Cartoondom’s “Princess of Power” - NYT Crossword Clue

Introduction

Today's clue, "Cartoondom’s “Princess of Power”," is a delightful dive into 1980s nostalgia and modern animation. This is a classic pop culture trivia clue that relies on your knowledge of iconic animated characters. If you grew up watching Saturday morning cartoons or have kept up with recent reboots, this one might have been a quick fill.

Clue Analysis

The clue is quite direct. Let's break it down:

"Cartoondom's": This immediately places the answer in the world of animation. We're not looking for a historical figure or a literary character.
"Princess of Power": This is the key phrase. It's a specific, trademarked title, not a generic description. This isn't just any princess; she's the Princess of Power. For those familiar with the source material, this is a dead giveaway.

The clue is a straightforward knowledge check. There's no wordplay, anagram, or hidden meaning here. You either know the character or you don't.

Thinking Approaches

Direct Recall: The most common path to this answer is simple memory. The phrase "Princess of Power" is inextricably linked to one specific character. If you've seen the show or even just the toys, the name likely comes to mind instantly.
Contextual Association: If the name isn't on the tip of your tongue, you can try to narrow it down. "Princess" and "Power" together suggest a superheroine with a royal background. This isn't a Disney princess. Think about famous female superheroes from the 80s. Who had a male counterpart who was also incredibly popular? This character is the twin sister of He-Man. That connection is often the key that unlocks the answer for many solvers.
Using Crossings: This is a five-letter name. If you're stuck, getting even one or two letters from intersecting clues can be a massive help. The name has a common starting letter and a vowel in the second position, which can often be filled in easily from other words, triggering your memory.

Background Context

The "Princess of Power" is She-Ra. Her first appearance was in the 1985 animated film He-Man and She-Ra: The Secret of the Sword. This was followed by her own series, She-Ra: Princess of Power.

She is the alter ego of Princess Adora, the long-lost twin sister of Prince Adam (He-Man). Wielding the Sword of Protection, she transforms by exclaiming, "For the honor of Grayskull!" She leads the Great Rebellion against the evil Hordak on the planet Etheria.

The character and series were created by toy company Mattel to appeal to a young female audience, as a counterpart to the hugely successful He-Man and the Masters of the Universe franchise. In 2018, the character was reintroduced to a new generation in the critically acclaimed Netflix series She-Ra and the Princesses of Power.

Conclusion

This clue is a great example of how crossword puzzles tap into our shared cultural memory. It's a fun piece of trivia that rewards solvers who have a soft spot for 80s cartoons or have enjoyed their modern revivals. For those unfamiliar, it serves as a good reminder to brush up on iconic figures from the world of animation.

Hints

Hint 1: This character is a superheroine from a popular 1980s animated series, later rebooted in 2018.
Hint 2: She is the twin sister of He-Man.
Hint 3: Her catchphrase is "For the honor of Grayskull!".