Generation One: Season 1 [Free Collector's Tin] [DVD]

Okay, so I'm 34 yet still into TRANSFORMERS, GI JOE, MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE and anything made by Gerry Anderson - You have a problem with that? Good, because I honestly don't see a time when I won't be a fan of all these gems - If people seem to think I should give up all the things I love just because I've reached a certain age then that's their problem, not mine (but I digress).

Now known as "Generation 1" because of all the subsequent incarnations, to me this will always just be "The Transformers". I vividly recall the day when I leapt for a blank video cassette to start recording the first 4-minute snippet of the first episode when it was screened by breakfast television's summer holiday host ROLAND RAT (remember him?). I was mesmerized from the start - Here were my favourite toys brought to life in thrilling adventures that were told in a superb way. Years later the series seems as fresh and thrilling as ever, even though the original toy line is long gone - Sort of puts paid to the "toy commercial" jibe so many people level at series like this, doesn't it? After all, if that were the case the series wouldn't be held in such high esteem by adults such as myself (believe me, there are LOTS of us about!) so long after it ended.

This set features 16 digitally remastered episodes; the entire first season. Over the course of the unforgettable opening three-parter we come to know and love the core of characters that defined a generation, and subsequent instalments introduce the sublime SKYFIRE, ravenous INSECTICONS and the gargantuan gestalt DEVASTATOR. If you haven't a clue what I'm talking about then you need to buy this set. Back in the 80's we found ourselves caring for these two-dimensional robots and there's no reason the same won't happen to you. You may find the animation style 'crude' in comparison with today's cartoons (I don't), but the pace, excitement & quality of storytelling leaves the vapid modern counterpart lurking in shame amongst the shadows. Am I over-reacting? Well, I admit that my passion has flourished over 20 years and that I find it equally bizarre that people get so worked over the tedium that is football - Each to their own and for fans of quality kids television, this is a must.

I must agree with another reviewer and state that from a packaging point of view, the region 2 set isn't as attractive as the chrome box/animation cel freebie region 1 set from the US. Where this release excels is that the advert "bumpers" (those little clips that say "we'll be right back") are included in the American release. They're historically interesting but not after you've seen them 6 times per episode!! The UK release removes these breaks entirely and the episodes are more streamlined as a result. Also, the R1 set of the first half of season 2 spreads a lot of 2-part stories over separate discs - The R2 release places them (quite rightly) on the same one to avoid the nuisance of a disc change mid story.

At such a good price, this is unmissable.

At last season 1 is finally released. The box sets have been released in reverse order! A cunning ploy to get you to buy them all if you purchased series 4 to start with! The tin is ideal, it fits all 4 series very well. There is even space to put your single disc 'Transformers The Movie'.
Re-live your youth, you know you want to, and what a theme tune!
Buy this now, retro cool at it's best!

Four million years ago on a planet called Cybertron, a terrible war broke out between two races of Transformers; the Autobots and the Decepticons. As the Autobots were badly losing energy, they decided to fly around space in their spacecraft (which I believe is called the Ark) to find planets that could provide them with new rich sources of energy. However, the Decepticons followed them and another battle broke out on board the Ark. Because they were all so busy fighting one another, nobody was flying the Ark and as a result, crash-landed into a prehistoric earth.

In this season one box-set (set in the year 1984, 4 million years later) we are properly introduced to the Autobots, such as Optimus Prime, Cliffjumper, Bumblebee, Jazz, Blaster, etc. Unfortunately, we are also introduced to the evil Decepticons, such as Starscream, Ravage the Decepticon black panther, Soundwave and their evil leader (I wish it was Starscream. He's always fighting for leadership in most of the episodes), Megatron.

They are not the only characters who have a part to play in this series. Not too long after being re-activated on earth (after spending the past 4 million years in stasis mode, due to the crash-landing on earth), the Autobots rescue the lives and befriend two humans who become the main human characters of the series, a young boy named Spike and his father, Sparkplug (funny names, I know. But don't blame me. Take it up with the writers, LOL!). As you progress through the series you learn that the Autobots are fighting the Decepticons not for fun, nor because they enjoy hurting and killing. Far from it! They fight for freedom and peace, led by the most legendary and heroic Autobot in history, Optimus Prime, who proves to be very compassionate and considerate to all living creatures. He is especially compassionate to humans as he understands that they are just fragile, defenceless little creatures compared to the deadly Decepticons.

This is a beautifully-done cartoon series proving to the whole world and to young as well as old viewers that cartoons from the 80s are definitely way cooler and more natural compared to a lot of the violent, computer animated rubbish we get nowadays...then again, I guess it depends what kinds of cartoons you would compare this to.

As for the audio-sound featured in this cartoon series, I've read a few reviews from other Amazon.co.uk buyers and to give you my honest opinion, I cannot understand what some of them are complaining about. You get the choice of two audio-sounds to choose from with excellent sound effects and that's good enough for me and everybody else.

If you have never watched 'Transformers' before and have decided to get yourself into it, then definitely start off with this one! You'll get a really good introduction to the good old classic Autobots who began the classic series in the first place. It is also advisable to watch this at least before watching the old 80s 'Transformers' movie as you will have got to know the classic Autobots by this time and will feel even more emotionally when you witness the events that take place...20 years later!