Coming to DVD!


http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Transformers-Headmasters-DVDs-Announced/15225

Season Four may have marked the end of the American series of Transformers [Gen One] but Japan had many more stories to tell! Transformers: Headmasters replaces the Gen One 4th season and begins one year after the end of Season Three. Optimus Prime lives again, the energy of the Matrix has been released, and peace reigns on Cybertron...but all that is about to change with the startling arrival of the newest bred of Transformers warrior - the Headmasters!
Back in February we passed along word that a "Transformers Takara" group of DVD releases was in the works for North American release by Shout! Factory, with the possibility that we would see the first of them by later this year. For those of you who are not in-the-know, the so-called "Takara" group of Transformers shows is generally considered to consist of 1987's Transformers: The Headmasters, 1988's Transformers: Chôjin Master Force, and 1989's Transformers: Victory...these Japan-aired programs are considered to be the natural continuation of the original "G1" Transformers; they were simply never picked up for broadcast in the USA (and hence were never given English translations with the official cast members). The group of Autobots and Decepticons called the "Headmasters" were seen in the USA via the 3-part story "The Rebirth", which was all that had ever been produced by Sunbow of the G1 show's 4th (and final) season. However, the story told there is very different than the one produced by Takara for Japanese audiences.

When will fans in the USA finally get the chance to own that? Overnight Amazon.com has answered that question with a pre-order listing that is currently labeled "Transformers Japanes [sic] Collection - Headmasters". This 4-DVD (765-minute) release shows a street date of July 5 (just a few days after the latest movie hits theaters). Cost displayed is $29.96 SRP, but you can pre-order it right away at a discounted price. We're not the only ones who noticed Amazon add this entry overnight; reader Chris Coughler wrote in to make sure we had seen it. Thanks, Chris. He was concerned, though, because he noticed that Shout! Factory was not listed as the studio; it says "Uni Dist Corp (Music)". That actually is Amazon's way of saying Universal Music Group (UMG), the parent company of Vivendi Entertainment. As we've noted many times in the past, Vivendi Ent. is Shout!'s distributor to retailers in the USA (and north of the border they use Vivendi Canada, where this title will be released on the same day, at a similar price). In turn, UMG is owned by the French conglomerate Vivendi S.A., an international concern which owns many other corporations (such as videogame company Activision Blizzard, for example). No worries, Chris; "Uni Dist Corp" is just Amazon using the distributor (probably temporarily), rather than the actual studio; happens all the time!

Fans have been wondering how this Japanese-produced program will be presented to American audiences, language-wise. Early information to retailers from Vivendi Canada, who also provided the studio description quoted at the top, shows that the original Japanese audio tracks will be included (in stereo) along with English subtitles and full-screen video. Will there also be an English-language dub? So far we're just not sure, honestly; the Vivendi Canada info doesn't make that completely clear. Shout! has not formally announced this title yet, so we don't have any other details at this time such as bonus material (we assume there will be some), package art and so forth. Nor do we know what the plan is for SF to release the other "Transformers Takara" productions on DVD (for instance: "will there also be a big box set now along with Headmasters, or will it come later after Master Force and Victory are available separately?"). Shout! Factory certainly knows that we're interested in passing along the answers to all of you fans about these questions, though, so hopefully we'll have something for you in the not-too-distant future. Stay tuned!


Taken from: http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Transformers-Headmasters-DVDs-Announced/15225#ixzz1IzR0TzxB


Try not to take life too seriously, no one gets out alive.

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Yeah, heard about this yesterday. I really hope they include a new English dubbing on these. The Japanese and original English voices were really annoying. Either way, I'm excited because I never thought these would see the light under the western sun.

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heard bout this and i look forward to it. i only hope they don't edit or cut out any episodes like they did with superlink and galaxy force aka energon and cybertron.

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I will post an update if they do, here's hoping. I never thought this would get a US release either but I guess they are using it to cash in on TF3.

The other Japanese series seem to be in the works, aside from Zone. It's nice to finally to be so close to having all the G1 series available here, though I still wish that Scramble City would get one too.

Try not to take life too seriously, no one gets out alive.

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Unfortunately the answer is no, but I can understand why.

http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Transformers-Headmasters-DVD-Update/15271Transformers: The Headmasters - Fans Ask 'Will Shout!'s DVDs Have any English Audio?' The Answer Is...
'No'; the DVD title's producer has said online to only expect Japanese soundtrack with English subtitles
Posted by David Lambert
4/19/2011



Several weeks ago we reported that Transformers: The Headmasters - The Japanese Collection is coming to North America on DVD this July 5th, a 4-disc set with the entire run of Japan's 1987 continuation of the "G1" Transformers story. If sales are strong enough, it's expected to be followed up in the future with planned releases of Transformers: Chôjin Master Force (Japan, 1988) and Transformers: Victory (Japan, 1989)...all part of what Shout! Factory is labeling "The Japanese Collection", but which are known elsewhere around the globe as the "Takara Transformers" releases.

In our previous report mentioned above, we passed along that the Headmasters release would definitely have the original Japanese audio track (presented in Stereo), with English subtitles. We also said in that write-up how it was unclear just then whether or not there would also be an English-language "dub" soundtrack included as well. This has been the most-asked question about the title, and it seems that for some of you the question of whether or not to pre-order this set hinges on the answer. Although Shout! Factory has yet to make it official via a press release, the answer posted to the studio's own message boards yesterday by the title's DVD producer is that English dubs will NOT be included on Headmasters. Nor, presumably, would they be available on the (hopefully) eventual Master Force and Victory DVD releases from Shout!, for the same reasons provided.

What are those reasons? Well, first of all it was explained early on in the discussion at Shout!'s message board that the studio itself couldn't afford the budget for a new dub, a HUGE finacial investment (tens of thousands of dollars) due to the cost of scripting, studio time, voice actors (even were they to get some so-called "no-name" union actors it would not be cheap; getting the "name" actors from the original show, who fans would obviously prefer to be used, are likely to cost *quite* a bit more), post-production, etc.; the projected price of doing such a new soundtrack is simply out of reach for this type of DVD release.

Longtime fans of these productions will be quick to say, "well...what about fan-made English dubs, or overseas-made English dubs? they already exist!" Shout! is obviously aware of these, and tried working with the property-owners at Hasbro to include one of them on the Headmasters release. However, this is clearly an "easier said than done" situation: every one of the "fan dubs" use a cast and a script that were NOT approved by Hasbro, and so they don't know how good or bad each of these are, or if there is some objectionable/offensive content, or even if the translation from Japanese to English was done correctly. In some cases fans who have heard some of the dubs say things like "the dub was so bad, it's good for a laugh" (definitely not a reaction Hasbro wants on an officially licensed DVD release!) and "that dub got the name of this beloved Autobot or Decepticon character wrong!" (again, not a way Hasbro would want their property represented). Plus they would have to go back to the creators of those dubs (no matter who they might be) and get clearance to use them! Now, a form of an English-language dub may have been included on the overseas Takara Transformers DVD releases, but in those cases Hasbro didn't have creative control of that, and so they don't apparently want to use them now. So, as Shout!'s DVD producer has said on Twitter, Hasbro has decided against letting SF include any of the existing English dubs on their releases. He indicated there, and made it clear on SF's official message board, that he really wanted the option of an English soundtrack on these DVDs, but that it just wasn't going to happen.

That's the situation as we know it, based on publicly-available comments (on Twitter and Shout!'s official message board) from the studio's DVD producer, Brian Ward. The folks at the Factory haven't made any formal statement regarding this, so they may have a different take on things than our interpretation. Whatever the bottom-line reasons, however, it's becoming clear that there will be no English-language soundtrack on Transformers: The Headmasters - The Japanese Collection, or on its follow-up releases for Master Force and Victory (assuming sales of Headmasters are good enough to warrant the follow-ups, of course). If something changes, we'll certainly let you know, so stay tuned!




Taken from: http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Transformers-Headmasters-DVD-Update/15271#ixzz1K2oczxKf



Try not to take life too seriously, no one gets out alive.

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I am glad they didn't waste space adding those terrible fan dubs. I know most people probably don't see much difference, but I always hear the timber changes, and voice cracking from these untrained, unpracticed stand-ins when they try too hard to keep a constant tone that isn't in their regular speaking voice. Not to mention the "off" characterization.

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Yeah, it's for the best. Great for comedic value but not much else. Also, if anyone's interested their going to be releasing all the Japanese shows in one set.....

Try not to take life too seriously, no one gets out alive.Transformers: The Headmasters - 'Complete Japanese Collection' Set: Date, Cost, Bonus Material, Early Box Art
13-DVD package up for pre-order at studio's online store with Headmasters, Master Force and VictoryPosted by David Lambert
4/21/2011

In 1984 the world was introduced to a unique line of transforming toys designed by a Japanese toymaker. Originally created as independent action figures, the line was repackaged as The Transformers by American toy powerhouse Hasbro, who enlisted the help of advertisers Tom Griffin and Joe Bacal and comic book writer Bob Budiansky to create a comprehensive backstory of valiant Autobots and treacherous Decepticons. The franchise was an instant success, launching popular comic books and a daily animated series that spanned four stunning seasons and a theatrical motion picture.

After the events of the Transformers Gen One TV seasons, Japanese creators had more stories to tell. This trilogy steered the heroic adventures of the Autobots - known as Cybertrons in Japan - in a completely new and wild direction. Finally, for the very first time in North America, those three Japanese creations - Headmasters, Super-God Masterforce and Victory - can be seen in one deluxe 13-DVD box set!

Offered with the original Japanese Language Audio and English Subtitles. Additional bonus features include original toy commercials, art galleries including rare material and much more.
As we've already reported, July 5th sees Shout! Factory's release of Transformers: The Headmasters - The Japanese Collection 4-DVD set. Fans have been wondering how soon we would see the rest of the show's three Japanese-aired programs (Transformers: Headmasters, Transformers: Chôjin Master Force and Transformers: Victory) generally referred to as the "Takara Transformers", and now we have the answer thanks to reader Steve Grubb (we appreciate the alert!). According to what he's found, The Complete Japanese Transformers Collection will be available on the same date, July 5th. The info is located on the official Shout! Factory public website, but it's not easily findable either: from the home page, change to the "Video" tab (along the top), go to the "TV on DVD" category (top of the list on the left), and then change to "sort by release date" (center, above the show banners). As of this writing, it's on the top left of the page that results. You can also more directly find this title on Shout!'s Transformers page, at the top.

The list price is $99.99 SRP, but at this time you can pre-order it from the studio online store for $89.99, plus shipping and handling. The title is not listed on other online stores such as Amazon at this time. A small look at the package art is provided at Shout!'s online store listing, and we've got a look at it on the right (may not be final, and could be subject to change). Also listed there are additional details, quoted at the top: it will be a 13-DVD set, with the only audio being Japanese, but with English subtitles included (formally confirming our report the other day about that). Extras are hinted at in the studio description above, but a complete list of all bonus material hasn't been provided yet. Keep in mind, please, that Shout! hasn't formally announced this title to the press yet, nor have our contacts among retailers been sent any additional information at this time...all we've got is this publicly-available info at the studio's website which one of our readers found. Please stay tuned, though, and we'll keep you updated if we learn anything more!


Taken from: http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Transformers-Headmasters-The-Complete-Japanese-Transformers-Collection/15290#ixzz1KE9cL4Q8

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So no english dub then?


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Alright here's my opinion on The Headmasters. I'm sorry if I upset some people. For years I've heard how great Headmasters was, and how it was better then the North American 80's series. Now that I've finally sat through and watched several episodes, I think I'm currently on episode 11. I have to honestly say I'm disappointed with the series. It's just not that good. First off I feel the series is poorly written and structured. I'm not really finding any of the Headmasters that interesting, and wishing they'd have other Transformers take up more screen time in place of them. Also the Headmasters in my opinion are drawn too similar, at least in robot mode, which at times makes it hard to tell them apart, it's almost like watching a Michael Bay Transformers movie. The series also falls into the stupidity of some bad Japanese Anime like for examples stupid dancing, or dialog, or insane logic for no apparent reason that makes any sense. I was expecting better, I was told it was better, and when I finally sat down and watched it, I felt like popping in the classics 80's series, or returning to watching Beast Wars: Transformers.

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Also they kill Optimus Prime off again after only 3 episodes, what was the point of resurrecting him in the first place than? What I really found screwy was that they killed off both Soundwave, and Blaster and then resurrected them as Soundblaster(Soundwave), and Twincast(Blaster). Why couldn't they resurrect them as their previous incarnations? Also if they could resurrect them, why couldn't they resurrect Optimus Prime? Even if he became Megaprime, or Optimus Trion or whatever.

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That took me by surprise. And after only three episodes. Someone must hate Optimus.

I got done episode 3 of the fan dub, whatever it is. A lot of people say the japanese audio and writing is better than most American dubs. This one seems to be english actors reading the japanese script. Not bad, but I do think has Sunbow bought the series and worked on it for North America, it probably would have been better.


For DEMONIC TOYS and updates on Full Moon Films:
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