The Energon Pub

[B.K.]

http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Transf ... tion/15023

As our regular readers know, Biran - who was the producer of the G1 Transformers sets for Shout! - revealed on Twitter last Tuesday that he's working on a new Shout! Factory set of DVDs for Beast Wars: Transformers, the '90s CGI series. This info was certainly noticed by a wide range of people, and the call went out once again for the Takara episodes. By the next day, Brian was tweeting hints like "Big news re: BEAST WARS yesterday. But that's just one of MANY titles I'm excited to be working on. Anyone speak Japanese? #NotReallyAsking".

However, despite that hint on Wednesday, Brian's REAL revelation came along on Friday, when he made another Twitter post that left no room for doubt that he's not only working on a Takara Transformers Collection, but he was actually interested in help from the fans: "Looking for bonus feature material re: TRANSFORMERS TAKARA COLLECTION. Commercials, etc. Got anything? #DoesntMeanImWorkingOnIt #YesItDoes" Fans interested in helping can, of course, reach him by responding to his tweets on Twitter. You can also leave a message for him in the Takara thread at the Shout! Factory message boards (the first link at the top), but keep in mind that the studio is planning to overhaul their site in the near future, and we're not sure yet what will happen to the message board content there.

Finally, in case there is still any doubt about a Shout! Factory project for these post-G1 Japanese items coming to the USA, today Brian tweeted the comment, "Working hard on the upcoming BEAST WARS and TAKARA COLLECTION sets. But can this really be considered 'work?'" So it's a done deal. No word yet on whether this release is limited to the obvious productions of 1987's Transformers: The Headmasters, 1988's Transformers: Chôjin Master Force, and 1989's Transformers: Victory, or whether other material would be included as well...such as a more complete version of the 1986 production Transformers: Scramble City than was previously made available in the USA, as well as 1990's Transformers: Zone production.

Also, as it is VERY early in terms of this project, there's no word yet on when it will be out (like with Beast Wars, we can quite possibly expect it later this year, but naturally there is no guarantee of that at this early stage in the process). Stay tuned, and we'll keep you updated, as further developments occur!

[Duke of Luns]

Beast Wars is getting me excited because I dont' have it on DVD, but the Takara Collectin too, in Region 1? Yeah!!!!

[Pretender Skywarp]

A decent western release of Beast Wars II and Beast Wars Neo is long overdue!!

[Duke of Luns]

A decent western release of Beast Wars II and Beast Wars Neo is long overdue!!

I don't see those shows mentioned at all. Don't get me wrong, I am more than in the same boat as you, but "Takara Collection" = Headmasters, Masterforce, and Victory. However, if it's been confirmed that Shout Factory has the rights to Beast Wars II and Neo, then I would be more than happy to be proven wrong.

[Supreme Convoy]

Ah hell, I just bought the Australian set!

If they include better bonus material, I might consider double dipping.

So glad to hear about Beast Wars. I don't have those on DVD yet.

[Sabrblade]

Unless these come with a whole bunch of extras (and unless the Headmasters set has its missing footage restored and subtitle errors fixed), then I'll pass. I own the Metrodome boxed set, as well as downloads of the TV-Nihon fansubs of all three series.

And I could personally do without the Omni Productions dub. I tried to watch The Headmasters dub and, even though I made it about a third of the way into the series, I wasn't laughing so much as I was cringing and whining.

Metrodome included the whole Omni dub of The Headmasters on their DVDs, but not that of Masterforce and Victory. Madman, however, included the whole Omni dub of The Headmasters, the Omni dub of Masterforce episodes 1, 4, 41, and 42, and the whole Omni dub of Victory on their DVDs.

Some things I'd like to see on these DVDs would be all the clip shows (including the direct-video ones), even if they didn't add anything to the plot, placed in the bonus material. Of all the clip shows these three series had, the special OVA "Shūta and Grand's Masterforce Super-Secrets!" is a must-have, as it explains several things not given answers to in the episodes themselves (like, why Ginrai looks like Optimus, who BlackZarak is, the "true" backstory of Devil Zed and Godmaster Transtectors, and so forth).

And, yeah stuff like commercials and such would be nice. But again, I already own the compiled UK DVD boxed set and the TV-Nihon fansubs, so I'll be on the fence about getting these.

[El Duque]

We previously reported that Shout! Factory was working on a new release of 'Transformers: Beast Wars', and it now appears the 'Transformers Takara Collection' is also in the works! TVShowsOnDvd is reporting that Shout! DVD director Brian Ward has dropped a number of hints via is Twitter account.

It was just over a year ago, while Shout! Factory was enjoying the success of their award-winning "G1" releases of Transformers on DVD, that a fan who used the nickname "gaastra" asked the studio, via a post at their official message board, the following question labeled "Transformers Takara Shows":

What would it take to get the takara shows (headmasters, masterforce, victory, zone) a release in america? UK and au both have it and america gets nothing. Is there anyway at all to get a r1 release? How about selling a try-out dvd on shouts website? You could include the first episode of all three shows. These shows need a R1 release.

By the next day Shout! DVD producer Brian Ward had responded, asking for feedback about interest in such a release. After all, these stories are the natural follow-up to the G1 Transformers, continuing in Japan with adventures never aired on this side of the Pacific. The message board discussion goes on for a long time, with Brian pointing out what the obstacles would be (and me backing him up a couple of times, in the face of various forms of disbelief about what he's saying). Still, despite those issues, the idea certainly was never shot down; it was clear that the fan base in the USA and Canada had clear interest in a Region 1 title for this so-called Takara Transformers Collection.

As our regular readers know, Biran - who was the producer of the G1 Transformers sets for Shout! - revealed on Twitter last Tuesday that he's working on a new Shout! Factory set of DVDs for Beast Wars: Transformers, the '90s CGI series. This info was certainly noticed by a wide range of people, and the call went out once again for the Takara episodes. By the next day, Brian was tweeting hints like "Big news re: BEAST WARS yesterday. But that's just one of MANY titles I'm excited to be working on. Anyone speak Japanese? #NotReallyAsking".

However, despite that hint on Wednesday, Brian's REAL revelation came along on Friday, when he made another Twitter post that left no room for doubt that he's not only working on a Takara Transformers Collection, but he was actually interested in help from the fans: "Looking for bonus feature material re: TRANSFORMERS TAKARA COLLECTION. Commercials, etc. Got anything? #DoesntMeanImWorkingOnIt #YesItDoes" Fans interested in helping can, of course, reach him by responding to his tweets on Twitter. You can also leave a message for him in the Takara thread at the Shout! Factory message boards (the first link at the top), but keep in mind that the studio is planning to overhaul their site in the near future, and we're not sure yet what will happen to the message board content there.

Finally, in case there is still any doubt about a Shout! Factory project for these post-G1 Japanese items coming to the USA, today Brian tweeted the comment, "Working hard on the upcoming BEAST WARS and TAKARA COLLECTION sets. But can this really be considered 'work?'" So it's a done deal. No word yet on whether this release is limited to the obvious productions of 1987's Transformers: The Headmasters, 1988's Transformers: Chôjin Master Force, and 1989's Transformers: Victory, or whether other material would be included as well...such as a more complete version of the 1986 production Transformers: Scramble City than was previously made available in the USA, as well as 1990's Transformers: Zone production.

Also, as it is VERY early in terms of this project, there's no word yet on when it will be out (like with Beast Wars, we can quite possibly expect it later this year, but naturally there is no guarantee of that at this early stage in the process). Stay tuned, and we'll keep you updated, as further developments occur!

Taken from: http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Transf ... z1E4Emq8Mw

[GetRightRobot]

Beast Wars!!! Zone, Victory and the rest!! Sweetness!!

[kirbenvost]

This is pretty exciting! I never got to see any of the Japanese G1 shows, so this would be a very welcome release.

[Heavy B]

takara collection??? pass

beast wars for the win

[combatron6969]

Takara Collection would be nice for me. But i would prefer if they re-dubbed the English version.

[Sabrblade]

Takara Collection would be nice for me. But i would prefer if they re-dubbed the English version.

Which is pretty doubtful to happen, since Shout! Factory is a DVD distribution company and not a voice dubbing studio.

[GetRightRobot]

This is pretty exciting! I never got to see any of the Japanese G1 shows, so this would be a very welcome release.

Dude, atleast look up Transformers Zone. The title has the letter Z, and its like the most famous Z of all time: DRAGON BALL Z!! Capes, Hand Weapons, Energy Blasts!!! It is freakin sweet!!!

[Ultra Markus]

it would be cool to have but I'm divided between listening to the bad English voice overs
or listing to the dramatic (and better sounding) Japanese language with subtitles
hopefully they will give you the ability to choose between the different languages
and subtitles

[Sabrblade]

it would be cool to have but I'm divided between listening to the bad English voice overs
or listing to the dramatic (and better sounding) Japanese language with subtitles
hopefully they will give you the ability to choose between the different languages
and subtitles

If you admit that the English voices are bad and the Japanese ones are dramatic, then what's the dilemma? Go for the Japanese track with English subs.

[SunChaser74]

--"I have been waiting for an American release of these for like 2 decades... Finally, It is about time... I know there are bootlegs out there, but I want a genuine copy from someone reputable... Thank you for reporting on this!!"...

[Sabrblade]

--"I have been waiting for an American release of these for like 2 decades... Finally, It is about time... I know there are bootlegs out there, but I want a genuine copy from someone reputable... Thank you for reporting on this!!"...

Both the UK and Australian DVDs are official non-bootleg releases. They are genuine copies from reputable sources.

[SunChaser74]

--If they were never officially released here then the only region 1 or region-free discs found ARE bootlegs... I mean really?!

[It Is Him]

--If they were never officially released here then the only region 1 or region-free discs found ARE bootlegs... I mean really?!

The official Australian releases are region free. Yes, really.

[Sabrblade]

--If they were never officially released here then the only region 1 or region-free discs found ARE bootlegs... I mean really?!

The official Australian releases are region free. Yes, really.

As is the UK Headmasters set. It plays fine on at least two of my DVD players.

[Godzillabot Primal]

OMP THIS IS AMAZING

[It Is Him]

--If they were never officially released here then the only region 1 or region-free discs found ARE bootlegs... I mean really?!

The official Australian releases are region free. Yes, really.

As is the UK Headmasters set. It plays fine on at least two of my DVD players.

That, I did not know.

Behold Sabrblade: The human encyclopedia

[agentk9]

I'm confused...Headmasters wasn't released in America? I remember watching headmasters as a kid. Can anyone clear this up?

[Sabrblade]

I'm confused...Headmasters wasn't released in America? I remember watching headmasters as a kid. Can anyone clear this up?

You're not referring to the three-part episode of G1 called "The Rebirth", are you? That featured some Headmaster and Targetmaster characters, but was only three episodes long.

The Japanese series called "Transformers: The Headmasters" was created in Japan and was never dubbed in English for Western audiences. It was however, dubbed in English for Malaysian audiences by a group in Hong Kong called Omni Productions in the late 80's/early 90's. But that dub was ridiculously awful and (thankfully) never saw a release in North America.

[rpetras]

I'll be getting all of these!


I don't have BW on DVD, and I have never seen the Headmasters+ stuff.

Looking forward to it!