SilverHawks was explicitly designed as the "space" answer to ThunderCats, same action-moral formula adapted to outer space. Shares at least five main voice actors with ThunderCats. Mon*Star and Mumm-Ra use the same ...
What should you know about: 7 Curiosities about SilverHawks?
SilverHawks was explicitly designed as the "space" answer to ThunderCats, same action-moral formula adapted to outer space. Shares at least five main voice actors with ThunderCats. Mon*Star and Mumm-Ra use the same ...
