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The Toys That Made Us
S1.E3
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IMDbPro

He-Man

  • Episode aired Dec 22, 2017
  • 46m
IMDb RATING
8.2/10
831
YOUR RATING
He-Man (2017)
ComedyDocumentaryHistory

The story behind Mattel's "Masters of the Universe" toy line featuring iconic characters like the heroic He-Man and the villainous Skeletor, became one of the most popular media franchises a... Read allThe story behind Mattel's "Masters of the Universe" toy line featuring iconic characters like the heroic He-Man and the villainous Skeletor, became one of the most popular media franchises aimed at young boys in the 1980s.The story behind Mattel's "Masters of the Universe" toy line featuring iconic characters like the heroic He-Man and the villainous Skeletor, became one of the most popular media franchises aimed at young boys in the 1980s.

  • Director
    • Tom Stern
  • Writers
    • Nick Ferrell
    • Benjamin J. Frost
  • Stars
    • Mark Bellomo
    • Donald Ian Black
    • Ed Calderon
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.2/10
    831
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Tom Stern
    • Writers
      • Nick Ferrell
      • Benjamin J. Frost
    • Stars
      • Mark Bellomo
      • Donald Ian Black
      • Ed Calderon
    • 3User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos7

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    Top cast24

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    Mark Bellomo
    Mark Bellomo
    • Self
    Donald Ian Black
    • Narrator
    Ed Calderon
    • Self - Cameo
    Dave Capper
    • Self
    Circus-Szalewski
    Circus-Szalewski
    • Reenactment Actor
    • (as Circus Szalewski)
    Paul Cleveland
    • Self
    James Eatock
    • Self
    Jill Elikann
    • Self
    • (as Jill Barad)
    Randy Falk
    Randy Falk
    • Self
    Brian Flynn
    • Self
    Derek Gable
    • Self
    Connor Harms
    • Reenactment Actor
    Josh Herbolsheimer
    • Self
    Tom Kalinske
    Tom Kalinske
    • Self
    Tawmis Logue
    • Self
    Dolph Lundgren
    Dolph Lundgren
    • Self
    Judy Shackelford
    • Self
    Val Staples
    • Self
    • Director
      • Tom Stern
    • Writers
      • Nick Ferrell
      • Benjamin J. Frost
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews3

    8.2831
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    Featured reviews

    10blanbrn

    I have the power! Excellent look at the rise and fall of a toy Universe!

    This episode of "Toys that Made Us" looks at the "He-Man" and it's toy line from "Mattel" as the "Master of Universe" line would take off and grow in sales and popularity. As the inspiration for this line was from warriors and strong men and to add some fright the iconic "Skeletor" was developed and the size and bright production made this line a winner! As in 1982 it became a new flavor and an answer and some competition for "Kenner's" "Star Wars" line. Plus an animated cartoon helped draw kids and create huge sales. However overproduction and to many figures like some odd one's like "Buzzoff", "Necktar", "Mossman", "Leechman" and an action figure that smelled like a skunk became so far out yet enjoyable for collectors. And I myself had a collection as many times at Christmas I opened gifts to find these men! And also the lackluster and lame 1987 big screen movie failed and also hurt the merchandise as even a young and to be beauty Courtney Cox couldn't save it! Overall excellent look at the powerful rise and fall of a toy universe!
    6Mr-Fusion

    An awkward misstep

    'He-Man' was the episode I was really looking forward to when I started watching this series, and it turned out the weakest, so far (I know it's only a four-episode season, but still). For me, it's the editing. They keep cutting to reaction shots from the interviewees for punchlines, and that gets old fast. I know that the disagreements between Roger Sweet and Mark Taylor are woven into the tapestry of Master of the Universe, but this is a tacky way to go about it.

    I wasn't expecting to learn anything new with this (a series like this is just comfort food), but someone mentioned that the Skeletor we all remember from this toy line is Oppenheimer's portrayal on the cartoon. And that's absolutely true. What is he without his signature "Myaah!"?

    But I'm used to better packaging from "The Toys That Made Us".
    4GunnersMate

    The Weakest is the He-Man

    The He-man installment of The Toys that Made Us is, unfortunately and ironically, the weakest of eight part documentary series. While the story told is not terrible per se, the collection of story tellers contains too many foul-mouths to be able to enjoy the tale of this children's toy set. F-bombs are wildly inappropriate language for a story about toys for 5-year-old boys and do nothing to advance the story (and that is not the only bit of grown-up cursing while reminiscing about creating ways to controls the hearts and minds of children). The result makes even the interesting tidbits fade into discomfort. Just a disappointment.

    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      The documentary reveals that Battle Cat, He-Man's friend and steed, was originally a tiger of the Big Jim toy line (also owned by Mattel), painted over in green/orange. That is the reason the feline is so huge in scale compared to the human figures, as Big Jim toys were considerably taller than the Masters of the Universe.
    • Goofs
      During the part where Mark Taylor discusses Skeletor around the 13 minutes mark, a dog's head appears in the window behind him.
    • Connections
      Features Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids (1972)

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • December 22, 2017 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Production company
      • The Nacelle Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      46 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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