Transformers: Zone


Transformers: Zone is a Japanese original video animation in the fictional Transformers universe. It was released on July 21, 1990, on VHS and on April 21, 2004, on DVD in Japan. An unofficial fan-made English dub was released on TFCog.com in March 2004.

Story

Following on from Victory, the mysterious three-faced Insectoids in [science fiction and fantasy|insectoid] being Violen Jiger dispatches the "Nine Great Demon Generals"—Devastator, Menasor, Bruticus, Trypticon, List of [The Transformers characters#Predacons|Predaking], Abominus, King Poseidon, Overlord and BlackZarak—to acquire "Zone Energy", destroying the planet Feminia to obtain the world's store and in search of the powerful Zodiac. Caught in the destruction of the planet, Star Saber is rescued by Dai Atlas, who then repels an attack by the Decepticons on Earth, and is appointed the new Autobot commander at the conclusion of the episode, following a battle with the Decepticons and unlocking the power of the Zodiac that was found on Earth.

Characters

The cast of Zone is composed heavily of Micromasters, who also made up much of the toyline. Dai Atlas is a "Powered Master", so named for his motorized gimmick, as is his combining partner Sonic Bomber—the toyline also featured another partner for them, Roadfire, who was not in the episode. The solitary Decepticons in the toyline were the Race Track Patrol, and Metrotitan, a redeco of the Autobot city Metroplex, neither of whom appeared in animated form. None of the Decepticon Generals ever appeared in toy form.

Cybertron (Autobots）

Powered Masters / Big Powered:
The three Powered Masters combined into a super vehicle.
  • Dai Atlas – Drill Tank / Jet / Base
  • * Speeder – Futuristic Car
  • Sonic Bomber – Jet / Base
  • * Sonic – Porsche 944
  • Road Fire – Tank / Base
  • * Drill Buster – Drill Tank
Micromasters:
The Micromasters include:
  • Transports
;Overload
;Erector
;Black Heat
;Deadhour
;Gingham
;Road Hugger
;Flattop
  • Battle Stations
;Ironworks
;Hot House
;Airwave
  • Bases
;Groundshaker
;Skyhopper
Others:
;Victory Saber
;Galaxy Shuttle

Destron（Decepticons）

Nine Great Generals :
The Nine Great Generals include:
;Overlord
;Devastor
;Menazol
;Bruticus
;Dinasaurer
;Predaking
;Abominus
;King Poseidon
;Black Zarak
Micromaster Race Track Patrol:
;Barricade

Others

Organics:
Cain is a Nebulanoid boy from planet Feminia with a winged rabbit named Emusa. They meet a little boy named Akira when they come to Earth.
Violengiguar:
A monstrous insectoid being who assembles the Nine Great Generals in a bid to acquire Zone Energy.
An alternate version was featured in "Ask Vector Prime" under the name Violengiguar, Lord of the Tenth Planet, and assembled a force of Thirteen "Great Demon" Generals to serve his ambitions:
  1. "Transformers Z Theme"
  2. *Lyricist: Machiko Ryu / Composer: Komune Negishi / Arranger: Katsunori Ishida / Singers: Ichiro Mizuki
  • Endings
  1. "To You of the Future"
  2. *Lyricist: Machiko Ryu / Composer: Komune Negishi / Arranger: Katsunori Ishida / Singers: Ichiro Mizuki

    Development

Originally intended to be a full TV series, Transformers: Zone was forced to become direct-to-video due to less than expected toy sales. The series was cancelled after just one episode at 25 minutes. It is considered the last TF Generation 1 animated movie and the last series in the Japanese Transformers Generation 1 saga.

Adaptations and continuation

Prior to the OVA, TV Magazine published a one-shot Zone manga in its April 1990 issue, followed by a series of illustrations with accompanying texts that continued the story of the manga and OVA. A new threat emerges in the form of a gestalt called Metrotitan who, along with his 4 base soldiers goes on a rampage throughout space and attacks Earth with a freeze beam but is eventually defeated by Road Fire. Violengiguar subsequently heads to Earth; stealing the Zodiac and kidnapping Akira, Kain and some Autobots. They are rescued by the Powered Masters, who also retrieve the Zodiac after a battle with Violengiguar on his homeworld, who transforms himself into his true form. The Powered Masters harness this threat by utilizing the Zodiac's power to charge their combined jet form Big Powered to fight him. They unleash a rainbow beam that destroys Violengiguar, while returning the sunlight that Violengiguar once blocked from the planet, turning it into a lush green world.
TV Magazine had always included Transformers manga story pages and splash illustrations with explanatory text. These story pages were used to provide supporting fiction for the remaining two years' worth of toylines—1991's Battlestars: Return of Convoy and 1992's Operation: Combination.