THE NEW MOTU TOYS

Approximately twenty years after the original Masters Of The Universe toyline was introduced, Mattel decided that the time was right to revisit the world of Eternia. It seems that encouragement from fans helped to influence the decision. Of course the timing of the new toyline must have been carefully considered too, as many of the first generation fans are now parents.

The new toys stay true to many of the themes from the original series. He-Man is still battling against the evil Skeletor, preventing the skull-faced demon from entering the mystical Castle Grayskull. The figures have been redesigned, but they are still instantly recognisable. The designers - The Four Horsemen - have worked hard to create new versions of the toys, and their themes seem to reflect the barbarian influences of the original series. Their designs are more intricate than the originals, and the evil warriors look more sinister!

One significant difference between the new figures and the old is the link to the cartoon series. Rather than the animation being created after the toys (as happened in the 1980s), the new toys and cartoons are being developed together. Hopefully this will prove to be a successful approach, but it may ultimately limit the potential for development, as all new figures will have to fit into the cartoon format. It may also undermine the mythology that was such a fundamental part of the original toys.

I am a little disappointed that He-Man now looks like a teenager rather than an adult warrior, but on the whole the toyline is an exciting new interpretation, and the lack of distance between the cartoons and the toys is balanced by brilliantly designed action figures. I hope the young fans are encouraged to use their imaginations, and that the legends of Eternia continue to grow and inspire further stories. The toys will no doubt become favoured among collectors in future years.