A journey through the JP Gen1 cartoon.

[GoktimusPrime]

[quote=Oooooo, apparently everyone in Canberra speaks Japanese.[/quote]
Universal Translator. Cos in the US series almost everyone speaks English (if not then gibberish) anyway... including aliens (including Transformers who've not had contact with Earth). Considering the large number of international diplomats living in Canberra, it's plausible that they may have simply attacked an Australian-Japanese function. It's more plausible than seeing English being spoken on Monacus (even if we were to assume it's an alien language that we simply hear as English, Bosch's gambling machine still has English text on it! Holy Tractor Beam Power, Batman!)

Actually, it's pretty nifty to see Australia featured in Gen1 somewhere, even if it is in the JP series.

+1

[griffin]

Super God Masterforce

This is the next series released in Japan covering Generation One characters/toys. But chronologically, it doesn't seem to fit anywhere. Even though it is supposed to follow on from Headmasters (which was supposed to be a future setting), it appears to be set on a present day, pre-movie Earth. And the Pretenders have been on Earth for thousands of years, according to the first episode, but have never been involved in previous series (obviously, if the toys hadn't been made yet). And (Metal)Hawk says that Cybertron still exists, which would place it before Headmasters.
A quick check of tfwiki.net, suggests that it is easier to understand if you see Masterforce as a stand-alone series, in its own continuity.

I'm looking forward to seeing in action, all the other Gen1 toys/characters that didn't get a chance to feature in Western animation, like the Pretenders, Powermasters, Seacons and second year Headmasters. I don't think the second year Targetmasters are included though.


Ep 1 - Rise Up, Pretenders

Three Decepticon Pretenders appear after thousands of years imprisoned around the globe, forcing the four Autobot Pretenders to reveal themselves to combat them. Using Seacon drones, the Decepticon trio start terrorising humans. Shuta is a human child friend of (Metal)Hawk, who gets caught up in the attack.

The Pretenders in this series are human sized when in their shells, but magically appear as full-sized robots through a dazzling light display or a shimmering shadow. They don't even grow or shrink like Gen1 characters (like Soundwave), they just suddenly appear and the human-sized shell disappears. At least the US comic had the shells the same size, and still existed when the robots were out and about.

All the Pretenders that were released by Hasbro have different names in Japan, so take a bit to get used to them. Metalhawk though is a Japanese exclusive character/toy, but for some reason is just called Hawk in the cartoon.

The squealing of the Tentakil drones is really annoying.

Quite a lot of human carnage in this show. The Japanese kids mustn't get as traumatised as the western kiddies do when seeing death and destruction in cartoons.

Commercial break 'bumpers' are included, showing characters transforming, like we saw with some of the US Gen1 cartoon.
They even include a short clip of the next episode at the end.

The intro credits song sounds like a love song, it's so soft and mellow. It doesn't feel like something an action, warring robots series would have as a theme song. Even the closing credits song is a bit too soft as well.


Ep 2 - The Decepticons' Fearsome Manhunt!

The Decepticon Pretenders steal corpses to turn into zombies to use as weapons against humans and Autobots. The plan fails, so they decide to capture live humans next. They pick an obscure Pacific Island, but coincidently the Autobot Diver is on a boat nearby and reports it to Hawk. Shuta manages to convince Hawk to take him to the dangerous location, and promptly has to save him soon after they arrive. They meet with another child, Cab, who joins them after the Decepticons are chased off and the captured Humans are freed. During this raid on the Pacific Island, Dauros (Skullgrin) attacks and destroys the Observatory the Autobots were using as a base, killing Shuta's father.


It seems that the Seacon drones stay in groups of their own type, as this episode had Lobclaw (Nautilator) drones and Overbite drones.

The Decepticon base looks really organic and weird. Nothing like previous Decepticon or Cybertronian bases.

Shuta is another annoying child able to convince Autobots to behave irrationally.

And Cab has the mystical ability of talking to animals.

The Autobots new base at the end of the episode... it is implied that it is new, so must have been built really fast.

[GoktimusPrime]

And (Metal)Hawk says that Cybertron still exists, which would place it before Headmasters.

Chromedome makes a cameo appearance which clearly places it after The Headmasters. Perhaps the Pretenders were unaware of Cybertron's destruction since they were secluded from the other Autobots. Or maybe Rodimus Prime, Kup and Blurr founded a new Cybertron and he was referring to that planet. Or maybe Kaneda Masumi forgot that he destroyed Cybertron in the last series.

I don't think the second year Targetmasters are included though.

No, you won't see the 1988 Targetmasters as they were never released in Japan. You also won't see Triggerbots, Triggercons, Pretender Beasts, Pretender Vehicles -- basically this series only showcases toys that were released in Japan and excludes any toys that were Hasbro exclusives. You can look forward to seeing Browning though!

All the Pretenders that were released by Hasbro have different names in Japan, so take a bit to get used to them. Metalhawk though is a Japanese exclusive character/toy, but for some reason is just called Hawk in the cartoon.

He's usually called Hawk when he's in his Pretender shell and Metalhawk is what the inner robot is usually referred to... iirc.

Quite a lot of human carnage in this show. The Japanese kids mustn't get as traumatised as the western kiddies do when seeing death and destruction in cartoons.

Nope. A lot of death and destruction in Japanese cartoons are either deleted or edited when they're brought over to the West. e.g.
+ In the original Gatchaman, there were similar scenes of destruction that were cut down and sanitised for Battle of the Planets
+ In Hundred Beast King O-Lion the original pilot for the Blue Lion died and was replaced. In Lion Force Voltron... I think he just went missing or was presumed dead, but in later episodes (which were exclusively produced for Voltron and were never in the original Japanese series) he came back, showing that he wasn't dead.
+ In Dinosaur Battle Squad Zyuranger, the original Green Ranger dies, but when it was adapted to Power Rangers, the Green Ranger became the White Ranger.

...a lot of anime that's aired during prime time TV hours are rated M in Australia.

The intro credits song sounds like a love song, it's so soft and mellow. It doesn't feel like something an action, warring robots series would have as a theme song. Even the closing credits song is a bit too soft as well.

I love the opening theme. Feels like it focuses more on characters rather than just "pew pew pew" action and thus feels more mature to me.

The Decepticon Pretenders steal corpses to turn into zombies to use as weapons against humans and Autobots.

Very generic looking corpses too. At least the zombies looked more individual in Shaun of the Dead.

It seems that the Seacon drones stay in groups of their own type, as this episode had Lobclaw (Nautilator) drones and Overbite drones.

Caste society.

The Decepticon base looks really organic and weird. Nothing like previous Decepticon or Cybertronian bases.

So not purple! And the Autobot's base isn't all orange!! *gasp*

[griffin]

Ep 3 - Kidnapping! The Targetted Jumbo Jet

The Decepticons attempt to capture more live humans for their zombie scheme, including a scientist for their experiments. The Autobots and the boys rescue the humans and befriend Minerva, a girl who then joins their quest to defeat the Decepticons.


The zombies are called Destroids.

One of the Autobot Pretenders (Phoenix/Cloudburst) has hair like Wolverine, which is very distracting.

Another kid is allowed to join the war... The Autobots must be desperate, or reckless to use children, or allow them to be in harms way.

The Seacon drones in this episode are Kraken (Seawing).



Ep 4 - Birth of the Headmaster Jrs!

The Autobot Pretenders give the three kids, Transtectors (robot bodies) and bracelets to activate their 'Master Force' to become Headmasters. Coincidentally at that exact time, the Decepticons have also given (stolen) Transtectors to 3 people (Cancer, Wilder, Bullhorn), who have joined their cause. On their first outing, the Autobot Headmasters manage to fight off the Decepticon Headmasters.


Shuta is called Go Shooter when combined with his Transtector.

Chromedome makes a cameo appearance, and some Headmasters cartoon scenes are shown, in an attempt to link Masterforce with Headmasters. Chromedome's message says that they are constantly fighting Decepticons around the universe, as a reason why they don't return to Earth to help the Autobots there.

Shuta is trying to rescue a baby, but gets in trouble from Hawk for being targetted by the Decepticon Headmasters who are trying to stop him. He's then sorry and forgiven for it, despite it not being his fault.

[snaketales]

My kids and I have just started watching Victory.
We watched all of Headmasters, while I watched all of Masterforce but the kids only watched the eps with English audio (subtitles are a bit hard for the littlies)

[griffin]

Ep 5 - Rage!! Little Devils with No Need for Rules!

The Autobot Headmasters are in training to master their new forms, while the Decepticon Headmasters use their new abilities to get revenge on a rival biker gang, and try to recruit them to their ranks. Minerva has confidence problems, but when they have to take on the Decepticon Headmasters, she is able to find her courage from her duty rescuing a child. While Shuta learns about the importance of teamwork.


An episode that focuses heavily on the three kids.

Oh dear, now the animals are talking...

The kids look to be about 10, and yet they seem to be quite good at driving cars like normal vehicles (steering, gears, pedals).

And today's Seacons... Lobclaw (Nautilator) and Seawing.


As bad as the Decepticon Headmaster toys are, the cartoon makes them look really good. Good enough to want to buy.

[Bartrim]

The kids look to be about 10, and yet they seem to be quite good at driving cars like normal vehicles (steering, gears, pedals).

That confused me as well.