The Energon Pub

Totally agree with Animated for #2. The animation and action just never quits, and the music is awsome. It really pumps you up for the show, and it's sad that a good majority of the stuff in the opening never really happens in the show. Gosh dangit, why didn't we get a Season 4.....

Anyway, only one left!!! Don't keep us in suspense too long!

I'm sorry, are there even 20 opening themes in existance let alone 20 to vote on? Perhaps this requires access to every cartoon series done in every country. My exposure to opening themes for Transformers doesn't account for being able to vote for 20.

At long last, the wait is finally over. We have now come to reach the Number 1 Japanese Transformers Opening Theme Song. We’ve come a long way in these past two months, looking back on so many awesome songs from the years 1985 to those of today, spanning almost every animated series, movie, and OVA to ever come about in the Transformers franchise. This is truly a historic event. Though, not in a sense that this moment is one to be honored in future occasions, but in a sense that this moment is honoring most of the past songs of Transformers history. Out of all twenty-three Japanese openings, we have finally arrived at the big moment that several of us have been waiting for.

And the Number 1 of the Top 20 Greatest Japanese Transformers Opening Themes is…




















1. "Phat Planet"
From: Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Returns (Chō Seimeitai Transformer: Beast Wars Returns)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LqcL088Cr0





Oh, er, do note that the awkward singing/narrating in this particular opening does not occur in every episode. Each episode of Beast Wars Returns features an entirely different narration unique to that episode. It’s just that this video was the only one I could find of just the series opening. It just so happens that this had to be the opening to episode 14, where Optimus Primal and Megatron are “dead”, and thus this opening is making a joke at calling Optimus “Yvonco”, which is “Convoy” (Konboi), Optimus’ Japanese name, backwards (Ibonko).

As I’ve stated before, I am a fan of the Beast Era, so Beast Machines is included into that. And for the first and so far only time, the Japanese decided to do something drastically different with the opening to their dub of a Western Transformers series: they actually kept the U.S. opening song intact instead of coming up with their own.

Though, they did rework the visuals to their own choosing, with various clips from the show not used in the U.S. opening being inserted. Not to mention the one piece of new footage added in being the title card.




















Psyche!




















1. "TRANSFORMER ~Dream Again~"
From: Chō Robotto Seimeitai Transformers: Micron Densetsu (Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Micron Legend)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JADt85HEL-4



If the Japanese Animated opening was the epitome of all things epic, then this is the epitome of all things epic about the Transformers! This song alone is enough to make ne wanna watch the Japanese version of Armada, Micron Densetsu. If it can do that by itself, it’s definitely a winner!

Immediately, this song lets us know that it is the definitive Japanese Transformers theme song, as it chants in loud, booming voices, “TRANSFORM!... TRANSFORM!” Followed up by the yelling of “Transformer tobitatsun da sono tsubasa de...!”

The electric guitar and drumming in this is just intense! It’s like an adrenaline rush in sound form, coupled with audio steroids and musical Red Bull.

The main verse is incredibly fast-paced, raging with energy and exhilaration! All throughout it, the words “Transformer” “It’s Too Late!” and “~More Than Meets The Eye!~” are calmly sung in the background, blending in with the more pumped-up main lines of the song. Some of the more loudly-sung Engrish lines would be “Story” (at the end of the second line of the first verse), “Destiny” (in the middle of the fourth line of the first verse), and “Get It Out!” (at the start of the fifth line of the first verse).

The chorus is the crown jewel of this song. It is most definitely the closest a Japanese Transformers theme song has ever come to resembling the traditional American Transformers theme song, especially with the repetition and heavy emphasis of the word “Transformer”.

Transformer! tobitatsun da sono tsubasa de
DREAM AGAIN! mō ichido sora wo mezase
Transformer! osoru na mae wo muite
DREAM AGAIN! densetsu ga yomigaeru made
Me no mae no sekai ga katachi wo kaeru[
Transformer!


The imagery of this opening is BEAST! That’s right! This song makes Armada look slaggin’ BUTCH!!!

Flames erupt as the Autobot and Decepticon armies drive towards each other and the title card flashes for one instant. Megatron fires forward as Optimus transforms and ascends into the flaming heavens. The title card emerges into view again for real this time and then warps into a zoom in on Cybertron.

The Street Action Mini-Con Team appears as the Autobot and Decepticon symbols morph in the faces of the Optimus Prime and Megatron respectively. The two leaders engage each other as the Star Saber sword is formed and Hot Shot twirls it around. Starscream uses his sword as a scene transition (WOOT!), which cuts to the three kids and their Mini-Cons, who meet up with the other two kids, being chased by Cyclonus. Demolishor and Cyclonus Powerlink/x with Mini-Cons that aren’t their partners and Starscream and Megatron transform. Laserbeak flies down and Rad yells out, as the three Mini-Cons unite to form Perceptor, who leaps above high over Megatron.

The screen spilts into four screens of the four Autobots Powerlinking with their respective Mini-Cons, including the only anime appearance of Optimus’ Mini-Con OVER-RUN!!! Over-Run’s unlocked attack for Optimus is a bright glowing fist punch. In other words, it’s a Megat(r)on Punch.

Sparkplug links with Super Mode Optimus Prime, who fires off his guns. The Autobots drive through a swamp only to encounter themselves on the cliff above them… wait, what?

The scene transitions to a look at each of the five kids. This is probably the lowest point in this opening, but the song is so good that it doesn’t bother me so much. Three beams of light shoot up and Hot Shot, Red Alert, and Jet Optimus/Convoy/Prime/John Doe/whatever (seriously, this guy has no real solid U.S. name!) fly out from them.

Megatron unearths himself on the Moon and transforms to Tank Mode. Three gorgeous pieces of artwork conclude this song. The first is of the Vehicle Mode Autobots and Decepticons facing each other in a desert, the second is the same shot but with them all in Robot Mode, and the third is pure epic winness: every character from the first half of the series locked in a cosmic battle on Earth with Cybertron looming in the center background.





And with that, it is over. I had fun, and I hope everyone else had fun too. Seeing as how we’ve come to the end of this countdown, I guess there isn’t much else left to do.




















Or, how about a live stage performance of this song by Psychic Lover itself!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysPmzRjQz3Y

Both links lead to the beast wars Returns opening.

Both links lead to the beast wars Returns opening.

munkimus prime wrote:Both links lead to the beast wars Returns opening.

DARN IT! Fixed, but how I wish I could go back and undo that outrageous mistake! And on the Number 1 song too!

A brilliant list comes to a close, and I think we've all learned a bit about some awesome tunes! (Several of which I now have and listen to often) Congrats on a well done (and reasonably well-researched) list, Sabrblade! I guess that means it's up to me yet again to make another list to carry us into 2011
I'll let ye know what I come up with!

And now for the ones that didn’t make the list.

23. "Phat Planet"
From: Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Returns (Chō Seimeitai Transformer: Beast Wars Returns)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LqcL088Cr0



As I’ve stated before (in the gag number 1 entry), for the Beast Wars Returns dub of Beast Machines, they reused the same opening theme song that the English version uses. And I’ve already covered how the narration in the opening differs from episode to episode, and that this goofy one just so happens to come from episode 14.

And that the visuals in the opening are not the same as those seen in the U.S. opening. We first see Optimus Primal’s initial interfacing with the Oracle, cut to a silhouetted Megatron transforming. Optimus glares up at him and then all the Maximals are outside looking up. An army of Tank Drones moves forward with their master looming in the background overhead. Cheetor looks up enraged as three Cycle Drones transform.

Beast Mode Megatron appears, as we immediately cut to three Maximals being chased by Cycle Drones (this happens a lot ), and then to Optimus pointing his finger. Noble looks up with the moon behind him, Megs commands a massive fleet of Aero Drones, Botanica arises, Nightscream is chased by an Aero Drone, and Blackarachnia lands on the ground.

Tank Drones and Rattrap transform, pre-reformatted Nightscream points, Silverbolt jumps down and poses, Primal leaps down and transforms, Savage breathes fire, and the title screen, the only new piece of footage here, finally appears on screen to close the opening.


Why this did not make the Top 20:
Two reasons. One is that, despite the visual differences of this opening compared to the American one, there’s not really any coherence to them. Having gone and watched this opening muted while playing the non-vocal U.S. opening music in the background, the images in this opening don’t really flow together.

There’s too many that seem to only show up just for the sake of showing up. Lots of these images are only on screen for a split-second and just feel like they were crammed in there. There are barely any scenes that last longer than one second, much less even reach the duration of a whole second.

Two is that the song in this really cannot count because the simple fact that it’s not a Japanese opening theme song. The song itself is no different from its American counterpart whatsoever. I cannot put it on a list of Japanese songs as it is not a Japanese song. It’d be like putting Pikachu on a list of one’s favorite Digimon or something.

They could have created their own original Japanese song for this opening. They didn’t. They could have added their own original lyrics to this song. They didn’t (the narrations do not count). They could have made any change to this song to try to make it make Japanese-authentic. But they didn’t. Therefore, it technically cannot count as a real Japanese song.

Coupled with the imagery, it still counts as a Japanese TF opening, but not as a Japanese TF song.




22. "Hajimari no Uta"
From: Beast Wars Special: Super Lifeform Transformers – Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers - Metals (Beast Wars Special: Chō Seimeitai Transformer – Beast Wars Special: Chō Seimeitai Transformer - Metals)

Let me first point out that I am sorry to say that I could not find a video of this opening.

I was able to listen to it because I own an mp3 of it.

This was the opening for when the Beast Wars episode "Bad Spark" was shown in theaters as a part of the Beast Wars Special triple-feature movie.

Because I cannot locate a video of this song, I can only talk about the song portion. The beginning starts off with some great drumming and a lot of energy. Like the song in entry #3, the chorus precedes the verses of the song. Unlike that song, however, this chorus doesn’t sound all that stimulating. It’s kinda relaxing and a little funny, but it doesn’t really have that feel of excitement.

Before switching to the main verse, the chorus ends with a funky cry of “Ii zo! Ii zo! Convoy!” Um… okay.

The main verse is calm and mellow, settling down to a peaceful feel. Though, it slowly starts to build back up as it draws nearer and nearer to the chorus again. And once that comes back, it too feels at ease and must work itself back up to having the same energy as the initial moments of the song. As it nears the 1 minute, 18 seconds point of the song, its back up to the liveliness it started with and finishes off with another yell of “Ii zo! Ii zo! Convoy!”


Why this did not make the Top 20:
Again, it’s because of a lack of visuals for me give it a fair judgement. The only imagery of this opening that I can track down is this image, which doesn’t tell me much other than it contains this scene from episode 27 of Beast Wars.

Going by the song alone does not work out, as the song itself is kinda… weird. I mean, sure, "WAR WAR! STOP IT!!" was an oddball of a song, but that one had a bit of fun and humor to it. This, on the other hand… doesn’t. It’s probably the most bland-sounding of the Japanese themes and doesn’t really convey any real sense of emotion or enjoyment. There is energy to this song, but it’s not exactly put to good use, as it loses it in the beginning and has to work its way back up to that same feeling again, only reaching again it near the end.

And the awkward cry of “Ii zo! Ii zo! Convoy!” sounds more like some random high school cheerleading cheer than a battle cry. While sometimes silly can be good, there are some things that are considered just “too silly”.




21. "Ano Yume no Kanata e"
From: Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers - Metals – Convoy's Great Transformation! ( Beast Wars: Chō Seimeitai Transformer - Metals – Convoy Dai Henshin!)

Note: that this is beginning of the actual episode/movie, and so thus will continue to play even after the song on concluded. Press Pause once the song finishes so you aren’t stuck watching more than the intended song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPwCiGRQFQ8



For those of you unaware, the Japanese treated episode 43, “Cutting Edge,” as a special movie (like how they did for the above-mentioned "Bad Spark" episode), instead of an actual episode, and so gave it a theatrical release along with two other short films as a triple-feature movie. Thus, it’s the only episode to have not received a Japanese DVD release (only VHS).

This song was featured as its opening and, unlike every other Japanese opening, played the entire song all the way through to a whopping length of 3 mintues and 20 seconds!

The song itself is lively, upbeat, and fast-paced, but that’s about all that can be said about it. There’s not much else that’s all that special about this song other than its duration. It’s just a fun song with nothing else really going for it.

As for the visuals, oh BOY is there a lot of them! Rattrap starts off speaking to us. Optimus speaks to us too with the other Maximals appearing behind him. Megatron speaks while standing in the sunset with the other Preds. The Maximals race forward as seen in the “Code of Hero” episode, all while there’s more speaking going on (let me just say that there’s speaking going on everywhere in this song, so I don’t have to always point it out).

Optimus is stuck in his stasis pod as it flies up to the Planet Buster, which is promptly destroyed. The Quantum Surge approaches and then proceeds to turn Rattrap, Cheetor, the dying Terrorsaur, and Megatron into Transmetals. TM Megs roars and TM Cheetor unfolds his jets.

We cut to a zoom in on Earth, which leads to the valley of the Protohumans. Megatron jumps down and then appears sitting on his throne inside the Metal Hunter. He laughs, transforms, transforms again, and flies away.

Taratulas speaks to us. Waspinator flies in, transforms, and shoots us. Inferno transforms. Quickstrike transforms. Rampage transforms. Optimus transforms. Rattrap transforms and races off. Cheetor transforms and then flies. Rhinox doesn’t transform, opting instead to type on a control board. Silverbolt transforms. Depth Charge transforms. And Blackarachnia transforms, ending this mindless redundancy!

Optimal Optimus speaks. Rattrap gasps. Op Op looks at us some more and then Megatron stands within the timestorm from “The Agenda, Part III”. Optimus Prime lies dead with his head slagged. Optimus moves to bond Prime’s spark with his own, opening Prime’s chest and removing Prime’s spark from its container. Primal agonizes in pain, and then Optimal Optimus speaks to us some more. Rattrap looks confused.

The Maximals all run outside the doors of their season 3 base. Primal fires his chest cannons at Megatron, who fires back. Primal transforms into Beast Mode, scratching his arm pit… o_O

Primal then transforms into Jet Mode, firing his cannons some more, and then into Tank Mode. Cheetor says something to Primal and, AT LONG LAST, the title card appears on screen to the shouted words of “BEAST WARS - METALS – Convoy Daihenshin!”


Why this did not make the Top 20:
How can I say this? Well, for one, there’s so much speaking going on in this that you can barely hear the song itself. It’s not the same kind of speaking heard in narrations, the characters on screen are literally talking to the audience.

Why is this bad? Because I’m trying to listen to the song and these guys just will not shut up! I do not care about their little gags and commentary that they want to share with us. I can watch the show itself to learn this very same information that they do not need to continue blabbering about! We don’t need to have a chit-chat with the characters when we can just watch the show to get what their talking about. We’re not stupid!

Secondly, it’s just so darn loooooooong! All the other Japanese TF openings lasted only about a minute and a half each, even the movie ones. But this?!This thing ran longer than twice that length! It’s almost as if they were purposely trying to pad out the running time for this film.

And the worst part is that this opening… *sigh* is honestly really nice. It summarizes all the events of the Beast Wars cartoon up to the mid-third season, introducing all the characters and keeping the audience informed about the plot. It’s because they put so much into this opening to make it look so good that it’s really hurtful to its status as an opening.

If this were more like an AMV or something, it’d be so much better! But using something this long and this chatty (seriously, stop talking, guys!) is way overdoing it. It’s just feels like a desperate attempt to bill this one episode as a true feature film, when it’s really not that special.

It’s definitely not as bad as former two (which in all honesty, aren’t quite that bad either) and has some potential. But, it falls very short with its excessive, unnecessary material.




And that, my friends, completes all 23 of the Japanese Transformers openings. Till they make a new one, it is over -- Finished.

UPDATE!

This thread have been given a revamped overhaul! Thanks to the recent discovery that the YouTube tags are working again (albeit in a somewhat different manner), each and every video in the countdown posts of this thread has had their YouTube tags fixed and videos embedded correctly..

PLUS, and addendum has been made to the Entry #2, as there was one more version of that song that I missed.