Transformers

[Tenken]

At Best Buy and Sam Goody (and probably every place you can buy anime) they always carry a ton of Transformers stuff. Is it really anime? :confused: I thought it was american made? I recently rented "Transformers the Movie" DVD and you couldn't change the language to Japanese. I did a search, but nothing showed up. Sorry if this subject has been beaten to death.

[Danny Boy]

I think it's American produced, though they made it to sell imported Japanese robots, I think.

[Tabiree]

The Transformers Animated series has a somewhat obscured history. The first season was the marketting child of three Takara toylines in association with Hasbro, Marvel Productiuons and Toei Doga, who produced such shows as Dragonball Z, Sailor Moon and One Piece. The Japanese release of the first and second season was an adaptation (much like a cut and pasting of episodes, changing of dialouge and names, same music though) of the original English Version. The Transformers movie, rleeased in 1986 in the US and such, did not reach Japan until around 1990 I think.

Don't know how that'll help, but I wouldn't consider seasons 1-3 and the movie as anime, because though they used a Japanese studio, most of the Major players we're americans and filler aniamtion done by some Japanese and mainly koreans (except in the movie). The presence of a Japanese dub also doesn't make it anime, however it does spawn several anime sequals (The Two Beast Wars Anime series and Movie, headmasters, Masterforce, Zone OAV, Victory, Armada, Carrobot, etc...)

[Tenken]

Thanks for the reply fellas.

So all the transformer stuff after "Transformers the Movie" is closer to or considered actaul anime than everything before the movie?

[method]

The CGI ones are Canadian productions.

[Animaniac]

No. -_-;

It's almost like saying if Power Rangers were animated, would it be anime?

[method]

I hope that wasn't at me.
Anyway
G1/G2 were American productions along with the movie
Beast Wars and Beast Machines were also American productions. CGI ones that aired on Fox

JPN productions
Beast Wars II and Neo
Victory
Headmasters
Scramble City
Armada
RID/ Car Robots

This was as best I as could tell after going through a few sites.

[JAppi]

Beast Wars and Beast Machines were Canadian. They were done by Mainframe.

www.mainframe.ca

The same company that did Reboot.

[Tabiree]

So all the transformer stuff after "Transformers the Movie" is closer to or considered actaul anime than everything before the movie?

No. Season 3 was still American so to speak, however it was called "Transformers: 2010" in Japan. The three-part special "Rebirth" that took place after season 3 in the US was never aired in Japan as it clashed with "Transformers: The Headmasters". plus, it sucked, badly

[ElvenPath]

Transformers is definitely not anime. It's just an american cartoon.

*still has Transformers toys*

[Kyuven]

Transformers is one of those fluke series from the states that was actually good

[digy]

ouch...tranformers...a fluke? hell nah...transformers rock!! and now...it wouldn't be considered anime just because it's good....to me...if its anime...its japanese...if it isn't japanese...it isn't anime....it has to be made in japan by japanese artists and be originally in japanese....

ahhh..transformers....the movie was great...i love that movie...hmm..now i need to go buy it...ahh...so many memories....

daydreams.....ahhhhh

[Iron Monkey]

I always thought the early seasons of Transformers were created by some Japanese guys who were hired by an American studio. The Japanese influence is definitely there, IMO. And I consider the Movie anime. Just look at the style. Besides, whether or not it's considered anime, I still think the original Transformers series totally kicked ass. That's probably the nostalgia inside me talking, but whatever. I'm glad they're gradually releasing all the seasons again in boxed DVD sets.

[Tboz]

Its one of my favourite too, I am more looking forward to the DVD box sets for the Japanese series.

But alas, I can't find them anywhere... :upset:

[Tabiree]

THere are region 2 sets for headmasters, Masterforce and Victory. Individual Carrobot and Armada DVDs are being released, TF 2010 DVD sets are out and the Japanese versions of the first two seasons of Transformers are coming out.

As it is, Toei did assist in the animation of the first three series, however they were directed, scripted and storybarded by americans, and had filler animation by Chinese and Koreans. Plus, they were originally targetted towards a NA market, yet were bought over to Japan as they did quite well in the States.

That's the main difference between say, the Armada anime and the G1/G2 Cartoon, is that Armada though it may of been out in english first, was originally animated by a Japanese studio, influenced by anime-like designs of whatever, and was directed by a Japanese person, also it was set that it'd receive a Japanese edited dub and release

[Silent Spring]

Transformers aren't really anime but then agian it does have some anime qualities to it such as giant robots that can "transform" into other things, and also shouting things out, such as "transform", before actually doing something. Either way transformers rocked, because they're more than meets the eye.

[FinFangFoom]

:topicoff: Did you guys hear they're making a live action movie based on Generation one transformers? And best of all, it is being made by the same guy responsible for X-men and X-Men2 (best comic movie ever). Here's a link to the artical transformers movie (http://www.comics2film.com/FanFrame.php?f_id=3611)

If you dont want to open another page here is the meat of the artical;

__________________________________________________ ________________
Hey Harry,

Just picked up the new issue of Dreamwatch which has an interview with Tom DeSanto talking about his plans for Transformers and claiming he's going to do for it what he did for X-Men.

Among other stuff he says?

"There's no better mythology to bring to the big screen than Transformers. Transformers has got great characters and created an iconic world, and the mythology still resonates with people 20 years after it was launched. Even though they're robots the characters have a lot of personality and a lot of heart and people still care about them. That's a great thing."

"The plan with the movie is that it will combine live action with CGI. I think it's going to be something the audience has never seen before. In all the years of movie-making, I don't think the image of a truck transforming into a 20-foot tall robot has ever been captured on screen. I also want to make a film that's a homage to 1980s movies and gets back to the sense of wonder that Hollywood has lost over the years. It will have those Spielberg-ian moments where you have the push-in on the wide-eyed kid and you feel like you're 10 years old even if you're 35. That's the energy I want to go for."

"Just like with X-Men I want to get to the core of what makes Transformers great. We're going to get back to the heart of what Transformers is and distill that into a movie."

DeSanto says that the film will be based on Generation One and set on Earth and that he's been rewatching all the cartoons and reading all the comics. "
__________________________________________________ ____________

What do you guys think? Personally I'm stoked, me and one of my friends have been talking about how cool it would be to make a live-action G1 transformers movie for a few years now, and he is one of the few directors out there that I have faith in.

[Tboz]

THere are region 2 sets for headmasters, Masterforce and Victory. Individual Carrobot and Armada DVDs are being released, TF 2010 DVD sets are out and the Japanese versions of the first two seasons of Transformers are coming out. Really? I haven seen any in my country yet. Will they be coming to Asia? Were they just released recently or some time ago? :o

And about the Transformer movie, it sure looks to be cool, but I haven been able to visualized how they will pull it off. Hmm... but maybe that's why I can't be a movie producer... :heh:

[user6177]

The Transformers (Generation 1) rule!!!

[Rizzler]

anyone knows some groups who have the

Transformers Legend of Micron
and
transformers orginal

to download?
ijust checked and tehy aint licenced... not what animedvd sas anyway

[Kamui4356]

anyone knows some groups who have the

Transformers Legend of Micron
and
transformers orginal

to download?
ijust checked and tehy aint licenced... not what animedvd sas anyway
I don't know about legend of micron, but the original isn't licensed because it was a US cartoon to begin with. I don't know at which point it became anime (meaning made for the Japanese market), but I know the original wasn't. Some of the older Transformer series that were actually anime were never brought over.

[ShinDragon]

Hm....... JP:Legend of Micron = US:Armada.
and since Rhino's going to release Vol 1, 2 of Armada. (So far it looks like random eps, what happened to the BoxSet they were talking about?)
I think that means you won't see Legend of Micron any time soo, unless Rhino has a change of heart and decided to put the Japanese Audio track in the Armada DVDs.

Also JP:SuperLink = US:Energon.
So.... don't expect to see that get translated.... cuz it will also be own by Rhino.

I love TF, but hated Rhino........
:(

[Tabiree]

Well, given the the first three seasons of transformers and Armada were in English first, there's very little point in buying another license for a dub that very few people want.

Though, I have gripes with Rhino about their treatment of TF season one.

The australian release of G1 is fine, and free of the massive ammounts of stupidity that the R1 has. Also, Australia's English release of Armada is linear.

[ShinDragon]

Well....... that proved my point.
and I hate Rhino even more than before.

[Tabiree]

ShinDragon: Your best bets, as far as Transformers releases go, would be to get the Region 4 DVD sets. They're not being rleeased as fast, but they are far better than the region 1 versions.

Same for Armada.

Unfortunantly, don't get the movie from Australia, because the quality is pretty lame, and don't get the movie from the states, because it's a fake 5.1 mix, has a bad cover and everything. Disc quality is ok but it's not in widescreen. Don't get the UK version either, or the Japanese one, because it's got VHS quality and the Japanese dub sounds like a massive orgy.

As a matter of fact, until they do a proper widescreen and proper surround sound release of the film, DONT BUY IT.

[Tboz]

If they aren't licensed, I certainly hope to see fansubs of the older series like the Headmasters, Masterforce and Transformer Victory. I guess its not easy to find the sources? :(

[Tenkawa-Chan]

I use to watch it all the time! XD

I liked the first season too thought...... :uhoh:

lol I don't watch the new ones, I miss the old ones. :( ::sits in a corner::

[ShinDragon]

Really? I haven seen any in my country yet. Will they be coming to Asia? Were they just released recently or some time ago? :o

And about the Transformer movie, it sure looks to be cool, but I haven been able to visualized how they will pull it off. Hmm... but maybe that's why I can't be a movie producer... :heh:


Japan is part of the Asia....
Well...... If you live in other parts of Asia, then you can either save lots of money and order imported R2 from Japan.... or buy bootlegs (If you can find it).

Personally I'd rather save $ and buy the imported, or just wait'til Rhino to release them in North America. (I hope......)

[<Suikoden>]

many transformer series are produced jus for kids :)

[Tboz]

Japan is part of the Asia....
Well...... If you live in other parts of Asia, then you can either save lots of money and order imported R2 from Japan.... or buy bootlegs (If you can find it).

Personally I'd rather save $ and buy the imported, or just wait'til Rhino to release them in North America. (I hope......) Yep... I'm not in Japan. Got to look for the expensive imports then. :(

And <Suikoden>, aren't all of us kids at one time of our lives? This is what I call reliving the childhood, quite true since I only enjoy the older series. :heh:

[Tabiree]

www.yesasia.com for region 2 sets. You might be able to find some on amazon.co.jp.

Headmasters, Masterforce and Victory, along with Scramble City and the Anime Beast Wars series haven't been released in the states yet. Scramble City will definantly not see stateside, because it's only a pilot. Headmasters, Masterforce and Victory have a (UN?) Licensed version in the UK, Dub only. It's a terrible dub. None of the same cast, no altered voices, horrendous dialouge. A LOT worse than the dubs people complain about nowerdays (I am the Ninja Consultant).

It's odd as to why the two animated Beast Wars series haven't come out yet. There's a whole crapload of cool toys to go along with them.

Last I checked, Kid Rhino were looking into getting The Headmasters series, though I'd really want them to give it a new dub, if anything.

Transformers: The Movie was dubbed into Japanese in 1990, into a craptastic mono "kinda sounds like an orgy". It's on the japanese LD and DVD with the original English version.

Anyway, just because it's a half bred show (american and Japanese, moreso American in parts than others), and because it's obviously made for kids, doesn't mean it isn't enjoyable. Recently watching the Region 4 PAL Transformers season 1 set, I got more laughs and appreciation out of it simply because I could understand more of what they were saying. Top stuff.

[Tboz]

OMG!!

Its US$200+ for a set... its freaking expensive. :eek: :upset:

http://global.yesasia.com/en/PrdDept.aspx/pid-1002802377/did-0/code-c/section-videos/
http://global.yesasia.com/en/PrdDept.aspx/pid-1002802316/did-0/code-c/section-videos/
http://global.yesasia.com/en/PrdDept.aspx/pid-1002897038/did-0/code-j/section-videos/

[MrMonkey]

Heh, transformers. I still have a load of the comics in my attic somewhere (the original marvel ones), I'm not sure how many exactly but it was a fairly complete set. Still a decent read now and again, I mean it's obvious that the original megatron, shockwave, soundwave, deaths head et al would kick any of these new guys asses :D

[kickbackprophecy]

Hey, I know this isn't a anime but I figured someone on this forum may know how to get all seasons of the old transformers TV series? would be very grateful if someone answer. :)

[7thMethuselah]

Hey, I know this isn't a anime but I figured someone on this forum may know how to get all seasons of the old transformers TV series? would be very grateful if someone answer. :)

Aren't those available in stores? Not sure actually.

Correction it is :http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index%3Dblended%26field-keywords%3Dtransformers/002-1938314-4658403 for more information, bring your credit card :heh:

Anyway I think this is against forum rules (http://forums.animesuki.com/announcement.php?f=10&announcementid=2) and this is an anime forum...

Do not ask for other illegal materials either
Obviously discussions about getting any other illegal materials, such as Ripped Music CDs (such as Anime OSTs), ROMs, ISOs, Warez etc. are not allowed either. Threads which break this rule will be either closed or simply deleted.

PS Welcome to the forums

[Rizzorian]

yes, the original Gen 1 Transformer series is available to purchase at local DVD retailors. you can purchase by the volume or by the season.