He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
Like Transformers, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe started out as a toy franchise. The action figures debut in 1981. Also like Transformers, the popularity of the toy led to the development of a cartoon series that debut in 1983. It filled in the story of Prince Adam. When Prince Adam lifts his sword and recites an incantation (“I have the POWER!”), he turns into He-Man and becomes an excessively strong hero. He battles with his archnemesis Skeletor for control of Eternia.
The show was chided for being nothing more than a commercial for action figures and toy sets, but kids didn’t care. But because of that claim, the FCC forbid syndicate stations from showing any Mattel commercials during airing. But He-Man, She-Ra (He-Man’s sister and her spinoff series), and the Masters of the Universe realm stays in the hearts of 80s kids and has had the staying power.
