Snarf is a fictional, heroic character featured in the ThunderCats

ThunderCats

ThunderCats is an American animated television series that was produced by Rankin/Bass Productions debuting in 1984, based on the characters created by Tobin "Ted" Wolf. The series follows the adventures of a group of cat-like humanoid aliens...

 media franchise

Media franchise

A media franchise is an intellectual property involving the characters, setting and trademarks of an original work of media , such as a film, a work of literature, a television program or a video game. Generally, a whole series is made in a particular medium, along with merchandising and endorsements...

. In the 1985 version of ThunderCats Snarf is an elder Snarf, properly known by his name Osbert, which he hates, Snarf served as a nursemaid and protector

Legal guardian

A legal guardian is a person who has the legal authority to care for the personal and property interests of another person, called a ward. Usually, a person has the status of guardian because the ward is incapable of caring for his or her own interests due to infancy, incapacity, or disability...

 for Lion-O when he was a boy. After Lion-O grew up, Snarf found that often Lion-O didn’t want to have him "mothering" or protecting him. Still, Snarf has remained loyal to Lion-O and the other ThunderCats. At times, he does come through in a pinch with an idea and takes action when it is needed. Despite his age, he does keep up with the others. Even though not a fighter by skill or nature, Snarf is very agile (he boasts he can outplay anyone at tailbail or kick-the-bucket). He also can communicate with other animals on Third Earth to enlist their help in his tasks, and once even tricked the Ancient spirits of evil into giving him a power up to become Snarf-ra.

2011 series

In the 2011 cartoon Snarf is a devoted pet of Lion-O. He is cuter, acts remarkably catlike and does not have the ability of speech, although later episodes do feature him making his characteristic "SNARF-SNARF" noise. Lion-O, at least, appears to be capable of understanding him.

Reception

Snarf has a mostly mixed to negative reception by both critics and fans who perceive the character as been shrill or "annoying". By contrast the 2011 version (who lacks the ability to speak) has been much more favorably received and whose antics are seen as more "cute" than grating.