Gwildor
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Gwildor is a character from the popular toy line Masters of the Universe, who was introduced into the toy line and mythology after appearing in the 1987 live action movie based on the toy line.
Gwildor is a member of the Thenurians, a dwarf-like race of people. He is known throughout Eternia as a famous locksmith and inventor, and is notable mainly for his greatest creation- The Cosmic Key, a mechanical device with the ability to transport its holder to any place throughout space and time.
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[edit] Character profile
[edit] The movie
Gwildor was introduced into the MOTU mythology with his appearance in the 1987 live action movie starring Dolph Lundgren. Played by Billy Barty, he was created specially for the movie to provide comic relief as a substitute for Orko, whose design was too complex for the studio to produce in live action with its limited budget.
Gwildor's role in the movie was key to the central plot. He is introduced into the film when rescued by He-Man from Skeletor's soldiers. He then explains how he was tricked by Skeletor's sidekick Evil-Lyn into giving his prize creation The Cosmic Key to the forces of evil, and thus allowing them to enter Castle Grayskull and take over Eternia. As the unwitting cause of Grayskull's defeat, Gwildor endeavors to help He-Man overcome Skeletor by using a prototype Cosmic Key. When the heroes find themselves overwhelmed by Skeletor's army, Gwildor uses the Cosmic Key to help them escape, and the heroes wind up on Earth, leaving Gwildor faced with the task of finding the correct programming on the Key to transport them back before Skeletor gains the power of the universe.
Gwildor was presented as absent-minded and quite bumbling, but also wise, intelligent and good-hearted, with little fear. His Cosmic Key, meanwhile, was a complex device with numerous switches and buttons, which could be used to programme sonic waves, sounds, music and light patterns which served to transport its users to the location of their choice.
[edit] Other media
After the release of the movie, Gwildor was incorporated into the toy line with his own action figure, complete with Cosmic Key. A life-size Cosmic Key was also planned by Mattel, but the toy line was cancelled before it could be made.
He appeared in the accompanying mini-comic "The Cosmic Key" which once again put Gwildor and his creation in the spotlight, but this comic had no continuity with the movie, telling a radically different story of how He-Man came to meet Gwildor, having him instead summoned by The Sorceress to aid He-Man against an evil force.
Gwildor and the Cosmic Key also appeared in numerous comics published after the movie, including those by Marvel Comics and various European comic series.
[edit] Trivia
In earlier drafts of the movie's script, Gwildor's character was slightly different. He was initially described as being even smaller and unable to walk long distances, meaning he had to be carried on Man-At-Arms' back for most of the story. He also had a fearful side to his character similar to that normally associated with the character of Cringer, and frequently becoming scared easily and cowering away from danger.
