Head On!

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So I just got the Japanese Headmasters cartoon on DVD from Shout! Factory.  Yeah, I'm just a little late on this.  I've had other things going on for the past few years.  Anyway, I've watched the first disc, and I have some random thoughts that I'd like to share.  I would've waited until I watched the entire series, but this all ties into the series of articles I have coming down the pipeline.  Just trust me.

I had a two minute conversation with myself about whether or not I should do an episode by episode breakdown/synopsis, but I ultimately opted against it.  That just sounded tedious.  Anyway, where was I?  Right, my thoughts on the Japanese Headmasters cartoon.

That Theme Song

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The theme song is really catchy.  I've been walking around the house just saying "Head on!"  It's ridiculous how catchy that thing is.

It's Really Japanese

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When I started watching the first disc, I wondered why it wasn't imported over to the States by Hasbro.  Then we started getting the static shots that made me wonder if I was watching old Dragonball or Dragonball Z episodes.  Couple that with a very subservient Arcee, there's really no way this would have worked in the U.S. in 1987 or 1988.  But that's just me.

Isn't He Dead?

I love the fact that, so far, characters like Prowl, Hound, and Sunstreaker have been featured in this series.  Hound even has a speaking part!  Throw in Jazz having things to do, and I know have a very good reason to love this series.

 Combiners!

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I don't think I've viewed an episode yet that hasn't featured at least one gestalt.  And the battle in the first few episodes where all the gestalts (including Devastator!) fighting was epic.  It's something that I've always wanted to see animated.

Blurr is More Annoying Than Wheelie

Blurr's double talking is just downright idiotic.  Sure, Wheelie is still pretty annoying, but not to the point that Blurr is.  Plus, Blurr is a coward?  That's the way he seems through the first disc.  And I'm kind of annoyed at how Kup, Blurr and Arcee are essentially office workers.  The one time they've ventured out of the confines of the base on Athenia was to watch Rodimus get rubble knocked on him by Galvatron.  Eh.

Talk About a Commercial!

This is the most fascinating thing to me.  When a new character appears, his name is displayed.  That makes it easier for kids to tell their parents which toy they want.  People complain about U.S. cartoons from the 80's being glorified commercials, but Headmasters takes it to a whole new level.

Well that's it for this article.  I'll have more of a review once I finish watching the entire series, but I really wanted to get these thoughts out as they tie together with what I'm working on at the moment.