Customer Reviews

Transformers Season Two Box Set [VHS]

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am writing this "review" to give you some numbers and info on the Transformers series and the DVD boxed-set format.
Season One had 16 episodes; Season Two had the lion's share at 49, and Season Three had 30 even. What would have been the premiere three-parter to season four, "Rebirth," was instead the last of the Transformers series. It was 3 more episodes, brining the grand total to 98.
Season two is *the* season for Transformers fans, as it demonstrated a huge animation improvement over the first season as well as deeper stories and more character development. All in all, season two is the nuts and bolts of the Transformers we all remember and love. Therefore, the season two, part two boxed set will, presumably, contain the last 25 episodes of the second season, wrapping up season two on DVD.
Season three (presumably to follow later next year), was the last, and followed Transformers: The Movie. In season three, Rodimus Prime and Galvatron lead the Autobots and Decepticons, respectively. Whether Rhino takes season three as one big set or two smaller ones (the probably outcome) remains to be seen, but I sincerely hope they include "Rebirth" at the end either way.
What would (should!) have kicked off season four, the three-part episode "Rebirth," was the last three episodes of the Transformers cartoon, as the show was cancelled after that. "Rebirth" had the best animation of all, and hopefully Rhino will include it at the tail end of the Season Three boxed set(s), giving us the entire series in nice, clean boxes.
I hope Rhino follows through and puts all 98 episodes out in this great, boxed-set format. Oh, and one more thing - a widescreen movie DVD would be much appreciated, Rhino... maybe with a Peter Cullen (Optimus Prime), Frank Welker (Megatron), Leonard Nimoy (Galvatron), Judd Nelson (Hot Rod), and Robert Stack (Ultra Magnus) commentary track(s) for fun... ;) I know, I know... a long shot. But it *would* be the holy grail for Transformers fans :)
Support Rhino's ongoing committment to Transformers DVD Boxed Sets by buying Season Two, Part One! Transform and roll out, Transfans!

The second season had 49 episodes. This set collects the first 24. Here is the official list of episodes from Rhino.com.

Autobot Spike
Changing Gears
City of Steel
Attack of the Autobots
Traitor
The Immobilizer
The Autobot Run
Atlantis Arise
Day of the Machines
Enter the Nightbird
A Prime Problem
The Core
The Insecticon Syndrome
Dinobot Island Part 1
Dinobot Island Part 2
The Master Builders
Auto Berserk
Microbots
Megatron's Master Plan Part 1
Megatron's Master Plan Part 2
Desertion of the Dinobots Part 1
Desertion of the Dinobots Part 2
Blaster Blues
A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court

The second season of Transformers was when everyone was going nuts over TFs. The creators, at this time, were either given much more leeway with the stories or had figured out to work within the system because, frankly, this season is spectacular. Though I saw many of these episodes only once, this is the season that my most vivid Transformers memories come from. Great stories, great characters, great quotable line. It's all here. Transformers just doesn't get better than the 2nd season. I can't wait till the second half in the Summer.
Till all are won!

This dvd, as stated in Previews Magazine, will only be 24 episodes of season 2. Another release will include the remaining episodes. This was done because there were 49 (I think) episodes in season 2. I wrote this review to tell people it isn't the whole season, not to give a full review of the dvds, as they won't be out for two more months so it is impossible

Well it looks like all us Trans-fans came out in force for Transformers season 1 on DVD cause now we've got Season 2 as well! Well most of it anyway. Part two that will finish out the season will be released later this year. The presentation quality of the first season DVD is repeated here, so depending on if you liked that set this is either a good thing or a bad one. I find the transfers to be top notch. Expecially considering that this was shows longevity wasn't taken seriously enough to warrent proper care for the negatives over the past 19 years.

I was surprised at how much better the writing an animation is with this season compared to the first. Where the first was somewhat sketchy and a bit rough around the edges (I'm being kind) this season is much more polished. Evidence: Enter the Nightbird, the Dinobot Island duo and Blaster Blues episodes.

Bonus wise the DVD is lacking. Watching a 30 minute commercial for BotCon isn't my idea of fun. Neither is lstening to people who are working on current Transformers shows. This is a G1 set right? Why aren't there bonus' for this series?!? I'd like to see original commercials, character designs, interviews with people who actually worked on the shows. But all that really doesn't detract from the thrill of owning these classics on DVD.

One more thing, this set comes with the same kind of booklet and animatin cels that appeared in the first season set. I haven't figured out what to do with them, but they are cool. Trans-fans shouldn't miss out on this mostly terrific DVD set.

Well for those of us born in the era of the transformers, I'd say this is a good thing to add to anyones DVD collection.

These are the episodes that are going to be on all the DVDs:

DVD 1: Parts, Wholes, Devices, and Schemes
Autobot Spike
Changing Gears
City Of Steel
Attack Of The Autobots
Traitor
The Immobilizer
The Autobot Run

DVD 2: Megatron's Evil Influences
Atlantis, Arise!
Day Of The Machines
Enter The Nightbird
A Prime Problem
The Core
The Insecticon Syndrome

Dinobot Island Part 1

DVD 3: Sterner Stuff
Dinobot Island Part 2
The Master Builders
Auto Berserk
Microbots
Megatron's Master Plan
Megatron's Master Plan #2

DVD 4: Faraway Places, Times, and More
Desertion Of The Dinobots Part 1
Desertion Of The Dinobots Part 2
Blaster Blues
A Deceptacon Raider In King Arthur's Court

Hope this helps

The second season of the Transformers had some of the most memorable episodes, for me anyway. Unfortunately most of my favorites from the 2nd season like Cosmic Rust, the history of Omega Supreme or any episodes with the Stunticons, Combaticons and Aerialbots are NOT in this volume. That's not to say there aren't good ones here, because there's just so many episodes on these 4 discs you are bound to find a few classics.

The extras are rather lacking. Where are the classic commercials? Or how about a slide show of the boxes of all the toys released during the 2nd season? Or explain and possibly show how they made some of the great robot-esque voices like Soundwave and Shrapnel? There is a Botcon 2002 section, which is ok, but the interviews drag on way too long and I found them to be extremely boring. There just aren't enough Generation One references as I hoped. I like the mistake reels, but I think they could've pointed so many more errors; it was way too short.

Also a note on the quality of the DVD. Most of the episodes have this "dithered" effect. I'm not really an expert on restoration or DVD making so maybe that was the best quality they could get it but there is noticable dust spots quite often and everything has this dotted look to it. Hard to explain until you see it, but still years better than any VHS.

The menu's are petty nice, with a 3-D rendered Optimus Prime and a very cool transforming sequence. It would've been even better if each disc had a different transformer to present the menus.

Overall this is defintely a must own. Finally time to throw away those junky VHS's from 1985. I can't wait for the 2nd season Part 2, and hopefully top it off with Season 3. It's great watching every episode and bringing back such memories from years ago. Commercial Free.

Transformers Season Two had much better story lines than the first and improved animation. This is the season before the movie. The remastering isn't as poor as the first season, where Rhino added in all that []digital colors (i.e. orange rocks) so the video looks pretty good. The audio...well I am not a BIG fan with all the reverb and newly added sound effects & explosion sounds that were never in there; but I guess a lot of people like it. I would prefer a "original" soundtrack option in the menu as the enhanced explosions are too loud (bad compression). Another error was Rhino sticking in season one bumpers...and one episode had GI-JOE music!? WHAT THE...who is doing this remastering anyway? Does Rhino even care?

Overall it's a convient set to have, but in my opinion I prefer the analog originals...for retro sake and disliking of newly added errors and sound.

Ok, first off, its a collection worth having. All the originals are here, and everything you remembered about them is present. I've broken down my review into quick snibits to make it short and sweet.

SOUND: I don't know why Rhino decided to put 5.1 audio on a cartoon that was barely suitable for stereo. The sound is good, however the decision to replace sounds with new snd fx was a horrible idea. Why? Why!! Also, because of this "forced" 5.1 audio, it is painfully obvious and straining to the ear to hear the audio switch back and forth between your center spkr and your surrounds. It was a nice try, but really doesn't snd too good.

IMAGE: The restoration is good, and I don't think can get any better. Crisp and clean. Though, I don't understand why Rhino decided to keep the commercial tag lines in. It seems those should have been taken out.

EXTRAS: Horrible. They are actually pretty boring, and having almost nothing to do with the old series. These are guys who are doing the new Armada series, and you don't get anything, zippo, from hardly anyone who did anything on the original broadcast. They are not well done either, and did I say they were rather boring?? No concept designs, sketches, storyboards, commentaries. . . nothing.

That's it. Besides all that, it is worth having to simply relive the nostalgia of it. But I think Rhino has made some pretty wierd and poor decisions on the quality. It's as if no one really tested the product. Or, these are people who didn't even grow up with the series, and are simply pumping out another DVD to put on the market. who knows.

The second season of Transformers had an incredible 49 episodes. This DVD box set features the first 24 and while the animation has just as many glitches and errors as the first season the writing standard is higher.

Yes, some episodes are hokey and downright weird (especially the King Arthur one) and the science behind some of the plot devices is just mental but the imagination behind it is what you just don't get these days. The cheapness of the crudely edited episodes, the badly cut-and-pasted (very cool) music cues played over and over and obviously physical impossibilities just make it better in some odd way. If Transformers were slicker I don't think it would be so fondly cherished.

The DVD presents each episode in 1.33:1 full frame, as originally drawn, with remastered Dolby 5.1 sound which, like before, can be simultaneously dynamic and forceful but false and a bit strident. The extras are rubbish and boring. The only one that could have been great is the Botcon footage but it's very poorly shot on camcorder, has no sound and makes it look like the convention consists of about 2 stalls in someone's garage.

It's amazing how classic these cartoons are. Being a father now, my own sons enjoy watching them, the cartoons today are pale in comparison to the series that launched in the 80's and 90's.

Everything of the quality is excellent, I don't think you could ask any more as far as sound and picture. These were old, and I don't think anyone had DVD's in mind back then. The only thing that is seriously lacking is really good extras. It begs the question: "Does anyone from the original series even care, or are they even alive still?" Where are the directors/writers and original artists for these things? I would have loved to hear some audio commentary too by some of the former directors. Yet you find none of it on any of the collector editions. It's unfortunate, and I would really like to know why. Model sheets, concept designs would have been neat to look at, even the Transformers: The Movie DVD had little to nothing to offer. I guess no one saved anything???

However, this is the DVD to get, simply for the episodes. It's worth the money, and it has definately been worth the wait.