Transformers: The Headmasters

Transformers: The Headmasters has a tremendous amount of history behind it. It is the first "exclusive to Japan" full length Transformers series, created after Takara learned that American production on Transformers was coming to an end, seeing that the franchise still had immeasurable popularity and merchandising potential, the idea to create original episodes was put forward, and here we are

Headmasters explores the adventures of the Transformer natives of Planet Master, having spent generations in exile to escape the Cybertronian wars, these Transformers have now returned, locked in a civil war with one another, one side fighting to preserve peace and justice, the other to conquer and plunder for their own gain, both sides ally with The Autobot and Decepticon factions, and continue their struggle, with Earth's survival at stake

Despite being called Headmasters, the show is not above introducing viewers to other aspects of the franchise, TF characters exclusive to this series include Sixshot, the Trainbots, The Targetmasters,, and new versions of classic characters. The series also includes a crossover with the obscure Battlebeast toyline, a talking Ravage and Lazerbeak, some of the more beloved G1 characters meeting grizzly ends, and a few changes of the guard that put the Headmasters at the helm of their respective sides.

The largest exposure Headmasters has outside of Japan is through a rather infamous English dub produced in Hong Kong for airing in Singapore. The rights to the dub were bought by Hasbro, and those unfortunate to see the series in this format will be quick to caution others to stay away from it, fortunately the series now exists on Region 2/O DVD in both Europe and Japan, complete with English/Japanese/Subtitle options