She-Ra and the Princesses of Power

2018

Original language: English

animation
action & adventure
sci-fi & fantasy
family

The story

Soldier Adora finds a magic sword -- and her identity as legendary hero She-Ra. She joins the Rebellion, but her best friend stays with the evil Horde.

What it’s like

Bright, saturated animation with flat jewel-toned palettes, clean linework and bold silhouettes, the kind of colour that reads well on a small screen and softens into pastel glow when magic lights up a scene. Its Etherian forests and Horde fortresses carry a warm, sunlit, slightly storybook quality, while the Fright Zone brings grey stone and sickly green shadow. The score leans on brassy, heroic cues and sparkly synth flourishes, with quieter moments built on simple piano and small room tone. Episodes run around twenty-two minutes with brisk, cheerful pacing, cutting between quips, battle sequences with strong poses and bursts of flashy transformation. Its emotional register is hopeful and sincere, with a current of wistful sadness whenever old friends end up on opposite sides; the arc of a young soldier learning what loyalty and self-worth mean, and a friendship strained by divided loyalties, unfolds with real warmth. Violence is cartoon-stylised and frequent but bloodless, with peril and explosions rather than gore, and some scenes of emotional cruelty and fear. Good for a comfort rewatch, weekend marathon or family viewing, and for people who want a colourful, big-hearted fantasy with queer-coded affection, brave heroines and gentle humour.

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