Can The Masters of the Universe Reclaim Television?

[RoyalTailor]

Toys weren't even out before the cancellation order hit.

What? If the toys weren't in stores before the cancellation was announced then what sense does it all make. I'm absolutely mind boggled by the decisions these companies make. I'm absolutely confused now. If the show was cancelled before the GI Joe Renegades toys were even out then the sales obviously had no bearing on the show then. So what why it actually cancelled?

@Toonimator, That Masters of the Universe Atari game looks interesting. I never knew of it but then again I was never fortunate to own an Atari in my childhood. I really do hope that Mattel will go all out in promotion of The Masters of the Universe 30th Anniversary this year. BTW I saw an advertisement for a special line of Hot Wheels He-Man and the Masters of the Universe commemorative cars while I was in the comic store recently.

[Vibranium]

depends on what you mean by "all out", considering its a franchise that really hasn't been profitable in close to 20 years now

[Toonimator]

Not sure why Renegades was cancelled. Wave 1 of the toys (meaning Duke, Snake Eyes, Firefly, and Cobra Commander) was released while the show was still on the air, at least... but yeah, it was cancelled beforehand.

The toys in general did seem to be doing poorly before the Renegade figures even hit... RAH-style figures and those inspired by the movie and/or in the 'Pursuit of Cobra' theme were rotting on pegs, based on my experience. One Target near me had a couple pegs' worth of figures, another but a single peg. It was all the same thing for months: lots of Arctic Destro (which any collector would've told you was a bad choice for an early figure in the theme), maybe a Zartan or Wacky Jungle Snake Eyes, couple others... not much variety or quality present. Toys R Us was about the same, it was all older figures just sitting. By the time Renegade figures started appearing, it was tough to find 'em with so many stores NOT stocking anything new. I eventually saw them all, even wave 2 with Scarlett and the Cobra Trooper, but that wave was a long time coming. I basically found Scarlett (at a grocery store, not even a proper toy store/department) 6 months after I picked up Snake Eyes from Target. There's no reason there should be a 6 month gap between waves.

Anyway... I'm not sure what excuse the Hub had for cancelling the series, but Renegades figures sales were definitely not it. Brand-weakness as a whole, maybe, but not the show's figures. I know the lead character designer died from cancer around the time the show premiered, but the Hub would be incredibly insensitive to cancel his show due to that (other designers would've picked up where he left off).

Mattel's doing an interesting thing with their high-end MattyCollector figures: attempting to blend elements of original MOTU in with New Adventures and the 2002 series to create sort of a new take on the mythology of the property, making it all-inclusive. It's a little haphazard, with some contradictions and a whole lotta goofy stuff, but there's some cool ideas, too. Could be a nice way to work up a storyline for a new series.

[Nate Grey]

Really? It was pretty apparent in "Secret Of The Sword" that it did fit. The tone of She-Ra's series was that it was meant to be more like "Star Wars", with the Evil Horde being like the Empire and the Rebels being like the Alliance. Otherwise, everything fit in and had "The Power Of Grayskull" series happened, it would be even tighter.

You know, I never got the Star Wars vibe until you mentioned it. Cool.

And yeah, the origin makes complete sense to me. The only thing that I never really liked was that Adora, raised by the Horde, was never evil or at least in conflict over good (nature) vs evil (nurture). I think they explained that away saying it had something to do with a spell? Its been a while. But yeah, everything else makes sense. And I loved Secret of the Sword.

[Vibranium]

Not sure why Renegades was cancelled. Wave 1 of the toys (meaning Duke, Snake Eyes, Firefly, and Cobra Commander) was released while the show was still on the air, at least... but yeah, it was cancelled beforehand.

The toys in general did seem to be doing poorly before the Renegade figures even hit... RAH-style figures and those inspired by the movie and/or in the 'Pursuit of Cobra' theme were rotting on pegs, based on my experience. One Target near me had a couple pegs' worth of figures, another but a single peg. It was all the same thing for months: lots of Arctic Destro (which any collector would've told you was a bad choice for an early figure in the theme), maybe a Zartan or Wacky Jungle Snake Eyes, couple others... not much variety or quality present. Toys R Us was about the same, it was all older figures just sitting. By the time Renegade figures started appearing, it was tough to find 'em with so many stores NOT stocking anything new. I eventually saw them all, even wave 2 with Scarlett and the Cobra Trooper, but that wave was a long time coming. I basically found Scarlett (at a grocery store, not even a proper toy store/department) 6 months after I picked up Snake Eyes from Target. There's no reason there should be a 6 month gap between waves.

Anyway... I'm not sure what excuse the Hub had for cancelling the series, but Renegades figures sales were definitely not it. Brand-weakness as a whole, maybe, but not the show's figures. I know the lead character designer died from cancer around the time the show premiered, but the Hub would be incredibly insensitive to cancel his show due to that (other designers would've picked up where he left off).

Mattel's doing an interesting thing with their high-end MattyCollector figures: attempting to blend elements of original MOTU in with New Adventures and the 2002 series to create sort of a new take on the mythology of the property, making it all-inclusive. It's a little haphazard, with some contradictions and a whole lotta goofy stuff, but there's some cool ideas, too. Could be a nice way to work up a storyline for a new series.

I thought Renegades was just a crap show....Gi Joe should NOT be fugitives....and the art was crap....and that whole thing with Ripcord being a Bio Viper

it was just a garbage show

[RoyalTailor]

I think Dani Thorne might be a good choice for Teela in the 'Masters of the Universe: Power of Greyskull' movie.

[Vibranium]

you mean the dead movie? I personally feel animated is the way to go to see if this franchise still has any sort of audience left

plus I love the original film with Frank Langella....best villain monologue ever

[RoyalTailor]

you mean the dead movie? I personally feel animated is the way to go to see if this franchise still has any sort of audience left

plus I love the original film with Frank Langella....best villain monologue ever

I read back in December that Mattel was shopping the movie around to movie directors. However, I do agree that animation is the best medium for Masters of the Universe.

[Tazirai]

Huge fan of MOTU, even so far as creating my own character on Deviant art for the love of it. I do hope they redo another show. I like that 2002 show wasn't ALL He-man only. A new show centered on the group rather than He-man soley would do well. People would have their favorites. Heavy Marketing and toys for girls and boys. Market it to females and males.

The biggest single failing in most marketing schemes is marketing non gender specific things to a single gender. Working in retail I see girls buying "boys" toys just as mush as boys, but companies don't get that!

[Simbob4000]

Huge fan of MOTU, even so far as creating my own character on Deviant art for the love of it. I do hope they redo another show. I like that 2002 show wasn't ALL He-man only. A new show centered on the group rather than He-man soley would do well. People would have their favorites. Heavy Marketing and toys for girls and boys. Market it to females and males.

The biggest single failing in most marketing schemes is marketing non gender specific things to a single gender. Working in retail I see girls buying "boys" toys just as mush as boys, but companies don't get that!

Your deviantart character has something to do with He-Man?

[Tazirai]

Your deviantart character has something to do with He-Man?

My sorceress character does, not the superhero version of her! It's all fanfic/art based. Im trying to find some 3d He-man or MOTU renders to make it more inclusive. So It's Mindseye the Sorceress, and yes it's adult in nature.

[Legato]

Was the 2002 series good? Didn't the edit out Orco and Cringer?

It was good. You had a competent Skeletor and even the minions weren't that idiotic like say the 80's cartoon.

[Legato]

you mean the dead movie? I personally feel animated is the way to go to see if this franchise still has any sort of audience left

plus I love the original film with Frank Langella....best villain monologue ever

What Skeletor should have been.

[Vibranium]

What Skeletor should have been.

seriously...what I love about the performance is that Langella could have totally mailed it in, but absolutely crushed it

I remember watching the movie and being so mad at the beginning because they captured Castle Greyskull

[RoyalTailor]

What Skeletor should have been.

Which Masters of the Universe movie are you guys talking about? I ask because I've been trying to avoid the one that just got put on Blu-Ray because I've heard so many bad things about it from friends plus the poster and promotional images looked bad too.

I just stumbled across some incredibly awesome promotional work to celebrate the 30th Masters of the Universe Anniversary at this link: http://www.alvinleeart.com/2012/01/m...niversary-art/

Not affiliated with that site is another epic 30'th Anniversary piece that I found on Google Images.