We travelled to Eternia (downtown Toronto) for the Canadian premiere of ‘Masters of the Universe,’ at Scotiabank Theatre. Pulling out all the stops, Amazon MGM Studios Canada crafted an unforgettable night. Full of nostalgia, harkening back to the original 80’s cartoon, the atmosphere was filled with excitement, anticipation, and most importantly, community.
We felt the power of Grayskull with photo opportunities, props, memorabilia, and cosplay. Embracing the idea of creating memories, the event was centred on the photo ops. Guests were allowed to wield the sword of power, yes, the one held by Prince Adam himself. Beyond the ops and props were the homemade cosplays and costumes. The event turned into a mini convention and cosplay competition. Filled with neon, spandex, and questionably cut blonde wigs.
Given the campiness of the original 80s cartoon, some guests decided to dress for the occasion. Taking it upon themselves to put together impressive closet cosplay. The spirit of the cartoon was brought to life. Cosplayers and costume-goers put in the effort, adding to the ambiance. Before the film began, cosplayers were invited to the stage for a quick cosplay competition—the audience participation made for a positive communal experience.
After the film concluded, the event was far from over. Filled with spirited discussion (absolutely no spoilers here), more photo ops, and inflatable swords of power to take home. ‘Masters of the Universe’ solidified itself as a fun romp. The activation did what it set out to do. Not only did it create hype for the film, but it created a space to celebrate the camp, the cheesy and the fun. With more summer blockbusters on the horizon, there are sure to be more events in the city, but for now, we’ll bask in the light of Eternia.
