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Thunderbolt is a character from One Hundred and One Dalmatians and the deuteragonist of the 2003 sequel 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure. He is a famous German Shepherd TV wonder dog.

Appearances

One Hundred and One Dalmatians

Thunderbolt is the Dalmatian pups' favorite TV show hero. In the show, he is shown to be chasing Dirty Dawson, with the horse thief shooting at him. The thief then travels on foot as Thunderbolt searches. In some scenes, it shows Thunderbolt making a leap across a canyon before it seems like Dawson has shot Thunderbolt. However, Thunderbolt is only pretending, and as Dawson laughs about this, Thunderbolt then attacks and the two fall into a river, having the show end in a cliffhanger as the two are about to fall down a waterfall.

101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure

In the show, the dynamic and brave Thunderbolt is joined by his offbeat sidekick Lil' Lightning fight to defeat the evil Dirty Dawson.

In an episode, Dirty Dawson kidnaps a helpless boy named Tommy. It's up to Thunderbolt and Lil' Lightning to defeat him before any harm befalls Tommy. As Dawson ties Tommy to a moving train, Thunderbolt perches on a cliff. He jumps to the train, confronting Dawson.

Whilst Thunderbolt battles Dawson, Lil' Lightning unties Tommy. Dawson causes Thunderbolt to stumble between the train carts, and as he's about to strike Thunderbolt, another train heads by the train carts they are on, allowing Thunderbolt to get around Dawson. Thunderbolt then tangles Dawson in his own whip, tripping him up and causing him to fall into a boxcar with a mad bull. Tommy is then rescued and Thunderbolt saves the day.

While watching The Thunderbolt Adventure Hour, Patch, longing to feel one-of-a-kind like his hero Thunderbolt, hears about a chance to appear on the show while it is filming in London. However, when Roger, Anita and the 101 Dalmatians plan to move to the Dalmatian Plantation, the family move will interfere with Patch's opportunity -- until he is accidentally left behind in the commotion. Patch heads for the audition to meet his hero. Meanwhile, Thunderbolt's "trusty" sidekick, Lil' Lightning tells Thunderbolt the producers want to replace him with a younger dog.

In order to save his job, Thunderbolt decides he will go into the real world and perform an act of true heroism to prove himself. A veritable reference book to Thunderbolt's many adventures, Patch provides the perfect guide for the TV star in his attempts at real-life heroics.

At first, Thunderbolt is seen as arrogant and selfish, seeming only to care about his job and his popularity. He is very popular with other dogs, and Patch is his biggest fan, knowing all of his episodes by heart. As the film goes on, Thunderbolt becomes more kind and helpful, and he and Patch start to become friends. Furthermore, he is willing to assist those in need and is not afraid to admit that he's just an actor and all his rescue missions on his show are fake. He is also cunning and highly skilled with his acting, as seen when he tricks Cruella De Vil, Jasper, Horace, and Lil' Lightning into believing that he is having a heart attack.

A post-credits scene shows Thunderbolt with his new sidekick Patch in his TV show The Thunderbolt Adventure Hour.

101 Dalmatians: The Series

In 101 Dalmatians: The Series, Thunderbolt is the star of a show called Thunderbolt P. I., where he works with a James Bond-like partner named Rex Hunter. There are also a number of antagonists in said show, such as Bone Daddy, Doctor Wonko, the Masked Marauders, and even his evil twin.

In "Dog's Best Friend", Blaze claims that he was up for the role of "Young Thunderbolt", but Thunderbolt ended up playing the role himself.

Thunderbolt also appears in "Kanine Krunchies" advertisements (including the one from the original film) and even stars in his own film.

Thunderbolt made a physical appearance in "Watch for Falling Idols", where he and his creators arrive on the Dearly Farm to film their next episode. Lucky is thrilled to meet his idol and tells Thunderbolt that he's his biggest fan and that they once met at the Gruteley County Fair, where Thunderbolt supposedly autographed a picture. Lucky also claims to have seen all of Thunderbolt's movies. Before the episode is filmed, Thunderbolt is seen relaxing in a hot tub inside his trailer, where he is idolized by Lucky, who even waits on him. However, when Lucky later finds out that Thunderbolt doesn't do his own stunts (after Thunderbolt panics from being lifted off the ground, due to his fear of heights), he shuns Thunderbolt and loses faith in him. Later on, Lucky tries to prove he's brave by climbing up the TV windmill, but ends up putting himself in danger instead. Fortunately, Thunderbolt notices Lucky in trouble and, pushing his fears aside, manages to rescue his young fan. Lucky thanks Thunderbolt who tells him that a hero isn't one who fears nothing, but is one who is willing to overcome his fears. Lucky agrees with Thunderbolt and they reconcile.

The Further Adventures of Thunderbolt

2015-aventures-ouragan-02

Thunderbolt and his human in The Further Adventures of Thunderbolt.

The One Hundred and One Dalmatians Diamond Edition Blu-ray features a Thunderbolt short based on early drafts of the scene, which follows the events directly from where they are seen in the animated 101 Dalmatians.

The short shows that Thunderbolt and Dawson are able to catch branches sticking from the side of the waterfall. Dawson is able to reach a ledge and as Thunderbolt's branch is about to snap, his human, the sheriff, is able to use his lasso to save him. The two pursue Dawson, but the thief uses explosives to cause an avalanche, blocking their path and allowing him to take some sacks of money from a wagon, which may be why Thunderbolt is chasing him. The sheriff thinks Dawson has escaped, but Thunderbolt climbs across the rock pile to continue the chase. In the end, thanks to Thunderbolt, Dawson is nabbed and brought to justice.

Gallery

Wiki
The Disney Wiki has a collection of images and media related to Thunderbolt.

Trivia


v - e - d
101-Dalmatians-Logo-2008
Media
Films: One Hundred and One Dalmatians (video/soundtrack) • 101 Dalmatians (video/soundtrack) • 102 Dalmatians (video/soundtrack) • 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure (video) • Cruella (video/soundtrack/score) • Cruella 2

Television series: 101 Dalmatians: The Series101 Dalmatian Street101 Dalmatians Plantation
Video Games: Animated StoryBook: 101 DalmatiansMath Antics with Disney's 101 DalmatiansDisney Hotshots: Disney's 101 Dalmatians101 Dalmatians: Escape from DeVil Manor102 Dalmatians: Puppies to the Rescue102 Dalmatians: Activity Center101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London AdventureKingdom Hearts
Books: Disney Princess BeginningsHello, Cruel HeartBe Careful What You Wish FurEvil Thing: A Tale of That Devil WomanEvil Thing: A Villains Graphic Novel

Disney Parks
Disney's All-Star Movies ResortClub VillainSorcerers of the Magic KingdomMidship Detective Agency

Entertainment: Disney Classics: The Music & The MagicThe Golden MickeysVillains Tonight!
Parades: Disney Cinema Parade
Fireworks: MomentousWonderful World of AnimationWondrous Journeys
Halloween: Disney's Maleficious Halloween PartyFrightfully Fun ParadeHappy HallowishesHocus Pocus Villain SpelltacularHouse of De Vil-lainsIt's Good to be Bad with the Disney VillainsLet's Get WickedMickey's Boo-to-You Halloween ParadeRe-Villains! Halloween ParadeScream and Shout Halloween ParadeThe Disney Villains Halloween ShowtimeThe Villains Rockin’ HalloweenVillains Mix and MingleVillains Night Out! Chapter 2

Characters
One Hundred and One Dalmatians: PongoPerditaRoger RadcliffeAnita RadcliffeNannyCruella De VilJasper and HoraceDalmatian PuppiesLuckyPatchRollyPennyFrecklesPepperDannyScottieTowserLucyCaptainSergeant TibbsColonelThunderboltDirty DawsonPrissyCocoCollieThe CowsLabrador

101 Dalmatians: The Series: CadpigSpotMoochTripodScorchLieutenant PugMayor Ed PigDumplingCorneliaSwamp RatCydneStevenPersian PeteVendella De VilGo-GoBlazeCave PupRebeccaThe VandercreamsAmber DearlyP.H. De VilCecil B. De VilIvy De VilMalevola De VilJudge Dimsdale De Vil
101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure: Lil' LightningLars
101 Dalmatians: HerbertAlonzoMr. SkinnerJewelDipstickFidgetTwo-ToneWhizzerKipper
101 Dalmatian Street: DylanDollyDawkinsDougDelilahTriple-DDanteD.J.DeepakDieselDorothyDa VinciDelgadoDizzy & Dee DeeDimitri TrioPortia PoodleFergus FoxHanselRoxySnowballClarissaPearlHunter De VilSpikeConstantin SidBig FeeSpencer Sausage DogSummerChipsArabellaPrunellaBessieApolloCuddlesDoctor DaveGodfreyHugoStanislav
Video game characters: Patches
102 Dalmatians: Chloe SimonKevin ShepherdJean-Pierre Le PeltDottieLittle DipperDominoOddballFluffyDroolerChompDiggerWaddlesworthEwan
Cruella: Baroness Von HellmanBuddyWinkArtieJohnCatherine MillerThe Baroness' DalmatiansGerald

Episodes
101 Dalmatians: The Series

ABC Episodes: "Home is Where the Bark Is" • "He Followed Me Home" • "Love 'Em and Flea 'Em" • "Howl Noon" • "Easy on the Lies" • "Two for the Show" • "An Officer and a Gentledog" • "Bad to the Bone" • "Southern Fried Cruella" • "Swine Song" • "Watch for Falling Idols" • "The High Price of Fame" • "The Great Cat Invasion" • "No Train, No Gain" • "Rolly's Egg-Celent Adventure" • "Wild Chick Chase" • "The Dogs of DeVil" • "Dog's Best Friend" • "A Christmas Cruella" • "Out to Launch" • "Prophet and Loss"
Syndicated Episodes: "You Slipped a Disk" • "Chow About That?" • "Tic Track Toe" • "Lucky All Star" • "Shake, Rattle, and Woof" • "Cadpig Behind Bars" • "Leisure Lawsuit" • "Purred It Through the Grapevine" • "Our Own Digs" • "Goose Pimples (Goose Pamples)" • "Two Faces of Anita" • "The Fungus Among Us" • "Market Mayhem" • "Lucky to be Alone" • "Four Stories Up" • "It's a Swamp Thing" • "Roll Out the Pork Barrel" • "Alive N' Chicken" • "Prima Doggy" • "You Say It's Your Birthday" • "Oozy Does It" • "Barnboozled" • "Citizen Canine" • "Full Metal Pullet" • "Dough the Right Thing" • "Frisky Business" • "Cadet of the Month" • "Valentine Daze" • "Close But No Cigar" • "Invasion of the Doggy Snatchers" • "Smoke Detectors" • "Lobster Tale" • "Double Dog Dare" • "Mooove It On Over" • "Shipwrecked" • "Mall Pups" • "Shrewzle Watch" • "The Life You Save" • "Spots and Shots" • "On the Lamb" • "Treasure of Swamp Island" • "Lord of the Termites" • "Fountain of Youth" • "Walk a Mile in My Tracks" • "Cruella World" • "Hail to the Chief" • "Food for Thought" • "The Maltese Chicken" • "Film Fatale" • "My Fair Chicken" • "Snow Bounders" • "Gnaw or Never" • "Poison Ivy" • "Twelve Angry Pups" • "The Good-bye Chick" • "Robo-Rolly" • "Splishing and Splashing" • "Virtual Lucky" • "Cupid Pups" • "The Artist Formerly Known as Spot" • "The Nose Knows" • "K is for Kibble" • "Humanitarian of the Year" • "Beauty Pageant Pandemonium" • "Hog-Tied" • "Coup DeVil" • "Every Little Crooked Nanny" • "Cone Head" • "Channels" • "Un-Lucky" • "The Making of..." • "Best of Show" • "Walk on the Wild Side" • "Horace and Jasper's Big Career Move" • "DeVil-Age Elder" • "Jurassic Bark" • "My Fair Moochie" • "Dog Food Day Afternoon" • "Spot's Fairy God-Chicken" • "Good Neighbor Cruella" • "Animal House Party" • "Dalmatian Vacation, Part I - Road Warriors" • "Dalmatian Vacation, Part II - Cross-Country Calamity" • "Dalmatian Vacation, Part III - Dearly Beloved"
101 Dalmatian Street
Shorts: "Merry Pups" • "Muddy Pups" • "Prank Pups" • "Ransom Pups" • "Target Pups" • "Yoga Pups" • "Jurassic Pups" "Space Pups" • "Disco Pups" • "Diva Pups"
Season One: "Dog's Best Friend" • "Boom Night" • "Power to the Puppies" • "Who The Dog Do You Think You Are?" • "Walkies on the Wild Side" • "May Contain Nuts" • "Winter Funderland" • "Snow Day" • "Perfect Match" • "All Fired Up" • "Poetry Scam" • "Crushed Out" • "Girls' Day Out" • "The Woof Factor" • "The Nose Job" • "My Fair Dolly" • "Flea-Mageddon" • "A Right Royal Rumble" • "Dal-Martians" • "A Date with Destiny... Dallas and Déjà Vu" • The Wow of MiaowFear WindowThe Dog HouseA Summer to RememberLong Tongue DayDoggy Da VinciLondon, We Have a ProblemIt's My PartyFox in the Dog HouseFetchDon't Push Your LuckThe Curse of the FerrydogThe Walls Are AliveDiamond DogsRide AlongPoodlewolfThe Longest NightBalancing ActDawkins Strikes BackPoodlefall!Dotty DancingYappily Ever AfterD-FactorPuppy DreamsDante's InfernoBetter the De Vil You KnowThe De Vil Wears Puppies

Locations
LondonRegents ParkDe Vil ManorDinsfordDearly FarmGruteley CountyCherry Tree FarmHouse of DeVil101 Dalmatian Street2nd Time AroundLiberty LondonHouse of BaronessJohn's Apartment
Songs
Films: Cruella De VilKanine KrunchiesDalmatian PlantationPlayful MelodyI See SpotsTry AgainYou're the OneDigga Digga DogSo Fabulous, So FierceWho's Sorry Now?Perhaps, Perhaps, PerhapsLivin' ThingCall Me CruellaThese Boots Are Made for Walkin'I'm Gettin' Good at Being BadCruellaWhat Can a Bird Do?The Language of Dogs

Animated Storybook: I Love FurPuppies, Oh, PuppiesTwilight BarkUp the StairCover Yourselves with Soot
Television series: 1-0-1Dalmatian VacationSurf PuppiesI Got My Pups with MeIt's a Dog's LifeIn the HouseDolly's RapDogs are Out for Summer SunIt's a PrankWe're Sending You Love
Deleted: Don't Buy a Parrot from a SailorMarch of the One Hundred and OneCheerio, Good-Bye, Toodle-oo, Hip Hip!One Hundred and OneThe Creation of Cruella De Vil

See also
Cruella's carJasper and Horace's truckThe Thunderbolt Adventure HourWhat's My Crime?The Disney AfternoonHouse of MouseOnce Upon a TimeThe Further Adventures of Thunderbolt
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