He-Man and the Masters of the Universe

This is how you update a series for a new generation: take what worked from the original series: dynamic and memorable character designs and refine and build upon it with deeper characterization and world building while taking advantage of the technological improvements in animation and editing.

While not ground breaking this a very respectable and entertaining show for kids with enough complexity for adult to enjoy unironically. All the while very much remaining in the spirit of the previous series and is currently now the definitive version of the show and its characters as far as I'm concerned.

Definitely recommend it over both netflix shows as of this date. Check it out most people slept on this show when came out just like the similarly overlooked and underrated Thunderscats remake that came out in 2011.

So, the new He-Man cartoon on CNX. Is it good, telling a good story while at the same time making us all nostalgic for the original, or is it just a big pile of elephant turd? There haven't been many re makes of 80's cartoons yet, except for a couple of attempts at new Transformers series, which I have to say, were pretty appalling. So, I was kinda sceptical about the new He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. But, I have now watched enough episodes to make a judgement. I will do so by listing the good points followed by the bad points. Good points: 1: The new looks for the characters. They have modernised, and dare I say it, improve upon the look the of characters, making everyone look very cool, while still remaining incredibly faithful to the way they looked in the original. For example, Man At Arms helmet always looked kinda stupid in the original, but with the updated look, seems pretty cool. Beastman looks pretty much the same, but is now also really rather large, which works better for the character. So the new look is actually an improvement. 2: Todays animation techniques are obviously better than they were 20 years ago, and this has worked very much in He-Man's favour. Everything about the cartoon looks incredible and moves fluidly. But just look at the locations. Most of the time, they have enough character of their own. 3: The characters really haven't changed. Everyone is pretty much what they were in the original, with only slight updates to keep up with the times. Sure, Adam and Teela are younger, but again, it just seems better. 4: Cringer/Battlecat doesn't talk anymore. This is one of the biggest differences to the original, but I prefer it this way. Having Cringer just mew like a frightened kitten, then roaring and snarling when he becomes Battlecat works better than having him talk. He seems more like what he's supposed to be now: the loyal pet. 5: The voices. Most of them sound pretty similar to the voices from the original. Skeletor particularly. The actor doing Skeletor's voice is one of the best things about this series. 6: The humour. There's some very funny moments in the new series, and I don't remember there being very many of those in the original. For example, have a look at the episode where the Masters try to defeat Skeletor once and for all by attching a device to him which hurts him whenever he say's or does anything bad. Watching Skeletor trying desperately to be nice and polite to his minions is hilarious. 7: Where else on television today are you going to find characters with such great names like Buzz-Off, Mechaneck, Man-E-Faces and Ramman? 8: It wipes away any memories of the awful Dolph Lundgren film Bad points: 1: They changed the theme tune! All right, so maybe the original theme tune just wouldn't work in this day and age, but come on! 2: He-Man doesn't hold his sword in front of him now when he say's "I have the power!". He just keeps it pointed skyward. That just seems wrong somehow. So there you go. The good points far outweigh the bad, and lets face it, how tiny and petty are thos bad points. So I say that the new He-Man is a triumph. It's at least an equal to its predecessor, if not better in some ways. Lets hope this paves the way for some decent re makes of other classics. I for one would love to see the Thundercats come back in a good cartoon, and it's about time the transformers came back in a cartoon that did justice to the fantastic originals. And lets also hope that the new He-Man goes on for long enough that they remake the Secret of the Sword movie which introduced She-Ra and we get a new She-Ra cartoon. That'd be cool.

Being a fan of the original series (and yes, the toys as well) I was thrilled to see this new series.

It is brilliant! It reinvents the old characters and manages to stay true to its origins. Finally these "masters of the universe" deliver action living up to their title. Skeletor at last is the powerful menacing character he should be. He-Man is the good-hearted force of nature he always was, slightly updated for these times.

And then I hear about its cancellation. Say what?! The inmates are running the asylum, it would seem. Why cancel it?! This series has so much potential... What is wrong with people?!

Bring it back! It showed so much promise!

Being a very big He-Man fan and collector and loving the original series I really didn't know what to think when I first saw the new series.Though I admit that I have only seen one episode and that one was the Courage of Adam.It was really a remake of the original episode. It was good and very entertaining.There are things how ever that has changed compared to the very first series.I honestly don't know if it is for the better or what as it is to soon to tell and I don't want to bash or say anything bad about the 2002 He-Man and the Masters Of The Universe series.The things I noticed is that Cringer/Battle Cat doesn't talk.Is all he does when he is Cringer is do a simple meow and when he is Battle Cat he makes a fantastic roar.Teela is not the beautiful and attractive young but intelligent Captain of the Guard.She is now a teenager that is really a brat.It is hard to tell the difference between Prince Adam and He-Man.Skeleto now longer wears boots and his voice sounds the same but then it doesn't.Man-At-Arms is younger and has a short pony tail.Some other things but really the show this awesome and the music helps it seem epic.I do like the show but I guess I'm not use to it because I've seen the older series so much.I'm sure some MOTU fans of the old show do and don't like the show compared to the original but I like both!

I was born in 1983 (the same year the original series first came out) so it's not too far of a stretch to say that I literally grew up with it, in any case it remains one of my all time favourites. So, when I heard they were coming out with a remake I was hopeful, but skeptical. I've seen too many fall flat and too many are blatant money ploys with little bearing on the original (like a certain movie that I won't name.).

That said, when I first watched the series I was pleasantly surprised. This is obviously a labour of love that gives as much respect to old schoolers like myself as it does to those who have never even heard of Eternia. I was amazed to see the amount of detail, from Evil-Lynn's hair to the long standing Keldor/Skeletor rumour, that was brought into it.

The characterization is also terrific and they've even expanded on as are many of the details and relationships that weren't as heavily addressed in the old one. The animation is much richer and smoother and the series lacks the classic "80s cheese" (oh well).

Not to say that there aren't some points that I don't think work well ie: my biggest problem is Cringer not talking, though that's a rant I've done elsewhere.

This is a strong series that I've really enjoyed up to now and is, so far, a worthy successor to the original.