FILMATION FIGURES

Mattel released seven Filmation figures in 2016 alongside the Classics figures. There had, of course, been several models of characters who had only ever appeared in the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon, but they had been designed in Classics style to varying degrees of success. The Filmation figures used some of the same parts but were cartoon-inspired in their designs. They are deliberately simpler than their counterparts in the Classics line. Super7 will be continuing this range now that they have taken over production from Mattel.

The cartoons from the 80s aren't exactly the focus of this website, but I enjoyed the episodes as a youngster (even if I can't remember them in any detail), so I wanted to make an effort for the fans whose MOTU collections were inspired by the Filmation stories. I don't claim any sort of expertise on this aspect of the Masters of the Universe, but you can find sources in the Links and I'll mention one in particular at the end of this page.

As for the figures, well, they're quite fun. This is the light-hearted side of the MOTU, far removed from the gritty barbarian themes which featured in the original minicomics and artwork. Depending on which side of the divide you're on will probably influence how much you agree or disagree with my comments, but either way I hope you like the pictures.

HE-MAN and SKELETOR

He-Man is instantly recognisable from the cartoon. I'd recognise that girly haircut a mile away. But weirdly it worked in the cartoon and it works on this figure. I suppose the most powerful man in the universe can get away with it. I quite like Skeletor too, but there is a problem with the hands on this figure, especially the left one. The open grip is too wide for the staff. (It had to be balanced carefully for the photo.) I think the face has lost something with the plain paintwork. There's no mistaking who it is, but the drawn version had more expression somehow.

BEAST MAN and EVIL-LYN

As a replica from the cartoon Beast Man works well. I like the face sculpt, and the single-spike armbands are cartoon-accurate. I think the figure is good for what it is. But I always hated how the cartoon made Beast Man into a stupid lackey. I'm not very impressed with Evil-Lyn. She looks bored and I think her lower legs look abnormally short. The cloak is too stiff. I suppose it's meant to be billowing but it just looks odd. She did come with a second head (white hair, no helmet) which is marginally better than this one.

TRAP JAW and CLAWFUL

It's hard to go wrong with Trap Jaw. I don't know what it is about the character that makes him so good, even when he's reinvented in the Filmation style. The green part of the face is actually not all that different from the Classics version, and perhaps that's what gives this figure the sinister look that wasn't present in the cartoon. (You'll remember he was more of a cowering underling... hang on, there's a theme here.) Clawful can't grip his mace properly and just looks startled. He's very different from his original toy version.

EVIL SEED

That brings us to Evil Seed. Now I don't remember him from the cartoon, so I can only compare him to the Classics version (which is brilliant). The Filmation figure is... I honestly don't know. A disagreeable vegetable? For weirdness he can't be faulted, but I'm not enthusiastic. He doesn't even fit with the other Filmation characters. (Okay, simmer down, I know you Filmation fans don't agree!) And now a mention of James Eatock's book. I bought a copy of the first edition and can recommend it as a source of cartoon information. Click the image to visit his site.