After what seemed to be a very popular and successful first season, the second season of Q-Transformers kicks off with the first episode on YouTube. We’ve provided the short video after the jump for your viewing pleasure. These videos are still in Japanese so keep an eye out for any translation. Continue on after the jump for the video!
Primus00
All I know is that I don't like the current era of Transformers b/c Takara is stuck in a cage. What can we fans do about it?
kary
I doubt they'll return back to the old labeling of the characters. Since 2007, they've shown no evidence of moving away from this after the live action movies. The only way you'll see the old labeling is on classic reissues and Masterpiece stuff.
As far as Zone is concerned, I agree with you that I would love to see it completed. But there's little chance of this happening since there's no toys to go along with the anime / cartoon advertisement, thus no money can be made. It would simply only be for nostalgic fans.
Primus00
kary, very informative. I'm hoping Takara catches wind of this matter and they take things into their own hands. The very least, I'm hoping to have the proper Japanese terminology return. (ex: Cybertrons, Destrons, Seibertron, and Convoy)
Speaking of Zone, it wouldn't be a bad idea to properly complete it. TV magazine did finish where the OVA left off, but I still consider it incomplete.
kary
Well not necessarily. With TF Go! it was pretty much a flop also, even though it was a heavy Japanese themed show.
Kids in Japan seem to lean towards more of shows where you're collecting something like Yokai Watch and Pokemon. This is probably why Legends of the Microns was so successful because there were TONS of Microns to collect. Even if you look back as far as TF Victory / Zone / Return of Convoy, you have the Micro Transformers which were big sales makers.
When it comes to anything "Ranger" or "Kamen Rider" related, it's popular because it's ingrained within their culture since the 1970's, and there's been comedy and parodies from the characters and such which kids can relate to.
Primus00
Indeed, what you mention is a greater deal than I thought. If Takara had went on to make its own Transformers shows and figures w/out America's involvement, kids would likely go crazy for Transformers. As I mentioned, Takara is living under the Bayverse movie era.
kary
I have no idea why it hasn't aired; but if I were to guess, it's because it's to stretch the show out a bit over the year. Traditionally a lot of Japanese kids anime series have 52 episodes (1 ep for each week of the year). TF Adventure is basically 1/2 of that. Also summer vacation will be coming up, so it's possible that they want to avoid airing anything to avoid kids missing an episode. As I mentioned before, a lot of it comes down to the strategy of marketing.
As far as Takara-Tomy is concerned, they make far more money off of their other brands. The only appeal Transformers has in Japan, is to older fans of the show. One of our friends whom we visited over the last few days has 2 boys and I asked them if they cared about Transformers. Both of them knew about Transformers, but didn't find the show that interesting compared to something like Shuriken Squadron NinNinger (The new Power Ranger show), or even the new Dragon Ball Super that just aired a few days ago. Of course that's just a couple of kids that I asked, but even after looking around at several stores to see if they carried any Transformers merchandise, I found pretty much zilch other than at a major electronics store (Yodobashi-Camera). Everything is either Gundam, NinNinger, Yokai Watch for boys. There's still a lot of Pocket Monster (Pokemon) stuff around too.
Another issue that Japan is dealing with also is the shrinking child population (see here) which obviously can't be too good on toy company sales.
Primus00
Thanks for the info. Do you know why Adventure didn't air for 2 weeks?
And more importantly, I too I'm worried about the popularity of Transformers. I'll say this. Its a former shadow from what it used to be a decade or 2 ago. I men there were gimmicks back then. (ex: Micron: evolution, God On, Force chip Ignition)
It like right now, Takara is living under the Bayverse movie era and hasn't made any independent series. Transformers Go is still sort of connected to Prime despite it being pure Japanese.
kary
Sure, basically it comes down to finding a name that's easy for kids to remember. If you called it Robots in Disguise, it would be forgotten since it's too long. With Transformers Adventure, keeping the syllables relatively short "To-Ran-su-fo-ma-zu Adu-ben-cha" makes it simpler for kids to say.
They could have called it TF: Prime 2, but the Japanese want to distance themselves from Prime since it was a flop in Japan. As it is, Transformers isn't even as close to having the popularity as Gundam. 3 years ago, when I was in Japan, I saw a fair amount of TF product around. This time (as I'm currently here on vacation) there's barely been anything at all. I have a bad feeling that TF Adventure will probably not be successful either regardless of whether the name is easy to remember.
Primus00
Can you elaborate further in this matter?
kary
Marketing.
NemiMonkey
It's not really that big of a shock. It's been how many years and we still don't have BW II or Neo subbed(someones working on II now but still). Guess it's just not that high a priority since it's just a gag show of sorts.
Primus00
Great one today. But I'm concerned that Transformers Adventure didn't air for 2 weeks. Whats going on?
Also. why is it called Transformers Adventure?
Autovolt 127
I'm shocked we actually don't have fansubs for this.
it's a shame. I really want to know what's going on.
NemiMonkey
Really wish there were subs out there somewhere. I'll take fansubs even.
Jerrimus
Do not understand the point of these…not for me
Autovolt 127
Already looking forward to which seiyuus are cast as them.
Jalaguy
All of those are already out or (in Cliffjumper's case) up for preorder.
UltraAlanMagnus
So it looks like were getting
later on.
QLRformer
Cool, that was fast.
That joke with Arcee in the bathtub was typically odd for the fandom LOL
But that was a beautiful closing credits sequence.