Ask a Masters of the Universe fan to list their favourite characters, and amongst the likes of Mer-Man, She-Ra, Blade, and Skeletor (everyone loves Skeletor), you’ll find Orko somewhere on that list. There’s a lot of love out there for Orko – especially a soft spot in the hearts of longtime MOTU fans.
Why? Well, not only because Orko has been a part of the Masters of the Universe mythology from the early days, but because he’s so damn likeable.
But who is Orko, and why is he so popular? Let’s take a look, and fill you in on a few key details.
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Origins
Orko is a Trollan magician from the extra-dimensional world of Trolla. He is a hero and ally to He-Man, and can often be seen standing side-by-side with Prince Adam, Teela, Man-At-Arms, and Cringer.
Orko made his debut in the 1983 animated series, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. He was created specifically for the show to act as comedy relief.
However, Orko also served an additional purpose. Due to his height, as well as his childlike naivety, he was designed to appeal to young viewers, and act as a relatable friend who could provide a way into the series.
He-Man, Man-At-Arms, and Teela could provide dependability and authority, but these were adults in the eyes of young Masters viewers. In contrast, Orko was younger and far more approachable, ensuring a better connection for everyone watching at home.
The plan to make Orko relatable worked, and the character quickly became a hit with fans. He was subsequently added to the toy line (a popular toy in the collection) and from here he remained a core character moving forward.
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Spell caster: Is Orko powerful?
One of Orko’s key characteristics during the early days was his misfiring magic skills. In the original cartoon, Orko would often perform tricks and spells that would go wrong, leaving him looking like an amateur magician at best.
Yet, despite appearances, Orko’s problems with magic were a result of his location, rather than his abilities. Back home on Trolla his magical abilities were far more impressive; it’s when he was on Eternia that things didn’t work out so well – at least in the original cartoon anyway.
In the 2002 rebooted animated series, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Orko is shown to be more accomplished with his magic, while in 2021’s Masters of the Universe: Revelation, Orko is even more proficient in his spells. His bravery also really shines through, going so far as to sacrifice himself in a battle with Scare Glow, to allow his companions to escape.
Orko may have started off as comic relief, but as Masters of the Universe developed, so too did Orko. His skills and abilities continually got refined, to make it clear he’s not just there for laughs.
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Why Orko is more powerful than fans realise
In many iterations of the Masters of the Universe mythology, Orko is a key figure. He is one of the few allies who knows that Prince Adam and He-Man are one and the same, and he’s proven himself to be a loyal friend in the cartoon shows and comics.
Orko is the heart of Masters. He’s the good guy, the loyal friend, the innocent being, and the light-hearted pal.
His death in the Masters of the Universe: Revelation episode, ‘Land of the Dead’, acts as a reminder to the audience of how important he is. If Orko can die, then innocence can die too, and we can quickly lose those we care about.
His subsequent resurrection at the end of the series, in the episode ‘Comes With Everything You See Here’, is a fan-pleasing return. It’s a reminder to hold onto those who mean something, because they can disappear forever.
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The trouble with Trollans
Outside of the TV shows and comics, Orko appeared in the first MOTU movie, the feature-length animated adventure, He-Man and She-Ra The Secret of the Sword (1985). However, he did not appear in the 1987 live-action Masters of the Universe movie starring Dolph Lundgren.
Orko was originally set to appear in the film, but due to the nature of his character (a little floaty guy who can do magic), it was simply too expensive to include him, as well as too complicated. Technology in the late ‘80s simply wasn’t up to the same level it is today, so putting him the live-action movie in a convincing way was too challenging to say the least.
As such, his place on the team (alongside He-Man, Man-At-Arms, Teela, etc) was forfeited in favour of a newly created character named Gwildor, as played by Billy Barty. Gwildor is a Thenurian, and was not meant to be Orko, but he was designed to become the heart and comic relief of the movie, which Orko would have been.
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Why Orko is still loved today
Orko is pint-sized and sometimes can be easily overlooked, but he has an important role in Masters of the Universe. Sometimes he is there to be relatable, representing a way into this sprawling world, while other times he is there to be the innocence and heart of the mythology.
And then for some, he’s just Orko – a quirky misfit who came to Eternia and found his place amongst other misfits. He is missed when he’s not included in the mythology (he was absent from The New Adventures of He-Man), but he enhances the story when he is included.
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Thank you for stopping by It’s A Stampede! to read this post about Orko. For more posts be sure to check out the recommended reads below.
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