| Castle Grayskull | |
|---|---|
| Masters of the Universe location | |
 Packaging art of the 1982 Castle Grayskull playset | |
| Created by | Donald F. Glut Roger Sweet |
| In-universe information | |
| Type | Castle |
| Locations | Throne Room Travel Corridor Chamber Elevator Jawbridge Crystal Chamber Dungeon Monitor Room Armory |
| Characters | He-Man She-Ra King Grayskull Sorceress of Castle Grayskull |
Castle Grayskull is a fictional castle that forms a central location in the Masters of the Universe toy/comic/animation universe and also appears in the 1987 live action adaptation. The concept is credited to Donald F. Glut.[1] The toy set was invented by Roger Sweet.[2] Castle Grayskull was a "major feature of Mattel's line",[3] and was "one of the most famous playsets of all time".[4]
In the storyline of the franchise, it is the target of numerous attacks by Skeletor, Hordak and the Snake Men, all of whom believe that the secrets inside will allow them to conquer Eternia and the entire universe, and become the titular Masters of the Universe.[5] Castle Grayskull plays a key role in the transformations of both He-Man and his twin sister She-Ra in the 1983–1985 He-Man and the Masters of the Universe series, and in its 1985–1987 spinoff/sister series She-Ra: Princess of Power.
Gary S. Cross, professor of modern history at Pennsylvania State University, writes that Castle Grayskull is emblematic of the making of a boy-man culture beginning in the 1980s.[6]
- ^ Clive Young (2008). Homemade Hollywood: Fans Behind the Camera. New York: Continuum. p. 31.
- ^ Jerry Oppenheimer (2009). Toy Monster. Wiley. p. 124-125. ISBN 9780470371268.
- ^ Gary S. Cross (1997). Kid's Stuff. Harvard University Press. p. 205. ISBN 9780674898301.
- ^ Jason Bainbridge (2011). "Building Cities, Building Worlds: Cities in Play" (PDF). Interdisciplinary Themes Journal. 3 (1). Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- ^ "Scribes take on "Masters of the Universe"". Reuters. 12 April 2010. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
- ^ Gary S. Cross (2008). Men to Boys: The Making of Modern Immaturity. New York: Columbia University Press. p. 192.