Battle Cat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle Cat |
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| Masters of the Universe character | |
Cringer (top) and Battle Cat (bottom) in their original 1983 incarnations.
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| Created by | Mattel |
| Voiced by | Alan Oppenheimer |
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| Aliases | Cringer |
Cringer is a famous fictional character from the Masters of the Universe world. He is a large, green, tiger-like cat. Cringer is the loyal pet and best friend of He-Man's secret identity, Prince Adam. When Prince Adam uses his Power Sword to become He-Man, Cringer also transforms. He changes into the mighty and brave Battle Cat, who is He-Man's powerful fighting partner and mount.
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Battle Cat in the Original Series (1983-1985)
In the first He-Man and the Masters of the Universe TV show, Battle Cat is the secret identity of Cringer. As Cringer, he is a very shy, lazy, and often scared cat. He loves to eat and sleep. Cringer tries to avoid any kind of danger or responsibility. He can talk, but the show never explains how he got this ability. He looks like a green tiger with orange stripes.
When Prince Adam needs to become He-Man, he points his Power Sword at Cringer. A powerful energy beam hits Cringer, changing him into Battle Cat. As Battle Cat, Cringer becomes much bigger, about twice his normal size. He also gets special red armor that covers his head and back, with a saddle for He-Man to ride.
Battle Cat is the complete opposite of Cringer. He is fearless, strong, and brave. His voice also changes, becoming a deep growl instead of Cringer's quiet whimper. Even though Cringer doesn't like becoming Battle Cat because it means facing danger, he does it out of loyalty to Adam. Battle Cat mostly carries He-Man into battle, but he also fights villains himself. In one episode, "The Cat And The Spider," Battle Cat even finds a love interest named Kittrina, who is a warrior from a race of cat-people.
How Cringer Became Battle Cat
The story of Cringer and Battle Cat's past is shown in the episode "Battle Cat." When Prince Adam was a young boy, he was exploring the jungle. He heard a small kitten crying and saw a large sabrecat nearby. Adam scared the sabrecat away and found a tiny, abandoned green tiger cub. Adam took the kitten back to the palace, where Man-At-Arms helped it get well. Adam then adopted the kitten as his pet.
However, the kitten was very easily scared. Adam and his new pet were often teased by Teela and other children. They started calling the kitten "Cringer" because he would cringe (flinch away) from everything he saw. Adam defended his pet but agreed the name fit him. The Sorceress of Castle Grayskull appeared to young Adam. She told him that Cringer might be embarrassing now, but he would be very helpful in the future.
Years later, Adam gained the power to become He-Man. He usually transformed when Cringer wasn't watching. Even though Cringer had grown into a normal-sized tiger, he was still afraid of almost everything. This changed during an archaeological dig. Adam, Teela, and Man-At-Arms were there, and Cringer came along because he didn't want to leave Adam's side.
They accidentally opened a door, releasing a monster. To stop it, Adam transformed into He-Man. Cringer secretly watched the whole transformation and ran to hide. He-Man tried to calm Cringer, but he accidentally pointed his still-glowing sword at the scared cat. A beam of energy shot from the sword and hit Cringer. Suddenly, Cringer grew much larger, gained red armor, and a fierce growling voice. He-Man was surprised but remembered the Sorceress's words. He then received another message, telling him that Battle Cat was now his partner. With Battle Cat's help, He-Man was able to stop the monster and save his friends.
Battle Cat in the 2002 Series
In the 2002 Masters of the Universe TV series, Cringer is still Prince Adam's pet. In this version, he can understand what people say but cannot speak himself. He sounds like a regular house cat. Cringer is still a bit cowardly, but he sometimes shows bravery to help Adam.
As Battle Cat, he mostly carries He-Man. He often roars loudly in battle. In the first season, Battle Cat doesn't fight much. But in season two, the writers gave him a more active role. He often fights against the evil Snake Men and Skeletor's forces. Since he doesn't speak, the show focuses on his strong bond with Adam and He-Man. For example, if Cringer or Battle Cat gets hurt, He-Man becomes very angry. He-Man also often explains things to Battle Cat, showing their deep connection.
Battle Cat is seen without his battle helmet twice in this series. This shows a fiercer, saber-toothed version of Cringer's face underneath. The show also reveals that King Grayskull, an ancient hero and ancestor of He-Man, had his own powerful mount. This mount was more lion-like and stayed by King Grayskull's side until his death.
How Battle Cat Was Created
In the TV show The Toys That Made Us, Paul Cleveland, who worked in marketing for Mattel (the company that made He-Man toys), shared an interesting story. Mattel wanted He-Man to have a vehicle, but they didn't have enough money to make a new one. So, they decided to use a tiger toy from another toy line called Big Jim.
However, the tiger toy was not the right size for the He-Man action figure. It was about the size of a horse compared to He-Man. Cleveland still wanted to use it. An artist named Tony Guerrero even made a green version of the tiger, hoping Cleveland would change his mind. But Cleveland liked the green tiger and suggested putting a saddle on it. This idea led to Battle Cat's final design, making him one of the most recognizable characters in the Masters of the Universe universe.
Powers and Abilities
Even as Cringer, he is strong enough to carry Prince Adam if Adam is hurt or unconscious. Cringer will also bravely defend Adam if he is in danger. When Cringer transforms into Battle Cat, all these qualities become much stronger. Battle Cat is incredibly powerful, fearless, and a fierce fighter, making him a perfect partner for He-Man in their battles against evil.
