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When Masters of the Universe returned to theaters, one big question stood out: why didn’t younger audiences connect with He-Man the way kids did in the 1980s?

For a certain generation, He-Man was not just a cartoon character. He was a childhood phenomenon. In 1986 alone, Masters of the Universe toy sales reportedly hit $400 million in the United States. But the appeal was bigger than toys.

This video essay looks at why He-Man meant so much to 80s kids, especially young boys who connected with the ultimate power fantasy behind the words:

“I have the power.”

From the influence of Mattel’s toy designers, to the Netflix series The Toys That Made Us, to the viral “What’s Up?” He-Man meme, this essay explores why different generations understand He-Man in very different ways.

For one generation, He-Man meant strength, imagination, friendship, and possibility.

For another, he may just be a meme.

So what is the deal with He-Man?

Let’s talk about why He-Man and the Masters of the Universe was more than a toy commercial, and why Eternia still matters.