Greatest Master of the Universe?
The animated world, while for childlike viewers, can often be expanded and its storylines broadened to lure older audiences. Such as the venture made in the 2002 remake of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.
It’s similar to the Filmation version in its original form. Yet it’s vastly different. One might say it’s even improved. It’s an effort to bring back older viewers while creating newer ones for a courageous revival of one of Mattle’s most popular toylines during the 1980s.
The 2002 version has finally appeared on DVD last week Tuesday when it hit stores. There’s also an exclusive Best Buy copies available at the nearest local stores. And it’s been long overdue for this series to come to some prosperity. It’s got the first thirteen episodes in the series here. There were thirty-nine episodes in its entire run.
The stories are better written. The characterizations are well realized. The animation is very excellent, more linear, with a touch of Japanese anime style without going overboard. Some of the supporting cast get their own story arcs woven into the going-ons in the series. A storyline could run for several episodes at a time while still maintaining each individual story.
There are some familiar faces such as one of the original writers Larry DiTillio who did stories for the previous incarnation. While 1980s cartoons veteran writer Michal Reaves put his own pen to the stories.
There’s a lot of thought put into the stories.
One of the nicest things is the shift of focus that covers the remaining cast other than the gladiator superhero He-Man character. The most interesting change is the Man-At-Arms character who is far more of a leader in this 2002 adaptation. He controls the royal guard and steadies himself more as a general on a battlefield. He is far more confidant, his fighting skills honed. He is a military type. Also an inventor of futuristic machines.
The current 2002 series steers away from the father figure persona that has dominated the Man-At-Arms character in the original run. He isn’t a buffoon either. But the series does make knowing homage to the Filmation series--such as the partial introduction of the theme and the “lesson learned” endings where they would talk about the episode’s moral points for children.
Even the writers were able to turn out a brilliant stand-alone episode exploring the shortcomings of supporting cast member Mananeck—possibly the worst of the good guy characters. It’s amazing the writers were able to bring a certain human emotion in the story about man who wished for better super powers.
There are no well-known voices in the cartoons here. But focus is on the stories. And the strands of plots that flourish through them. There is a chance to learn more about the Sorceress character who has family ties with the Teela character, thus bringing more depth to them.
The threat of evil pervades throughout the paradise of Eternia as the persistent outside forces continue to wreck havoc upon the graceful, utopian lands of the alien world that is like a fantasy land. The stuff of magic and sorcery continues in the everyday lives of people here. But the machines of science fiction brings an added strangeness to the landscape.
Fierce darkness, subterranean foulness of the badlands remained colored by the existence of evil that takes the form of the menacing Skeletor and his killer crew of lowlifes. It is his constant thwarting of goodness that makes him take center stage in this season. And the rambling structure of the ancient Castle Grayskull became the battlefield for which good and evil takes place.
It is this place that keeps all the hidden secrets of power that struggles like an omniscient being. Somehow, through the power of good, the character of He-Man is created as a defense against the rising, awakening evil bring its poison to the good world.
It’s simple enough for a child to follow through: the battle between good and evil.
It almost makes you want to lift the sword and say, “By the power of Grayskull!”
Sure, it was another way of selling toys through the re-working of the series and bringing another legion of action figures to the shelves in stores. It was a sneaking way to get kids to plea their parents to buy them cool stuff that was a legend. In many ways, it does succeed. However, there’s no real need to buy the toys or tie-in merchandise for this series. There never was.
Because the stories were so good that commercial tactics could be forgiven. There’s a soul to the episodes that brings much charm to the characters that are already recognized of old. But there’s a new spin to the characters that makes them stand out more. Once more the kingdom of ancient warriors, kings and goddesses are revisited again.
It’s similar to the Filmation version in its original form. Yet it’s vastly different. One might say it’s even improved. It’s an effort to bring back older viewers while creating newer ones for a courageous revival of one of Mattle’s most popular toylines during the 1980s.
The 2002 version has finally appeared on DVD last week Tuesday when it hit stores. There’s also an exclusive Best Buy copies available at the nearest local stores. And it’s been long overdue for this series to come to some prosperity. It’s got the first thirteen episodes in the series here. There were thirty-nine episodes in its entire run.
The stories are better written. The characterizations are well realized. The animation is very excellent, more linear, with a touch of Japanese anime style without going overboard. Some of the supporting cast get their own story arcs woven into the going-ons in the series. A storyline could run for several episodes at a time while still maintaining each individual story.
There are some familiar faces such as one of the original writers Larry DiTillio who did stories for the previous incarnation. While 1980s cartoons veteran writer Michal Reaves put his own pen to the stories.
There’s a lot of thought put into the stories.
One of the nicest things is the shift of focus that covers the remaining cast other than the gladiator superhero He-Man character. The most interesting change is the Man-At-Arms character who is far more of a leader in this 2002 adaptation. He controls the royal guard and steadies himself more as a general on a battlefield. He is far more confidant, his fighting skills honed. He is a military type. Also an inventor of futuristic machines.
The current 2002 series steers away from the father figure persona that has dominated the Man-At-Arms character in the original run. He isn’t a buffoon either. But the series does make knowing homage to the Filmation series--such as the partial introduction of the theme and the “lesson learned” endings where they would talk about the episode’s moral points for children.
Even the writers were able to turn out a brilliant stand-alone episode exploring the shortcomings of supporting cast member Mananeck—possibly the worst of the good guy characters. It’s amazing the writers were able to bring a certain human emotion in the story about man who wished for better super powers.
There are no well-known voices in the cartoons here. But focus is on the stories. And the strands of plots that flourish through them. There is a chance to learn more about the Sorceress character who has family ties with the Teela character, thus bringing more depth to them.
The threat of evil pervades throughout the paradise of Eternia as the persistent outside forces continue to wreck havoc upon the graceful, utopian lands of the alien world that is like a fantasy land. The stuff of magic and sorcery continues in the everyday lives of people here. But the machines of science fiction brings an added strangeness to the landscape.
Fierce darkness, subterranean foulness of the badlands remained colored by the existence of evil that takes the form of the menacing Skeletor and his killer crew of lowlifes. It is his constant thwarting of goodness that makes him take center stage in this season. And the rambling structure of the ancient Castle Grayskull became the battlefield for which good and evil takes place.
It is this place that keeps all the hidden secrets of power that struggles like an omniscient being. Somehow, through the power of good, the character of He-Man is created as a defense against the rising, awakening evil bring its poison to the good world.
It’s simple enough for a child to follow through: the battle between good and evil.
It almost makes you want to lift the sword and say, “By the power of Grayskull!”
Sure, it was another way of selling toys through the re-working of the series and bringing another legion of action figures to the shelves in stores. It was a sneaking way to get kids to plea their parents to buy them cool stuff that was a legend. In many ways, it does succeed. However, there’s no real need to buy the toys or tie-in merchandise for this series. There never was.
Because the stories were so good that commercial tactics could be forgiven. There’s a soul to the episodes that brings much charm to the characters that are already recognized of old. But there’s a new spin to the characters that makes them stand out more. Once more the kingdom of ancient warriors, kings and goddesses are revisited again.
posted by K.M. Paters at 12:57 PM
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