He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: The Beginning

Animated pilot movie comprising the first three episodes of the 2002 He-Man and the Masters of the Universe reboot. First shown on TV on 16th August that year, before being broken down into individual episodes beginning on 30th August. This version runs at just over an hour.

The animation is a big step-up from the 1980s original. Character movements are far more fluid, and there's hardly any reused/stock footage. Artwork is good; many backdrops are quality paintings in their own right (Snake Mountain is beautiful), whilst the character designs are updated - yet wholly recognisable - versions of their 1980s selves (and for the first time there's a noticeable difference between Prince Adam and He-Man!). Colours are strong, whilst not being distractingly over-bright, and the whole look is pretty cinematic. The only downer for me visually is that the fights have a definite Anime feel to them, with a lot of jump-flying that feels shoehorned in. I enjoy Anime - but that style of combat seems out of place here. Some of the fight choreography is also a little confusing at times.

Voice work is fine, and whilst it's strange hearing different actors' voices coming from He-Man, Man-At-Arms, etc, the performances are a good fit (have to say though that Brian Dobson's Skeletor is very close to Alan Oppenheimer's original). Storytelling is good, with a real sense of world-building even at this early stage. And we get full origins for both He-Man and Skeletor - something not done on the original show.

Looking online it seems that fans of the original show on the whole embraced this version (both currently rate at 7.5 on IMDb). For me it doesn't quite have the charm of the original, but it's certainly fun. 7/10.

I may be among a small minority but I ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY, HATE THIS SHOW! While it was not nearly as bad as "The New Adventures of He-Man" from 1990, this latest incarnation of He-Man is still a joke. Dolph Lundgren's "Master's of the Universe" was better than this. As with alot of these newer shows (but old in Japan) like Pokemon, Digimon, and Yu-Gi-Oh, this one is too chock full of drama and/or corny jokes. Less emphasis is put on the actual action vs. the non stop action of the original. I really don't care how Adam of Eternia evolves as a person. I just want to see him fight the forces of evil. I know they are trying to sell toys again but it's like they were trying too hard or something. I am a fan of Japanese Anime just like the next guy, but I do not like this new style of bright, soft and colorful Japanese animation that you commonly see on Fox and WB. The older style seen in everything from Gundam Wing to Akira is more visually stunning. One good thing about this mockery is that all of the characters from the original He-Man are present and the dialog is better. Cam Clarke is the man but I can't help picturing Leonardo from the Ninja Turtles when Adam is speaking. However, the sequence when Adam and Cringer become He-Man and Battle Cat does not even come close to the wonderful effects of the original. In addition, why is it that people cannot come up with original ideas anymore. I am sick and tired of seeing these rehashed versions of older cartoons. First, they butchered the Transformers with the travesties that are "Transformers: Robots in Disguise" and "Transformers: Armada." Now they have destroyed He-Man and TMNT is being ruined in '03. What's next, are they gonna mess G.I. Joe up? If they are going to show anything, show the originals. I guess maybe I am showing my age but I prefer the jerky animation from the original Filmation production from 83. I watched the original show religously in the 80s and would still prefer it over this crap. I saw a kid with a T-shirt based on this new junk and I almost threw up. There is no more appreciation for history. They need to start an 80s toons channel. DIC (except for G.I. Joe Extreme), Filmation, Sunbow, Ruby Spears, and Mirage Studios all Rule!!!

On the planet Eternia, Captain Randor led his warriors to warn the Great Council of Keldor's attempt to invade and take the power of the universe. However, the council disappears, as Randor would claim victory, and replace the council as King. However, the piece was broken the day of Prince Adam's sixteenth birthday, as Keldor, now known as Skeletor after the final battle caused him to be disfigured (an event I won't spoil as it is covered in a future episode) would finally destroy the Mystic Wall keeping them in the Dark Hemisphere. Man-At-Arms (voiced by Garry Chalk) would take Prince Adam (voiced by Cam Clarke) to Castle Greyskull, where the Sorceress (voiced by Nicole Oliver) tells the youth he is destined to save Eternia. After some doubt, he soon accepts his new role, gaining the power sword, which allows him to become a strong barbarian-like hero called He-Man.

This movie would kick off the 2002 reboot of He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe (and would be separated to become the first three episodes of the first season). As this aired on the old Toonami block (which was on Cartoon Network, a cable channel), and at the time when TV shows have content ratings, this reboot would not be bound to the same restrictions as the Filmation original (allowing characters to engage in swordfights and even throw punches). It also does what Filmation did not: give an origin episode that showed how Prince Adam gained his fabulous secret powers and the power sword that turned him into He-Man.

The characters have been modernized at best, as females like Teela and Evil-Lyn are better dressed than their Filmation counterparts. Also, some characters have their origin story changed (especially Cringer's transformation into Battle Cat, and Man-E-Faces, a character who started out as a villain in one episode where a flashback introduced him, has him with the Masters from the start). Prince Adam and He-Man are more obvious, as while Filmation did them as the same model (as a way to cut production costs), here, it's easy to tell Prince Adam, who wears a brown coat, from He-Man (and Cam does a good job giving the two different voices to complete the illusion that despite being the same person, the fact is supposed to be kept secret). Also, Brian Dobson does a good job voicing Skeletor (even going as far as to put his own take on the voice made popular by Alan Oppenheimer). This is a neat origin story to watch, be it complete or in the three separate parts.

First for those that think that this will never replace the original. The intentions are not to replace the original. The point is to bring He-Man to a new generation, and to give it fresh ideas. Also WAY better animation. As a fan of the 80's series I find this one much much better. This is do to the fact that as a child in the 80's the animation was great to me, because that was as good as you ever seen it on tv. But now that I'm older and times has changed I'm glad to see one of my shows from my childhood again, and with a facelift.

I don't understand you people that get on the internet to type out these long messages just totally ripping at stuff that other people like. If you dislike it SOOO bad turn the channel. No one wants to hear you whine about not liking it. Sure there are things on TV that I don't like, but I don't get on the web knocking them. Why don't I? Because I know there are people out there that do like it, and I'm not out to rain on other people's parade.

Oh, and about Cringer/Battlecat not talking; I'm glad. I always wondered as a kid why the cat talked. I always felt it was too Hanna Barbera. Though not to knock Scooby, I love him. But Scoob talking just fit the format of that show. Cringer talking on He-Man just didn't seem to fit. The only way it would work is if later, maybe during the second season, something happens to him that makes him start talking. Or maybe he does something that makes the Sorceress reward him with the ability to speak. Another could be that something happens that makes Adam/He-Man hear the cat speak through telepathy, and only he can hear him. Although there is fantasy and magic in the show there still is a base of reality, and showing why and how Cringer/Battlecat talks would be the only way to do it. For some reason I don't think people questioned stuff as much as we do now.In the original series most were just like, "Ok, the cat talks", and we just accepted it. But now we like to have things explained in more detail. Giving a reason why Cringer in particular, as a cat, talks would make alot of sense, because if I'm not mistaken Skeletor's cat didn't talk in the original series. Hmmm.

The only think I hope is that they don't ignore the fact that Price Adam has a long lost twin sister, Princess Adora. I'm dying to see "She-Ra: The Princess of Power" with a face-lift. Just as long as they revamped it like He-Man, and cut out all the stuff about morals. And taking out the morals at the end would also remove the annoying Loo-Kee. I also think they would need to cut out the talking "Broom", and give Madame Raz a total make-over.

As a BIG fan of the original He-Man I really liked this re-make & aside from the fact that Cringer or Battle cat don't talk, it stays true to the original. The opening sequence is even better!