Thunderbolt is a character from Disney's One Hundred and One Dalmatians, the TV series, and 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure.
Appearances
One Hundred and One Dalmatians
Thunderbolt is the Dalmatian puppies' favorite show on TV.
101 Dalmatians: The Series
Thunderbolt appears in person in "Watch for Falling Idols," where he and his camera crew arrive on the Dearly Farm to film their next episode. Lucky is excited to see Thunderbolt and tells the dog that he's his biggest fan and has seen all of his TV shows. However, when the farm scene takes place, it is revealed that Thunderbolt uses a stunt double (a poodle in a German Shepherd costume) to do his dangerous stunts. After the show, Lucky asks Thunderbolt if this is true, but before he can answer, Thunderbolt is lifted into the air by the camera crew's crane and panics because he is afraid of heights. After Thunderbolt is lowered to the ground, Lucky shuns him and tells Thunderbolt that he's a fake and probably never did a brave thing in his entire life. Later on, Lucky believes he can do something brave and climbs up on the windmill, but he gets stuck on one of the rotating blades. Lucky desperately screams for help, and Thunderbolt, pushing his fears aside, rescues Lucky using the camera crew's crane. Lucky thanks Thunderbolt, who tells him that a hero isn't one who is afraid of nothing, but is one who is willing to face his fears. Lucky agrees with Thunderbolt, and the two friends reconcile with each other.
101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure
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 help those in need, and is not afraid to admit that he's just an actor. Thunderbolt is also cunning and highly skilled with his acting, as seen when he tricks the villains 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."
