By the Power of Barbie! Mattel Gives Masters of the Universe A Glamorous Makeover!
For some, it might be weird to hear Barbie and Masters of the Universe in the same sentence, as they seem so incredibly different from one another, but I grew up in a world where all toys intermingled. While I was born a little late for the Masters of the Universe craze, as a young child I consistently interacted with and world-built alongside my sister’s Barbie Dolls. I can’t tell you how many times my siblings and I had the Green Ranger carry Barbie down the aisle after their wedding. While it might not have made complete sense to anyone else, it filled us with so much joy
So for some, the pairing sounds like some kind of mashup only found in a young child’s dreams, much like my sisters’ and my play. He-Man and Teela are centered on fantasy, adventure, ancient weapons, and supernatural power, and Barbie is, well, Barbie. Yet Mattel’s new Masters of the Universe collector dolls make a surprisingly persuasive case for the out-of-this-world combination. These dolls take the recent MGM and Mattel Studios film’s He-Man (played by Nicholas Galitzine) and Teela (played by Camila Mendes) and reinterpret them through the lens of Barbie Signature. That means larger proportions, fashion-doll styling, celebrity likenesses, and an emphasis on display rather than conventional action-figure play.
The result is neither a traditional MOTU nor a conventional Barbie, but rather a beautiful piece that belongs on any collector of either franchise’s shelf. These dolls are not exactly inexpensive movie tie-ins, so the question becomes whether the execution justifies that price, and whether longtime Masters of the Universe fans will accept He-Man and Teela in this form. And from my perspective, the answer is a definitive yes.
[Note: While I am reviewing this item independently and honestly, it should be noted that I received the product from Mattel for the purpose of this review.]
Masters of the Universe go Barbie
If I were to ask someone to close their eyes and describe either He-Man or Teela, I’m sure there’s a distinct image that comes to mind. With Teela, she looks and resembles something closer to what we’ve come to know from Mattel’s Barbie line of dolls; however, He-Man is perhaps the biggest deviant from the image in your head.
Mattel has deliberately moved away from the proportions that have defined He-Man for more than four decades. Rather than recreating the compact, heavily exaggerated physique of the original action figure, the Barbie Signature version uses Mattel’s muscular “Buff Superhero” Ken body. At 12.25 inches tall, he has the proportions of a modern fashion doll rather than a classic MOTU action figure. This changes the visual language of the He-Man character, but not to the doll’s detriment; instead, it enhances it.
The vintage He-Man appearance was almost a caricature of masculinity with an abnormally enormous chest, oversized arms, and a compact, powerful silhouette. While that definitely struck a visual that you recognized instantaneously as He-Man, it wasn’t representative of a real aesthetic. This version from Mattel is taller and more conventionally proportioned, looking less like an action figure and more like the lead of a contemporary fantasy film. This may feel like splitting hairs, but I think the distinction matters, especially when you’re targeting your products at children (granted, these are definitely aimed at collectors).
Mattel isn’t trying to sell nostalgia with these Master of the Universe Barbie Signature dolls. They could have easily tapped into everyone’s love of the cartoon, selling dolls purely on nostalgia, timed perfectly with the release of the new film. Instead, they’re selling a replica of a live-action adventure, and that means looking like the people playing the characters, which comes with added responsibility.
Mattel has managed to do so, as there’s no denying that the faces look like Nicholas Galitzine. The doll’s likeness does a lot to separate it from the familiar Ken body underneath. Without that movie-specific sculpt, the character could easily come across as a generic Ken dressed as He-Man. However, instead, the doll has a much stronger sense of identity.
He-Man’s costume is similarly dependent on the movie interpretation, rather than a simple reproduction of the familiar plastic harness from the original figure. Mattel didn’t want to rest on its laurels, and instead has created a more elaborate costume with sculpted armor, metallic details, and faux-leather elements. Much like many of the other Signature dolls, this one feels more cinematic than the brand’s standard Barbies.
And don’t even get me started on the Power Sword, which is perfectly captured in miniature form. He-Man is nothing without his Power Sword (quite literally), a piece essential to the mythos as much as to this new film. The sword gives the doll an immediate visual connection to the character’s history and, more importantly, provides the pose with some much-needed drama.
Displayed on its stand with the sword in hand, He-Man looks incredible in ways that I cannot begin to describe. This isn’t just a one-for-one of the action figures you grew up playing with, and that’s the best way to think about this Barbie Signature doll. Don’t expect the He-Man from your childhood; instead, expect the He-Man from the recent Masters of the Universe film, rendered as a collector doll, which is the brilliance for anyone who has loved this most recent incarnation. Or those who have to have every piece of MOTU memorabilia.
However, that can also be a double-edged sword for some collectors, as at the core, this is still a Barbie doll. This is Nicholas Galitzine’s face put onto a Ken body, with the physical connection to Barbie being obvious. Comparing this alongside a traditional action figure, you might walk away disappointed if animated He-Man accuracy is what you’re looking for. The height, proportions, and overall silhouette are dramatically different. Put the two versions of He-Man side by side, and they could almost be characters from different franchises.
However, in my opinion, that isn’t a failure in the slightest, but more a sign of the MOTU world we’re living in. The live-action film itself represents a departure from the stylized world of the original toy line. It features a more realistic world, with human physiques that make sense for a movie character, and the Barbie Signature body gives Mattel an established platform for producing a larger, fashion-oriented collector doll. For me, this doll is exactly what I want as a fan of the new movie and exactly what I’m looking for as a collector.
Taking a look at Teela
So if He-Man feels like an experiment in expanding the Barbie Signature line, Teela feels like a natural fit. At 11.5 inches, the Teela doll is slightly shorter than He-Man and perfectly captures Camila Mendes’s face and silhouette from the film. Having watched her for years in Riverdale on The CW, it was wild and almost otherworldly to see her come alive as a doll. Her costume combines a white jumpsuit with copper-colored armor and red boots, along with her sword, all of which feel ripped from the silver screen and placed into the collector’s box.
Teela’s costume has a fashion component that feels much more comfortable in the Barbie Signature environment. The white jumpsuit provides a clean base, while the metallic copper armor supplies the fantasy-warrior element. The red boots also add a strong accent without overwhelming the overall design. It feels like a better-balanced costume than He-Man’s, at least from a collector-doll perspective. This isn’t a costume that can’t exist outside the MOTU world, but also captures what makes the franchise so special.
That doesn’t mean Teela looks less like a warrior. In fact, the armor and weaponry prevent the character from drifting too far into generic fashion-doll territory. The important thing is that Mattel doesn’t appear to be apologizing for either side of the equation. Teela is both a warrior and a fashion collectible, which makes the crossover feel less forced and more naturally at home in both worlds.
The likeness of Camila Mendes is another strength of this collector’s doll. As with He-Man, the movie-specific facial sculpt is essential, giving Teela a distinct cinematic identity. A generic Barbie face would have undermined the entire concept. Instead, those who designed this doll took the time to find the essence of these two actors and sculpt them perfectly.
Final thoughts on the MOTU Barbie Signature dolls
What Mattel has accomplished with this line is extraordinary, aiming for more than your standard MOTU figurine or doll. These two dolls work magic by themselves, but it’s when they come together that Barbie’s take on Masters of the Universe truly comes alive.
He-Man is taller and visually heavier. Teela is slightly shorter and has a much lighter color palette. His armor is dominated by metallic and darker tones; his white, copper, and red costume adds some contrast to the display. The result is a pair that looks deliberately designed rather than simply produced as two separate movie tie-ins.
That being said, the Barbie Signature releases are not replacements for the smaller MOTU action figures, which might be something that some collectors are looking for. Mattel’s movie action-figure line exists for that purpose, with smaller-scale figures designed around play and articulation.
The Barbie Signature dolls are fundamentally display pieces. That isn’t a criticism in the slightest. In fact, the larger format is one of their strengths. These slightly larger dolls give Mattel considerably more room to work with the costumes and facial likenesses, which are details that would disappear on a smaller action figure but become part of the visual appeal here.
He-Man has the presence of a warrior. Teela has style and substance. Together, they create a display that feels distinctly different from anything else in the MOTU range. Mattel has produced dolls that are as thoughtful as they are dynamic. These are dolls that will look outstanding on any collector’s shelf and make you want more from the world of MOTU from Barbie Signature.
The Barbie Signature He-Man and Teela dolls are available now! Are you thinking of purchasing them? Share your thoughts on social media and tag @bsb.insider to continue the conversation!
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