He-Man: From Toy to TV to Big Screen

Elaborate cinematic universes and sophisticated marketing tie-ins are now common in the entertainment industry. However, it all began in 1982 with a simple barbarian action figure. He-Man, along with other characters in the popular Masters of the Universe toy line from Mattel, quickly expanded into comic books, video games, multiple television series, and even a Hollywood film. The original animated series, running from 1983 to 1985, was the first of its kind based on an action figure, and the cult classic Masters of the Universe released in 1987 was the first live-action feature film inspired by a toy. But it was no easy feat. He-Man and his friends faced adversaries even more daunting than Skeletor: entertainment lawyers, Hollywood executives, and even the Reagan administration.

Beyond shaping the childhoods of those who bought the toys, the heroes and villains of Eternia played a pivotal role in shaping the modern entertainment landscape.

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