"ThunderCats" arrived on television a few years after George Lucas' original "Star Wars" trilogy came to a close. The galaxy far, far away didn't only inspire the next generation of sci-fi and fantasy properties, it also carried a powerful message of how redemption is possible for even the biggest villains. Darth Vader had become corrupted by his anger, turning to the dark side of the Force, but when it mattered most, he rediscovered his humanity and did what was right. The good versus evil element of "Star Wars" permeated throughout every "ThunderCats" episode, but the animated show also paid tribute to Lucas' space opera in another way.
Chatting to ThunderCatsFans.org, writer and character designer Dennis Woodyard revealed that he included a homage to "Star Wars" in the episode "Shadowmaster," mimicking a famous scene from the films. "One of my favorite parts was the ending where Lion-O's father appears next to Jaga," he said. "That was my nod to 'Star Wars.'" Like the ending of "Return of the Jedi," where the Force ghosts of Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Yoda appear to Luke Skywalker, this scene was important to Lion-O. It showcased his mentors effectively passing on the leadership of the ThunderCats to him.
