By The Power Of Greyskull! Attend A Screening Of MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE At The Egyptian Theater This September!

The 80's were a great time for American animation and toy fandom. Classics like He-Man and She-Ra remain in memory with the former setting up the universe for both properties prior to the live-action adaptation for the former that further installed actor Dolph Lundgren into action legend status.

That very legacy continues to be celebrated to this day with American Cinematheque, Dammaged Goods and HeManWorld.com now set to host a star-studded event for both popular Mattel properties, kicking off with a screening of the 1987 action adventure, Masters Of The Universe at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood, California. Cheese notwithstanding, it's a film to appreciate moreso these days for its ambitions with Thor: The Dark World co-scribe Christopher Yost now penning the script for the upcoming He-Man reboot, and time will tell if that one further propels the titular brand to cinematic greatness.

Based on the popular Mattel toy line, Filmation’s “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe” was one of the most popular animated children’s shows of the 1980s. The fantasy-adventure revolves around Prince Adam, who is transformed into the muscular He-Man whenever he raises his magic sword and invokes the power of Grayskull, the mystical castle fortress of his planet Eternia. He-Man’s feline companion, Battle Cat, flying wizard Orko and evil nemesis Skeletor are among the colorful characters that made the original program a cult favorite, while spinoff “She-Ra: Princess of Power” (He-Man’s sister) gave girls an equally heroic role model. 

Our celebration of the most powerful cartoon in the universe kicks off with the live-action MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE, in which He-Man (Dolph Lundgren) faces off against Skeletor (Frank Langella). Lundgren, director Gary Goddard and production designer William Stout appear in person for a post-screening Q&A. The next day, the Egyptian is transformed into Eternia for a series of events beginning with a mini-convention of artists, collectors and vendors in the lobby. Along with classic moments from the TV series, the festivities include a rare screening of the theatrically released THE SECRET OF THE SWORD and wrap up with the West Coast premiere of TOY MASTERS, the recent documentary about the origins of “Masters of the Universe.” Filmation veterans Tom Sito, Larry DiTillio, Diane Pershing and Marc Scott Zicree, along with voice actors Alan Oppenheimer (Skeletor) and Melendy Britt (She-Ra), will be on hand for a discussion and to meet fans. 

Series programmed by Grant Moninger and Duvien Ho. Program notes by John Hagelston.

The event is scheduled for Friday, September 18 and Saturday, September 19. Head over to the official American Cinematheque website for more event and ticket info!

H/T: The Action Elite

WB, DC & Mattel To Deliver DC SUPER HERO GIRLS This Fall!

It took awhile for Warner Bros. to get on board with a Wonder Woman movie long after several failed attempts to rebrand the popular female-centric property on television reprising. And rest assured, even that effort a snag recently before recovering with a new director. All in all, it's understandable that one can be led to wonder if the studio cared at all about lending a female the spotlight in today's movie and television fandom.

Thankfully, the studio is making up for it; Other networks have some properties on the way, but Warner Bros. is going all-in with a number of digital products for the female-centric DC Super Hero Girls with toy company, Mattel. The studio's press release from Wednesday has more details and specs about what fans of comic book lore can expect below. Kudos WB!

Beginning in Fall 2015, DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation, Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Mattel join forces to launch “DC Super Hero Girls,” an exciting new universe of Super Heroic storytelling that helps build character and confidence, and empowers girls to discover their true potential. Featuring DC Comics’ most powerful and diverse line-up of female characters as relatable teens, “DC Super Hero Girls” will play out across multiple entertainment content platforms and product categories to create an immersive world. 

Developed for girls aged 6-12, “DC Super Hero Girls” centers on the female Super Heroes and Super-Villains of the DC Comics universe during their formative years—prior to discovering their full super power potential. Featuring a completely new artistic style and aesthetic, DC Comics’ icons such as Wonder Woman, Supergirl, Batgirl, Harley Quinn, Bumble Bee, Poison Ivy, Katana and many more make their unprecedented teenaged introduction. Each character has her own storyline that explores what teen life is like as a Super Hero, including discovering her unique abilities, nurturing her remarkable powers and mastering the fundamentals of being a hero. 

“DC Entertainment is home to the most iconic and well-known Super Heroes including Wonder Woman, Supergirl and Batgirl,” said Diane Nelson, President of DC Entertainment. “‘DC Super Hero Girls’ represents the embodiment of our long-term strategy to harness the power of our diverse female characters. I am so pleased that we are able to offer relatable and strong role models in a unique way, just for girls.” 

The initial launch of “DC Super Hero Girls” in Fall 2015 will include an immersive digital experience, original digital content and digital publishing—providing opportunities for girls to interact with characters, learn about the storylines, and engage in customizable play. TV specials, made-for-videos, toys, apparel, books and other product categories will begin to rollout in 2016. 

“Developing a Super Hero franchise exclusively for girls that includes all of the key components of a comprehensive entertainment experience—from content to consumer products—is something we are excited to be doing in conjunction with our great partners,” said Brad Globe, President of Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “It’s really an honor to be part of this cultural moment and to be delivering a concept so rooted in a relatable and empowered theme that the characters of DC Comics are uniquely able to present.” 

As master toy licensee, Mattel is collaborating with DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Bros. Consumer Products on “DC Super Hero Girls’” narrative creation, interactive digital activations and ultimately a toy line launching in 2016. Mattel category-leading firsts include a line of characters for the action figure category, an area of the industry that has been primarily developed with boys in mind, and fashion dolls featuring strong, athletic bodies that stand on their own in heroic poses. 

“Partnering with the best and being the best partner is of paramount importance,” said Richard Dickson, President, Chief Operating Officer, Mattel. “Together with Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment, the ‘DC Super Hero Girls’ franchise will further expand our already powerful girls portfolio. We know Super Hero is a culturally relevant theme and the ‘DC Super Hero Girls’ franchise will engage and inspire girls, providing cues to explore heroic acts through play and into real life.” 

The Random House Books for Young Readers imprint of Random House Children’s Books has been appointed the master publishing partner for the franchise and will be creating a portfolio of books that will bring the “DC Super Hero Girls” world to life, beginning in Spring 2016. Random House’s publishing program will be complemented by a series of original graphic novels from DC Entertainment. The LEGO Group will also be key to building the “DC Super Hero Girls” franchise, leveraging their experience and success engaging girls in creative construction play to bolster this universe through an array of LEGO building sets designed to inspire girls' imaginations. Additionally, consumer products partners around the world will be engaged in creating a merchandise line dedicated to “DC Super Hero Girls” across all key categories.