He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is a long-running fantasy and science-fantasy franchise centered on Prince Adam, who transforms into He-Man, the most powerful man in the universe, to defend Eternia and Castle Grayskull from the evil Skeletor. The franchise has seen multiple animated television series, including the classic 1980s Filmation cartoon, a 2002 reboot, and two recent Netflix iterations: the adult-oriented 'Masters of the Universe: Revelation' and the children-focused 'He-Man and the Masters of the Universe' CGI series. Each adaptation explores themes of heroism, good versus evil, friendship, and destiny, with varying tones and target audiences. While the original series and the 2021 CGI reboot are generally considered appropriate for younger audiences, focusing on action-adventure and moral lessons, 'Masters of the Universe: Revelation' targets older viewers with its darker, more mature storytelling and deeper character explorations. The content can range from mild, bloodless fantasy violence to more intense combat sequences and character deaths in later installments. Magic and sorcery are central elements of the narratives across all versions.
Concerns
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
MediumThe 'He-Man and the Masters of the Universe' franchise has a notable history of queer coding, particularly in the original 1980s series, leading to its status as a gay icon among some audiences. Newer iterations have introduced more explicit, though sometimes debated, LGBTQ+ representation and references to gender identity. The upcoming live-action movie trailer's joke about pronouns also sparked discussion.
The original 1980s animated series is widely considered queer-coded, with cultural critics and academics noting He-Man's muscular appearance and Prince Adam's 'double life' as reminiscent of a closeted gay man. In 'He-Man and the Masters of the Universe' (2021 CGI series), a subtle hint is made in the Season 2 finale, 'The Fifth Nemesis,' where Man-at-Arms (Duncan) appears to blush and show anxiety when a male character is highlighted during a parade, contrasting his non-reaction to swooning women.
Violence
MediumViolence in the 'He-Man' franchise ranges from mild, bloodless fantasy combat in the earlier children's series to more intense and potentially graphic depictions in the adult-oriented 'Masters of the Universe: Revelation.' Character deaths and serious injuries are more explicit in newer adaptations, while the CGI series maintains a level appropriate for its younger target audience.
In 'Masters of the Universe: Revelation,' Skeletor 'burns Moss Man to ashes' with little fanfare, and both He-Man and Skeletor are 'killed off at the end of the first episode,' though they later return. In the 'He-Man and the Masters of the Universe' (2021 CGI series), Keldor's transformation into Skeletor involves a curse that 'seared the flesh of his left hand, leaving it skeletal,' and later mutates him into a 'grotesque skeletal warrior.'
Romance and Sexual Content
MediumRomantic and sexual content is generally very low in the children-focused series. The original often featured implied crushes, while the 'Revelation' storyline progressed a long-standing romantic tension between He-Man/Prince Adam and Teela. One specific moment in a recent series was described as suggestive.
In the original 1980s series, Teela often displayed an implied crush on Prince Adam and admiration for He-Man, but no explicit romantic scenes occurred. In 'Masters of the Universe: Revolution' (sequel to Revelation), Teela and Prince Adam share a kiss and Teela invites him to 'stay at my place' in Castle Grayskull after the palace is destroyed, a moment noted as 'perhaps the most sexually suggestive moment in Masters of the Universe animation history.'
Witchcraft & Occult
MediumMagic and sorcery are fundamental to the 'He-Man' universe, depicting fantastical powers, spells, and magical artifacts. While presented as fantasy elements, some interpretations, particularly concerning Skeletor's imagery, have drawn comparisons to occult symbols.
Skeletor's ram's head staff has been interpreted by some analyses as an 'occultic symbol,' with connections to pagan practices and representations of Satan in some occult beliefs. Skeletor also utilizes powers such as 'mind control, levitation, [and] astral projection.' In the 'He-Man and the Masters of the Universe' (2021 CGI series), Keldor (Skeletor) channels 'Havoc' power which 'corrupts him' and mutilates his hand, while Skeletor's 'lingering ghost haunts' Krass, manipulating her with promises to 'resurrect her dead parents' through dark magic.
Scary & Intense Content
MediumThe level of scary and intense content varies by iteration. Earlier series feature mild suspense and fantastical threats. Later, more adult-oriented series, like 'Revelation,' contain darker imagery and more perilous situations, including character deaths, which can be upsetting. The CGI series has some visually intense transformations.
In 'Masters of the Universe: Revelation,' Moss Man is 'burned to ashes' by Skeletor, and the narrative features characters confronting their own mortality and suffering more directly than in previous versions. In the 'He-Man and the Masters of the Universe' (2021 CGI series), Keldor's grotesque transformation into Skeletor, with his skeletal appearance and the power of Havoc, can be visually intense. Additionally, Skeletor forces Krass to 'watch' Beast Man being turned into a 'skele-drone,' highlighting a disturbing act of psychological manipulation.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumInstances of disrespect and rebellion are present, often as plot devices for character development. Prince Adam's initial 'lazy' persona, Krass's early self-centeredness, and Teela's anger towards secrets kept from her showcase varying degrees of defiance against authority or expectations, typically resolved positively or leading to growth.
In the 'He-Man and the Masters of the Universe' (2021 CGI series), Krass initially displays an 'It's All About Me' attitude, leading to a 'rift' with Adam as she prioritizes her tribe over the larger mission of the Masters, exhibiting a form of rebellion against team responsibility. In 'Masters of the Universe: Revelation,' Teela expresses significant anger and 'defiance' after discovering that Prince Adam, Duncan, and Orko had hidden He-Man's secret identity from her, leading her to initially abandon her role as Captain of the Royal Guard.
Profanity
LowProfanity is notably absent or extremely mild in the children's animated series, typically limited to comical insults. Even in more adult-targeted iterations, explicit strong language is not a prevalent feature of the dialogue.
In the original 1980s series, Skeletor's insults are often mild and comical, such as calling characters 'you boob,' 'metal munching moron,' or 'pathetic pair of pitiful pin heads.' There is no significant use of profanity reported across the different TV series, even in the more mature 'Revelation' or the CGI series.
Substance Use
LowAcross all animated television iterations of 'He-Man and the Masters of the Universe,' there is no direct or implied depiction of alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drug use by characters.
No instances of characters using alcohol, drugs, or engaging in smoking were found in parental reviews or content analyses for any of the 'He-Man and the Masters of the Universe' TV series. The content remains free of substance use.
Anti-Christian Themes
LowThe 'He-Man' franchise operates within a fantasy mythology that does not directly engage with Christian theology. While some elements, particularly Skeletor's imagery and magic, have been interpreted by some Christian-focused reviewers as 'occultic' or 'satanic,' the series themselves do not actively promote anti-Christian messages or overtly mock Christian beliefs. External discussions about 'woke mind virus' in relation to newer media adaptations exist from conservative perspectives.
Some Christian-focused analyses have cited Skeletor's ram's head staff as an 'occultic symbol' that can be linked to Satanic representations, interpreting magic within the series as 'pagan religion practices.' While the content of the shows themselves does not explicitly mock Christianity, an online conservative writer, identifying as standing for Christian values, expressed outrage over a 'he/him' pronoun joke in the upcoming 'Masters of the Universe' movie trailer, framing it as part of a 'woke mind virus' perceived as anti-Christian.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
Ages 7+ for the classic 1980s series and the 2021 CGI series due to fantasy violence and mild scary moments. Ages 14+ for 'Masters of the Universe: Revelation' due to its darker themes, increased intensity of violence, and more mature handling of character relationships and peril.
Additional Notes
Parents should be aware that the 'He-Man and the Masters of the Universe' franchise encompasses several distinct animated series with different target audiences and content intensities. The original 1980s series and the 2021 CGI reboot are generally family-friendly, while 'Masters of the Universe: Revelation' is intended for a more mature, adult audience due to its darker tone and more intense subject matter. It is advisable to research the specific iteration before viewing, especially regarding themes of violence and character development.
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