Influenced by sword-and-sandal tales hearkening back to the pulps, He-Man is a multi-media phenomenon that companies dream of and is still relevant today. After the success of Kenner’s Star Wars action figure line, lead designer at Mattel Roger Sweet dreamed up the notion He-Man, a kind of eternal warrior who could be dropped into any setting (hence the blend of fantasy and sci-fi). The legendary Donald F. Glut and Earl Norem crafted that universe with back-story and a vast supporting cast cementing the character’s place in history. A range of action figures, comic books and a Filmation cartoon followed. In 1981,a legend was unleashed and remains an iconic part of 1980’s nostalgia alongside G.I. Joe a Real American Hero, The Transformers and others.
Part of the wonder of He-Man is the sheer breadth of its mythology. The mini-comic was recently celebrated in a wonderful coffee table book which was heralded as a ‘must buy’ gift this past holiday season. But what is most interesting is where the fans can take the characters. In an age where movies can be made and funded on demand, it should come as no surprise that He-Man is the focus of a fan-film.
Mattel’s Masters of the Universe has endured for more than three decades, inspiring animated series, comic books, video games and, yes, that spectacularly bad live-action film. And now it’s the basis for an incredibly earnest fan film.
Funded through a $12,000 Kickstarter campaign, director Daniel Benedict’s “Fall of Grayskull”stars pro wrestler Brian Cage as He-Man, who of course fights his arch-nemesis Skeletor for the power of Grayskull and the fate of Eternia. If you’re a fan of the franchise, chances are you’ll find a favorite character in this 30-minute short: Teela, Tri-Klops, Evil-Lyn, Hordak (played by Val Staples) — they’re all there.
Although the acting and production aren’t exactly top-caliber, “Fall of Grayskull” is clearly a love letter to Masters of the Universe. As I said, it’s earnest, which goes a long way.
Back in the day some call the 80’s, a series of mini-comics started to appear in the middle of DC’s offerings. Starring a strange fantastic hero and concerning a mystical blade split in two, it was all very weird and otherworldly. In 1983, a cartoon and toy line captured the imagination of suburbia and a legend was born.
But what lies beneath the plastic shell of our heroic sword slinging hero? Everyone from legendary creator of Filmation Louis Scheimer, animation scribe extraordinaire Don Glut and even sci-fi icon J. Michael Starczynski weighs in on the various and sundry tales of ‘Barbarian Fiction.’
Check out the trailer for this behind the scenes story of the action figure that ruled the 80’s.
Muscles! It’s all about the Muscles. Let’s face it. The 80’s were covered in muscles be it block buster movies from Stallone,Ahnold and Lundgren and tons of other impostors, the music industry were littered with well oiled musicians from cheesy dance music to the high octane metal of Manowar. And children’s toys were about to get their share of muscle galore with a legendary toy line and a Saturday morning cartoon that was about to carve its name in stone.
He-Man and The Masters of the Universe grabbed the sword and sandals genre and crammed it down our throats. It was the ultimate adventure, a young prince who’s alter ego is the walking mountain of flesh that is He-Man who battles a skull faced villain and his beastly minions but at the same time gives us a lesson on how to treat friends and not to make fun of others. Essentially the Mr.T cartoon with monsters and more action really.
The franchise still lives on today, though not nearly as strong as it used to be and people of my generation feel He-Manwas a big influence on their lives and helped turn their attention to the more fantastical side things, making nerds of us all.
Now a group of filmmakers have started production of a documentary called TOYMASTERS, chronicling the creation of the character and how it became one of the biggest cultural phenomenons of its day. And judging by the long trailer below it has all the ingredients to make a smashing film, riches, backstabbing and drama. The film is still in production and has a planned release next year and the guys are looking for the worlds biggest He-Man fan to be featured in the film. So if you think you got what it takes to be a contender for the biggest He-Man nerd out there drop them a line through their official website.
Check out the trailer below and then head on over to TOYMASTERS website and take a gander at some additional clips and news.
The rise in popularity of fantasy in the early 1980’s, especially role playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, led to the film industry attempting to capture that demographic in kind. The teenaged and young adult crowd were courted by sword and sorcery films a-plenty including a movie that took so few chances that it was simply titled ‘The Sword and the Sorcerer.’ Remembered by many as ‘the movie with the sword that fired jet-propelled blades,’ it’s actually a very well-made if hyper-violent movie.
Directed and written by Albert Pyun (Captain America, Dollman and many kick-boxing films), the Sword and the Sorcerer is vintage schlock wrapped in a lovely pulp-inspired package. Pyun knows his material and from the opening sequence, his intent is clear… to create an incredibly bloody and imaginatively shocking film. The biggest innovation aside from the aforementioned triple-bladed sword that fired blades into its targets was the long-fingered evil sorcerer Xusia played by Night Court’s Richard Moll.
Lord Cromwell, seeking to overthrow the good King Richard drafts the horrifying Xusia to do his dirty work. However, Cromwell has no idea that Richard has commanded his son Talon to avenge his memory using the tripl-bladed sword. Years later, both Talon and Xusia are looking to even the score as Cromwell has become drunk with power.
A straight-forward action/adventure flick with fantasy elements, Sword and the Sorcerer often gets lost in the shuffle of pretender films that would make Roger Corman roll his eyes (I’m looking at you, Death Stalker). So strong is the appeal of this movie that in 2008 rumors circulated that Kevin Sorbo (Hercules) and Christopher Lambert (Highalnder) were involved in a sequel.
A fun (if campy) 80’s movie, The Sword and the Sorcerer is a great rental over beer and a pizza.
Back in the mid-1980’s, there were so many cartoons on TV that even the kids couldn’t keep track. From G.I. Joe to Transformers to Visionairies and Bionic Six… it was a madhouse of animation. One of the most popular cartoons of the era was Rankin and Bass’ ThunderCats. I’m not sure what the pervading quality is that makes this series so popular today, perhaps the visuals translate so easily to T-shirts and Family Guy routines.
The refugees of a dying planet, the ThunderCats are the last remaining inhabitants of the planet Thundera which perished under the attack of the mutants. Pursued across space, the ThunderCats crash land on the planet Third Earth. A world of untamed natural beauty, Third Earth’s only intelligent inhabitants are similar to pre-historic man. Thinking that they have discovered a veritable paradise, the ThunderCats set up a new home. However, the mutants have pursued the ThunderCats and renew their assault on their new battlefield.
In order to survive the long journey to Third Earth, Jaga the wise piloted the malfunctioning craft while the rest of the ThunderCats slept in cryogenic chambers. The youngest of the refugees, Lion-O, was placed in a malfunctioning unit and while his body aged to that of an adult, his mind is that of a child. Along with Cheetara, Panthro, Tygra, WilyKit and WilyKat, and (unfortunately) Snarf, Lion-O is sworn to protect the legacy of his people and learn from his elders. Armed with the fabled sword of omens, Lion-O is the most powerful of his fellows but since his mind is immature he often makes mistakes due to his brash nature. It’s a forced way for the cartoon to act as a teaching tool (more likely than not at the insistence of parents’ groups), but it is also a clever way to teach kids the value of patience and wisdom.
While the ThunderCats try and create a new home, they are beset by a trip of mutants; Slithe, Vultureman, Monkian, and Jackalman who seem driven to wipe out the entire cat race. In their attempts to establish a base of operations, the mutants discover a bizarre pyramid housing the ancient evil creature Mumm-Ra. By far one of the most memorable cartoon villains of his era, Mumm-Ra screams his way through an incantation from as frail being in a bathrobe to a muscle-bound madman in each episode.
The series lasted four seasons including a movie-length special and even saw a sister ‘toon of sorts, Silver Hawks that was very similar in some ways to ThunderCats and even featured some of the same creative talent. ThunderCats was a unique mixture of science fiction and fantasy that crossed both genres in order to tell entertaining adventures. The stories were often quaint and while targeted to a younger audience contained some very impressive animation and action sequences.
About four or five years ago, the ThunderCats were rumored to be set for the big screen but Warner Bros. has since dropped the project entirely. In its place is a new animated series to debut on Cartoon Network.
Via Spinoffonline
“In addition to being Warner Bros. Animation’s first anime series, ThunderCats marks our most ambitious foray yet into fantasy,” WBA’s Sam Register said in a statement. “The realism and dynamic visual style we’ve achieved are sure to thrill viewers, and the cool weapons, vehicles and technology should help the show appeal to a diverse audience.”
According to Warner Bros. Animation, the new incarnation is “a sweeping tale combining swords and science and boasting ferocious battles with the highest of stakes” that focuses on the story of Prince Lion-O’s ascension to the throne: “As the forces of good and evil battle each other in the quest for the fabled Stones of Power, Lion-O and his champions learn valuable lessons of loyalty, honor and mortality in every episode.”
It’s very weird to see all of these 1980’s properties making a comeback as the generation most familiar with them enters middle age. That said, I’m happy to see that ThunderCats is coming back as a cartoon rather than a live action movie.
However, you have to give these guys credit for making a valiant attempt:
Just looking at this face, you’d never guess that it belongs to a man determined to conquer the world, would you? But it is, and so is he. Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt has just been revealed as the actor under the hood of Cobra Commander in the upcoming G.I. Joe feature film.
The raspy-voiced megalomaniacal figurehead of the international terrorist organization known as COBRA, Cobra Commander has long been one of the most revered villains in modern pop culture (amongst men in their 30’s who were once in their very easily influenced pre-teens during the 1980’s).
a brilliant yet twisted mind at work (at a comic book convention)
For those not in the know, G.I. Joe was one of the most successful cross-market franchises in the history of paper money. A child would watch the cartoon which contained advertisements for the toys which reminded you to read the Marvel Comic Book. Many a non-comic book reading fan lived by this comic book series until it’s cancellation or until they became bored (whichever came first). The revived series by Devil’s Due is still raking in the cash and delivering a much-loved monthly comic that hits all the right notes for the fans.
Genius.
If the mind-controlling power evident in this marketing project were properly harnessed, you could convince the children of the U.S.A. to buy just about anything, couldn’t you? Oh wait, I think that’s been done.
Unlike the Transformers film which could lean on special effects to draw in the public, this G.I. Joe feature film is running exclusively on the nostalgia market (one of the biggest and most easily win over demographics ever made… just show a face or image that an audience member recalls from the ‘better days’ and rake in the dough).
So far, the cast consists of a mish-mash of character actors (Ray ‘Darth Maul’ Park as Snake Eyes?) and relative unknown yet accomplished actors (Christopher ‘Dr Who’ Eccleston as Destro?), leaving many to wonder what this Frankenstein monster of a film is going to look like.
Influenced by sword-and-sandal tales hearkening back to the pulps, He-Man is a multi-media phenomenon that companies dream of and is still relevant today. After the success of Kenner’s Star Wars action figure line, lead designer at Mattel Roger Sweet dreamed up the notion He-Man, a kind of eternal warrior who could be dropped into any setting (hence the blend of fantasy and sci-fi). The legendary Donald F. Glut and Earl Norem crafted that universe with back-story and a vast supporting cast cementing the character’s place in history. A range of action figures, comic books and a Filmation cartoon followed. In 1981,a legend was unleashed and remains an iconic part of 1980’s nostalgia alongside G.I. Joe a Real American Hero, The Transformers and others.
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