New DVD Edition of TFTM (and Headmasters)

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 12:26 am

In all honesty, I don't think that it would be possible to give fans anything better than these. Short of reassembling the original G1 cartoon cast for a new dub, there is simply nothing that could be better about these releases.

"'Transformers The Movie - Reconstructed' will be released on 29th August 2005. We're going back to the original picture negative and doing a brand new telecine. It will be 16:9 Widesceen Anamorphic, but will have curtains as the viewable image is 1.33:1 and 1.78:1 and it changes scene by scene. We wanted to give the fans the maximum possible Transformer image. Everything the laminators drew will be visible and this will be the first time anyone, anywhere would have seen the whole movie in its original form. It should be quite something".

"There is no convenient way to refer to this non-standard format of film transfer. However the process we applied can be described thus:

35mm film has a native aspect ratio of 1.33:1.

This particular 35mm negative had been shot by several different animators using various size gates, therefore the framing is inconsistent.

In order to respect the full film frame and place it within the wide screen video format of 16:9, the telecine was set-up to create an anamorphic transfer which results in a side curtained 1.33 image within a 1.78 ratio.

Due to the inconsistent framing within the negative the image size changes from shot to shot.

The resulting master preserves the entire field of potential viewable negative."

"'Transformers Takara Headmasters' will be released in a 4 disc box set on 26th September. This will have brand new English subtitles and the original English dub so you can watch it in whatever way you want."

Metrodome has also informed us that both Takara Headmasters and Transformers: The Movie - Reconstructed will be Region 0 releases. This means there are NO region codes on them and you will be able to play them on any DVD-player!Source: Metrodome Group

So, let's see what we've got here. For the first time EVER, we're going to see the full picture for TFTM. In order to do this, Metrodome is releasing a DVD in a format that (to my knowledge) has never been attempted before. AND, to make things even better, they're releasing it as a Region Zero disc (which, I believe is unheard of in "legitimate" DVD releases) so that everyone on earth can enjoy (and, of course, buy) them.

Bravo, Metrodome. Bravo!

Post by **Denyer** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 1:00 am

which, I believe is unheard of in "legitimate" DVD releases

It's reasonably common (esp. on lower budget stuff) over here, and there are also lots of multi-region DVDs (region 2+4 being a popular combination.)

They're going about it in the right way; maximum sales potential for something that's going to appeal primarily to film buffs and TF fans.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 1:22 am

Wow ive wanted this for along time TF:M re-mastered that is in wide-screen.

Wicked!

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 9:15 am

Re: the movie - will the image area noticably change throughout viewing then?

Re: Headmasters - bloody brilliant and about time. Though I suppose there's no chance of the likes of David Kaye and Gary Chalk being involved?

Post by **Kaylee** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 9:39 am

Throw enough money at them and they will I'm sure but that would also involve hiring a new translator and writer to not only translate whats going on but also to lipsynch it and to make it sound half reasonable as dialogue. It probably costs a small fortune just to do what they did on Energon and Armada and think how well that dubbing turned out

Movie sounds very very exciting- I'll wait and see if its genuinely anythign new before I worry about ordering it tho.

Predabot · Post by **Predabot** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 3:00 pm

This does sound absolutely smashin'. The way of region Zero is the way of the future, it just makes everything so mucho simpler for everyone involved.

Too bad so many of us humans are too greedy to realize it..

Now that Spideys mentioned it, how will this change the way the frames look like when they're played? And will Professor Smooth be able to spot all of the new fotage?

Post by **Kaylee** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 3:31 pm

On the subject of Region 0, the developer of the Linux DVD player libraries recently won his court battle. Some entities in the industry had taken him to court, because Linux or any system using the libraries can read any DVD regardless of region encoding.

Hence with that battle won, and such multiregion players available free (such as Videolan for windows) perfectly legally I can't help but think the days of region-static DVDs are drawing to a close. Might take a couple of years tho.

Post by **Denyer** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 4:43 pm

spiderfrommars wrote:Re: Headmasters - bloody brilliant and about time. Though I suppose there's no chance of the likes of David Kaye and Gary Chalk being involved?

It's gonna be subbed.

http://tfarchive.com/community/showthre ... adid=30585

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 10:51 pm

Ah.

Cool.

Does this mean no more Billy?

veritech · Post by **veritech** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 11:54 pm

Okay, so it will be region 0 . . . and that is cool, but where will it be released? Will it have a US release or will we have to seek it out on Ebay?

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 12:00 am

veritech wrote:Okay, so it will be region 0 . . . and that is cool, but where will it be released? Will it have a US release or will we have to seek it out on Ebay?

We'll have to seek it out on Ebay. Chances are, most online retailers will also stock this. I can't imagine you'll have trouble getting them.

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 11:20 am

spiderfrommars wrote:Ah. Cool.

Does this mean no more Billy?

If you want Billy, you can have Billy! If you want Burooadokastu, with Blaster written on't screen, you can have dat. w00ty.

Doesn't change the fact that Headmasters is awful, tho.

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 1:26 pm

Looks pretty tho.

Dead Head · Post by **Dead Head** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 1:56 pm

How many different DVD releases (across all the regions) of TF:TM have there been? It seems to be an awful lot, if I recall correctly.

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 3:52 pm

Thus far on DVD there have been:

The original Canadian release with no special features. The US release with a couple of special features. The UK version with a boatload of special features.

There is also an HK version, a Chinese version, and at least one Japanese release.

As far as versions of the movie go:

The US release theatrical release (this is the version that's on DVD right now in the US and Canada)

The US home video release (same as the above version, but it edited out Spike's curse word).

The US "Season 5" version (cut into episode sized pieces and featuring bumps using Powermaster Prime and Tommy, this removed Spike's cursing as well as Ultra Magnus' bold use of the word "damn")

The UK release (Star Wars style scrolling text in place of the opening credits narrated by Victor, removed Spike's cursing, and added the "Prime will Return" line. This was the version originally released by Rhino in the US)

The Japanese version (same as the UK release but has no narration over the opening credits. It's also called "Matrix Forever" instead of simply "The Transformers: The Movie).

The movie's also been dubbed into French, Dutch, and German. I believe that all of these feature the Star Wars style text.

Post by **Best First** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 4:30 pm

is this one going to have footage of the last Transforce on it?

if so i may feature... gah!

Post by **Denyer** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 5:01 pm

Professor Smooth wrote:The UK release (Star Wars style scrolling text in place of the opening credits narrated by Victor, removed Spike's cursing, and added the "Prime will Return" line. This was the version originally released by Rhino in the US)

Partly correct—Maverick used a mix of material, including an art gallery with a looped song remix featuring the "oh sh*t, what are we gonna do now" line. The Maverick release also isn't censored in the main movie as far as I recall (ie, the line has been spliced back in) although I did fob my copy off on someone else.

The standard UK version (released later, in at least a couple of covers) is from Prism—no special features, no 'remastering' to the print or audio. I much prefer it, as the music isn't muted into the background, the print isn't over-saturated, and it doesn't have that bloody "I love 1984" G2 segment at the start. Doesn't have Spike's line either; it's just like the original VHS release.

Hound · Post by **Hound** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 11:16 pm

Brendocon wrote:
spiderfrommars wrote:Ah. Cool.

Does this mean no more Billy?

Doesn't change the fact that Headmasters is awful, tho.

I have really enjoyed what I have seen of Headmasters so far. Its better than the other seasons we have had (not saying much!) . I just hope this enjoyment isnt down to the comedy dubbing!

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 2:05 am

I just think its great seeing G1 characters in such tip top animation.

Kup_1 · Post by **Kup_1** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 3:57 am

I'm just happy to get it in widescreen.

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 9:40 am

spiderfrommars wrote:I just think its great seeing G1 characters in such tip top animation.

Yeah, wall-to-wall well-animated Wheelie is just so fabby.

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 7:58 pm

Kup_1 wrote:I'm just happy to get it in widescreen.

It's not exactly going to be in widescreen. Certain scenes may be, but the aspect ratio is going to be all over the place. The movie was never intended to be a widescreen release. Like most cartoon features of the time, after a small theatrical release, the movie would be seen mostly on television and video cassette. For TFTM's theatrical release, the top and bottom portions of the picture were covered. For its home video release, it was panned and scanned from the available picture. For this release, the entire picture will be shown, but that means the ratio will shift between widescreen, fullscreen, and other such screen-modes. While for hardcore fans (who already have the DVD, presumably) this is phenominal. For more casual fans, it might be a bit disorienting.

Post by **Best First** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 9:37 pm

seeing as it has been released several times already i don't think they need to be too worried about the more casual fans

Autobloke · Post by **Autobloke** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 6:15 pm

Predabot wrote:spot all of the new fotage?

Don't you mean 'frottage'?

I just hope the aspect changes aren't as annoying as the G2 redo of the old G1 cartoon.
Also, I have two different releases of the 'no extras' DVD, with different covers and disc printing. Can't remember if they were both Prism Leisure though. I also quite liked the fond rememberences of the 1984 stuff. I just hope we have loads of extras too. Like a commentary or something. They should get Marvel to reprint the comic adaptation and include that as well - either as a in-case mini book or in digital form.

Lanowar · Post by **Lanowar** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 7:38 pm

I personally cannot wait I know some of the people helping on the DVD hell at Transforce I somehow ended up selling DVD's on Metrodome staff, people were asking me questions and I was like.

"I don't work here!!!

yea its very much a 'you should have been there' moment, anyway I believe after Headmasters is Masterforce and Victory
(please no duh's...alright I'll allow one)

I know there's no plans for the japanese beast wars series, since I think they would go under Universal's Beast Wars license anyway even then there not that good espically Beast Wars Neo.

Anyway I am getting off the point which is, WOOH! cant wait for these DVD's