Transformers: The Headmasters (cartoon)
| The name or term "Headmaster" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Headmaster (disambiguation). |
Transformers: The Headmasters aired from July 3, 1987 to March 28, 1988 and marks the departure of the Japanese from the US continuity. The Japanese aired this 35 episode series instead of the Season 4 "Rebirth" episodes seen in the US.
In Headmasters, Galvatron leads a fresh assault against the Autobots with a group of warriors called Headmasters. The Autobots are overwhelmed by this new threat until the arrival of Fortress Maximus and the Autobot Headmasters. With these new reinforcements, the Autobot-Decepticon civil war begins anew.
Though these episodes never aired in the United States, a version was dubbed into English overseas. Variously referred to as "the Singapore dub" or "the Star TV dub" (though in fact originating from RTM in Malaysia), these translations feature voice acting of questionable quality (some fans suspect a single actor did the bulk of the voices), and almost random re-naming of characters and artifacts: Blaster becomes "Billy", the Matrix becomes "the Power Pack", Spike is "Sparkle", Soundblaster is "New Soundwave", and Fortress Maximus is known as "Spaceship Bruce".
The dubs have acquired a cult popularity among the fandom, largely for bizarre or poorly-translated dialogue such as:
- Spike: "Look out!"
- Metroplex: "Whaaaat?"
- Galvatron, watching the apparent death of Soundwave: "Darn that Soundwave. *yawn*!"
- Rodimus, to a dying Blaster: "Billy, are you alright?"
- Blaster: "Not really. Find the power pack!"
- Zarak: "So, Fortress Maximus has come himself. Okay! I shall get Fortress Maximus to fight me, heh heh heh!"
