Masters of the Universe started as Mattel’s toy line in 1982, but Filmation’s He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon in 1983 is what really gave Eternia its personality. The toys came first; the show gave those characters voices, relationships, stories and a whole world kids could get attached to.

Then came She-Ra: Princess of Power in 1985, expanding the universe again and giving us another entire cast, world and toy line to obsess over.

So a lot of what we think of today as “classic MOTU” really came from that perfect 80s combination of toys first, cartoons second, and kids happily convincing their parents they absolutely needed both.