Japanese artist Madsaki has collaborated with Mattel Creations to bring his Masters of the Universe vision to life with the oversized He-Man + Battle Cat deluxe art toy set. Created in conjunction with Takashi Murakami’s Kaikai Kiki, the set features the hero and his fierce steed in bold neon colors. Both pieces feature Madsaki’s signature spray paint-style black eyes with drip trails.
He-Man played a pivotal role in Madsaki’s path to learning English when he relocated from Osaka, Japan to New Jersey in 1980 as a six-year old. Hours spent watching the cartoon on television provided the repetition and practice that led to his everyday fluency in 1984, the zenith of the show’s popularity. The artist visualized his personal connection to Masters of the Universe for his 1984 solo exhibition (September, 2020) presented at Kaikai Kiki Gallery in Japan. The collection featured original paintings and sculptures including Madsaki’s larger-than-life He-Man & Battle Cat sculpture—the highlight of the exhibition.
The limited-edition Madsaki x Mattel art toy set will debut on the NTWRK app on Tuesday, January 26, 2021, at 4 PM PST. The set will also be available from Mattel Creations on Friday, January 29, 2021 at 9 AM PST. Kaikai Kiki will release the set in Asia.
In addition to the toy, Madsaki has created a Masters of the Universe capsule featuring a tee, cap, windbreaker, hoodie and more. The capsule will be available with varying selection from both NTWRK and Mattel Creations. Finally, Madsaki x Kaikai Kiki has created two new Masters of the Universe-themed art prints, one featuring the heroes of the show and the other the villains. The prints will be available as part of the Mattel Creations drop and presumably from the gallery as well.
