I do like the fandub of the pilot on YouTube. The voice acting is better than the official dub but that wouldn't be difficult and I like the use of the Matrix music in some of the scenes.

All the Japanese theme tunes are painful and ill fitting for Transformers. And as great as Beast Wars is, the theme song and background music was terrible. Not a fan of the trend of shouting things like, "Pretender" or "Maximise!" It's corny as Hell.

I don't mind Landmine wearing glasses for disguise purposes but wearing them in his armour? C'mon!

 

I’ll grant you the BW theme song wasn’t the greatest, but the ost for that show was great & complimented the action. And one thing I especially liked about BW was that it knew when to cut all the sound and even use silence to set the tone at times.

Landmine (is that his actual name?) wearing glasses in his pretender armor is so hokey looking, that it’s awesome. The glasses must stay!

 

It's in the vhs special "big book of masterforce". The body was made for prime in case he comes back to life again due to his link to the matrix. (and he came back once before and yup he comes back later in the manga.) The special takes place at the end of the series so lots of spoilers in it.

By the way episodes 4-6 are jr headmasters episodes so if you don't like them a bit of a warning. (I like the episodes myself. Then again I like the jr headmasters) After that the shows goes back to the full cast.

 

I don’t think I said it, but I’m ok with anime about humans in mech suits. Bubblegum Crisis is one of my favorites, so there ya go. I’m ok with Transformers taking a crack at that genre.

 

just getting into Masterforce via episodes on Youtube . I am just at the point where Ginrai has arrived . I am surprised how good this show is . I much prefer this take on the Pretenders .

 

I checked out the english dub and Wow.....It was weird. Devil Z sounds familiar some how like i heard that actor before

 

Perhaps many people don't quite 'get' Masterforce, since G1 died for them after G1 Sunbow season 3.

In the context of Masterforce being a late 80's anime for kids, I think it features some of the best humans - to - TF's relationship arc.
I actually think, this is what the Bay movies should have been.

In short ; you need to see it from start to end ; the character developments ; because it shows how mankind can step up to the plate
in a Cybertronian war context, in a manner which makes sense ; way more sense than Sam Witwicky's "carry the Cube or carry the Matrix" plot has ever been.

Especially Ginrai.... who develops into a leadership role, failing and stumbling time after time, but earning the respect of even Six Knight.
Also interesting to see how Masterforce handles the perception of mankind to Cybertronians ; as Diver learns how devious and human, Hydra and Buster actually are ; and how
they - just like any human - can be corrupted by the temptation of ultimate power, when they sold out their souls and humanity with Black Zarak's deal.
I mean, Bay Prime, just keeps on raving how he must saaaaave mankind...but Masterforce actually brings nuance to this subject.

Eventually, the Decepticon Junior Headmasters finally gain an epiphany of sorts, regarding their own cause and place of this war....making them rethink their decisions.

So yeah... Masterforce is at times, a tacky kids' anime....but imo, it features one of the best human stories in a Cybetronian story.

 

Just saw this thread pop up again. Sorry, guys. I never made it far into this one. My tv time is extremely limited these days & usually, if we’re watching cartoons, my kids want to see Pokémon or Paw Patrol.