September 8th, 2001 – This was the American debut of Robots in Disguise – the US dub of Japan’s Car Robots series from the year before. And today marks 10 YEARS since that happened, to the day.
This series has been ignored, forgotten, and tossed to the side by the powers that be, but there are still fans of it, both the show and toys, out there. It was the transition between the Beast Era and the new Millennium, encompassing many things we take for granted today. Autobots and Decepticons for starters. Realistic vehicle modes. Repaints of old molds into new characters. The “reboot” of continuity, while keeping core elements. G1 redecos of toys with similar style. All while keeping the Beasts in play for a bit longer, to transition those late 90s kids to the return of the Autobots.
There is a nice discussion of the series as a whole going on in relation to the 10 year anniversary here: R.I.D. 10th Anniversary – 2001-2011, feel free to join in and share your thoughts. TFW will be doing some more RID celebrating before the year is out, so stay tuned!
Oh, and one more thing….
EmperorDinobot
I had a bone marrow transplant the year when this showed, and I spent the whole year sleeping basically, catching some episodes here and then, and remembering how scary Megatron was in this show. There must be a way for me to watch this show dubbed or with subtitles. I'm too lazy to check the whole page so either pm me or…idk. Lol. I remember how much I loved the Spychangers and got almost all of them.
HordakFan
Not too bad despite it's more in the Power Rangers tradition. The toys were indeed better and i agree
unicronic
Yup, so let's get a RTS G2 Prime repaint out there as SCOURGE
And whilst you're at it, Hasbro, let's get a Deluxe sized RID Megatron Triple Changer out there (Dragon & Jet) – Worst comes to Worst they could repaint Thunderwing with a new head and make the guns combine into a staff-thing.
Also let's see a Deluxe RID Magnus – again could be lazy and just a retooled Tankor/Octane mold.
Shame that SkyByte has been a convention exclusive so far.
Prowl 2009
Remember, it's Scourge, Not Nemesis Prime!
Nevermore
What's also worth noting is the ridiculously low sum Hasbro paid for the Sunbow back catalog. Suffice to say, TV Loonland were in severe need of money.
cybertron2006
If only that were glove.
A rather clunky, uncomfortable glove, but I don't freaking care.
grunge
yeah its been said before that RiD was kinda like Universe before it was even done. so lets see some more universe cartoons!
sunstreakerx5
ho ho ho, that was one of the things I remember from the JAP RID (with lyrics for added awesomeness):
Transformers Car Robots Episode 5 Jump Of Death! Mach Alert Part 1 – YouTube
Prowls awesome powerslide animation at 0:30 is etched into my head forever.
correct me if Iam wrong but did the US release had a cool guitar ref at 8:10 on that youtube link?
Aernaroth
RiD kind of makes me wish that every series was made of of half the toys being reuses and reissues. Because the ones that would be new, if RiD is any indication, holy hell would they rule.
Grimlock_13
Gotta credit RiD with getting me back into collecting full time. The cartoon was awful IMO but the toys are even better than some modern day releases. WAY head of their time.
Infosaur
Scourge!
Nemisis Prime!
Scourge!
Nemisis Prime!
Scourge!
Nemisis Prime!
"Black Optimus"
HarryFA1
If i remember correctly in the Universe/Cybertron comics aren't Optimus & Magnus hanging out in multiverse somewhere with Sentinel Magnus? There still could be a chance for these guys to show up again.
Dragaura
RID was the first TF series I watched all the way through while it was on TV. I will admit I had forgotten about it for quite some time, but when I re-discovered it about 3 years ago, it became my absolute favorite – and still is. <3
I didn't know that Disney had the rights to RID and they never released a DVD of it. At least not yet. I hope they do!
Oh, and..
It's Scourge! Not Nemesis Prime!
thebruteslayer
After finishing the series, I'm joining the "Scourge is not Nemesis Prime" group.
Superquad7
MrTuesday
The fact that Disney hasn't released an RID set surprises me. Disney has released DVDs for the Spider-Man, X-Men, Fantastic Four, Iron Man, and Hulk cartoons to cash-in on the respective movies. Why not cash-in on TF as well?
Chaos Muffin
Moroni Prime
oic, so it's sunbow only. I wonder how much the Almighty, All knowing, All powerful DISNEY will charge for something like RID?
Nevermore
Transformers DVD news: Hasbro reacquired rights to Sunbow Properties | TVShowsOnDVD.com
Boulder
The only articles I can find just mention Power Rangers not the whole fox kids library.
Don't feel too bad. I thought Hasbro sent out a press release stating that they had finally acquired the rights on all the Transformers cartoon series (which led to the Shout release of Headmasters). I can't find anything to support that memory either.