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Photos that includes Rob David by Michael Buckner (left) and Rich Polk (through Getty Images for Mattel)
We lately had the pleasure of discussing the Masters of the Universe franchise on Netflix with Rob David, Executive Producer and Vice President of Creative Content at Mattel Television.
Masters of the Universe: Revolution is an animated fantasy tv collection, and sequel to Masters of the Universe: Revelation. The collection was animated by Powerhouse Animation, with Kevin Smith as showrunner.
Rob David is an govt producer on Masters of the Universe and the vice chairman of Creative Content at Mattel Television. His in depth profession as a narrative editor and author has seen Rob work on a number of cartoons throughout Disney, Cartoon Network, and Nickelodeon, together with Teenage Mutant Ninjas Turtles, Viva Piñata, and Wordworld.
In 2011, Rob David grew to become the Franchise Creative Lead at Mattel, quickly turning into a Head Writer & Producer engaged on exhibits comparable to DC Super Hero Girls, Max Steel, Polly Pocket, and More.
Since turning into Vice President of Creative Content, Rob has overseen the rejuvenation of the Masters of the Universe franchise to nice success.
How did you first change into concerned in Masters of the Universe?
Rob: Well, I first grew to become concerned after I was just a little child within the 80s, like so many people. I simply completely bought hit within the head by how superior it was proper when these toys first began popping out as a result of there was nothing else in the marketplace that remotely got here near what it was. And so I simply bought hooked on it. And then I noticed that power-packed, how insanely cool, Masters universe toys had been. And then, after all, inside each a kind of toys, which you will or could not know, you in all probability do, was this packaged mini-comic that simply began telling this loopy epic saga on this superb world known as Eternia that had magic, barbarians, robots wizards and jet planes.
I couldn’t imagine what I used to be seeing, after which, after all, the cartoon that got here out proper after that solely added gasoline to the hearth. I simply cherished He-Man and I cherished all of the style tales. I really like Star Wars. I really like Star Trek. I really like Marvel comics, DC comics, you identify it.
I began a profession in writing and producing for animation based mostly in New York, and I used to be writing for exhibits like Ninja Turtles and others. Then Mattel recruited me to return inside the corporate to assist them develop all types of latest storylines for a few of their nice properties. Hopefully, I’ll carry them to life in all types of mediums, together with the medium I do know greatest, which is tv.
Picture: The beloved TMNT cartoon from the 80s Rob David labored on – Nickelodeon Network
So, I’ve been fortunate sufficient to put in writing the DC He-Man comedian books for a few years. I used to be fortunate to develop, govt produce, and show-run the CG animated He-Man and the Masters of the Universe that got here out on Netflix only a few years again. And then additionally govt produced Masters of the Universe Revelation and Revolution alongside Kevin Smith, the showrunner. And it’s been a blast. I like it. I’m having an excessive amount of enjoyable at work. I attempt to keep cool and act skilled, however inside I’m simply fully geeking out.
It took 17 years for a brand new Masters of the Universe collection. Why was that?
Rob: Who’s counting? Masters of the Universe isn’t removed from the guts of many individuals who grew up on it. And I do know it’s undoubtedly by no means far-off from the hearts and minds of individuals at Mattel, both. I believe the timing for our new exhibits and new content material is due to just a few issues. In some ways, there’s by no means been a greater time to carry again this basic that all of us grew up with as a result of the followers who knew it throughout the day within the eighties nonetheless like it.
Now, a lot of them have their very own children and households. So there’s this good alternative to have this change into a household and generational occasion, which is thrilling for Mattel and others. Also, Mattel has been within the midst of an incredible transformation from being a toy firm, or only a toy firm, which is superb as a result of Mattel makes the most effective toys on the market, and who doesn’t love toys? It’s the explanation why we’re all right here.
But past that, realizing that Mattel’s toys don’t simply have clients, they’ve followers. We are within the midst of a metamorphosis led by our CEO, Inan, to unlock the total potential of all of our manufacturers and all of our mental property to inform superb, superb tales and create superb universes of tales for every of the Mattel properties for folks to get pleasure from emotionally as a result of folks have such an emotional connection to Mattel’s properties. So if you happen to mix the desire to grasp our personal storytelling, if you happen to forgive the pun, plus the eagerness that the earlier technology of MOTU followers have for MOTU, plus the subsequent technology arising who love tales of excellent and evil and sci-fi and fantasy, it was simply the proper time to carry it again.
Picture: Classic He-Man from the Nineteen Eighties – Mattel
Jacob: Growing up for me, I used to be born in 94. So I simply missed the boat on Masters of the Universe. I grew up watching Power Rangers and Pokemon. So I’ll admit Masters of the Universe, I hadn’t watched however had all the time identified about it since you couldn’t escape it.
Rob: Iconic in some ways!
Jacob: Yeah, precisely. He-Man, Prince Adam, and Skeletor are these extremely iconic popular culture figures. So, it wasn’t till the Netflix collection got here out that it piqued my curiosity. I dipped my toe in there, and I used to be actually impressed.
Rob: Oh, that’s terrific. You know, we wished it to be one thing that, you realize, followers of the unique might acknowledge and love. Still, we additionally undoubtedly wished it to be future-forward and open to folks, new folks coming in. And entering into it as a result of I’ve stated this earlier than, and I imply this with all love, it’s a bizarre property. Very bizarre in the most effective sense of the phrase due to how a lot of an incredible, loopy cocktail of all these totally different elements it’s. You know, sci-fi and magic and skull-faced demons, however good-looking princes and also you identify it, speaking dragons and self-aware robots. I imply, there’s actually nothing fairly prefer it.
Jacob: In a method you possibly can evaluate it to franchises like Naruto and One Piece as a result of they each exist in a world the place you will have this combination of futuristic and medieval components. You mix all that collectively and it’s no surprise why it’s so common.
Rob: And it’s enjoyable. Everything you simply talked about on the root of it’s simply enjoyable and emotional. You care about these characters. They have very fundamental, relatable human needs. And then they specific these needs on this kaleidoscopic world of excellent and evil. So, I imply, it’s simply numerous enjoyable.
Jacob: Even the easy notion of excellent versus evil is such a straightforward idea for youths to rally behind and revel in, proper?
Rob: Yeah, fully. It’s bought a central theme of self-empowerment and that concept that inside everyone is, is there one thing actually particular? If you possibly can unlock it and grasp that, you possibly can have the facility to rework your self within the universe. It’s not simply restricted to He-Man. That’s one of many issues that I believed was true of the unique present within the subtext, however we’ve made extra of it within the latest incarnations is that concept that what’s true about He-Man is basically true about everyone. Everybody has one thing particular that’s their best energy. Characters like Stinkor. He smells actually dangerous, however it doesn’t depress him. He made one thing of it. I imply, for evil, however in his case, however you’ve bought characters who’ve bought lengthy extending necks, that’s the, you realize, they usually’ve bought this unbelievable worth to identify the enemy coming from miles and miles away. I imply, it’s simply, it’s actually particular in that approach.
I believe individuals who watch it, they acknowledge that. They see that. They’re like, hey, you realize, I simply gained a race at college, right this moment perhaps I’m the grasp of velocity? Maybe I might be if I put my thoughts to it. It’s actually one thing that I believe speaks to folks of all ages.
Jacob: I keep in mind there was some discourse when Revelations was first launched as a result of Prince Adam took a again seat, and Teela got here ahead. But I really feel just like the present did a superb job of distributing of getting everybody have their second within the solar. They stepped up.
Rob: I believe I actually recognize you saying that. Yeah, it was by no means our intention to maintain He-Man away for very lengthy. But having him be off the grid for a beat, you realize, to your level, allowed different folks to step up. And the wonderful thing about it’s that even in his absence, he was so extremely essential. Without him, you noticed that the world was attempting to collapse in some ways, however then additionally, he represented one thing ultimate, that they might communicate to the opposite characters. I imply, Teela is ready to form of attain her new heights largely due to the instance that she acknowledges that Adam units and what he means to the world. So that was our intention and our aim. And then after all, when he comes again, it’s, you realize, prepare, the world’s gonna shake.
Picture: Prince Adam in Masters of the Universe: Revelation – Mattel / Netflix
Before Revelation and Revolution Netflix launched She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. Was that collection influential within the return of Masters of the Universe in any respect?
Rob: It didn’t straight in any approach affect what we had been doing with Masters of the Universe and He-Man. It’s after all, apart from the truth that it’s a beautiful factor and it undoubtedly, any excellent news and response within the style, however significantly in one thing like that is nice information, however we had been already planning for some time to carry it again and methods to carry it again. We had been simply celebrating the win for She-Ra as a result of a part of the household. He all the time roots for his sister and she or he’s all the time rooting for her brother.
How did Kevin Smith be part of the challenge?
Rob: Kevin was my concept as a result of I’m a superb good friend and work very intently with Ted Biaselli at Netflix, who’s an EP together with me and Kevin on Revelation and Revolution. So, Teddy and I had been already considering of what we might wanna do with the present and the way we might wanna carry it again to life for previous followers, however in a recent approach. And I considered Kevin to return in and form of carry the torch with us as a result of as a lot as I cherished his movies rising up, I additionally actually preferred his comedian books.
I’m an enormous comedian e-book geek. And I learn Kevin’s run on Daredevil and Green Arrow, significantly Daredevil the place Kevin was very a lot in awe, like all of us, of Frank Miller’s work on Daredevil. He was capable of inform a brand new story that had numerous callbacks to Frank Miller’s work but additionally felt recent and had new issues to say. That was actually what we had been attempting to do with Revelation, which was form of embrace the previous, but additionally have numerous surprises alongside the best way. And the opposite factor about Kevin was that he has form of a Stan Lee-like high quality. And I imply that in the best way that he can actually create a clubhouse feeling and communicate on to followers. We wished this to be a popular culture celebration and he’s such a fantastic embodiment of popular culture enjoyable. He’s additionally one of many nicest folks I’ve ever met.
Kevin Smith, Ted Biaselli, and Rob David onstage on the “Masters of the Universe: Revolution” panel on the 2023 Comic-Con International: San Diego on the San Diego Convention Center on July 20, 2023, in San Diego, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Variety through Getty Images)
He threw himself into the work. He knew the fabric earlier than. He’s a style fan. It wasn’t his primary franchise, however the first time I met with him, I introduced him over a Masters University encyclopedia. The second time I met with him, he had marked all of it up. He had learn the entire thing cowl to cowl, and he simply progressively bought increasingly more into it. He’s like Neo within the Matrix. He’s like, I do know Kung Fu. So, it was only a blast working with him. So me, Kevin, and Teddy, whom Kevin refers to because the triumvirate, the three towers of Preternia, as a result of on Revelation and Revolution, it’s actually the three of us having a blast collectively each step of the best way.
Jacob: I grew up watching Kevin’s motion pictures as properly. I’m additionally subscribed to his YouTube channel and commonly watch his podcast [Fatman on Batman]. He’s all the time come throughout as exceptionally passionate.
Rob: He actually is. Yeah, he’ll watch an animatic, or he’ll learn. He’s both writing a script or he’s like studying one of many scripts which have are available from one in every of our writers. And if one thing strikes him, he’ll textual content me, simply being like, “Oh my God, did you watch the scene? I’m in tears.” I imply, he actually is genuinely an emotional man, and it comes by in his work, which has numerous coronary heart.
What was it like working with the animators at Powerhouse Animation?
Rob: Powerhouse is a studio that Ted Biaselli had labored with earlier than on Castlevania, and he launched me to them as a result of he thought perhaps they might be a fantastic addition to this.
I met with Brad and Shane over there, and Brad is without doubt one of the homeowners and he’s the inventive director of your entire studio. Shane has a background in storyboarding and truly runs their manufacturing wing. Also, Shane has a collection of Master of the Universe tattoos up his arm and throughout his chest. He’s the actual deal by way of vogue, and I used to be like, I can completely see it.
I can completely see how these guys are gonna be nice companions, and they’re. Then they’ve two administrators there, Adam and Patrick, who’re full followers of MOTU, but additionally two of probably the most considerate administrators I’ve ever labored with.
I imply, if you happen to’re attempting to design one thing, proper? Part of our philosophy on this was to carry again the basic, proper? To principally take all of the work of the 80s and say, that’s textual content. That’s the place we’re ranging from, however then give it this additional degree of groundedness in realism and grit and energy to make it really feel very visceral, primal, actual, and extra mature. We wished the precise property to really feel as mature because the followers who had been children within the 80s. They’re grown up, they’re adults now. We wished it to form of mature together with them. And then additionally to permit new designs, new costumes, new upgrades, new lands we’d go to that might be sharing the identical sort of aesthetic philosophy, however be all new.
These guys dove into that. So anytime they had been designing one thing, they might wanna find out about its historical past, the lore, and the way it matches in. And if I didn’t have a solution for it, they’d be like, hey, right here’s an concept, and we might simply form of form this collectively. Then, in relation to storytelling, these boards are insane. The struggle scenes are insane. Kevin likes to joke that within the scripts, we simply put in fighty struggle. Whenever characters struggle, we let Patrick and Adam and their board artists simply form of have enjoyable. They know the story beats we have to hit, however they’re identical to, I’d by no means wanna brawl with them, simply to place it that approach, as a result of these guys know methods to throw a punch. And they’re simply actually a few of the greatest collaborators I’ve labored with within the enterprise.
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 18: Rob David of Mattel TV and author and director Kevin Smith delighted He-Man followers at 2019 Power-Con together with his announcement of a brand new anime present coming to Netflix: Masters is the Universe: Revelation. Smith will function author and present runner and Smith and David will each function Executive Producers. (Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images for Mattel)
Jacob: I believe it’s one factor that interprets very properly with Powerhouse’s animation fashion is you possibly can very a lot inform they make it, however on the similar time, as you stated, they’ve taken a few of the previous designs, modernized them a bit, give it a recent look, however nonetheless very a lot He-Man.
Rob: Very a lot. Yep. That’s precisely the form of ethos and the mantra we had been going by. I’ve a phrase that I bought from a associate right here at Mattel, a few years in the past, which caught with me, that I believe is terrific, which is, “We can be nostalgic, but we’re never retro.” Right? So, we’re honoring the previous, however it nonetheless must be recent and really feel future ahead, and I believe that’s what we had been attempting, undoubtedly with the CG animated present, but additionally with one thing like Revelation Revolution. It’s the identical concept.
Jacob: It undoubtedly appears like the suitable steadiness is there. Because Castlevania is one in every of my favourite animated exhibits, and I can’t look forward to the subsequent season or subsequent season of Nocturne, I ought to say.
Rob: They’ve [Powerhouse Animation] bought different exhibits as properly. Blood of Zeus, they usually’ve bought some stuff that you simply haven’t even seen but, which is popping out, which I’m actually enthusiastic about as a result of it’s going to be superb.
What is the way forward for the Masters of the Universe franchise after Revolution?
Rob: Tons of stuff. Spinning out of Revolution, we’ve got a prequel comedian e-book collection that we’re doing with Dark Horse. It’s all about Skeletor and Kaldor turning into Skeletor and turning into the time he served as a pupil to Hordak with a narrative by me, Ted Biaselli, and Tim Sheridan, who was a author on Revolution and Revelation and is an affiliate producer on Revolution and written by Tim.
It’s going to be fairly cool. So if you happen to preferred Revolution and also you preferred the stuff that we did with Mark Hamill and William Shatner and Skeletor and Kaldor and Keith David as Hordak, and also you wish to see the backstory that was hinted at at Revolution, this collection is for you. We’ve bought an unbelievable publishing line that’s going to proceed to return out from that.
Picture: Hordak, Skeletor and Motherboard – Mattel / Netflix
Then, after all, we’ve bought heaps and much extra tales to inform, presumably, you realize, an animation spinning out of Revolution. There had been numerous glorious little cliffhangers and further scenes in the long run credit to let you realize the place we is perhaps going with issues, or we might go along with issues, that are very thrilling. And then, after all, Mattel has a film in improvement for Masters of the Universe, however Mattel movie is on the helm, and we’re enthusiastic about that.
So I believe the long run is brilliant. It’s completely brilliant for Masters of the Universe. I imply, that is an infinite epic that has had tons of nice contributions from so many alternative storytellers through the years. And it’s like a delusion. It’s a dwelling delusion that hopefully will go on ceaselessly.
With the CG present, we had been doing a re-imagining reboot for a recent technology, nonetheless staying true to the essence and the core however expressing it in all new methods and likewise beginning over. The first time Prince Adam finds his sword, however in Revelation, Revolution, since we knew we had been primarily attempting to talk to individuals who remembered it, we didn’t wish to begin over, proper? We wished to have a follow-up to your entire ’80s canon. The complete world of MOTU from the 80s, but additionally do new issues, inform new tales, and lift the stakes. It’s actually essential that any story, any property, doesn’t get frozen in amber.
Things must have the capability to shock you as a result of in the event that they don’t shock you, they’re not alive. They would possibly as properly be lifeless. And if one thing is gonna be alive and very important, it’s gotta really feel related and shocking, but additionally very true to what made the unique good.
Jacob: Like with Skeletor’s – I don’t know what the precise wording of it’s, like his champion type? If you wish to name it that?
Rob: Skele-god?
Jacob: Yeah! It appears so cool.
Rob: That was one thing we did within the DC Comics initially, and it’s one thing known as Eternity War. It was nice to see it wholly delivered to life much more in animation. And it’s a second that Skeletor waited for all his life. So I’m glad he bought an opportunity to decorate for it and revel in it.
Jacob: All his life and his demise.
Rob: Yeah, precisely. That’s true.
Picture: Skele-god – Mattel / Netflix
Who are your favourite Masters of the Universe heroes and villains?
Rob: Well, that’s such a difficult query to ask as a result of we’ve bought so many nice characters throughout the board. And for the heroes, each my solutions are going to really feel just a little bit fundamental within the sense that I’m not going to go too obscure, however there’s a motive why I really like these characters a lot. I actually love Man-at-Arms, Duncan.
I discover him so compelling as a result of in a world with such highly effective magic customers, the truth that he’s like a tech man form of in that world, however but can maintain his personal, is basically extraordinary to me. Plus, in basic MOTU, that concept that he’s a mentor determine to Adam. I believe it’s actually essential in any incarnation of MOTU for Adam to have that parental determine in his life, even when it’s not his precise father at any given second.
I believe that’s one thing actually compelling. And the truth that he additionally has a robust connection to Teela as properly, particularly within the sorceress. You’ve bought the magic and tech, that are each basically a part of the household for Adam. So I really like Duncan a lot. And then, for the villains, actually as apparent as that is, it needs to be Skeletor. I imply, it actually needs to be Skeletor.
I imply, I really like Trap Jaw. I really like folks even like Count Marzo to go just a little bit deeper, however Skeletor is without doubt one of the greatest villains of popular culture historical past. He’s bought basically a bodybuilder’s physique. So he appears in some methods very wholesome. I imply, he’s blue, however other than that, he appears extremely wholesome, however then you definately combine that with the literal face of demise. And then he’s a warrior, however he’s additionally a magician.
Right? And then that’s not even entering into the truth that, as we all know, he’s additionally associated to Adam. He has a official declare and bonafide grievances, however he’s not completely sympathetic as a result of he actually is actually a dick, pardon my language, unrepentantly so. But but he’s additionally humorous and charming and witty. I simply suppose he’s like the most effective. Also, you do really feel for him just a little bit due to the truth that he’s so single-mindedly obsessive about one factor, and it doesn’t actually work out for him, however it doesn’t cease him from attempting to go for it the subsequent time. So I simply suppose he’s the most effective.
Picture: Duncan, aka Man at Arms – Mattel / Netflix
Jacob: Is it fundamental to say that my favourite villain was in all probability Evil-Lyn? Even although she didn’t actually change into evil by the top?
Rob: Right! “Good-Lyn.” The approach that John Delancey delivers that line in the long run completely will get me. Yeah, Evil Lynn, after all. She’s so advanced, and her relationship with Skeletor is actually superior. We’ve bought nice issues forward for her.
Jacob: I believed Lena Headey’s efficiency was completely implausible!
Rob: She nailed it, and she or he is so skilled and so good, and she or he was a fan of Evil-Lyn rising up. When we approached her, she was like, “Are you kidding!? She was my favorite character when I was a kid!” and she or he confirmed as much as play. She was fully into it. It blew her thoughts as a result of one of many days she got here in, Mark Hamill was there, they usually bought to really do their scenes collectively, which isn’t quite common in animation, imagine it or not. Most of the time, persons are recording individually, however they had been there that day collectively. And she was fully geeking out. Like she was telling us, she was attempting to remain calm, however she was like, “I am acting with Luke Skywalker right now, and it’s really hard to process.”
And she simply introduced a lot to the position, and the character is nice. And I really like the connection that we had been capable of form of craft for her and Orko collectively.
Jacob: Ironically, I used to be about to say that Orko was really my favourite hero.
Rob: Yeah, he’s actually nice. One of the issues within the author’s room on Revelation that all of us stated we wished to do was all of us cherished Orko, and we knew that there was some a part of the followers that didn’t like him. They thought he was annoying, proper? But all of us knew that he was actually probably the greatest characters in the entire present. And he was a baby. He’s a baby archetype, proper? And he means properly. So we thought, let’s dive into that. And a few of our writers, Tim and Eric Carrasco, actually had loads to do with form of mining that. Then Griffin Newman, after all, enjoying him simply introduced a lot of that emotion to the humor of Orko.
Jacob: Just shortly coming again to Evil-Lyn. Her bat sorceress outfit has an exceptional design.
Rob: Yes, that’s one other factor that we first did in DC Comics within the Eternity of War. It has a deep lore hyperlink to the Horde and Hordak and an idea that I put within the comics known as Horokoth, which is the top of the world in Horde religions. If we had been ever capable of inform that story, why she is perhaps carrying it, what it means, it will be fairly cool. So we’ll see.
Picture: Evil-Lyn in Masters of the Universe: Revelation – Mattel / Netflix
What different properties from Mattel can we count on to see on Netflix?
Rob: Oh, I can’t spoil issues. But I’ll let you know one that’s actually thrilling, which persons are beginning to hear about and comes out on this March 4th, which is Hot Wheels Let’s Race, which is a present that I co-developed with Melanie Shannon and Jordan Gershowitz.
It’s a implausible story. It’s for youths, however the entire household can get pleasure from it. Set in Hot Wheels City with this subsequent technology of Hot Wheels racers who had been at this Hot Wheels camp and faculty, they usually’re studying methods to be nice racers. And we’ve bought an incredible theme tune and rating by Patrick Stump, who, when he’s not creating our tunes, is also the lead singer of Fallout Boy. He’s additionally a large MOTUfan. So it’s actually going to be an thrilling present.
Please test it out, give it a double thumbs up, and unfold the phrase, as I’m very enthusiastic about that. Then, after all, we’ve bought nice Barbie exhibits popping out increasingly more and different issues that can completely shock you, which I can’t speak about however can be thrilling for folks to see in the future.
Did you get pleasure from Masters of the Universe Revolution and Revelation? Let us know within the feedback under!
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