The Energon Pub

Seibertron wrote:I've always assumed that the Beast Wars cartoon was very expensive, which is why it could only do 52 episodes over 3 years whereas they went with cheaper animation for the Unicron Trilogy, but were able to produce 52 episodes for one season (basically 3 times as many episodes for the same time period). I'm assuming that this approach was to allow more characters to be featured instead of having a smaller cast of characters which means less products featured.

Interesting theory.

On another note, regardless of CGI, there's a lot of anime out there that tend to run for 52 episodes, as that's something of a standard procedure for anime in general, with story arcs that run either 13 or 26 episodes in length. Formats of four 13-episode arcs or two 26-episode arcs, bringing the total episode count to 52, seem to be quite popular choices for anime companies.

Whereas Beast Wars's 52-episode length was something of happy coincidence since they made each season with an uncertainty of whether they'd get another season or not, and the decision to end the show happened to fall in late in the development for season 3, explaining the rather quick feeling of the last three episodes (like introducing and then quickly killing off Tigerhawk after they'd just introduced Megatron's new dragon form).

Sabrblade wrote:

Seibertron wrote:
Beast Wars II
Beast Wars Neo)

I think our best hope for ever seeing these two officially released in subtitled DVD form would be to generate enough interest and desire for them since anyone whose ever been willing to watch them, or even subtitle them unofficially, lost interest in them over time for how silly and childish they were. I myself would even just be happy if some unofficial fansubbing group could get them subbed all the way through, as has happened for the likes of Super Link and Galaxy Force.

Yeah, I can see why fansubbers gave up. Somewhat recently both Beast Wars II and Neo were uploaded to youtube in raw japanese with slightly out of sync sound. And since I have always wanted to see them, I've been watching them....slowly. I've seen all of II and I'm up to 20 on Neo.

II has very uneven animation and was definitely made to shill toys. Every few episodes a new character, upgrade, or gadget was introduced, and there was a lot of fighting, and several useless clip shows. Still it was at least visually entertaining to watch, nice to see certain toys animated(even in different colors), and there was that episode the Tripledacus bots kidnapped Scylla for Bighorn so he could show her a romantic evening (or something like that, it was silly ).

Neo on the other hand has been a bore, at least the first 14 eps. Art style is consistent and looks good, but there's not a lot of movement or animation and battles aren't exciting. It's at least improved after Mach Kick was introduced and the new toy an episode trend makes the Anglomois capsule collect a plot more entertaining visually.

Despite these flaws I DO want to see these shows dubbed because I know I'm missing something and they are half decent.

....and drat for the double post.

Same here. I hope Shout Factory picks those up. I'd pick them up in a heartbeat just to get to see what I missed.

Really, it's the same story with Headmasters and the rest of the G1 lot. Even though it doesn't quite have the charm of the G1 series, you want to 'finish the story.'

Duke of Luns wrote:Despite these flaws I DO want to see these shows dubbed because I know I'm missing something and they are half decent.

No dubs for me, please. Gimme subs so I can see the shows how they were made to be.

They always give both options on audio. I'd certainly welcome a dub AND a sub. Sometimes it's nice to be able to relax and not read the bottom of the screen.

gothsaurus wrote:They always give both options on audio. I'd certainly welcome a dub AND a sub. Sometimes it's nice to be able to relax and not read the bottom of the screen.

True, but considering how Hasbro was unwilling to dub the JG1 series (or include the Omni dub) for their Shout! Factory DVD releases, I just don't see dubs happening for these.

And frankly, I wouldn't want to see what kind of continuity changes they'd make to these in a dub of them since I wanna see them as how they fit for the continuity they were made for, not some Americanized version that would more than likely botch that up.

Sabrblade wrote:

gothsaurus wrote:They always give both options on audio. I'd certainly welcome a dub AND a sub. Sometimes it's nice to be able to relax and not read the bottom of the screen.

True, but considering how Hasbro was unwilling to dub the JG1 series (or include the Omni dub) for their Shout! Factory DVD releases, I just don't see dubs happening for these.

And frankly, I wouldn't want to see what kind of continuity changes they'd make to these in a dub of them since I wanna see them as how they fit for the continuity they were made for, not some Americanized version that would more than likely botch that up.

Whoops, I meant sub!

Anyway I don't mind Americanization too much, and even subbed there would bound to be some, like with the Takara Trilogy. I think they stuck some Cybertronian slang a la Beast Wars in occasionally and I just kinda took it as was. It may not have been 100% accurate but if it helps to bring in a wider audiance so be it.

However the name translations lacked consistency. I think all Japanese names would have fit better with Masterforce and Victory since they were clearly not in tune with Hasbro's versions of those characters/toys.

There was a humerous(to me) translation error in Masterforce: When [Squeezeplay] (proper Japanese name escapes me) was captured he kicks a glass in Minerva's hand, making her bleed. Metalhawk's reaction upon seeing this: BOMBBURST!

(Bombburst's Japanese name is Blood, if anyone doesn't know).

Less humerous was the Brainmasters of Victory: Blacker=Gripper(usually), and Laster and Braver kept their respective names...till about halfway through. Then they changed their names to Lightspeed and Flame. And then back to Laster and Braver a couple times. Consistent ain't they .

Duke of Luns wrote:Anyway I don't mind Americanization too much, and even subbed there would bound to be some, like with the Takara Trilogy. I think they stuck some Cybertronian slang a la Beast Wars in occasionally and I just kinda took it as was. It may not have been 100% accurate but if it helps to bring in a wider audiance so be it.

However the name translations lacked consistency. I think all Japanese names would have fit better with Masterforce and Victory since they were clearly not in tune with Hasbro's versions of those characters/toys.

There was a humerous(to me) translation error in Masterforce: When [Squeezeplay] (proper Japanese name escapes me) was captured he kicks a glass in Minerva's hand, making her bleed. Metalhawk's reaction upon seeing this: BOMBBURST!

(Bombburst's Japanese name is Blood, if anyone doesn't know).

Less humerous was the Brainmasters of Victory: Blacker=Gripper(usually), and Laster and Braver kept their respective names...till about halfway through. Then they changed their names to Lightspeed and Flame. And then back to Laster and Braver a couple times. Consistent ain't they .

All this is exactly why I'm glad I didn't buy the Shout! Factory DVDs and glad that I already own the Metrodome DVDs from the UK and the TV-Nihon fansubs (which were actually used as the original subtitle sources for all DVD releases of Masterforce and Victory), as there was none of that translation nonsense in either the UK DVDs or the fansubs.

BTW, the guy that the subs called "Squeezeplay" is named Cancer, one of my favorite Masterforce Decepticons.

And really, when the Shout! Factory subs commit such stupidity as subbing Chokon Power as "Energon" (thus negating the entire point of Chokon Power in the first place ), there's little reason I can see for me to buy them.

Sabrblade wrote:BTW, the guy that the subs called "Squeezeplay" is named Cancer, one of my favorite Masterforce Decepticons.

Ah, Cancer, of course! Can't believe the name slipped my mind.