How He-Man's Showrunners Hired a Psychologist to Reduce Violence in the 1980s Cartoon

Summary

This article explores how the original 1980s "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" cartoon handled violence in a unique way. Showrunners Lou and Erika Scheimer hired a psychologist, Dr. Donald F. Roberts, to help tone down the violence in the fantasy series. The psychologist advised that He-Man should never initiate a fight and should only use violence as a last resort when attacked first. This led to a bizarre but logical approach where villains would always strike first, and He-Man would only fight back in self-defense. The article examines how this psychological consultation shaped the show's moral framework and made it more acceptable for children's television.