There was no “hidden truth” about MASK, and the clickbaity title and thumbnail don’t do much to improve my opinion of the video as a whole. It was a half ass wiki run with uncredited sources for where the “Kenner dissatisfaction” came from. The analysis, laden with inaccuracies and almost conspiratorial extrapolation, is contextualized through a modern (and Australian?) lense, which doesn’t reflect the context and era from which this franchise originated.
Kenner made MASK in response to the success of GI Joe and the interest toy companies had in transforming toys from Japan. They designed the general concept and toys and sent it DiC for 65 episodes. MASK was just one of over half a dozen projects DiC was cranking out between 1984-1986. One of a dozen “toy franchises” launched in the mid-80s after Mattel and Hasbro paved the way.
The military overtones were a product of the times, as was the casual stereotyping. That doesn’t “excuse it” or “make it right”, but it’s the equivalent of pearl clutching over the minstrels in Dumbo at this point.
And the voice actors? Voice acting, ESPECIALLY in the 80s, paid jive. That’s why established VAs worked on half a dozen shows, and you’d have actors worK on both bit TV parts AND animation. Doug Stone worked in anime, he took the jobs that paid the bills. Even if the work was a bit unsavory, be it super violent or adult.
At the end of the day, MASK managed four years of product. He-Man managed 6. The Real Ghostbusters got around 5, while Thundercats (with double the episode count) barely eked 3 years. By the standards of the time, MASK was a successful brand that had run its course.
I’m sorry, but this video (and the maker’s comments), to me, showed a relative indifference to the inaccuracies, and it was cranked out as clickbait as he could for the easy views.
