Battle Cat

This article is about the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe character. You may be looking for the original character.

Battle Cat as seen in the 1983 cartoon series by Filmation: He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.

History[]

BattlecatSavesGirl — Battle Cat allows people who He-Man rescues to ride on his saddle too.

For Filmation's animated series He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, both Cringer and Battle Cat are largely unchanged from the Kupperberg stories. The Cavern of Power is replaced with a transformation sequence, wherein Adam holds up his sword and calls upon the power of Grayskull to turn him into He-Man in a burst of energy. He-Man then points his sword at Cringer, directing some of the power to his friend until he grows and changes into Battle Cat. Although He-Man does not have to transform Cringer, it is not clear if Battle Cat can exist while He-Man is Prince Adam.

The origin of the character is established in Battlecat. The episode recounts that Adam, while on a few days exploring the jungle as a boy, found a green tiger cub being attacked by a vicious sabrecat. After scaring the sabrecat away, Adam took the kitten back to the palace where it was tended to by Man-At-Arms. After it became well, Adam adopted the kitten as his pet. However the kitten was scared very easily, and Adam and the kitten were teased by Teela and the other children, with the kitten being called a cringer. Although Adam defended his pet, the name stuck. The Sorceress appeared and told Adam that Cringer might bring him embarrassment now, but in the future he would be useful. Years passed, and after Adam was given the ability to become He-Man he usually hid from Cringer. However, when an archeological dig was attacked by a recently released monster, Adam transformed into He-Man without knowing Cringer was watching. After spotting him, He-Man tried to reassure his pet that he was really Adam, but after pointing the Sword of Power towards Cringer it let out the usual energy beam, transforming Cringer into Battle Cat for the first time. He-Man was shocked to see the change in the usually timid cat, but remembered the Sorceress' words from when he was a child and he received another message, telling him Battle Cat was now his partner. Using Battle Cat, he was able to confine the beast and save the endangered team.

Compared to He-Man, Battle Cat is far more impulsive, hotheaded, and grouchy than his partner. Whereas He-Man always says and does the right thing, Battle Cat can be short-tempered and sarcastic when he's annoyed.^[1] He becomes anxious when there is nothing for him to do, which may indicate the reason he must return to his Cringer form whenever Eternia is at peace.^[2]

Upon meeting him, Kittrina of the Cat Folk becomes quite fond of Battle Cat, regarding him as more handsome than He-Man and calling him "big boy." Battle Cat seemed distracted by this affection, although his exact feelings were left unclear. Upon leaving the Royal Palace to return to her people, Kittrina expresses a desire to return to visit Battle Cat, and blows a kiss in Cringer's direction, possibly indicating an awareness of their dual identity.^[3]

Appearances[]

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (1983)[]

Season One

Season Two

She-Ra: Princess of Power[]

Season One

Feature-length movies[]

The Secret of the Sword

Gallery[]

References[]

[1] The Gamesman

[2] Trouble's Middle Name

[3] The Cat and the Spider

[1]

[2]

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