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Don't think you can mess with me! I've seen the eye of the storm! And I forgot what fear is! I'm not afraid of ANYTHING!
―Thunderclap[src]


Thunderclap is an antagonist of the 2015 Disney/Pixar animated feature film The Good Dinosaur. He is a Nyctosaurus and the leader of a ferocious gang of Pterosaurs.

Background

Official Description

"The Pterodactyls are a search-and-rescue team of five. They like to sit back and let the often-treacherous storms in this part of the world do their dirty work, then reap the benefits of the devastation. But when these flying hunter-scavengers set their sights on Spot and Arlo, they’re in for a big surprise."[2]

Personality

According to his introduction to Arlo, Thunderclap used to be frightful of the world around him. This changed when he was caught in a storm which no longer made him afraid. Following this, Thunderclap had a "relevation", realizing that the storm saved his life, therefore he must follow it. The experience made him obsessed with the storm's power, turning him into a sadistic scavenger as he relied more on the animals caught in the storm, gleefully devouring them every time. While he may come across as affable toward dinosaurs at first, Thunderclap is unforgiving toward dinosaurs who help his prey escape, with no qualms toward harming them afterward. Despite being in a group, he does not consider the other pterodactyls as his friends, despite that they all follow his lead, but rather fellow followers. This is also shown when he does not hesitate to fight his own scavengers over any meal found. Thunderclap is quite relentless and savage when it comes to prey that manages to escape, going as far as to pursue them until they are his to devour.

Role in the film

Like the other members of his flock, Thunderclap is a scavenger that follows storms to prey on trapped critters. He seems to be slightly deranged, having a sort of fascination and veneration for storms. He claims that he used to be scared and shy until he had a "relevation" when he saw "the eye" of a storm. He believes that the storm freed him of fear. Thus, he renamed himself "Thunderclap", going by the motto that "the storm provides."

Following a violent storm, Arlo and Spot are found by the Pterosaur flock. At first, Thunderclap pretends to be friendly to Arlo; recounting to him his story. However, his true motives become apparent when he eats a raccoon-like critter whole that Arlo helped free. Thunderclap and the others then set their sights on Spot. Arlo and Spot flee and are saved when two young T-Rexes named Nash and Ramsey come to the rescue and scare the Pterosaurs away.

Sometime later, Arlo and Spot are stuck in yet another storm. Thunderclap and his gang find them again and they succeed at taking away Spot. With a newly-found courage, Arlo faces off the pterodactyls and defeats them. Thunderclap is about to eat Spot, but Arlo roars as loud as ever, making him turn in fear and giving Spot the chance to bite Thunderclap's left wing, leaving a gaping hole. As Thunderclap tries to fly away, Arlo grabs and throws a stick at him, causing him to fall into the river where he is carried helplessly downstream.

It is unknown what happened to him after that. However, Peter Sohn, the director of the film, confirmed on his Twitter that Thunderclap survived.[1]

Video games

The Good Dinosaur: Dino Crossing

Thunderclap appears when the player stands on a pterodactyl's shadow in Journey Mode during later levels. Once the player stands on the shadow, Thunderclap will appear and land on the player and capture them, causing the player to lose a life or an instant game over, depending whetherthey are controlling Arlo and Spot individually or together. In Level 9 of Journey Mode, Thunderclap can be briefly seen capturing Spot in which Arlo must go save him from the pterodactyls.

Also whenever the player remains idle for too long throughout the game in Journey Mode or Endless Mode, Thunderclap will land on the player's character, causing them to lose a life or an instant game over.

Gallery

Screenshots

Merchandise

Miscellaneous

Trivia

  • Thunderclap is the second villain from Pixar to be a pterosaur, the first being the Cleric in Toy Story That Time Forgot.
  • The other four members of Thunderclap's gang are each a different species: Caulkicephalus, Guidraco, and two Ludodactylus.
  • Real Nyctosaurus did not have teeth or wing claws like Thunderclap does, nor did they have feet strong enough for grasping.
    • An action figure of Thunderclap produced by Tomy did portray him without teeth.
  • Thunderclap currently has the shortest screen time of any Pixar villain.

References


v - e - d
The Good Dinosaur Logo
Media
Films: The Good Dinosaur (video/soundtrack)

Video Games: Disney Infinity: 3.0 EditionDino CrossingLEGO The Incredibles
Books: The Art of The Good Dinosaur

Disney Parks
Fireworks: Together Forever: A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular
Characters
ArloSpotPoppa HenryMomma IdaBuckLibbyButchNash and RamseyForrest WoodbrushThunderclapPterodactylsVelociraptorsTetrapodophisCave FamilyDiplodocusParasaurolophusLonghorn Bison
Locations
Clawtooth MountainArlo's Family Farm
Objects
Pixar BallA113Pizza Planet Truck
See Also
The Science Behind PixarPixar in a Box


v - e - d
Disney Villains Logo
Members
The Evil QueenChernabogQueen of HeartsCaptain HookMaleficentCruella De VilUrsulaJafarScarHadesDr. Facilier

Other Disney Animation Villains: PeteBig Bad WolfWillie the GiantLonesome GhostsMortimer MouseMagic MirrorHonest JohnGideonStromboliMonstroPink ElephantsRingmasterThe Headless HorsemanLady TremaineAnastasia TremaineDrizella TremaineLuciferCheshire CatCard SoldiersMr. SmeeSi and AmAunt SarahDiabloJasper and HoraceMadam MimKaaShere KhanEdgarPrince JohnSir HissSheriff of NottinghamHeffalumpsWoozlesMadame MedusaBrutus and NeroAmos SladeHorned KingProfessor RatiganFeliciaSykesFlotsam and JetsamPercival C. McLeachGastonIagoShenzi, Banzai, and EdGovernor RatcliffeClaude FrolloPain and PanicFatesShan YuClaytonSaborYzmaLyle Tiberius RourkeCaptain GantuDr. Jumba JookibaJohn SilverScroopBowler Hat GuyDorisLawrenceDr. Facilier's ShadowMother GothelStabbington BrothersKing CandySour BillHansDuke of WeseltonYokaiBellwetherTamatoaKing Magnifico
Pixar Villains: Sid PhillipsScudHopperMoltEmperor ZurgStinky PeteRandall BoggsHenry J. Waternoose IIISyndromeChick HicksChef SkinnerAUTOCharles F. MuntzLotsoMiles AxlerodProfessor ZMor'duThunderclapErnesto de la CruzEvelyn DeavorDragon the Cat
Other Villains: Br'er FoxBr'er BearOogie BoogieWinifred SandersonMary SandersonSarah SandersonDr. HämstervielQueen NarissaWicked Witch of the WestRipslingerHitchhiking Ghosts

Disney Parks
Celebrate A Dreams Come True ParadeCelebrate the MagicCinderella Castle Mystery TourClub VillainDisney's FantillusionDisney's Maleficious Halloween PartyDisney's Not-So-Scary Halloween ShowDisney's Once Upon a Dream ParadeDisney Dreams!Disney's Stars 'n' Cars... As Never Seen BeforeFantasmic!Feel the MagicFrightfully Fun ParadeGlow in the Park Halloween ParadeHappy HallowishesHocus Pocus Villain SpelltacularInferno Dance PartyIt's Good To Be Bad With The Disney VillainsIt's Good to Be Bad Villainous CelebrationIt's Party Time... with Mickey and Friends... and the Disney VillainsMickey's Boo-to-You Halloween ParadeMickey and his Magic Halloween NightMomentousRe-Villains! Halloween ParadeSorcerers of the Magic KingdomThe Disney Villains Halloween ShowtimeThe Nightmare ExperimentThe Villains WorldUnleash the VillainsVillains GardensVillainy in the SkyVillains Mix and MingleVillains Night Out!Villains Tonight!WishesWorld of Color
Media
Mickey's House of VillainsOnce Upon a HalloweenDisney Villains: Simply Sinister SongsDisney Villains Songbook

Video Games: Disney Villains ChallengeDisney's Villains' Revenge

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