Television series
She-Ra: Princess of Power
She-Ra: Princess of Power is a 1985 animated series that gave young girls their own sword-swinging hero while He-Man dominated boys' screens. Bright, earnest, and surprisingly thoughtful about good versus evil, it's a time capsule of mid-80s Saturday morning TV—all Filmation's fluid animation, synth-heavy scores, and moral lessons wrapped in fantasy adventure. Pure nostalgia fuel if you grew up with it; genuinely fun if you're discovering it fresh.
Should you watch it?
Watch it if you miss the bright, sincere cartoon adventures of 1980s Saturday mornings, where a sword-wielding heroine, a menacing overlord and a stubborn sense of loyalty carry every episode.
Skip it if you want sharp, modern animation or serialised plotting that builds with care; the look is limited and the stories lean on familiar formulas, with morals delivered with a thump.
What it asks of you: Its episodes are half an hour each, so it fits a few short sittings rather than a marathon, and it stays brisk, bright and rarely dark.
Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.
If you liked this
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe1983
The obvious sister show, but worth it: different tone, more action-driven, and the toy-commercial honesty is oddly charming. Skeletor is unforgettable, and the animation has real craft.
But Episodic and repetitive by design—if you want narrative momentum over Saturday morning energy, it won't deliver it.
Jem1985
Exactly contemporary, exactly the female-focused equivalent He-Man never was. Music, fashion, intrigue, and the same Filmation polish. Genuinely imaginative within its commercial constraints.
But The synth rock soundtrack is period-specific in ways that won't age for everyone. Some find the glitz exhausting.
Defenders of the Earth1986
Same animation house, same era, same earnest adventure vibe—but multiverse scope. Flash Gordon, The Phantom, Mandrake. It's swashbuckling sci-fi with real style and surprisingly good humor.
But Obscure enough that finding it is work. Cancellation meant the story never really concludes.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from She-Ra: Princess of Power
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Moana2016
Both center on a princess who rejects the role assigned to her and rewrites its meaning. Both understand that a hero's real power is knowing when not to fight.
Same soul, different era. A girl given impossible power must save a world that fears her, and she chooses compassion over conquest. Sumptuous, funny, and genuinely moving. The emotional core She-Ra reached for, Disney executes.
But Completely different visual language—photorealistic CGI instead of hand-drawn. Might feel like a betrayal of the old-school aesthetic.
More like this (8)
Dragon's Lair
Animated series based on the arcade game, with the same visual distinctiveness. Dirk the Daring and Princess Daphne in a fully realized fantasy world. The animation is genuinely stunning.
But Storytelling is slight, and without the interactivity of the game, it's all spectacle. Plot mostly happens between episodes.
The Legend of Vox Machina2022
Modern animation that captures what 80s fantasy animation *tried* for: real character stakes, genuine humor, adventure that builds. Dungeons & Dragons DNA runs through both.
But Tone is darker and more adult. You lose the innocent earnestness that made She-Ra what it was.
ThunderCats1985
Syndicated at the same moment, animated with similar craft, but stranger and more visually inventive. The mythology actually develops across episodes. Third Earth is a fully realized world.
But Pacing is glacial by modern standards. Some episodes feel padded. The toy line is less focused, so character design is less cohesive.
The Owl House2020
She-Ra's spiritual descendant, honestly. Girl protagonist, fantasy world, demon allies, real emotional stakes beneath the adventure. A show that proves the template still works, evolved.
But Entirely different register—it's funny and knowingly weird in ways She-Ra never was. Might feel too contemporary if you want pure retro.
Voltron: Legendary Defender2016
Team-based fantasy sci-fi with the same collaborative magic and same moral clarity. Adventure, humor, and surprising emotional depth. Animation is far slicker but the heart is similar.
But Much longer commitment at 8 seasons. Later seasons introduce complexity that feels at odds with the show's simpler strengths.
Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders1995
Direct spiritual successor: girls with magic powers, fantasy quest, similar syndication-era animation sensibility. Charming and genuinely weird in its magical-girl-adjacent plot.
But Made a decade later but somehow feels cheaper. Voice acting is thinner. Finding it is genuinely difficult.
Katanagatari2010
Both use the quest structure to ask what you become when you gain power. Both make you love the protagonist's travel companion more than the main plot.
Japanese series, 12 episodes of pure adventure. A swordmaster and his ward travel collecting legendary blades. Whip-smart dialogue, gorgeous art, and a romance that builds with perfect pacing. Narratively tight where She-Ra was episodic.
But In Japanese with subtitles. Animation is deliberately understated—lots of talking, not constant action. Completely different visual grammar.
Amphibia2019
Both understand that a girl with a sword and a cause needs companions more than she needs to be special. Both trust their young audience to grow with the show.
Girl falls into alien world, gains powers, makes found-family alliances against an oppressive regime. Starts light, deepens into real character work and moral complexity. Thirteen-year-old perspective makes everything matter.
But Takes two seasons to find its footing narratively. If you want consistent tone throughout, it shifts noticeably. Modern Cartoon Network sensibility, not 80s adventure.
People
Cast
Recommended by
Arthur, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Dungeons & Dragons, Jem, Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders, He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special, Noozles, Conan the Adventurer, The World of Strawberry Shortcake, Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer, My Little Pony: The Movie, Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child