How to watch

She-Ra began as a spin-off of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, revealing that Prince Adam had a long-lost twin sister named Adora. The Secret of the Sword movie launched her adventures in the land of Etheria, and a full series followed. In 2018, Netflix and DreamWorks reimagined the story as She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, a beloved and emotional reboot.

🕐 Release Order

Release order follows the franchise from He-Man's original cartoon through the modern reboot.

1. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (1983)
2. The Secret of the Sword (1985)
3. She-Ra: Princess of Power (1985)
4. He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special (1985)
5. She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (2018)

The 1980s shows share one continuity, while the Netflix series is a complete reboot, so there is very little shuffling between the two lists.

📖 Story Chronology

In the classic continuity, He-Man's adventures come first, The Secret of the Sword reunites the twins, and the Christmas special brings both heroes together.

1. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (1983)
2. The Secret of the Sword (1985)
3. She-Ra: Princess of Power (1985)
4. He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special (1985)
5. She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (2018)

Which Order Should You Choose?

You do not need to watch all of the original He-Man cartoon before She-Ra. Start with The Secret of the Sword, which explains Adora's backstory, then dive into She-Ra: Princess of Power. If you prefer modern storytelling with a serialized plot and rich character arcs, jump straight into She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, which requires no prior knowledge at all.

🔗 Related Guides

• Masters of the Universe Watch OrderGuide
• ThunderCats Watch OrderGuide
• Voltron Watch OrderGuide

Did we miss anything? Let us know and we'll keep this guide up to date!