Medianetwork Communication

Medianetwork Communication, rather confusingly abbreviated as MTC, is an Italian home video production company. They released the first two seasons of the original Generation 1 cartoon on DVD in the space of 4 months between 2008 and 2009, distributed by Medusa Video.

For their releases, MTC produced a brand new Italian dub that was rewritten to be closer to the original English dialogue than that which had aired on local TV in the 1980s. Original cast member Diego Reggente reprised his role as Optimus Prime for this new dub, amongst an otherwise entirely fresh roster.

Releases

The following version is equipped with only the Italian language.

• Transformers: The Movie (2007)

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The following releases feature both the new Italian dub and the original English audio track, with optional Italian subtitles.

• Transformers — Volume 01: Stagione Uno Parte Prima (November 9, 2008)

Two-disc set containing Season 1 episodes 1-8: "Molto Piu di quel che Appare" through to "S.O.S. Dinobots".

• Transformers — Volume 02: Stagione Uno Parte Seconda (November 19, 2008)

Two-disc set containing Season 1 episodes 9-16: "Fuoco sulla Montagna" through to "Il Duello".

• Transformers — Volume 03: Stagione Due Parte Prima (December 3, 2008)

Two-disc set containing Season 2 episodes 1-12: "L'Autobot Spike" through to "Il Nucleo".

• 
  Volume 01
• 
  Volume 02
• 
  Volume 03

• Transformers — Volume 04: Stagione Due Parte Seconda (January 14, 2009)

Two-disc set containing Season 2 episodes 13-25: "La Sindrome degli Insecticons" through to "Il Lago Dorato".

• Transformers — Volume 05: Stagione Due Parte Terza (February 11, 2009)

Two-disc set containing Season 2 episodes 26-37: "Falsi Dei" through to "Alla Ricerca di Alpha Trion".

• Transformers — Volume 06: Stagione Due Parte Quarta (March 11, 2009)

Two-disc set containing Season 2 episodes 38-49: "La Ragazza che Amava Powerglide" through to "B.O.T.".

• 
  Volume 04
• 
  Volume 05
• 
  Volume 06

• Transformers — Volume 07: Stagione Tre Parte Prima (Unreleased)

Two-disc set containing Season 3 episodes 1-16.

• Transformers — Volume 08: Stagione Tre Parte Seconda e Stagione Quattro (Unreleased)

Two-disc set containing Season 3 episodes 17-30 and Season 4.

Notes

• Episodes of these versions do not always follow the order of the original American broadcast, but the chronological order of the stories.
• Medianetwork's final two DVD volumes had been advertised to follow soon after the others, on April 8 and May 6 respectively, but more than a year later they remain unreleased.
• From December 1, 2011 onwards, Dynit began releasing the show on DVD.
• The artworks on the various covers, drawn by Emiliano Santalucia, use the Movie-styled Autobot and Decepticon symbols.
• The video master and English audio track are the same as the Kid Rhino edition, while the Italian dub, in some episodes, is done on the Generation 2 audio track, and as a result the Cybernet Space Cube sound effects are often heard before and after the classic scene transition.
• As extras, the DVDs feature the Season 1 commercial bumpers and various character bios, as listed below:
  • Volume 1: Optimus Prime, Megatron, Jazz, Reflector, Rumble, Spike, Prowl, Thundercracker, Brawn, Ironhide, Grimlock and Slag.
  • Volume 2: Skyfire, Laserbeak, Ratchet, Skywarp, Sunstreaker, Swoop, Hound, Soundwave, Bumblebee, Scrapper, Doctor Arkeville and Trailbreaker.
  • Volume 3: Mirage, Devastator, Wheeljack, Bombshell, Gears, Starscream, Cliffjumper, Buzzsaw, Sideswipe, Hook, Carly and Long Haul.
  • Volume 4: Perceptor, Shockwave, Red Alert, Mixmaster, Grapple, Shrapnel, Hoist, Scavenger, Sludge, Ravage, Inferno and Cybertron.
  • Volume 5: Smokescreen, Frenzy, Snarl, Kickback, Beachcomber, Astrotrain, Tracks, Blitzwing, Omega Supreme, Thrust, Blaster and "The female Autobots".
  • Volume 6: Silverbolt, Motormaster, Superion, Menasor, Slingshot, Onslaught, Hot Spot, Bruticus, Defensor, Swindle, Huffer and Alpha Trion.

Those bios take parts here and there, mainly from the original ones from the toys. The ones from toyless characters are made from scratch, using a random line the character said in the show as his "motto". These bios also include some peculiarities, such as referring to combiners as "Gestalts". The responsable of such things is Franco Villa, mainly known for being one of the most prolific Mosaic writers.