Transformers: Zone

Transformers: Zone (トランスフォーマー ゾーン, Toransufōmā: Zōn) is a 1990 movie OVA exclusive to Japan 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.

Transformers: Zone
DVD cover
トランスフォーマー ゾーン
(Toransufōmā: Zōn)
GenreAdventure, Mecha, Superhero
Original video animation
Directed byHiromichi Matano
Produced byKenji Yokoyama
Tatsuya Yoshida
Hisao Yamada
Masaharu Takayama
Written byToyohiro Ando
Music byKatsunori Ishida
Michiaki Watanabe
Columbia Music Entertainment
StudioToei Animation, Takara
ReleasedJuly 21, 1990
Runtime30 minutes
Manga
Written byMasumi Kaneda
Illustrated byBan Magami
Published byKodansha
MagazineTV Magazine
DemographicChildren
Original runApril 1990 – January 1991
Volumes1

Story

Following on from Victory, the mysterious three-faced insectoid being, Violen Jiger dispatches the "Nine Great Demon Generals"[1]—Devastator, Menasor, Bruticus, Trypticon, 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 Destrons on Earth, and is appointed the new Cybertron commander at the conclusion of the episode, following a battle with the Destrons 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.

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
  • 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 (Voiced by Hideyuki Tanaka)
Galaxy Shuttle

Decepticons

Nine Great Generals (九大魔将軍): The Nine Great Generals include:

Overlord (Voiced by
Keiichi Noda)
Super God General; leader of the Nine.
Devastator (Voiced by
Hirohiko Kakegawa)
Engineering General
Menasor (Voiced by
Masato Hirano)
Intelligence General
Bruticus (Voiced by
Yukimasa Kishino)
Fire General
Trypticon (Voiced by
Daisuke Gōri)
Dinosaur General
Predaking (Voiced by
Yukimasa Kishino)
Beast General
Abominus (Voiced by
Yukimasa Kishino)
Monster General
King Poseidon (Voiced by
Masato Hirano)
Aquatic General
Black Zarak (Voiced by
Hirohiko Kakegawa)
Dark Spirit General

Micromaster Race Track Patrol:

Barricade
F-1 Racer

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.

Violenjiger/Bio Ranger Iga: 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 Bio Ranger Iga, Lord of the Tenth Planet, and assembled a force of Thirteen "Great Demon" Generals to serve his ambitions:

  • Zarak Maximus, the Fusion Paranoia General, born after the Nebulan Zarak fused together the remains of several Autobots and Decepticons and was consumed by their feuding personalities.
  • Hydratron, the Stygian Anguish General, provided by the Quintessons.
  • Volcanicon, the Transwarp Pandemic General, seeking to avenge Planet Dinosaur.
  • Obsidian, the Radiation Mutilation General, Volcanicon's twin.
  • Sixshot, the Filicide Ninjitsu General, sent in place of an uninterested Shockwave.
  • Monstructor, the Nightmare Abyss General, offered up to Iga by the Ebon Knights.
  • Gigatron, the Destronger Chōkon General, who came to Iga's side from beyond time.
  • Ruination, the Arctic Decay General, recovered from a frozen wasteland in a Viron Cluster universe.
  • Toxitron, the Miasma Apostate General, given to Iga by an equivalent to Starscream who broke the components free from confinement.
  • Ragnarok, the Genetronic Apocalypse General, who was freed by Iga from a "dead end universe."
  • Puzzler, the Cybernetic Subjugation General, a cyborg gestalt permanently fused by Iga.
  • Shokaract, the Omega Singularity General.
  • Galvatronus, the Deceptigod Emperor General, who was selected by Iga as the leader of his generals.

Cast

Theme Songs
  • Openings
  1. "Transformers Z Theme" (トランスフォーマーＺのテーマ, Toransufōmā Zone no Tēma)
    • Lyricist: Machiko Ryu / Composer: Komune Negishi / Arranger: Katsunori Ishida / Singers: Ichiro Mizuki
  • Endings
  1. "To You of the Future" (未来の君へ, Ashita no Kimi e)
    • 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 (OVA) 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

The missing characters did go on to appear in the pages of the Japanese publication, TV Magazine otherwise known as Telemaga. This monthly magazine had always included Transformers manga story pages and splash illustrations with explanatory text. No direct manga was ever released for Zone. TV Magazine did publish a retelling on the OVA in manga format in its April 1990 issue.

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.

References
  1. "Nine Great Demon Generals - Transformers Wiki". tfwiki.net. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
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