The Energon Pub

I know they already had DVD's in some countries, but not in America. Also, dang, it's been 10 years since RiD...

I guess everyone has their favorites, but I couldn't sit through an episode of RID. Guess it was geared too much towards kids (although Transformers Animated was too and I happen to think that was one of the best incarnations of the cartoon I've ever seen, so go figure...)

Dark Optimum Supreme wrote:I know they already had DVD's in some countries, but not in America. Also, dang, it's been 10 years since RiD...

Not likely, since Disney still owns it.

Sabrblade wrote:

Dark Optimum Supreme wrote:I know they already had DVD's in some countries, but not in America. Also, dang, it's been 10 years since RiD...

Not likely, since Disney still owns it.

Let me explain this a bit further. The RiD dub was done by Saban Entertainment, of Power Rangers fame, as well as importing and adapting other Japanese cartoons back in the late 80's and early 90's. In 2003, Saban went bankrupt and was subsequently bought out by Disney. Even though Saban has been re-established, they only bought the Power Rangers rights back from Disney. The rest, including the RiD dub, is still Disney property.

I did not know any of this cause I don't really follow cartoons, but I've always liked RID.

Now I'm pissed that I'll never get it cause Disney won't even think twice about it. It's just gonna sit and rot in their vault somewhere.

Think if enough of us contact Disney about it, they'll release them?

What Disney needs to do is sell it back to Hasbro so it can be released in R1 DVD format. But who knows if Disney would even bother with it at all.

Sabrblade wrote:What Disney needs to do is sell it back to Hasbro so it can be released in R1 DVD format. But who knows if Disney would even bother with it at all.

How about we make the event for the next Botcon the formation of a angry mob that will charge towards Disney to claim the RID series?

We already have Mickey and Donald on our side. They can literally transform and take us there.

I'm curious, does this ownership only apply to the dubbed RiD that was aired? Would it be possible for a different company(Shout Factory lets say) to acquire the original japanese series, CarRobots, and release it subbed? Or possibly even dubbed better?

adamassc wrote:I'm curious, does this ownership only apply to the dubbed RiD that was aired? Would it be possible for a different company(Shout Factory lets say) to acquire the original japanese series, CarRobots, and release it subbed? Or possibly even dubbed better?

Only if Hasbro owned it to begin with. The reason Shout! is able to release the three Japanese G1 series is because Hasbro acquired them. If Hasbro doesn't have RiD, they likely don't have Car Robots either (as they'd more than likely go for their version of it over Takara's version).

Though, I wouldn't mind having Car Robots subbed too, what with it being in a different world than RiD. Though, I just wish TV-Nihon would get back to subbing Car Robots already, as they've only done 8 episodes and haven't touched it in over a year.

I don't see why Disney doesn't just release it anyway. Transformers is a proven brand, and since it's just going to be a bare-bones release anyway it couldn't take that much effort to slap the episodes on a disc.

Of course, Disney also hasn't released several Marvel shows they own the rights to(I think) on DVD yet either. At least most of these shows are coming to streaming Netflix this summer(Spider-Man 90's, Amazing Friends, and 80's Solo series!! Woo!!!!!!), so could RID maybe end up there too? It's better than nothing at least.

Duke of Luns wrote:I don't see why Disney doesn't just release it anyway. Transformers is a proven brand, and since it's just going to be a bare-bones release anyway it couldn't take that much effort to slap the episodes on a disc.

Of course, Disney also hasn't released several Marvel shows they own the rights to(I think) on DVD yet either. At least most of these shows are coming to streaming Netflix this summer(Spider-Man 90's, Amazing Friends, and 80's Solo series!! Woo!!!!!!), so could RID maybe end up there too? It's better than nothing at least.

From what I remember, RiD was supposedly the least-successful series to air on American television (yes, somehow even Energon outperformed it, maybe that was due to it airing on CN), and so they don't see a profitable-enough market for it.

Or, since Transformers is still a Hasbro property, maybe Disney doesn't even know that they own it.

Amazonuk.com still has some UK Rid dvd's complete series for sale. most of them are on deep clearance sale.

most computers with DVD players installed will play all regions. most cheaply priced tiny dvd players will play all regions.

the problem with hasbro releasing Rid in america. if their allowed to. is the fact america's Rid was missing a few episodes & scenes. the UK & canada got these missing episodes/scenes.

deathy wrote:the problem with hasbro releasing Rid in america. if their allowed to. is the fact america's Rid was missing a few episodes & scenes. the UK & canada got these missing episodes/scenes.

I don't think that would be a problem as the missing scenes were due to 9/11 paranoia and parents getting weird about explosion on TV.

The DVD release would probably be the same as before the 9/11 edits.

Problem is that we have to rally the fandom to get Disney to give us the episodes.

I have always watched RiD for comic relief, never took it seriously. Though i do think most of the toys were pretty damn cool.

I'd like to get an official release, but Disney just doesn't see profit in it, even with Bayverse and Animated being so popular, or they don't even realize they've got it. Some asshole accountant probably just filed away the paperwork when they acquired Saban and never took another look at it.

I'd like to get the entire Car Robots series on DVD from Japan subbed if possible. NOT dubbed. Japanese voice actors put a lot more emotion into their work than Americans do. Except, of course, a few we know.