The Energon Pub

Does anyone know if the classic cartoons will be re-released on DVD? I looked up the oriignal release, and they seem to be out of print, poorly produced, and outrageously expensive. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

There are various versions of the original G1 cartoons released on DVD's, ranging from the Rhino editions to the Madman editions, to the Chinese Boxset versions.

Personally, I dont think you can go past the Ultimat and complete G1 set released by Madman last month, it retails for AU$119, and contains every episode from the original G1 run.

http://www.madman.com.au/transformers/

It is region 4, but any Multi region DVD player can play them.

What does G1 stand for?

Nevermind. It stands for generation one. How many generations are there?

Technically only 2, G1 and G2. And only refered to as such because the second release of the transformers was named G2. Basically the same cartoon with some new computer animation between scenes and a few new and or recolored toys to accompany it.

The other series were not refered to in this way. Often times because they were different continuities and the fans wanted to keep them seperate. Though if you want to count the US cartoons discounting G2 which wasn't unique there have been to date 7 series.

i_amtrunks wrote:There are various versions of the original G1 cartoons released on DVD's, ranging from the Rhino editions to the Madman editions, to the Chinese Boxset versions.

Personally, I dont think you can go past the Ultimat and complete G1 set released by Madman last month, it retails for AU$119, and contains every episode from the original G1 run.

http://www.madman.com.au/transformers/

It is region 4, but any Multi region DVD player can play them.

Is the Madman edition remastered like the 20th Anniversary TMTM was last year? I really liked what they did with that movie edition; all the highlights and interviews with the director, writer, movie voices.

How is the Madman better than the japanese release?

Is the china boxset good? And playable in NTSC dvd players?

Koloth wrote:Technically only 2, G1 and G2. And only refered to as such because the second release of the transformers was named G2. Basically the same cartoon with some new computer animation between scenes and a few new and or recolored toys to accompany it.

The other series were not refered to in this way. Often times because they were different continuities and the fans wanted to keep them seperate. Though if you want to count the US cartoons discounting G2 which wasn't unique there have been to date 7 series.

So, the whole animal Transformers thing is a different continuity, correct? That would be a relief to me.

Nope BW/BM is counted as part of the G1 universe. And frankly the beast era was one of the best series ever created.

Sign Of The Cross wrote:Is the Madman edition remastered like the 20th Anniversary TMTM was last year? I really liked what they did with that movie edition; all the highlights and interviews with the director, writer, movie voices.

How is the Madman better than the japanese release?

The Madman TF:TM release is one and the same as the one released in the USA late last year. Madman just held onto it until the movie was released here. Including the Scramble City episode, Stan Bush film clips, various interviews, and a bonus episode of Beast Wars.

The Big G1 boxset has various added extras, including:
- Interviews with key figures from Transformer's 20 year history
- Animated Public Service Announcements
- Historical trailers
- Scripts & storyboards
- Interview and commentary with Voice Director Wally Burr
- Television commercials
- Limited Edition Packaging
- 16 page booklet containing exclusive comic by Simon Furman

I do not know if it is superior to the Japanese set, as I have never seen it, let alone watched it, all I know is that the Madman version is superior to the Rhino collections, and even Madman's own individual season boxsets.

The Madman complete boxset only contains the 98 episodes from the 4 Original G1 seasons, finishing with "Rebirth Part 3". It does not include the Japanese only Super God Masterforce, Headmasters, Victory or Zone series.

SnipeShade wrote:Is the china boxset good? And playable in NTSC dvd players?

Ive heard that the Chinese Boxset is good, not the greatest though. I cannot recall anyone ever complaining about the quality or the price of the set, although some have complained about long postage times/not getting it, but that is a risk with any ebay purchase. I am not sure about the region for the chinese set, but most DVD players these days are either already multi-region, or can be made multi region very easily.

Jedidz23 wrote:So, the whole animal Transformers thing is a different continuity, correct? That would be a relief to me.

Beast Wars and Beast Machines are set after the end of the original G1 series. About 300 years after the original G1 series to be exact. As Koloth said, they are 2 of the better series in the Transformers history, especially Beast Wars.

After Beast Machines, the next 2 series RID and Armada were reboots, RID is its own show, while Energon continued on with the same characters and settings as Armada. Cybertron was another reboot, as is the upcoming animated show.

So the Austrailian version would work perfectly with american dvd players? I heard the PAL thing can be wierd. I usually watch DVDs on my laptop anyways, but I worried about the quality for my tv.

SnipeShade wrote:So the Austrailian version would work perfectly with american dvd players? I heard the PAL thing can be wierd. I usually watch DVDs on my laptop anyways, but I worried about the quality for my tv.

PAL (rest of the world) does not play on NTSC (American) DVD players. However some will play them, albiet with problems, including the colour being wrong, and the frame rate making things seem off (as there is a 1 frame a second difference).
There is actually no damage done to your DVD payer or Television set by playing a PAL DVD in an NTSC only DVD player.

Also many newer television sets come with settings to choose what display system to use, changing it from NTSC to PAL would fix the colour issues.

If you have a multi region DVD player there will be no issues, many newer DVD players are multi-regional, or need only a certain code to be entered in order to be made multi regional. Your laptop would play them fine.

does anyone have any info about these sites and the box sets offered on them??

http://www.allmyfavoriteshows.com/movie ... rmers.html

or this one

http://www.tvboxset.com/index.php?main_ ... OAod03UO0Q

i_amtrunks wrote:Beast Wars and Beast Machines are set after the end of the original G1 series. About 300 years after the original G1 series to be exact. As Koloth said, they are 2 of the better series in the Transformers history, especially Beast Wars.

After Beast Machines, the next 2 series RID and Armada were reboots, RID is its own show, while Energon continued on with the same characters and settings as Armada. Cybertron was another reboot, as is the upcoming animated show.

Wow! Thanks for the help i_amtrunks. You have provided me with information that I have been curious about for years.

Does RID stand for robots in disguise? I have not heard of RID or Armada, and I'm hazzy on Energon as well. Thanks again for all of your wisdom!

Yes RiD is the abreviation for Robots in Disguise. Also known as Car Robots.

Armada, Energon, and Cybertron are often refered to as the Unicron trilogy. Because they all dealt with Unicron and the aftermath. Though in varieing ways. I don't know that I would call Cybertron a reboot really. All three series in the Unicron trilogy did things a bit different and of course had unique character designs. But they in general dealt with the same primary plot device. But then again the US version of Cybertron was different from what the Japanesse version originally intended. Linking it superficially to Armada and Energon.

jedidz23 wrote:Wow! Thanks for the help i_amtrunks. You have provided me with information that I have been curious about for years.

Does RID stand for robots in disguise? I have not heard of RID or Armada, and I'm hazzy on Energon as well. Thanks again for all of your wisdom!

I wouldn't call it wisdom, not by a long shot. In this day and age, getting somewhat reliable info is not that hard at all.

Koloth wrote:Armada, Energon, and Cybertron are often refered to as the Unicron trilogy. Because they all dealt with Unicron and the aftermath. Though in varieing ways. I don't know that I would call Cybertron a reboot really. All three series in the Unicron trilogy did things a bit different and of course had unique character designs. But they in general dealt with the same primary plot device. But then again the US version of Cybertron was different from what the Japanesse version originally intended. Linking it superficially to Armada and Energon.

I call Cybertron a reboot, mainly because it is easier to understand the series if you take it in the context that it is a stand alone series, and to ignore the Hasbro continuity issues, than it is to understand the series in the way Hasbro wanted us to.

Wont get an argument with me about the central plot devices, although Cybertron and Armada have more in common with the "collecting artefacts" sub-plots than Energon ever did.

Was the Unicron trilogy aired in the U.S.? I don't remember anything about these. I'm lame, I know.

Thanks for the info bud.

It was a Cartoon Network only series. Not seen on broadcast TV. Not to mention most of the episodes aired at the god awful 5 am hour.

Koloth wrote:It was a Cartoon Network only series. Not seen on broadcast TV. Not to mention most of the episodes aired at the god awful 5 am hour.

Glad you could answer that one Koloth, Im from Australia, so I had no idea who/what/when/where any of the "trilogy" were aired in the USA.

Im not even sure about the DVD situation of the trilogy in the USA, In Australia, Armada was released in full, though in very few numbers, Energon has had 2 DVD releases and Cybertron 1.

The DVD situation is about the same. We have the two box Rhino release of Armada. And Energon and Cybertron seems to be suffering under the sony contracts. I just wish we could get RiD and the rest of the trilogy in boxsets.