He-Man: Best Transformations In The Masters Of The Universe Franchise

Highlights

He-Man and The Masters of The Universe toys and cartoon series captured the hearts of 1980s kids and adults worldwide with their imaginative designs and exciting gimmicks.
Over the years, different adaptations of He-Man’s transformation have been attempted, from the original 1983 series to the 2021 reimagined CG version.
The 2002 reboot of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe remains a beloved series among fans for its accurate and stunning recreation of the iconic transformation scenes.

As a child of the ’80s, I can wholeheartedly say that the original 1983 He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon holds a special place in my heart. The transformation scene, with its iconic music and voice acting, was nothing short of magical to me back then. It was more than just animation; it was an escape into a world of heroes, villains, and epic battles that left us eagerly anticipating the next episode.

In the early ’80s, Mattel introduced “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe” as a toy line aimed at rivaling “Star Wars.” This amalgamation of swords, sorcery, science fiction, and muscular heroes and villains sparked the imagination of kids and adults globally. Once the toys debuted in 1982, Filmation introduced the “Masters of the Universe” animated series for children in 1983, which also functioned as an advertisement for their wide-ranging and impressive toy collection. If you didn’t live through the ’80s, especially during He-Man’s heyday, it’s challenging to convey the influence and fervor the cartoons and shows generated at that time.

The toys were imaginatively designed and more than lived up to their “action figure” moniker with their moving parts and memorable gimmicks, such as filling King Cobra with water and pressing his head to spray his enemies. Castle Grayskull and Snake Mountain were incredible playsets with a built-in drawbridge, turret lifts, and a voice-changing snake head so kids could make their best Skeletor impressions. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe’s popularity waned over the years, leading to Mattel trying to reboot the series several times. This meant that He-Man had different takes on his transformation from Prince Adam to the “most powerful man in the Universe”. Here are He-Man’s best transformations in the franchise.

6 The New Adventures Of He-Man (1990)

The Futuristic Follow-Up Lacked The Grandiosity Of The Original Series

Released: 1990
Production Companies: Parafrance Communications, Jetlag Productions, and Mattel.
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 65

The new TV show titled “The New Adventures of He-Man” is a continuation of the 1983 series, “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe”. In this story, after leaving Eternia, He-Man finds himself battling an invasion from the mutant inhabitants of a neighboring planet named Denebria on Primus. Skeletor, seeking revenge, also arrives on Primus and forms an alliance with the Denebrians, offering his magical powers to help them conquer Primus in return for eliminating He-Man.

The animation was stylistically a departure from the original cartoon and featured a more sci-fi-driven story that resembled the classic 80s cartoon series, Ulysess 31. A new toy line was launched with new characters, but the series and marketing failed to recapture the magic of the original series. He-Man’s transformation in The New Adventures was noteworthy, yet it fell short of the original’s grandeur and energy. Additionally, his strappy attire and Steven Seagal-inspired ponytail were underwhelming.

5 Masters Of The Universe (1987)

Dolph Lundgren Brings He-Man To Life In The Movie

Released: 1987
Production Company: The Cannon Group, Inc.

In the cinematic rendition of “Masters of the Universe,” up-and-coming action star Dolph Lundgren (famous for his roles in “Rocky 4” and “Universal Soldier”) and a young Courtney Cox, who later became known for “Friends” and “Scream,” took center stage. The film was expected to rejuvenate the series and attract a larger audience, as interest in the US was waning, while it continued to thrive in Europe. Regrettably, Cannon was recognized for producing low-budget action movies, and “Masters of the Universe” lacked the financial resources to live up to fan anticipation. Instead, the conflict moved from He-Man’s realm to Earth via a dimensional fissure.

In spite of its underwhelming box office performance, the movie “Masters of the Universe” has developed a devoted fanbase who continue to adore it. Dolph Lundgren portrayed He-Man flawlessly, and Frank Langella delivered an outstanding performance as Skeletor. The film provided two iconic “I have the power” scenes, and Lundgren’s deep voice complemented the character well. However, unlike Skeletor who transformed into God Skeletor by harnessing power from Grayskul, He-Man did not undergo a transformation from Prince Adam. Fans are hopeful that the upcoming live-action “Masters of the Universe” will incorporate genuine transformations for He-Man.

4 He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe (2021)

The Reimagined He-Man Updated In CG

Released: 2021
Production Companies: Mattel Television.
Seasons: 3
Episodes: 27

As a devoted fan, I’d like to share that the animated series titled “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe,” developed by Netflix, represents the second installment featuring He-Man. Although “Masters of the Universe: Revelation” and its successor “Revolution” carry forward the narrative from the 1983 original series, this CG adaptation has been tailored for a younger audience. However, it preserves the essence and magic of the original while providing an opportunity for other characters to take center stage as powerful “Masters,” drawing their strength from Grayskull, ready to join forces with He-Man in epic battles.

Prince Adam and He-Man are voiced by Yuri Lowenthal, a voice actor who will be familiar to fans of Marvel’s Spiderman on the PlayStation and many other anime, cartoon, and video game roles. Keldor/Skeletor is brilliantly voiced by Benjamin Diskin, an actor known for playing Mega Man, and Spider-Man in the Ultimate Spider-Man series. He-Man’s first transformation is great, yet his character design resembles Johnny Bravo, particularly with the disproportionately small legs. Moreover, Lowenthal is great at capturing the youthful tones of Prince Adam, but it doesn’t fit the booming voice expected of He-Man. Later transformations would somewhat be overshadowed by He-Man’s friends who also declare that “they have the power” and transform into super beings in episode 3.

3 The Masters Of The Universe: Revelation

Incredible Animation Shows Off One He-Man’s Best-Looking Transformations

Released: 2021
Production Companies: Mattel Television.
Seasons: 3 parts
Episodes: 15

In this new adaptation on Netflix, titled “Masters of the Universe: Revelation” and “Revolution“, serves as a faithful follow-up to the original 1983 series, ignoring the spin-off “The New Adventures of He-Man“. Although some fans voiced dissatisfaction over Teela’s prominent role in “Revelation“, it offered an abundance of delight for fans overall. The return of classic characters and remakes of cherished He-Man action figures and playsets created a nostalgic journey through memory lane for viewers.

The second installment of the “Masters of the Universe: Revolution” series was exceptionally well-received, as it incorporated numerous characters from the Masters of the Universe mythos, including Gwildor and Blade who were previously featured only in the 1987 film. Kudos to Mark Hamill for his exceptional voice acting as Skeletor, a role that showcased his villainous prowess since his portrayal of The Joker in “The Batman Animated Series” and the “Batman Arkham Trilogy.” Additionally, the transition of Prince Adam into He-Man was artfully executed, with numerous innovative methods used to summon the Power of Grayskull throughout the series.

2 He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe (2002)

A Stunning Reboot With An Accurate He-Man Transformation

Released: 2002
Production Companies: Mike Young Productions
Seasons: 2
Episodes: 39

Despite being canceled in less than two years, the 2002 reboot of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is one of the beloved series among fans. Thanks to bringing back writers from the 80s series, it recaptured the feel of the original cartoons but utilized an almost anime-style aesthetic that holds up even against the latest shows on Netflix. It provided an origins background for characters like Skeletor, Teela, Man-At-Arms, and more. This version also featured better continuity with episodic content that developed the world of Eternia and the Masters of the Universe.

In the 2002 series, the transition of He-Man is incredibly accurate and almost identical to the original 1980s cartoon. It includes all the classic moments such as Prince Adam turning into He-Man while holding his sword aloft in front of Castle Grayskull, and even depicts Cringer transforming into Battlecat. This series comes incredibly close to matching the original, and far surpasses the 1990s version of The New Adventures of He-Man.

1 He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe (1983)

The Original And Most Iconic He-Man Transformation

Released: 1983
Production Companies: Filmation Associates and Mattel.
Seasons: 2
Episodes: 130 with One film and a Christmas Special, featuring a team-up with She-Ra.

While the newer versions of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe have superior animation, many longtime fans favor the 1983 Filmation cartoon due to its iconic portrayal of Prince Adam’s transformation into “the mightiest man in the universe.” The original series laid the groundwork for She-Ra: Princess of Power, which shared continuity with The Masters of the Universe.

Back in the day, there was nothing quite like tuning in to He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. From the captivating tunes that set the stage to He-Man’s powerful voice and Cringer’s incredible metamorphosis into Battlecat, it was pure magic. The exhilaration we 80’s kids felt watching this timeless series is indescribable. Sure, nostalgia has a lot to do with its enduring popularity, but the transformation of Prince Adam into He-Man remains unsurpassed.

2024-08-19 15:34