Marketing 101: How ‘Masters of the Universe’ Emerged from the Biggest IP Blunder in Movie History

I can recall feeling a little betrayed when I learned the backstory of my favorite cartoon. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe didn't get its start as the brainchild of a television writer or a comic book artist. No, the muscle-bound toy came first—which meant my preferred entertainment was essentially a 30-minute commercial for action figures. (Battle Cat sold separately.)

But even though He-Man's origins seem crass and capitalistic, there's real pop culture affection for him and his franchise; otherwise, there would be no live-action Masters of the Universe in 2026.

Creating He-Man may have been motivated by nothing more than profit, but Mattel's decisions garnered lifelong, generation-spanning attachment to the character. And businesses and entrepreneurs can learn from Mattel's example.

Please select this link to read the complete article from Fast Company.