Hi everyone, I’ve recently bought the Headmasters and Masterforce boxsets.

I’ve been reading MetaRidleyX’s G1 review thread and was inspired to do one for the Japanese series. It’s probable that less people have seen all the Japanese series than have seen all the American G1 episodes, so I thought it would be a worthwhile exercise.

I’ve decided to review the episodes with the awesomely bad dubbed audio, for the laugh, and subtitles as well, so I know what’s really supposed to be happening.

I’ll be giving a brief synopsis with commentary about each episode, and giving it a rating. So I might as well start!



Episode 1 – Four Warriors From Outer Space

More people have probably seen this first episode, as it was included as a bonus on a few versions of the original cartoon and movie DVDs.

First thing I notice is that the Japanese like to have catchy cheesy pop songs as theme music, and the Headmasters tune is so catchy you’ll be humming it forever.

We are on Cybertron, it looks peaceful, but the Decepticons, led by Galvatron are looking to take over Vector Sigma. The Decepticon Headmasters are just there, without much explanation why. The dubbing is hilarious, I think I’ll have to pick a Silliest Dialogue for each episode too…

So, the ‘Cons attack Autobase on Cybertron, disturbing Spike, or Sparkle, as his new name seems to be, from drinking his tea. The autobots also have a base on Athenia (Sydnia). Where is that? Never heard of it before. This is where Optimus Prime hangs out.

Hahahah, Mindwipe can do some devious humming and send everyone to sleep.

There’s fighting on Earth too, and we get introduced to Sixshot, who seems to be some kind of ninja consultant, whatever that means. They seem to be setting a rivalry up between him and Ultra Magnus.

Oh God, Daniel and Wheelie. These guys are even more annoying than they were in the American series. They trick Trypticon into falling down a canyon whilst he makes noises that sound like a constipated wildebeest

The trainbots have turned up, they look pretty cool, shame we never got the toys in Europe or the US. Although I must say, they look bloody daft flying through the air in long train mode.

Hahahaha, why is Metroplex called Billy? I can’t see how the dubbers could have got that from the Japanese.

Prime and Jazz do some asskicking on Cybertron now. But Hot Rod and Kup think he’s putting himself in danger. Foreshadowing?

I think if a version of this series was available that completely removed Daniel and Wheelie, it would be a bestseller.

Cool, Kup has a flashback with Megatron and Starscream in it. But Spike just tells him to stop being depressing, hahahaha.

A massive space ship turns up, it’s a mystery, although I can tell who it is because it looks just like their toy, heh.

The animation quality is pretty good, the combiners fighting looks pretty mint. Oooh, brief Sunstreaker cameo.

Mindwipe’s hypnotising ability seems a bit powerful, sends everyone to sleep instantly, why doesn’t he do that all the time?

The Autobot headmasters turn up and start spouting about settling old scores with the Decepticons.

To be continued!

Score

Well, it was a pretty solid starter for a new series, slightly daft, but not bad at all.

I give it 7/10

Ridiculous Dialogue Spotlight:

Ultra Magnus: Just who do you think you are? Where are you from?

Sixshot: Ah hahahah. Alright, listen up. I’m the ninja consultant for the decepticons, my name is Sixshot!

Ultra Magnus: Oh yeah?

 

I have always wanted to be a ninja consultant ever since seeing this episode. I wouldn't actually do any ninjaing, just consult on ninja-related activity. I envisage turning up in a suit and face mask at ninja battles, looking at what's going on and saying stuff like "You should really stab him in the eye with a tanto about now. That'll be five hundred pounds."

 

Tee hee hee.

"Yeah, right about now, I'd just generally ninj the poo poo out of your man, like, total, full ninja."

And hooray, aussiehippy is back! Rejoice, rejoice, where have you been?

 

I beens around, mang! I have a bit of a quiet period at work which = more posting crap on the internets as opposed to when I'm busier

 

  Where did you get that ninja consultant from?

 

He'd tell you, but then his ninja consultant says he'd have to kill you.

Good to see you around again, AH.

 

I know you bought the boxsets, but if you can, I'd say try watching the original subtitled versions instead. You won't end up with weird things like Billy and The Power Pack.

Also, Headmasters is pretty boring, but Masterforce is pretty good.

 

Oh, you think it's okay now, but wait till you get to Galvatron's "master plan". And trust me, with the dubbing, many LOLs will be had.

 

Something tells me you may have missed the point.

 

I think the dub has received too much flak. It tells the story adequately, and that's cool in my book. Also, whomever did Galvatron in the dub blew Welker's Galvy out of the water.

Looking forward to more reviews. This thread is going to be epic.

 

The Japanese G1 cartoons are generally better written and animated than the American ones. It's the dubbing and God awful soundtrack that ruins them.

TFCog have fan-dubbed the first few episodes of Headmasters and most of Victory and it really elevates them. Well apart from the awful voice actor that does Hellbat and a few others. However they are much more enjoyable than the dubs.

I did find watching Victory in the original Japanese and subtitles enjoyable.

 

I dunno if you can get a real "Sense" of the series by watching those terrible dubbing. You would be better off finding those subtitled versions from a particular web site you could find out more about if you PM me.

 

*gives up*

Yeah, you crazy fool, aussiehippy! What are you doing, trying to have some fun?! Don't you know that this is SERIOUS BUSINESS!?  

 

the music is awful but the cartoons are cooler like you said. i just watched scramble city and the sound track cracked me up it was something like fly away with me and be a robot with arms lol or whatever they said.

 

Head On !!!

 

brain set ....masssstah force..lol..thats what i am talking about i love the victory / masterforce series..

 

I think you can if you know all the previous history. When I watched them, I could get around all the weird crap because I knew th G1 series in & out

edit:
aussiehippy, you are going to have to get past all the bad names, such as Blaster is Billy, Wreckgar is "hey You!", these funny things are going to happen but if you sort through it you can get a grasp on the story.
I have the box sets, I'm going to try and re-watch the episodes since I haven't watched them in some time

 

The opening and ending songs to headmasters are cool. The ones during the show are not that good. I do like the masterforce and victory songs overall. I bought the japenese cd song set a few years ago and I love it. I wish they would have done somthing for g1 especially the remix from season 3. Looking forward to this thread.

 

Lol, I appreciate everyone's good intentions in advising me to watch subs instead of dubs - but I'm doing it on purpose to make it funnier. I have seen bits and bats of all the Japanese series before and know the general gist of the storylines, I just never watched it all from start to finish, which is what I'm doing now, heh. Oh and PS I have the subs on as well as the dub so I know what they're REALLY saying...



Episode 2 – The Mystery of Planet Master

Hed-o-mas-u-taaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! I love the theme song.

The newly arrived Autobot headmasters fight with the Decepticons, showing off their head removing abilities. The battle rages and Galvatron insist on a push for Vector Sigma.

Agh, Hot Rod jumped into help Prime! Er but it’s ok, Prime doesn’t die. Yet anyway.

Metroplex is called Phillip now? He has to stay on Earth anyway, which is a lot of use.

Galvtron transforms into his cannon mode a lot more than he ever did in the US cartoon, which is pretty cool.

So, all the headmasters fled Cybertron 4 Million years ago, to the planet Master. Where they, er, evolved into little robots that could control big bodies called transtectors. Some of the headmasters rebelled and joined the Decepticons. That kind of makes no sense, but in some ways it’s better than the US headmaster origin.

It’s Alpha Trion - Optimus Prime’s father, apparently! But the rest of the guys aren’t happy that he’s gone to Vector Sigma without the Matrix (or power pack as the dub likes to call it). But he seems to be doing alright with Alpha Trion’s help.

Hahaha, Chromedome called Wheelie a rude little boy. It seems quite a few of the Autobots are heading to earth to find the Matrix. But there's a spy! Ratbat and Ravage cause havoc for Blaster’s tapes. Serious rivalry set up between Soundwave and Blaster here.

The autobots plan to find the Matrix seems to be randomly looking at the top five energy spots around the world. However the hell that works. Still, I’m sure they’ll find it.

Another cool fight scene, this time between the Arialbots and Stunticons. Galvatron sends Soundwave after Rodimus and Blaster at the North Pole. Another big fight, this time against the Predacons.

Hehehe, nice to see Menasor use Hot Rod’s car mode as a shield. Aha! Here’s Soundwave, and a fierce battle commences between him and Blaster. Well, I say fierce battle, but what I mean is they stand ten feet apart shooting at each other and missing. Holy Crap, Soundwaves arm fell off. They’re doing quite a number on each other. And Soundwave blows up.

Cue Galvatron: Darn that Soundwave. Nnnnyyyeooorrnnnghhhhhhh!

Oh, and Blaster’s dead too. Well I never. The Autobots are all pretty gutted about Blaster, even if they do keep calling him Billy.

Hurry up Hot Rod! Optimus Prime is in great danger….

Score:

Another 7/10, some good action scenes and still fairly daft in the plot area.

Ridiculous Dialogue Spotlight:

Hot Rod: Danny, don’t worry, the Chief will be ok.

Daniel: Really???

Hot Rod: I want to go to Earth, If we find the Power Pack we’ll be able to save Optimus Prime.

Daniel: Mmmmnnnn.

 

Then its not a review about G1 Japan, in essence your simply reviewing the shitty dub.

You mention that episode had a "daft plot", how can you tell if the original plot was indeed as stupid as its made out ot be if your not watching it in the original way?

Also Victory FTW!