You’re standing in 1984 nostalgia right now, whether you lived through it or just admire it from afar. The Apple commercial that dropped pre-Super Bowl changed marketing forever with its “fight the man” philosophy. That same year launched the peak era of Masters of the Universe toys, and now there’s a new movie trailer bringing He-Man back in a very modern version.

The original 1987 Masters of the Universe sounded cartoony. The new version doesn’t. Gen X nerds and Gen Z fans are both excited, bridging the gap between those who played with the toys and those who only know Skeletor as a meme legend. One generation remembers buying Skeletor t-shirts at Hot Topic in 2013 without ever watching an episode. The other generation lived through 1984 when these toys hit their most awesomeness and the TV shows started coming out.

Discover why the Orwell “fight the man” marketing from 1984 still works today. Learn what connects throwback culture across generations when millennials are eating avocado in between. Understand why 1984 matters beyond the year itself.

Topics: 1984 nostalgia, Masters of the Universe reboot, He-Man franchise, Apple commercial impact, throwback culture, Gen X toys

Originally aired on2026-01-22