Transformers: The Headmasters Marathon

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Sun May 08, 2011 10:33 am

I'll admit it. All Hail Megatron really left a bad taste in my mouth. I tried to step away for a bit. I watched Revenge of the Fallen and then read Rising Storm. So, at the moment, I'd rather pitch at tent in Fukushima's evacuation zone than open up another IDW book. The feeling will pass (Maximum Dinobots is next on my list), but at the moment, I feel my Transformers habit will be better fueled by some material of the animated persuasion. Since I already Marathon'd Animated, I'm doing Headmasters. I'm going off the Metrodome release. I've never watched this series in Japanese w/ subtitles before. Watched it in "English." And watched it raw. But this'll be the first time w/ subtitles.

Wish me luck!

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Sun May 08, 2011 10:41 am

With all due respect to Metrodome, a company that has given English-speaking Transformers fans something they've been asking for since the late 80's, and at prices that are absolutely more than reasonable (I paid more for for 8th generation VHS bootlegs than I did for the imported version of this beautiful DVD collection):

These subtitles: ****ING SUCK!

Not because they're not an accurate representation of what's actually being said. (They're not)

Not because they substitute the English names for the original Japanese. (They do, but I'm cool with that.)

Not because some lines aren't translated AT ALL (what's up with that?)

But because the "translation" seems to be nothing more than a guess at what's being said, okay'd by somebody with less fluency in Japanese than me. And believe me, this is something I know about. I've had plenty of people ask me, "am I translating this correctly?" and rather than really give two ****s, I've just gone, "Oh? What? Yeah. That's fine."

The video quality is great, though. It looks exactly how it would have on mid 80's Japanese televisions.

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Sun May 08, 2011 11:05 am

Four Warriors Come Out of the Sky:

Very nice introduction. Even if you've seen The Rebirth, there are a few nods that you'll appreciate.

Galvatron, a bunch of familiar faces, and some new "Headmasters" are trying to take control of Vector Sigma. Their efforts are hindered by Optimus Prime, a bunch of familiar faces, and four warriors who fall from the sky (having been transported by the "mysterious battleship: Maximus."

The animation is a great mixture of G1 character models with a more "anime-ish" approach.

Remember how some people (ok, probably one person with multiple accounts) said that criticizing Pat Lee was racist, because he just approached Transformers with a more Japanese style?

First off, Pat Lee is NOT of Japanese decent. So, that's out the window.

Next, this show proves that you can do "anime Transformers" without dull surprise, excessive squats, improbable cracks, Alex Milne, and giant tits (and, for once, I don't mean Pat, himself).

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Sun May 08, 2011 11:14 am

The idea of a combiner (one small part being made up of a SPACE SHUTTLE) firing a tiny little pistol in battle is kind of funny.

Say what you will about Michael Bay's Devastator, but...

What's that? There's a lot you want to say about it?

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Ok, the fact that it LITERALLY sucked...

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Yes, apparently it's major attack winds up being it's ultimate downfall...
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Ok, yes. The toy was kind of overpriced...

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I don't know. Okay? I don't know why the tank was also Devastator.

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OKAY! OKAY! OKAY! Enough already!

What was I saying, again? Oh, yeah. He didn't just stand there and shoot a tiny little pistol at the Autobots.

What?

You've got something to say about those particular Autobots?

Skids and Mudflap?

Okay. I'll wait.

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Sun May 08, 2011 11:16 am

I completely forgot that "Mysterious battleship: Maximus" takes out EVERY Decepticon combiner in 2 seconds! HAHAHA!

Takara: The toy is 100 pounds! BUY IT!

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Sun May 08, 2011 11:18 am

Galvatron can't hit "Mysterious Battleship: Maximus," really? He misses a city-sized thing floating in the air?!?!

On a related note: I watched that just as I poured myself another peg of scotch. Didn't add the mixer. Wound up with full-on gulp of pure scotch. Future updates may be...interesting.

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Sun May 08, 2011 11:20 am

Kup totally speaks with an "old Japan" accent! The only people who still speak like that are Yakuza and, well, old people. Awesome!

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Sun May 08, 2011 11:27 am

Blaster, apparently, gives Wheelie an iPod just to shut him up. Kind of digging Headmasters Wheelie. As opposed to "made of pulsating dicks Rising Storm" Wheelie.

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Sun May 08, 2011 11:30 am

LMFAO! Ratbat is just hanging around in Autobot HQ, Deception symbol and all, like a ****ing painting! Blaster's like, "Wait! I think that's a spy!"

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Sun May 08, 2011 11:32 am

Hahahaha! Cassettes being used in 2006!!! Hahahaha!

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Sun May 08, 2011 12:14 pm

Razorclaw: Form Predaking!

Rodimus: **** you! *crashes into them*

Razorclaw: Damn!

inflatable dalek · Post by **inflatable dalek** » Sun May 08, 2011 12:22 pm

The subtitles are a shame, McFeely did give them a set of corrections (with particular reference to the calling Hot Rod Rodimus Prime throughout the opening shows and translating every the "Convoy" in the title of the third episode as "Optimus Prime" even though this makes no sense, just like Star TV did) but was ignored.

It's hardly surprising that they went with adapting already made fan subs for the following releases, even if there's at least one instance in Masterforce of them confusing Seibertron and Cybertron.

bumblemusprime · Post by **bumblemusprime** » Sun May 08, 2011 2:36 pm

This is thoroughly entertaining. Unfortunately, I will now not buy the Shout Factory DVDs unless the word is that the subs get better.

The Last Autobot · Post by **The Last Autobot** » Sun May 08, 2011 5:54 pm

The spanish translation is much much worse...

DJ_Convoy · Post by **DJ_Convoy** » Sun May 08, 2011 6:57 pm

Surely Shout aren't using the Metronome subs...? At least use TV Nihon as a guide or something.

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Mon May 09, 2011 7:50 am

At one point, they translate "Convoy" to "Optimus Maximus."

I've just gotten through the first disc (9 episodes). I swear, the soundtrack for this show consists of one damn song. Every time anything happens, it's the same thing.

I'm really enjoying the story, though. It's a honest-to-goodness continuation of G1. Unlike G1, though, it's an ongoing story rather than just a series of interchangeable episodes. It's genuinely strange watching the Sunbow character models participate in this much more "adult" series.

The show's added a TON of new characters, but all of them seem to be a good for the show. The transition from older characters to new ones isn't nearly as jarring as it was in TFTM.

My only real complaints are about Metrodome's presentation of the material, not with The Headmasters itself. It seems that EVERYTHING TF-related at this time (early/mid 2000's) had shoddy quality control. This is no exception.

Hound · Post by **Hound** » Mon May 09, 2011 8:13 am

I *love* Headmasters. It's total nonsense but I just love it.

Masterforce is my favourite though <3