Princess of Power
Encyclopedia
Princess of Power is a toyline created by Mattel
. Among others, it features the characters of She-Ra
and Catra on planet Etheria
. With its launch in 1985, the toyline spawned a variety of products, including three lines of fashion action figure
s.
decided to diversify the Masters of the Universe line beyond its traditional realm of "male action" in the hopes of bringing in a young female audience as well. Thus, Mattel created a new line Princess of Power and invented She-Ra as its feminine warrior-woman heroine. The toyline featured almost exclusively female characters, all of whom featured an emphasis on hair and clothing, with "real" hair and partially soft-goods costumes. Essentially, the line attempted to fuse the appeal of Masters of the Universe with Mattel's most long-standing success, Barbie. Like its predecessor Masters of the Universe, the She-Ra toy line actually lasted longer than the Princess of Power (POP) cartoon series itself.
Etheria is ruled by Hordak and the Evil Horde. Raised by Hordak, but actually the long-lost daughter of King Randor
and Queen Marlena
of Eternia, Princess Adora joins the Great Rebellion to fight against the oppressive Horde. Princess Adora possesses a magic sword
, and when she holds it aloft with her right hand and says the magic word
s, "For the honor of Grayskull... I AM SHE-RA!!!" she is transformed into She-Ra, "The Most Powerful Woman in the Universe." She-Ra is a beautiful blonde woman dressed in a short, skimpy white dress and a red cape, with a golden tiara on her head.
Actually released as an exclusive in 2004, the new She-Ra figure was made to appeal to both fans of the original toyline and the new line, as well as fit in more closely with the other redesigned Masters characters. The new She-Ra still had the rooted, combable hair, but all of her clothing (except for her cape) was made out of molded plastic instead of cloth (unlike the original fashion action figure, who had both a cloth cape and skirt).
, but are predominantly based on the original 1980's line of figures. The line plans to eventually include characters from all aspects of the Masters of the Universe
franchise, including She-Ra (Princess of Power).
The first Princess of Power figure will be Princess Adora, as revealed at the 2009 San Diego Comic Con
, and she will be available January 2010. Since then, Adora's alter-ego She-Ra has been released in the Classics line along with Princess of Power male lead Bow and chief villainess Catra. Although they made their original toy appearances in Masters of the Universe, She-Ra villains Hordak, Leech and Grizzlor are also available. New additions to the line from She-Ra include the upcoming variant Bubble Power She-Ra and her horse Swiftwind, with more characters expected to be announced in the next few months.
Mattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
. Among others, it features the characters of She-Ra
She-Ra
She-Ra is a fictional character and the heroine in the Filmation cartoon and series of toys produced by Mattel called She-Ra: Princess of Power. She is the alter ego of Princess Adora and the twin sister of He-Man. She-Ra was intended to appeal to young girls in the same way that He-Man appealed to...
and Catra on planet Etheria
Etheria
Etheria is a Filipino fantasy television series that was produced by GMA Network. The full title of the series is Etheria: Ang Ikalimang Kaharian ng Encantadia , referring to Encantadia, its predecessor series...
. With its launch in 1985, the toyline spawned a variety of products, including three lines of fashion action figure
Action figure
An action figure is a posable character figurine, made of plastic or other materials, and often based upon characters from a film, comic book, video game, or television program. These action figures are usually marketed towards boys and male collectors...
s.
The Toys
In 1985, Mattel and FilmationFilmation
Filmation Associates was an American production company that produced animation and live action programming for television during the latter half of the 20th century. Located in Reseda, California, the animation studio was founded in 1963...
decided to diversify the Masters of the Universe line beyond its traditional realm of "male action" in the hopes of bringing in a young female audience as well. Thus, Mattel created a new line Princess of Power and invented She-Ra as its feminine warrior-woman heroine. The toyline featured almost exclusively female characters, all of whom featured an emphasis on hair and clothing, with "real" hair and partially soft-goods costumes. Essentially, the line attempted to fuse the appeal of Masters of the Universe with Mattel's most long-standing success, Barbie. Like its predecessor Masters of the Universe, the She-Ra toy line actually lasted longer than the Princess of Power (POP) cartoon series itself.
Cartoon Series (1985-87)
The animated series She-Ra: Princess of Power was produced by Filmation and made its television debut in 1985.Etheria is ruled by Hordak and the Evil Horde. Raised by Hordak, but actually the long-lost daughter of King Randor
King Randor
King Randor is a fictional character who appears in the popular 1980s Masters of the Universe franchise. In early material, the character is called King Miro, this was later given in the Filmation cartoon series as King Randor's long-lost father's name....
and Queen Marlena
Queen Marlena
Queen Marlena is a fictional character from the Masters of the Universe franchise. She first appears in the toys' minicomics as a typical medieval-style queen. Later, the Filmation cartoon series states that she is actually a space pilot from Earth who had crash-landed on Eternia some years before...
of Eternia, Princess Adora joins the Great Rebellion to fight against the oppressive Horde. Princess Adora possesses a magic sword
Magic sword
The term magic sword refers to any kind of mythological or fictional sword imbued with magical power to increase its strength or grant it other supernatural qualities. The archetype originated in myth and legend, and occurs regularly in fantasy fiction....
, and when she holds it aloft with her right hand and says the magic word
Magic word
Magic words are words which have a specific, and sometimes unintended, effect. They are often nonsense phrases used in fantasy fiction or by stage prestidigitators. Certain comic book heroes use magic words to activate their super powers. Magic words are also used as Easter eggs or cheats in...
s, "For the honor of Grayskull... I AM SHE-RA!!!" she is transformed into She-Ra, "The Most Powerful Woman in the Universe." She-Ra is a beautiful blonde woman dressed in a short, skimpy white dress and a red cape, with a golden tiara on her head.
Masters of the Universe 2002 Redux
Only one Princess of Power character was redone as an action figure for the new Masters of the Universe line in 2002: She-Ra, herself.Actually released as an exclusive in 2004, the new She-Ra figure was made to appeal to both fans of the original toyline and the new line, as well as fit in more closely with the other redesigned Masters characters. The new She-Ra still had the rooted, combable hair, but all of her clothing (except for her cape) was made out of molded plastic instead of cloth (unlike the original fashion action figure, who had both a cloth cape and skirt).
Masters of the Universe Classics: 2008-
This new line of collector-oriented figures features previously released characters with "classic" retro sculpting and levels of articulation unprecedented for Masters of the Universe toys, and exclusively available online from Mattel's website mattycollector.com. They are once again sculpted by the Four HorsemenFour Horsemen Studios
Four Horsemen Studios is a group of four action figure sculptors who formerly worked for McFarlane Toys, and whose work has included the modern and classics line of Masters of the Universe toys and the current DCSH and DC Universe Classics lines....
, but are predominantly based on the original 1980's line of figures. The line plans to eventually include characters from all aspects of the Masters of the Universe
Masters of the Universe
Masters of the Universe is a media franchise created by Mattel....
franchise, including She-Ra (Princess of Power).
The first Princess of Power figure will be Princess Adora, as revealed at the 2009 San Diego Comic Con
Comic-Con International
San Diego Comic-Con International, also known as Comic-Con International: San Diego , and commonly known as Comic-Con or the San Diego Comic-Con, was founded as the Golden State Comic Book Convention and later the San Diego Comic Book Convention in 1970 by Shel Dorf and a group of San Diegans...
, and she will be available January 2010. Since then, Adora's alter-ego She-Ra has been released in the Classics line along with Princess of Power male lead Bow and chief villainess Catra. Although they made their original toy appearances in Masters of the Universe, She-Ra villains Hordak, Leech and Grizzlor are also available. New additions to the line from She-Ra include the upcoming variant Bubble Power She-Ra and her horse Swiftwind, with more characters expected to be announced in the next few months.