Which box set of G1 DVD's to purchase?

[Eruntalon]

Due to the fact that I would now rather own and watch the DVDs instead of watching ripped files on my pc, I've been looking into purchasing a box set that includes all original seasons of Transformers.

I've stumbled upon a few, although this region 2 set caught my eye just now: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/TRANSFORMERS-COMPLETE-GENERATION-1-NEW-14-DVD-BOXSET_W0QQitemZ250310394124QQcmdZViewItem?hash=it em250310394124&_trkparms=39%3A1|66%3A2|65%3A1|240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

It contains 4 original seasons plus the movie. It doesn't really matter what region I purchase, just whatever people consider to be better. A little pricey but there's a lot of content. I've also seen other box sets which don't include the movie.

Is it worth purchasing this set or are there any better box sets that I should know about?

[jacksplatt11]

I got the madman G1 tin boxset last year for $110 from Big W, so if you can find it for around that price you can buy the movie as well and it will cost the same as that one on ebay and be region 4...

I have heard that some of the earlier G1 boxsets were pretty poor quality and audio, but I'm not sure if the one you are looking at is one of them, the madman one as far as I can tell is pretty much perfect...

Oh and one more thing, apparently seasons 3 and 4 of G1 turned into Beast Wars?


seasons 3 and 4 of TRANSFORMERS sees Optimus Primal leading the Maximals in their seemingly never ending quest to defeat the evil Predacons and their leader, Megatron

haha :D

[Pulse]

If you don't already own Season 1 through to Rebirth, I'd definitely buy that. :)

Compared to this (http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/793042), you're getting the movie as a bonus.

IMO, Go for it! :)

[Bartrim]

Oh and one more thing, apparently seasons 3 and 4 of G1 turned into Beast Wars?

haha :D


Yeah that concerned me about that listing.

I'd go for the madman release. I have the seperate G1 box sets because being a G1 freak I couldn't wait for a complete boxset:D

[Eruntalon]

I have heard that some of the earlier G1 boxsets were pretty poor quality and audio, but I'm not sure if the one you are looking at is one of them, the madman one as far as I can tell is pretty much perfect...


I just read that DVD releases by Rhino had some flaws in regards to the conversion of analogue into digital? I totally forgot about looking at any Madman releases, thanks.



Oh and one more thing, apparently seasons 3 and 4 of G1 turned into Beast Wars?

Yeah well, I guess it's confusing for some people when there are multiple series'.

[jacksplatt11]

I just read that DVD releases by Rhino had some flaws in regards to the conversion of analogue into digital?

Yep that's what I was talking about, but like I said I'm not sure whether the one you're looking at is one of them.. The madman one is pretty good though


Yeah well, I guess it's confusing for some people when there are multiple series'.

Yeah true but, how can you confuse seasons 3 and 4 of G1 with Beast Wars? haha

[1orion2many]

Yeah that concerned me about that listing.

I'd go for the madman release. I have the seperate G1 box sets because being a G1 freak I couldn't wait for a complete boxset:D

+1 on the seperate box sets. Stuffed if I was going to wait to see if they were going to release it in a complete set, it took long enough just to get them on DVD:rolleyes:.

[Rampage]

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii250/X_RAMPAGE_X/Picture-002-1.jpg

Chinese box set is on par with the madman release quality wise & is a hell of alot cheaper mine cost me about $30AU

[Eruntalon]

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii250/X_RAMPAGE_X/Picture-002-1.jpg

Chinese box set is on par with the madman release quality wise & is a hell of alot cheaper mine cost me about $30AU

Were your DVDs floating around inside their cases? Anything scratched? I've read a few reviews on the Chinese box set/tin release.

[TheDirtyDigger]

I have that same Chinese set as well as the 1-6 individual box sets that were released in Australia.
In my opinion the Chinese one is better quality, better made and a better product overall.

[i_amtrunks]

I bought all the individual Madman sets for $20 each roughly 2 years ago.

Otherwise I would have bought the G1 collection they released last year.

The Chinese set in the tin is meant to be decent, as long as the contents do not shift during shipping, I've read a few reviews where they have arrived with the DVD's scratched to pieces. Once you turn the Chinese subtitles off, the quality is meant to be good.

[Eruntalon]

To those who own the Chinese box set, are the DVD menu's in Mandarin? If so, was it a hassle navigating through the menu's (I don't speak or read Mandarin so...).

[hotaru_oz]

I have the madman G1 boxsets 1,2,3 and 6 still need to chase up 4 and 5.
I was peeved when I found out all seasons were being released in a tin boxset.

[loophole]

I got all the Rhino versions from when they were first released if i were you i would probally go for the Madman boxset but hey thats just me :D

[Vector Sigma 13]

Ive got the madman G1 box set- im pretty happy with it. I think its cheaper to buy the lot in one hit although i could be wrong, its been awhile since i bought it.

[Rampage]

To those who own the Chinese box set, are the DVD menu's in Mandarin? If so, was it a hassle navigating through the menu's (I don't speak or read Mandarin so...).

the menus are easy to navigate & have english titles for the episodes

main menu:
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii250/X_RAMPAGE_X/Picture003-1.jpg

episode select screen:
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii250/X_RAMPAGE_X/Picture004-1.jpg

[Paulbot]

I'm dubious of a Chinese region-free DVD box set.

I think the Madman discs are fine.

[Zippo]

I have Rhino Sets and Madman Complete Collection.

[GoktimusPrime]

Goki's Recommendations:

+ G1 Seasons 1-4: Madman Box Set (http://www.madman.com.au/actions/series.do?method=home&videogramId=1064)
http://www.dvdorchard.com.au/images/coverart/144992.jpg

+ G1 Transformers The Movie: Madman TFTM Special Edition (http://www.madman.com.au/actions/catalogue.do?releaseId=7765&method=view)
http://www.madman.com.au/images/slicks/bigones/mma3870wp.jpg

+ G1 Headmasters, Super-God Masterforce, Victory & Zone: Metrodome's The Complete Takara Collection box set (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Transformers-Takara-Complete-Collection/dp/B000TR6B8Y)
http://www.whsmith.co.uk/Images/Products%5C797%5C176%5C797176_m_f.jpg

+ Beast Wars: Madman Season 1 (http://www.madman.com.au/actions/catalogue.do?releaseId=5766&method=view), Season 2 (http://www.madman.com.au/actions/catalogue.do?method=view&releaseId=5767) & Season 3 (http://www.madman.com.au/actions/catalogue.do?method=view&releaseId=5768)
http://www.madman.com.au/images/slicks/bigones/mmb323wp.jpg

+ Beast Machines: Sony Season 1 Vol.1 (http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/792962), Season 1 Vol.2 (http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/792963), Season 2 Vol.1 (http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/795545) Season 2 Vol.2 (http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/795546)
http://www.ezydvd.com.au/g/i/p/795545.jpg


Oh and one more thing, apparently seasons 3 and 4 of G1 turned into Beast Wars?


seasons 3 and 4 of TRANSFORMERS sees Optimus Primal leading the Maximals in their seemingly never ending quest to defeat the evil Predacons and their leader, Megatron
haha
What a noob! :p

[Rampage]

Were your DVDs floating around inside their cases? Anything scratched? I've read a few reviews on the Chinese box set/tin release.

nope they dont come in cases its packaged like this:

discs slide into top of booklet then booklet goes inside of the blue box & then inside metal tin. It's quite a tight fit to get the discs in on some pages so i have no idea how the discs are coming loose in or out of the blue box

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii250/X_RAMPAGE_X/Picture009.jpg

inside of booklet & chatty keyring (top left corner):
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii250/X_RAMPAGE_X/Picture008.jpg

& the bonus postcards:
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/6605/picture006wx5.th.jpg (http://img504.imageshack.us/my.php?image=picture006wx5.jpg)http://img504.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

[TheDirtyDigger]

nope they dont come in cases its packaged like this:

discs slide into top of booklet then booklet goes inside of the blue box & then inside metal tin. It's quite a tight fit to get the discs in on some pages so i have no idea how the discs are coming loose in or out of the blue box

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii250/X_RAMPAGE_X/Picture009.jpg

inside of booklet & chatty keyring (top left corner):
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii250/X_RAMPAGE_X/Picture008.jpg

& the bonus postcards:
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/6605/picture006wx5.th.jpg (http://img504.imageshack.us/my.php?image=picture006wx5.jpg)http://img504.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

Yeah my brother has the Madman set. The Chinese one Rampage and I own kicks it's arse for presentation and content.

[GoktimusPrime]

I've heard other people say that the Chinese set, though being region free, is actually licensed. Just because it's from China doesn't necessarily mean it's fake. :)

P.S.: Although China is swimming in KOs, especially DVDs so I can perfectly understand why people would be wary of Chinese DVDs. I even saw KOs being sold in Wal-Marts in China! And I never personally found any legit DVDs or CDs despite specifically looking for some. (-_-)

I found these at Wal-Mart!
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/China/th_china_transformax.jpg (http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/China/china_transformax.jpg)

[jgon2098]

Get the vintage VHS tapes!!! thats if you still have a vhs player...

[GoktimusPrime]

I have a VHS player, but it's PAL only and all my Beast Wars II, Beast Wars Neo, Car Robot and Micron Legend eps are on NTSC videos!! I have an NTSC VCR but it's Japanese voltage and step-down transformers are like freakin' expensive in Australia... I bought one a few years ago, but then it broke. :( *sigh* I thought about just buying a new VCR that does NTSC playback on PAL TV... but VCRs are also freakin' expensive now! Seriously - they're dearer than DVD players! Phwoar!!

I used to have a DVD/VCR 2-in-1 player, but it got stolen. :(

[Eruntalon]

I'll consider all of the above comments, thanks. Btw Goktimus, I noticed that Takara box set you linked to earlier on and I'm now looking for an Australian source.

[GoktimusPrime]

If it's too hard for you to find the UK Metrodome Takara box set you can get the local Australian Madman sets too:
The*Headmasters (http://www.madman.com.au/actions/catalogue.do?method=view&releaseId=8932)
Super-God Masterforce (http://www.madman.com.au/actions/catalogue.do?releaseId=9037&method=view)
Victory & Zone (http://www.madman.com.au/actions/catalogue.do?releaseId=9038&method=view)

[kup]

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii250/X_RAMPAGE_X/Picture-002-1.jpg

Chinese box set is on par with the madman release quality wise & is a hell of alot cheaper mine cost me about $30AU

QFT I bought mine for like $20. I also got the Madman release to support it but they are about the same in quality when it comes to the individual episodes.

[STL]

Oooh, that box looks nice. I have to find one for that cheap!

[TheDirtyDigger]

I know Rampage and I got them from the same seller and I'm guessing Kup probably did too.

[jimoinj]

Does the Madman Australian boxset of Transformers G1 include season 4, the headmasters one?

[Arcee]

Does the Madman Australian boxset of Transformers G1 include season 4, the headmasters one?

Nah, it doesn't. Only seasons 1-3 and not even the movie.

[GoktimusPrime]

I didn't know it didn't have Season 4! Wow, that's poor. I can understand them not including TFTM as that's not part of the TV series (I know that it fits in continuity, but ya know). I would at least expect them to have all the television eps.

Is it true that the tin box set eps are still the same as the previous Madman releases with the stupid try hard PEW! BLAM! ZAP! POW! BORT!! sound effects added on by Rhino? If Madman released G1 without those modified sound effects, I'd pick it up and sell off my current set cheap.

[Hursticon]

Umm... Without reigniting the debate over whether 3 episodes even really constitutes a season:
*Madman: 2007 G1 (Autobot) Collector Tin Series Box Set.


http://i1032.photobucket.com/albums/a409/Darkone666au/Crap/G1-Season4-Proof01.jpg

http://i1032.photobucket.com/albums/a409/Darkone666au/Crap/G1-Season4-Proof02.jpg



Who-cha talkin' 'bout Willis? :confused:

[Arcee]

Umm... Without reigniting the debate over whether 3 episodes even really constitutes a season:
*Madman: 2007 G1 (Autobot) Collector Tin Series Box Set.

Ok...I need to rectify my previous post.

Yes, it DOES include the 3 Rebirth episodes. I bought it and believed it to be the complete G1 (only without the movie which I have separately). I have no idea there's a series following that called Headmasters? (though this name sounds familiar to me) :o

Thanks Hursti again for the clarification! :D

[Hursticon]

Ok...I need to rectify my previous post.

Yes, it DOES include the 3 Rebirth episodes. I bought it and believed it to be the complete G1 (only without the movie which I have separately). I have no idea there's a series following that called Headmasters? (though this name sounds familiar to me) :o

Thanks Hursti again for the clarification! :D

No problem at all mate, I've never watched those episodes myself from those DVDs purely because when I saw them ages ago I thought: "This... is Season 4?, Umm... Delete!". :o:p
I had to confirm it for myself but I was sure that they were contained in the boxset, the Headmasters Series though is this (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Transformers:_The_Headmasters_%28cartoon%29) and it was released by Madman (http://www.madman.com.au/catalogue/view/8932/transformers-headmasters-collection) also. ;):)

[Bartrim]

Ok...I need to rectify my previous post.

Yes, it DOES include the 3 Rebirth episodes. I bought it and believed it to be the complete G1 (only without the movie which I have separately). I have no idea there's a series following that called Headmasters? (though this name sounds familiar to me) :o

Thanks Hursti again for the clarification! :D

The "rebirth" is what is known as season 4 in the U.S Transformers cartoon. Japan disregarded rebirth and ran Transformers for another 3 seasons with each season being called "headmaster", "Masterforce" and "Victory". You can buy them as a boxed set in Australia. I got mine from Ezy DVD at the time.

[Arcee]

The "rebirth" is what is known as season 4 in the U.S Transformers cartoon. Japan disregarded rebirth and ran Transformers for another 3 seasons with each season being called "headmaster", "Masterforce" and "Victory". You can buy them as a boxed set in Australia. I got mine from Ezy DVD at the time.
I've been wondering...there's the US run, and the Japanese run, and the UK run -- in terms of storyline do they complement or conflict each other? (Goki told me they are different stories)

So the Japanese replaced Rebirth with Headmasters as a continuity to the US G1 cartoon, supposedly there shouldn't be any problem with the flow? Do they actually have their own stories for the 1st three seasons that were pretty close to the US version (in which case, what point of the separate runnings?)

I'm a bit confused here...:confused:

[Hursticon]

I've been wondering...there's the US run, and the Japanese run, and the UK run -- in terms of storyline do they complement or conflict each other? (Goki told me they are different stories)

So the Japanese replaced Rebirth with Headmasters as a continuity to the US G1 cartoon, supposedly there shouldn't be any problem with the flow? Do they actually have their own stories for the 1st three seasons that were pretty close to the US version (in which case, what point of the separate runnings?)

I'm a bit confused here...:confused:

Read the wiki dude, the wiki explains all... Until Goki does. ;):D

[Paulbot]

I've been wondering...there's the US run, and the Japanese run, and the UK run -- in terms of storyline do they complement or conflict each other? (Goki told me they are different stories)

So the Japanese replaced Rebirth with Headmasters as a continuity to the US G1 cartoon, supposedly there shouldn't be any problem with the flow? Do they actually have their own stories for the 1st three seasons that were pretty close to the US version (in which case, what point of the separate runnings?)

I'm a bit confused here...:confused:

Very quickly.... the "UK run" relates to the comics only (US vs UK). The comics are completely different and incompatible with the cartoon series.

As for the cartoon, Japan dubbed the first three G1 series into Japanese, and then replaced Rebirth with a full series called Headmasters [which is incompatible with Rebirth] but otherwise continues on with only minor discrepencies (a couple of bots who died in the movie are still around because Japan didn't see the movie until a few years later) and the animation is very similar (less Anime than the following series like Masterforce and Victory).

[Hursticon]

..Or Paulbot:


Very quickly.... the "UK run" relates to the comics only (US vs UK). The comics are completely different and incompatible with the cartoon series.

As for the cartoon, Japan dubbed the first three G1 series into Japanese, and then replaced Rebirth with a full series called Headmasters [which is incompatible with Rebirth] but otherwise continues on with only minor discrepencies (a couple of bots who died in the movie are still around because Japan didn't see the movie until a few years later) and the animation is very similar (less Anime than the following series like Masterforce and Victory).

That was really well put man :eek::cool:, way more concise than the 'wall of text' I'd of put it in would've been. :o
(Hence why I just linked to the Wiki article :o)

[jena]

I saw the Headmasters dvds at JB HiFi but I didn't buy it because they were around $60 and I was sure I could find it cheaper online. It says on the back of the cover that it continues on from the original series.

Is Headmasters worth getting? Or would it just get annoying because of the clashes with the remainder of the G1 series?

[Paulbot]

It's annoying for other reasons (like Arcee's secretary role (take notes and make us coffee) and lots more of Daniel). I gave up on it and still haven't seen it all, skipping ahead to Masterforce (which is also divisive for it's focus mainly on humans (Head and Powermasters) instead of pure Transformers, but which I really enjoyed). There's probably a review thread on both somewhere. I think Griffin blogged his watching of both series.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

I preferred it to The Rebirth trilogy. It wasn't the best series ever but it was worth a watch and for the most part better than most of G1 Season 3. Dunno if I'd shell out $60 for it.

Maybe check out some clips of the first few episodes on Youtube or something and see if you like it.

[UltraMarginal]

I saw the Headmasters dvds at JB HiFi but I didn't buy it because they were around $60 and I was sure I could find it cheaper online. It says on the back of the cover that it continues on from the original series.

Is Headmasters worth getting? Or would it just get annoying because of the clashes with the remainder of the G1 series?

you can find it cheaper online...

[Arcee]

like Arcee's secretary role (take notes and make us coffee) and lots more of Daniel
That does sound very...let's just say it's one of those things I hate most in the world. Somehow I vaguely remember if it's Hursti mentioned it before (Arcee casting a wetnurse role)? Indeed cultural reason I'd say.

Ah well. Good to know. Even if Arcee's still the Arcee she should be, I can't take too much Daniel (or any human) anyway. I'll just stick to my US boxset and once that's finished, move on to the comics.

Paulbot, once again, never go wrong with you the encyclopedia.:D Thanks!

[Quickstrike]

Headmasters is a pretty boring show once you get over the novelty of seeing those 1987 G1 guys do stuff in a cartoon. Masterforce is cool though. :cool:

[GoktimusPrime]

I'm with Odie. While The Headmasters is definitely the weakest of the Japanese G1 series, I prefer it over Rebirth.

Masterforce is a well written story, although as Paulbot mentioned, it does have an unorthodox premise -- but if you can accept its premise then it is a pretty enjoyable story. Victory goes back to being more traditional (i.e. no binary-bonding to fleshies) and has a spectacular finish (which is arguably the second most epic fight scene in the G1 cartoon next to Optimus Prime vs Megatron in TFTM). Zone is well animated but the story is meh -- much like The Rebirth it was a pilot for a series but the series got cancelled. But I think Zone works better because Rebirth was originally written as a 5 parter but then when Hasbro decided to cancel Season 4 it had to be re-written down to a 3-parter. Circumstances beyond the writer's control, but still - the end result is that Rebirth ended up being more of a hash job than Zone IMO. One interesting thing about Zone though is that it is brutal.

I grabbed the UK box set (Metrodome) cos it came out before Madman -- and it worked out cheaper too. Be aware that The Headmasters is Region 2 (although 'sif you wouldn't set your DVD player to Region 0 :p) but the other discs are all Region 0. :)

Arcee: as Paulbot said, the comics and cartoon are two entirely different and incompatible continuities. As for UK continuity - I think it's best to think of it as an "expanded universe" of the US comics (much like say how the Clone Wars series is an expansion of the Star Wars films etc.)

Technically speaking the US and UK comics exist in separate universes (the US comics in Marvel's Earth-91274 and the UK comics in Earth-120185; but really, a lot of the events that occur in the US comics could not have happened if we completely ignore the UK comics, e.g. Matrix Quest. So at best, some events that occurred in Earth-120185 must have occurred on Earth-91274 as well (e.g. Optimus Prime's space burial, Death Bringer etc.) -- I think it's just a helluva lot simpler just to consider them both as the same continuity with the UK comics being an expansion of the US run.

[Cat]

Worth it just for the hilariously dub that's included. It just never gets old.

[jimoinj]

Now I'm a bit confused. So the Australian Madman set includes Season 4 - when I say season 4 I definitely do not refer to the Japanese alternative version of Transformers starting with Headmasters - meaning rebirth 1-3?

[UltraMarginal]

Umm... Without reigniting the debate over whether 3 episodes even really constitutes a season:
*Madman: 2007 G1 (Autobot) Collector Tin Series Box Set.


http://i1032.photobucket.com/albums/a409/Darkone666au/Crap/G1-Season4-Proof01.jpg

http://i1032.photobucket.com/albums/a409/Darkone666au/Crap/G1-Season4-Proof02.jpg



Who-cha talkin' 'bout Willis? :confused:

These pictures pretty well define the US g1 episodes.

In japan, there was never a season 4 containing the "rebirth episodes" the japanse season 4 was the Headmasters series.

[GoktimusPrime]

Actually The Rebirth was released in Japan afterwards -- direct to laserdisc.