The latest edition of TV Magazine (aka Terebi-Kun or TV Boy) in Japan has been released, with a bonus DVD containing further information on the Japanese release of Transformers Animated. The DVD takes the form of an introductory tale told by Optimus Prime, introducing the main characters. Of particular interest are some pieces of information from Masahiko Yamazaki, a marketing officer working for Takara Tomy relating to the series:
– Since Optimus Prime is not the Supreme Commander of the Autobots in Transformers Animated, the series is set chronologically before the live action movies.
– Ironhide (Bulkhead in the US Animated) will share a world view with his Movie universe counterpart, with the name change being primarily to connect the Movie series with the Japanese release of Animated. His motto reads something like “I aim to be a weapons specialist, but more unique”.
– Episode order will be changed to push the episodes featuring well-known characters forward.
Additionally, in an interview with Figure King, Masahiko Yamazaki makes a comment that:
“It might be possible to release the products canceled by Hasbro to the Japanese market.”
Does this mean that Transformers Animated toys such as Rodimus and Wing Blade Optimus Prime, previously intended for a US release but as yet still stuck in limbo, will be joining the Japanese Transformers Animated line alongside the already announced Blackout?
I would like to extend a big thanks to 2005 Boards member Masabon and 2005 Staff member SydneyY for posting this information and translations for us.
airfox
Of course not! He still had his voice box fine. Remember, it's the past.
Perhaps Animated's Allspark will be a different plot device than the Movie's.
I just remembered something from Animated: remember in the premiere movie, when Optimus is watching videos from the old war and it's G1 what's on the screen? G1 -> Animated -> Movies ….
-airfox
Shelfwarmercon
Guys, it's Japan. The changes they're making to Animated would fit right in with all the culturally specific artifacts (i.e. weird shit) they put out.
cgibsonREX
Most episodes wouldn't matter, like you could watch Episode 2 before Episode 3 of Animated without a problem.
They even put the movie into the G1 timeline. Something about Wheeljack's vision of the future. But I want to know if their going to be on Earth? Or Earth's future and then go back in time for the movie?
But it would be nice to see how they handle something that will contradict what happens in the future films.
Autobot Burnout
I'm sorry, but placing Animated chronologicaly BEFORE Bayformers just can not work for me.
I also would like to know just how exactly the Allspark goes from being a ball to a SHATTERED ball to a small reconstruction of the Matrix of Leadership (that looks nothing like the Matrix from ROTF) to being a CUBE that was planted deep under the Earth I froget how long ago.
Are they going to pull the same crap Star Wars did by saying "A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away.."?
DrillBIT
Don't forget the Japanese are good in changing scripts (doesn't matter if it turns out bad or not). I think that is the only way for them to boost sales of related products if Animated and the Movie are linked. Kids like the idea of one thing "evolves" into another and that is exactly the idea behind the linkage.
For the kids (targeted age group is 5 to 8 years old as announced) they have NO knowledge of the original storyline of TVA. So anything they watch on TV WILL BE cast in stone for the next 10 to 20 years.
IF TVAJ is a "prequel" of the movie line bumblebee doesn't have to speak through the radio for it is still running normal in the beginning.
Scourge_151
This doesn't sound like it'll end well.
As has been said, hopefully it'll be successful enough that Takara will end up releasing all the toys that Hasbro may not.
Gaastra
Voltron was going to use three.
from wiki–
"Gladiator Voltron (Voltron of the Middle Universe)
The proposed "Voltron II" episodes (so called because they took place in the "Middle Universe") were to have been based on Lightspeed Electro God Albegas (光速電神アルベガス, Kōsoku Denjin Arubegasu?).[citation needed] Although Albegas toys were marketed in the United States under the Voltron II name, the series were never aired there. Due to the extreme popularity of the Lion Voltron and lack of popularity of the Vehicle Voltron series, World Events Productions eventually elected against another alternate Voltron and plans to adapt Albegas were aborted."
YouTube – Voltron 2 : Albegas Rare Footage!!
A pilot episode was dubbed but only aired once.
As for robotech, don't forget robotech the movie. It used megazone 23 and put it in the robotech universe.
Back on subject, i still can't see how they can cram them into the movieverse. Will bumblebee talk radio in the cartoon like in the movie?
Solrac333
Let them mash up movie and animated if they want. We mashed up 3 animes and called it Robotech. We mashed up 2 animes and called it Voltron.
MekaGojira3k
How crazy. Though I won't care as long as I get those remaining animated toys.
Mechafire
Oh man, this is just so fucking crazy.
I personally can't wait to see how this all turns out.
Gaastra
Yet airrazor was a girl in the manga! I bet japan kids were confused.
So if this is a movie prequal then megatron shows up on earth twice?
What if prowl shows up in transformers 3? Why is ratchet older here then in the movies? Why is jetfire younger?
If it took place between the first two it might work but not before.
Tman978
how in the world can this be set before the TF movie? They are on earth! Humans know about them! Bulkhead is nothing like Ironhide. …..WTF
Might Gaine
Indeed. And there also used to be TV Land, but that was canceled in 1997/1998.
BB Shockwave
I'm sorry, but now that you confirmed he was the director of BW in Japan, I can only verify my statement – he's an idiot.
I should have suspected the same person who turned the quite mature and serious Beast Wars series into a kiddy toon with a comedy relief "Pikatchu" Rattrap and male Airrazor (cutting out the Tigatron-Airrazor romance alltogether" was responsible for this…
You know, Animated, with a straight translation, would have been a big success in Japan. It was a quite serious and complex story, worthy of comparison to some of the great anime series. Knowing Yoshikazu's previous work, I can suspect that he will turn the series into a ROTF parody with slapstick humour and totally rewritten character personalities.
I shall watch the first episode with subs, though, just to believe this is possible… Really, if they can do things like that while importing a cartoon, what's next? My Little Ponies gets turned into a serious hentai toon? Gargoyles will get translated into a Pokemon-style comedy series? Geez. I will never understand Takara's so-called logic.
You forget Sari… I shudder at the though what the japanese animators could make from the scenes between her and Bumblebee with some cut and edit. Brrr.
Digilaut
Still think placing Animated in the movie continuity is stupid. Way too forced, way too many loopholes that can't be fixed.
Unneccesary way to try and use the movie succes for more profit, hurray for (Japanese) marketing!
TF@TM
I thought everyone knew that the Japanese Animated show was set in the Movie universe? It was mentioned in the very first announcement months even before they confirmed Bulkhead was Ironhide.
Also TV Boy (terebi-kun) and TV Magazine are two completely different publications
Backscatter
Well at least Takara isn't linking Animated with Kiss Play.
Fort Max
Takara so crazy!
Soundscream
All we need is Animated Omega Supreme! Please make it happen Takara Tomy!!!!!