Transformers Venting thread!

[GoktimusPrime]

Hasbro should use these and dub them properly and bring the 3 extra series into the overall fold the general storylines aren't too bad

There's a rumour that the original intention of Transformers: Generations 2 was to do exactly this -- take the Japanese G1 series and dub them over with US series voice actors, e.g. Peter Cullen would play Optimus Prime in the early episodes of The Headmasters etc. The story goes that some genius decided to 'reintroduce' audiences to the cartoon universe by rejigging earlier US episodes with a CGI opening theme sequence and Cybernet Space Cube, then apply the same thing w/ the Japanese series (so they would all have a common theme), but of course the G2 series didn't rate well enough for that to have ever happened.
...again, this is pretty much an urban myth... I'm not aware of any actual evidence that shows that there's any truth to this, but it's a fun story anyway.

Could they do it now 20 years after G1 ended? Is the demand there to justify the expense? But then again the expense is relatively low since the animation is all done, it's just a dub job. It also means that the cast don't have to be all together at the same time -- usually dub actors record their lines separately (which is why dubs typically lacks that "interactive performance" that you normally get from proper voice acting where actors can feed off each other's energy). And unfortunately some G1 voice actors are no longer with us, e.g. in the Victory episode where Wheeljack, Perceptor and Minerva rebuild Ginrai as Victory Leo, Wheeljack will need to be voiced by a different actor since the original voice actor for G1 Wheeljack (Chris Latta) is deceased.

Aw heck, let's face it... DrSmoov could pretty much dub the entire series himself.

[griffin]

Quite a few are now gone...

d Roger C. Carmel - Bruticus, Cyclonus, Motormaster, Unicron (post movie)
d Phillip Clark - Dead End, Tantrum, Abdul Fakkadi, Auggie Cahnay
d Rege Cordic - Menasor, Quintesson Judge (movie)
d Scatman Crothers - Jazz
d Walker Edmiston - Inferno
d Ron Feinberg - Headstrong
d Ron Gans - Dragstrip
d Linda Gary - Chromia
d Ed Gilbert - Blitzwing, Thrust, Shawn Berger
d Jim Gosa - Abominus
d Johnny Haymer - Highbrow, Swindle, Vortex
d Stan Jones - Scourge, Pounce, Weirdwolf, Lord Zarak
d Aron Kincaid - Sky Lynx
d Bert Kramer - Computron
d Chris Latta - Starscream, Defensor, Reflector, Skullcruncher, Wheeljack, Sparkplug, Snake
d Don Messick - Gears, Ratchet, Scavenger
d Jeff McKay - Fireflight
d Tony Pope - Wreck-Gar (post movie)
d Ken Sansom - Hound
d Tony St James - Blot, Brawl, Cutthroat
d Robert Stack - Ultra Magnus (movie)
d Lionel Stander - Kup (movie)
d Orson Welles - Unicron (movie)

I guess it has been about 30 years now, but damn that's a fair chunk of the original cast gone now.
At least all the JP characters can get all new VAs, and very few of the US cartoon characters show up to even worry about.

(from my page here)

A redubbing of the JP series could be a good (and cheap) way to sell some future Generations toys - the Generations line could feature a heap of JP Gen1 characters that were never released by Hasbro to begin with.

[Darksaber]

I wonder if they could use some of the original g1 dub

but lets be honest with the tech these days anyone could voice them

how bout a new dub to go with the MP Star Saber release?

[DELTAprime]

Quite a few are now gone...

d Roger C. Carmel - Bruticus, Cyclonus, Motormaster, Unicron (post movie)
d Phillip Clark - Dead End, Tantrum, Abdul Fakkadi, Auggie Cahnay
d Rege Cordic - Menasor, Quintesson Judge (movie)
d Scatman Crothers - Jazz
d Walker Edmiston - Inferno
d Ron Feinberg - Headstrong
d Ron Gans - Dragstrip
d Linda Gary - Chromia
d Ed Gilbert - Blitzwing, Thrust, Shawn Berger
d Jim Gosa - Abominus
d Johnny Haymer - Highbrow, Swindle, Vortex
d Stan Jones - Scourge, Pounce, Weirdwolf, Lord Zarak
d Aron Kincaid - Sky Lynx
d Bert Kramer - Computron
d Chris Latta - Starscream, Defensor, Reflector, Skullcruncher, Wheeljack, Sparkplug, Snake
d Don Messick - Gears, Ratchet, Scavenger
d Jeff McKay - Fireflight
d Tony Pope - Wreck-Gar (post movie)
d Ken Sansom - Hound
d Tony St James - Blot, Brawl, Cutthroat
d Robert Stack - Ultra Magnus (movie)
d Lionel Stander - Kup (movie)
d Orson Welles - Unicron (movie)

I guess it has been about 30 years now, but damn that's a fair chunk of the original cast gone now.
At least all the JP characters can get all new VAs, and very few of the US cartoon characters show up to even worry about.

(from my page here)

A redubbing of the JP series could be a good (and cheap) way to sell some future Generations toys - the Generations line could feature a heap of JP Gen1 characters that were never released by Hasbro to begin with.

There is no smily on this bbs that expresses my sadness at seeing that list.

[GoktimusPrime]

but lets be honest with the tech these days anyone could voice them

Forget tech dude... DrSmoov and Dan Didsbury are master Transformers voice emulators! It'd be a great way to get fans involved at an official level too.

Note: Links contain coarse language, parental discretion is advised for children.
SOS Wheeljack
Heavy Metal Fight
Autobot Alert
Shockwave's Burden
The Rude Awakening of Optimus Prime

[SuspectimusPrime]

Could they do it now 20 years after G1 ended? Is the demand there to justify the expense? But then again the expense is relatively low since the animation is all done, it's just a dub job. It also means that the cast don't have to be all together at the same time -- usually dub actors record their lines separately (which is why dubs typically lacks that "interactive performance" that you normally get from proper voice acting where actors can feed off each other's energy). And unfortunately some G1 voice actors are no longer with us, e.g. in the Victory episode where Wheeljack, Perceptor and Minerva rebuild Ginrai as Victory Leo, Wheeljack will need to be voiced by a different actor since the original voice actor for G1 Wheeljack (Chris Latta) is deceased.

Aw heck, let's face it... DrSmoov could pretty much dub the entire series himself.

I would love to rewatch all of the Japanese episodes re-done with talent similar to the original English series (sans the guy they used for Sixshot in Rebirth) and using the same sound effects and background music. One of the nostalgic sounds that really hook me in is the 'sound of Cybertron' - love that robotic alien void.

[BigTransformerTrev]

So far I have had no less than 7 people either PM or share on my FB wall the Gingerbread Movie Optimus pic that is doing the rounds. I thought it was cool the first time I saw it, but damn! Cant these people see what has come before! The worst part is that they are covering my FB wall with the same pic over and over again , I have a Transformatorium group page, why do they not think to put it there?

Heh - talk about your first-world problems

[Dangermot]

Walking into the shops for Boxing Day sales and seeing 50% off handbags, 50% off shoes, 30% off bath towels etc but then seeing Transformers toys still at full price.

[Seraphim Prime]

Walking into the shops for Boxing Day sales and seeing 50% off handbags, 50% off shoes, 30% off bath towels etc but then seeing Transformers toys still at full price.

What that shows you is two things:

1. What the mark-up on those other items are
2. Where our hobby sits in the grand scheme of things

[Dangermot]

What that shows you is two things:

1. What the mark-up on those other items are
2. Where our hobby sits in the grand scheme of things

Maybe I used some bad examples. A better comparison would have been Transformers at full price whilst other toy lines are heavily discounted (e.g. Octonauts 30% off, Iron Man & TMNT 1/2 price).