The Energon Pub

Hi there everyone!

My 4 year old son is totally addicted to Transformers and watches the new films back to back time after time !!

I remember as a kid watching the Transformers cartoons on tv.So i am thinking of getting him into watching these.....

But would like to do it so he gets the best out of it....So would like to get him started with the very first series from the very first episode and work our way though...

Could tell me if this is : Possible
: What the first series was called
: And where i could watch/download(for free)
: Or Buy dvds
Many Thanks

The very first Transformers series was called "The Transformers", but is nowadays more known by its retroactive name "Generation 1". It has been recently rereleased on DVD by Shout! Factory, split up into four DVD sets or one single 16-disc set. You can purchase them at places that sell DVDs like Target/Wal-Mart/Best Buy/etc., as well as online stores. Here's Amazon.com's listings of them:

• The Transformers — The Complete First Season: 25th Anniversary Edition
• The Transformers — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition
• The Transformers — Season Two, Volume Two: 25th Anniversary Edition
• The Transformers — Seasons Three & Four: 25th Anniversary Edition
• The Transformers — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection

The original 1986 movie was also rereleased back in 2006 by Sony BMG.

• The Transformers: The Movie 20th Anniversary Special Edition

Though, there have been many other Transformers cartoons to come after the original 1984-1987 cartoon, most of which have also had DVD releases.


In 1996-1999, a new cartoon came out in the form of Beast Wars: Transformers. This series featured computer-generated animation and a cast of characters who all turned into animals instead of vehicles. Plus, it is widely regarded to be one of (if not the) BEST Transformers series ever produced, in terms of storytelling, plot development, character development, and overall competence and quality.

It received a DVD release split across three boxed sets several years ago, but these sets are now discontinued. However, recent news reports that it may receive a DVD rereleased sometime in the coming future. For now, here are the old releases.

• Beast Wars: Transformers — The Complete First Season
• Beast Wars: Transformers — The Complete Second Season
• Beast Wars: Transformers — The Complete Third Season

After Beast Wars came its sequel in 2000, Beast Machines: Transformers. This series was dark, mature, and very philosophical. It dealt with such controversial topics as "harmony vs. extremism", "the needs of one vs. the needs of many", "conflict and inequality in a free society", "free will vs. totalitarianism", and "religious faith in a higher order". And yet, it was still viewed as a kids show.

It too was put on DVD years ago (in a single boxed set), which has also been discontinued. Though, it too may be subject for a rerelease.

• Beast Machines: Transformers — The Complete Series

After Beast Machines came a more light-hearted, comedic series in 2001 called Transformers: Robots in Disguise (or "RiD" for short). This was the first Japanese Transformers cartoon to be dubbed into English and proved fairly well with its target audience. Though, it wasn't a hit series, it did fill in the necessary gap of time to create a brand new series from the ground up the following year.

However, due to some ownership conflicts, RiD has not ever received a DVD release in the United States. It has, however, been released on DVD in European markets, but none in the United States. However, if you really want to watch this series, this playlist has every episode uploaded to watch on YouTube.

• Transformers Robots in Disguise (RiD) Episode 1-39

In 2002-2003, a brand new series launched a multi-year trilogy of shows known as the "Unicron Trilogy". The first of these was Transformers: Armada, which featured the Autobots and Decepticons fighting over a third, smaller group of robots called "Mini-Cons", going in a very "Pokemon-like" route of having them fight to collect them all. Whoever controls the Mini-Cons controls their power and determines their fate (the Autobots want to liberate the Mini-Cons, while the Decepticons want to use the Mini-Cons as weapons).

Towards the end of the series, the story changed to reintroduce the most evil of all Transformers: the planet-sized monster Unicron, whom the Autobots, Decepticons, and Mini-Cons all had to team up against.

This series was released in two DVD boxed sets.

Transformers: Armada — Season One: Part One
Transformers: Armada — Season One: Part Two

The second of the trilogy came in 2004, called Transformers: Energon. This series was made to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the series as a whole (1984-2004), and so featured a lot of characters designed to resemble characters from the original series (though, they weren't the same people, they just looked kinda like them). The cartoon itself, however, was very mixed in regards to how good it was (or rather, how lame it was). But, it's best left for one to make their own opinion about it by seeing it for himself.

It was released in a single DVD boxed set.

• Transformers: Energon — The Ultimate Collection

The last of the trilogy was 2005's Transformers: Cybertron. It wasn't originally intended to be part of this trilogy, and thus featured several differences in its story from the first two series. However, it's still counted offically as part of this trilogy despite these differences. It dealt with the Autobots and Decepticons fighting to locate four powerful keys that could awaken their creator, Primus, and stop a black hole from destroying the universe.

It had its own single DVD boxed set release too.

• Transformers: Cybertron — The Ultimate Collection

Then came the first live action Transformers movie in 2007, which I'm sure you're already familiar with, so moving on.


In 2008-2009 came a new cartoon called Transformers Animated. It ran for three seasons and began with its own TV movie special. It featured a rather kiddy and cartoon art style, but also quality of storytelling and character development not seen since the days of Beast Wars. At times, it could be serious and mature, and other times, it could be light-hearted and comedic. It was an overall very good, very underrated, and very short-lived series that had the potential to become something great.

It had three DVD releases: the TV special, season 1, and season 2. However, there has been no DVD release of its third and final season. The reasons for this aren't quite clearly known.

• Transformers Animated — Transform and Roll Out
• Transformers Animated — Season One
• Transformers Animated — Season Two

Then in 2009 came the second live action movie, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, which, again, I take that you're familiar with.


Most recently, a brand new cartoon series, Transformers: Prime, has started airing on the Hub (formerly the Discovery Kids Channel). This series features a darker atmosphere like the movies and Beast Machines had, and is done completely in computer-generated animation (again, like Beast Wars and Beast Machines). It has so far aired five episodes in a mini-series called "Darkness Rising" and will begin to air more brand new episodes staring Friday, February 11, 2011 (tomorrow evening).

Since it's only just started going, it's too early for this to be given a DVD release yet.


And coming soon in 2011 is the third live action movie Transformers: Dark of the Moon, which is set for the theatrical release of July, 1, 2011.


But this is only the American stuff. There's a LOT more to experience in the form of several Japanese series, as well as the non-cartoon stuff like the many comic book series, novels, video games, manga (A.K.A. Japanese comics), short stories, and TONS of merchandise and memorabilia.

Yeah, sabrblade gave you a really nice summary there, follow it. Some series are not as good as others, but you should let your son experience all of them, and you should probably watch it along with him for some great father-son time. But don't try to do it all at once, you don't want to get burned out. Good luck!

Me and my 5 year old daughter watch them together, she loves the 1986 movie and the G1 series, I would sugest watch them from G1 season 1 and go from there,

Thanks for you help guys !
Massive Thanks to Sabrblade(Legend) !!!

Just one more quick question....I live in the UK and can only find the dvds listed in the US.So I will not be able to play them here in the Uk.Does anyone know a way round this or anyone that sells dvds that lives in the US that will play in the UK???
Thanks

Just had some free time on my hands!! And got myself a Multi Region dvd player!!
JOB DONE

Once Again THANKS

In the UK, you say? Alrighty then! Here are the (most recent) UK releases!

The Transformers (Generation 1) (1984-1987)

• Transformers — Season One
• Transformers — Season Two: Part One
• Transformers — Season Two: Part Two
• Transformers — Season's Three & Four

The Transformers: The Movie (1986)

• Transformers: The Movie — Ultimate Edition

Beast Wars: Transformers (1996-1999)
Sadly, no complete DVD sets have been released in the UK. Only two DVDs with some select few random episodes. So, the U.S. DVDs (old or upcoming) will have to suffice, OR you can watch them on YouTube. The following playlists have completed the series:

• Beast Wars: Season 1 [HD]
• Beast Wars: Season 2 [HD]
• Beast Wars: Season 3 [HD]

Beast Machines: Transformers (2000-2001)

• Transformers: Beast Machines — Complete Season One
• Transformers: Beast Machines — Complete Season Two

Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001-2002)

• Transformers: Robots in Disguise — Season One
• Transformers: Robots in Disguise — Season Two

Transformers: Armada (2002-2003)
Like Beast Wars, this series wasn't given a complete UK DVD release. It had a bunch of DVDs, but all of which only had a few (or in one case, a bunch of) random episodes. Either go for the U.S. DVDs, OR watch on YouTube via the following playlist:

• Transformers Armada

Transformers: Energon (2004-2005)
Unlike Beast Wars and Armada (which had select few DVD episodes), this series had zero UK DVD releases of any kind. Again, U.S. DVDs or YouTube:

• Transformers Energon (note, this playlist is missing both the opening titles for each episode, and the second half of episode 35, both of which I've included below)
• Transformers Opening Titles: Energon
• Transformers Energon: episode 35(part 2)

Transformers: Cybertron (2005-2006)
This series had the same case as Energon: no UK DVDs. Likewise, U.S. DVDs or YouTube:

• Transformers Cybertron in HD

Transformers Animated (2008-2009)
Several DVD volumes were released, but they only covered seasons 1 and 2 (including the TV special). Like the U.S., no season 3 DVDs came out.

• Transformers Animated — Transform and Roll Out
• Transformers Animated — Volume One: Blast from the Past
• Transformers Animated — Volume Two: Lost and Found
• Transformers Animated — Volume Three: Megatron Rising
• Transformers Animated — Volume Four: Mission Accomplished
• Transformers Animated — Volume Five: Fistful of Energon
• Transformers Animated — Volume Six: Black Friday

Here's a YouTube playlist of season 3

• Transformers Animated Season 3

Transformers: Prime (2011-Present)
While it's already started airing in the U.S., according to this information, it'll start airing in the UK in the summer of 2011. Otherwise, its first five episodes are already on YouTube (with episode 6 airing on TV in the U.S. tonight, so it'll likely be put on YouTube eventually afterward too).


Hope that helps.

Sabrblade What can i say...You da the MAN !!!

My Son has you to thank...His first box set is on it way....With many more to follow.. THANK YOU

Well, there is one thing I left out. The UK also received DVD sets of three more series that the U.s. did not get. I left these three out because I wasn't sure if you'd be interested in them... because they aren't in English.

Back in 1987, after the first Transformers cartoon ended, Japan was still craving more Transformers cartoons, and so created their own. From 1987 to 1990, three more cartoons were created in Japan that were never given an official release in the English language-speaking countries of the Western World. They were called Transformers: The Headmasters, Transformers: Chōjin Masterforce (A.K.A. Transformers: Super-God Masterforce), and Transformers: Victory.

However, many years later, these three were actually put on DVD in the UK (but not in the U.S.) with English subtitles. Yes, they are Transformers cartoons with Japanese language audio and English subtitles. There is no English language audio track because they were not dubbed into English.

Well, okay, that last part is a bit of a fib. These three were dubbed into English by a Mayalsian studio called Omni Productions... but the quality of these English versions is PAINFULLY AWFUL!!! The Japanese language versions are the true versions of these stories, whereas the English versions of these have been botched up and mangled into something worth less than a drinking game.

As for what these series are about, The Headmasters serves as an alternative to the fourth season of the original Generation 1 cartoon, following up after its third season finale and ignoring the three-part "The Rebirth" episodes of the G1 cartoon. Its UK DVD set includes the awful English dub as an extra.

Masterforce plays out like a standalone series, but does make a few minor nods to the previous series. It feautres an entirely new cast of characters based off the toys sold in 1988. It also features a guy who look exactly like Optimus Prime, but is NOT Optimus Prime. He is an entirely different and new character who only looks like Optimus.

Victory was a basic, formulaic series that played out similar to the G1 cartoon, with each episode being a standalone story that eventually all tied together in the end. It wasn't much of anything special, just an honest, friendly, Saturday morning cartoon-styled story.

When all three of their UK DVD sets were put together in one boxed set, there was one more thing included in this box set not included in any of the individual sets: the single episode of the final late-1980/early-1990s Japanese Transformers cartoon: Transformers: Zone. This was pretty much a sequel to the Victory series, but was cancelled after one episode.

Here are their UK DVD releases:

• The Takara Collection Vol 1 — Transformers: Headmasters
• The Takara Collection Vol 2 — Transformers: Super-God Masterforce
• The Takara Collection Vol 3 — Transformers: Victory
• Transformers — The Complete Takara Collection (this one includes the Zone episode)

It is highly recommended to read the little booklets included each set, as they help to provide a better understanding of these series in regards to their relationships with the American G1 cartoon.

I say to watch Transformers Prime since the next season going to start.

My boy's just two and a half, but he absolutely adores Transformers (just like his old man). I started him off with the movie just to test the water, he was hooked instantly and now we are slowly working through the rest of my TF DVD collection, starting with G1 series one.

We to live in the UK, I tend to find the DVDs are still readily available. I got mine brand new from HMV when they were first released, so I paid an absolute bloody fortune. However you can still get them on Amazon or eBay either new or used for a fraction of the cost I ended up paying.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_nos ... ers+g1+dvd

My boy's just two and a half, but he absolutely adores Transformers (just like his old man). I started him off with the movie just to test the water, he was hooked instantly and now we are slowly working through the rest of my TF DVD collection, starting with G1 series one.

We to live in the UK, I tend to find the DVDs are still readily available. I got mine brand new from HMV when they were first released, so I paid an absolute bloody fortune. However you can still get them on Amazon or eBay either new or used for a fraction of the cost I ended up paying.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_ ... vd+cartoon