Snake Lair MOTU Origins Playset 3D Render Concept

The MOTU community has all been a twitter, including us, over the reveal and the subsequent pausing of the Snake Lair MOTU Origins Mattel Creations crowdfund. Huge thanks to masterversal_toyhunter for letting us know that yo_tengo_el_poder has posted a 3D concept of the Snake Lair, created by amazing artist Danny Aguilart, based on the illustration that everyone voted on. As the Snake Lair in Axel Gimenez’s original concept was teased on Fang-Or’s card art, it is now part of MOTU canon in that form and it’s awesome to see what a 3D render would like, given the lack luster reception to the Snake Lair that was revealed at San Diego Comic Con 2024.

Showing us what a direct translation of what the sketch by Axel Gimenez would look like from the outside view only. This version of the Snake Lair was what fans voted on, and thought they were getting.

Check out the 360 video below by Danny Aguilarte

You can also see the clamshell playset design that would allow the Snake Lair to fold up compactly and fit right in with Castle Grayskull and Snake Mountain.

Snake Lair Crowdfund on Pause

As Mattel announced earlier this week, they are putting the Snake Lair crowdfund on hold while they reevaluate the project. Give the lackluster reception to the big Snake Lair SDCC 2024 reveal, the MOTU marketing team launched a survey and recieved more than 5k responses, which is quite large for a market research survey. Need we remind everyone that ya’ll voted for the Snake Lair and it was declared the winner back in October 2023. As we are nearing the 1 year anniversary of the vote, which kicked off in September 2023, we also ran an unofficial poll with nearly 3500 votes and the results were overwhelmingly in favor of the Snake Lair, with it earning 33% of the vote, and the Attak Trak coming in second. We’ve provided all of the context and, knowing what you know now, we’d love for you to take our unofficial poll again.

Based on the nearly 3500 votes, we are calling the Snake Lair and Attak Trak the unofficial winners of Mattel’s Eternia’s Fan Vote!

Snake Lair Illustration vs. Final Product

Before we dive into all of the official images, let’s take a look at the illustration from the one and only Axel Gimenez and the Snake Lair that was revealed at SDCC 2024. There are some very striking differences in what the fans voted on and what was produced. Axel’s illustration feels very organic as the snakes look like they are alive. The scuptues on the left side of the playseet also bring in a more fearsome vibe. The Snake Lair that was revealed at SDCC 2024 has a more technologically advanced look and feel to it and it looks more like a castle with snake sculptures on it. With respect to size, in fan’s minds, they thought they were getting a playset close to the size of Castle Grayskull that was portable and could close up like a clamshell. The Snake Lair that was unveiled is more massive and more of a presence.

Snake Lair Official Images

Rivaling the size of Eternia, the Snake Lair is a fortress that the Snake Men can use to devise plans to attack the heroic warriors and it is chalk full of features to fend off any foe! The overall color of the Snake Lair is a brownish gold tone that makes the greens of the snakes pop against the structure.

It features a large snake head with an open mouth and a chipped fang, showing the fortress has been has been attacked before.

The inside of the playset screams of MOTU as the left side of the Snake Lair features the technology side with an elevator and a control room and the right side of the playset features a holding cell with with snakes that will trap any foe.

There are multiple levels to the Snake Lair as the Snake Men must traverse the set using ladders to get up to the large gun emplacement.

In the middle, you can see Lady Slither’s throne with a snake waterfall of lava in the background. The iron maiden is a cool device of torture device that we saw in the original illustration from Axel Gimenez.

Here is a comparison photo showing the Eternia plsyset next to the Snake Lair. Althought not quite as wide and as tall as Eternia, the Snake Lair will definitely be a strong the presence in your display. Also, if you look closely at the table that used for this comparison, both Eternia and the Snake Lair are hanging off the left and right sides of the table.

SDCC 2024 Booth Reveal

We were fortunate enough the witness the live unveiling of the Snake Lair in the Mattel Booth at SDCC 2024 and it was a slight to see. The front of the Snake Lair’s drawbridge was down so it was cool to see that aspect of it.

The ominous mouth of the snake is the perfect centerpiece for the front of the playset and the chipped fang portrays the front of the playset as a battle hardened fortress. There is a dark and light green paint app on the Snake head that gives it depth and dimension.

The vehicle on the side of the Snake Lair is called the Rattle Trap. Dubbed as the Slithering spy vehicle for the Snake Men, this vehicle is designed to move over very rough terrain. Its tail swings forward to clear everything in its way. Wired for voice-command, this transport can rear up to provide unobstructed views over fortress walls. The Snake Men would feel right at home in this scaly vehicle. The Rattle Trap is a massive presence on the Snake Lair and it gives it a very unique look.

Looking at the rear of the playset, we were able to get some shots of this beast before they put the glass display back in place. The left side of the playset features an elevator, which is very MOTU! The left side of the playset features some snake shackles and a large snake head looking outward. The middle of the playset features the entrance on the ground floor, Lady Slither’s throne on the second floor, a lookout on the third floor and a massive gun emplacement on top.

The shackles holding up King Grayskull and there are some clips at his feet that gives him some extra restraint. There is also a trap door under his feet. Getting a closer look at the Iron Maiden, it has an Aztec look and feel and features spikes on the inside.

The gun emplacement rivals the one that sits atop Eternia as this one has a nice gold paint app and some cool details that bring it some depth. You can see Terroar on the top floor on the left side of the playset and it’s so apropos that it features an elevator.

Who is sitting in Lady Slither’s throne is an unnamed new character that is the early bird unlock for the Snake Lair. The throne looks amazing as there are so many details and the room features lava flowing out of the two snakes mouths on the wall.

The entrance to the Snake Lair features snakes wrapping around the two poles and a gate that opens and closes. Here is another look at Rattle Trap with his mouth open.

The Mattel’s Eternia’s Choice Fan Vote to pick the next crowdfunding project has been a godsend to collectors who though Mattel would never make projects like the Horde’s Doom Tower (concept by yerco_ub) or the Snake Lair (concept by m.t.dioart). The next project we are featuring is yerco_ub‘s Filmation Attak Trak! If you are not familiar with Yerco’s work, he has created accurate and scaled 3D blueprints for many Filmation vehcles, playsets, and accessories that you’ll find in the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Filmation cartoon. The last project we featured was his Eternos Palace MOTU Origins 3D blueprints and the result is not only outstanding, but the palace is massive in all of the right ways. Taking inspiration directly from the source, Yerco has recreated the Filmation Attak Trak and pays homage to the Filmation based on the original animated illustrations but on a much larger scale! As he says, “it’s a massive project, so it requires work and patience, remember that the assembled vehicle measures more than 40 cm x 30cm (11.8 X 15.7 in” ) wide (as big as the Grayskull castle).”

Filmation Attack Trak

Long before Mattel conceived of their Eternia’s Choice Fan Vote, Yerco had these plans 3D designed and printer ready back in September 2022. Looking at the vintage illustrations, Yerco has designed the perfect Filmation Attak Trak complete with a twin gun turret, pink/red treads, and and the yellow markings we all know and love. The Toy Sorceress affectionally call this version He-Man’s version of the Mystery Machine.

Looking at the interior, it looks like there is ample room for a Small Trak vehicle to stow in the body of the Attak Trak, compelte with treads on the floor and door so the Small Trak has easy access and can move about the cabin if need be as the rear door folds down to become a ramp.

Speaking of the Small Trak, here are the vintage illustrations in case Yerco gets inspired and makes this little guy as an add on to the Filmation Attak Trak.

Here are some more illustrations and, according to the Battle Ram Blog (best resource for MOTU history but you already knew that), there was a MOTU vintage toy accruate version called the Small Trak that made a cameo in the Evilseed episode.

Where to Buy

You can purchase the 3D plans for this amazing Filmation Attak Trak here!

Attak Trak History

Mattel, having never created a Filmation style Attak Trak before, music to collector’s ears I know o’ve joked around about this before and called it Eternia’s version of the Scooby Doo Van, but this design Mattel came up with looks incredible! There is even a regular sized vintage Attak Trak being driven out of the rear compartment by Man at Arms! So you get a vintage style Attak Trak, plus the Filmation version! The front windshield looks to lift up to place your figures inside as well! These are wonderful designs and a super exciting choice!

The Attak Trak has been featured in the Masters of the Universe cartoons many times. Although it looked different that it’s toy version in the Filmation cartoon, that Attak Trak was a character all it’s own as it spoke and respond to He-Man and the gang in it’s robotic voice! Released in 1983, Mattel’s battery powered motorized version of the Attak Trak did not resemble the one in the cartoon. This version of the Attak Trak featured similar motorized tank treads to that of the cartoon, but that is where the similarities ended. It held only 1 figure that was strapped down with it’s rubber band like seat belt and was a bright red color and beautifu blue accented stickers! Featured in many famous Masters of the Universe Art posters, that Attak Trak is was beautiful illustrated making it a very popular vehicle! It is one of my personal favorites, (pictured below) as I still own a fully functional working version! I just love watching those treads spin around and making that thing run across the room with He-Man strapped in the seat!

Doom Tower Playset

This Filmation style Fright Zone that the Mattel team is calling a Doom Tower playset is a really cool design that comes right out of the She-Ra Princess of Power Filmation cartoon series of the 1980’s. Known for being the main headquarters for the Evil Horde, the Fright Zone was the prominent location featured for Hordak and his evil minions on the Filmation She-Ra Princess of Power Cartoon. Ah, the Fright Zone, where Hordak sat in his throne room, many a time sending poor Grizzlor thru the famous trap door, ruling over the Evil Horde!

The Fright Zone, although one of the smaller playsets in the MOTU vintage line, is a great contender for a crowd funding project! There was also an unproduced Fright Zone concept that never made it tot he MOTU Classics line! What is cool about the MOTU Classics concept is that it is large and it looks like the Fright Zone from the Filmation cartoon!

Here we can see how the Fright Zone appeared in the She-Ra Princess of Power Filmation Cartoon, and of course Mattel’s design comes straight from this cartoon!

Fright Zone

A vintage style Fright Zone is a really cool choice in my opinion, as it brings us the Fright Zone we all know and loved as kids, but embellishes it to another level. Complete with Snake puppet coming out of the cave, dead tree with the crows and cave jail cell, this set pulls at those nostalgic heartstrings!

The Fright Zone playset was released by Mattel in 1985. More of a diorama piece, the Fright Zone was a simple looking playset that consisted of that famous green colored craggily stone, a rustic dungeon door, a tunnel for a puppet snake to come thru and a scary looking tree complete with scarecrows. This playset was a huge departure for the vast environments that Castle Grayskull and Snake Mountain brought, but I think it holds a special place in the hearts of Evil Horde fans. It didn’t resemble the techno-future location depicted in the Filmation cartoon at all, but it was still cool!

First illustrated on the 2020 Power Con exclusive She-Ra figure card back artwork, the Fright zone was featured on both the front and rear of the card back art. Shown below, you can see Hordak attacking Adora at the fright zone. It is also pictured on the front of the fold out artwork in stunning color showing Hordak’s minions Mantenna, Grizzlor and Catra atop Clawdeen her evil pink lion at the steps of the Fright Zone near the evil tree.

The Fright Zone shown for a second time on the Origins Hordak card back artwork. Again with a bevy of his minions by his side. This time a pair of Horde Trooper, Grizzlor, Leech, Mantenna and Modulock join him.

We see the Fright Zone for the third time featured center stage in all its 1980’s style glory on the 2021 Masters of the Universe Origins Power Con Exclusive Horde 4 Pack – lamp shade box, as I like to call it. This time depicted in stunning wrap around artwork by the great Axel Gimenez. In all 3 cases, your will notice that the Fright Zone is depicted as it was in 1985 Mattel playset release and not what the Filmation cartoon location looked like. Again, giving us a hint that perhaps Mattel in classic Origins style has its sights set for a Fright Zone Origins release?! Only time will tell…..

Horde Command Crawler

In a whole new concept, Mattel has released as it’s final option the Horde Command Crawler! It looks like a mix between a Cobra HISS Tank and a Horde vehicle from the Filmation cartoon! This one for me personally might be at the bottom of my list as we are already getting an incredible HISS Tank from the latest GI Joe Haslab campaign, and I would just really prefer some of the other options. They did a cool job in designing it with the giant Hordak head on the front and giant gun turret. Then the cool set of stairs leading to the rear compartment to where you can store an army of Horde Troopers!

Remember when the Horde Command Crawler was a part of Mattel’s Eternia’s Choice Fan Vote to pick the next crowdfunding project? Since then, we’ve featured yerco_ub‘s Filmation inspired Horde Command Crawler as a 3D concept blueprint, Mr Home Arcade did the impossible and used Yerco’s STL files to 3D print (with some help from his friend) this unique tank and this thing is one beefy boy! If you are not familiar with Yerco’s work, he has created accurate and scaled 3D blueprints for many Filmation vehicles, playsets, and accessories that you’ll find in the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Filmation cartoon. He also has created the files for a larger than life Eternos Palace MOTU Origins 3D blueprints and the result is not only outstanding, but the palace is massive in all of the right ways. Taking inspiration directly from the source, Yerco has recreated the Filmation Princess of Power Horde Command Crawler and pays homage to the Filmation vehicle based on the original animated illustrations but on a much larger scale! When we say larger, this thing is massive! Mr Home Arcade did an amazing job painstakingly painting, glueing, and assembling this beast!

Horde Commander Crawler Assembled

Hordak must have taken some notes and learned from Cobra Commander the importance of branding because this massive tank has Hordak’s ugly mug front and center! The massive single canon stands erect with the help of some tack Mr. Home Arcade put in the joint and the quad canons look like they can do some real damage.

Getting a peak at the side of the Command Crawler, you can see the turbine engines that are used to power this mo fo and Mr. Home Arcade added some nice red accents to spice them up a little! The red Horde symbols look great and the suble pant applied in various parts gives a lot of dimension to the tank.

Getting up close and personal, you can see the tank treads and the wheels are almost as large as Hordak. Mr Home Arcade also put a light in the back of Hordak’s command chair, giving it a really cool effect.

This tank is the only way to come to battle with a large battalion of Horde Troopers and the Evil Horde and Hordak at the top in command!