When I was a kid I collected Transformers and I have been doing so ever since. The Transformers Headmasters came around late in the end of the G1 run. There was a four issue mini-series in the comics and I think that eventually those characters made it to the regular Marvel comic. there were also a line of toys for the Headmasters and sadly I don’t have a single one of them.

This happened around the time when my interest in Transformers waned a bit and also with the end of the television cartoon and the end of the comic book series. However over in Japan they continued to make cartoons and that included 35 episodes of Headmasters cartoons.

I was so excited to finally be able to see these episodes and although they are in Japanese and have English subtitles I’m still excited to be watching them. I thought the Headmasters idea was pretty cool, humans (or rather nebulans (at least in the comics) underwent a process to binary bond themselves to a larger Transformer. the human became the head of the Transformers and later there were Targetmasters, humans, nebulans, that became the weapons of the Transformer.

This new DVD from Shout! Factory comes out on Tuesday July 5th but I was able to get an advanced copy and check it out. I was not disappointed. It was great to finally see something that I’d never been able to get my hands on before and now I’m jonesing for some Headmasters toys of my own.

Here is the official press release on the DVD set.

TRANSFORMERS: THE JAPANESE COLLECTION – HEADMASTERS
Featuring 35 Episodes and Exciting Bonus Content in a 4-DVD Set
ON DVD FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NORTH AMERICA!

IN STORES NATIONWIDE ON JULY 5, 2011 FROM SHOUT! FACTORY

This summer, loyal fans and collectors can finally bring home a new installment of the ongoing animated saga of TRANSFORMERS as FORTRESS MAXIMUS, SCORPONOK and rest of the Headmasters make their U.S. home entertainment debut in TRANSFORMERS: THE JAPANESE COLLECTION – HEADMASTERS DVD set from Shout! Factory, in collaboration with Hasbro, Inc.

THE TRANSFORMERS – HEADMASTERS is the first part of the rare Japanese trilogy that followed the popular “Generation 1” animated series. Available for the first time in North America, this collectible 4-DVD set features the complete action-packed episodes from the Headmasters series and contains the original Japanese language tracks along with updated English subtitles, a rare art gallery and more! Poised to attract an audience of pop culture enthusiasts, kids and parents who grew up with the American animated series, TRANSFORMERS: THE JAPANESE COLLECTION – HEADMASTERS is priced to own with a suggested retail price of $29.93.

TRANSFORMERS: THE JAPANESE COLLECTION – HEADMASTERS4-DVD Set
Synopsis:
OPTIMUS PRIME lives again, the energy of the Matrix has been released and peace reigns on CYBERTRON . . . but all that is about to change with the startling arrival of the newest breed of TRANSFORMERS warriors — the Headmasters! Bonus Features Include:
Original Japanese Audio
English Subtitles
Art Gallery

Technical Information
Street Date: July 5, 2011
Not Rated: For All Audiences
Suggested Retail Price: $29.93
4-DVD
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
Japanese, English, stereo

About Hasbro
Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) is a branded play company providing children and families around the world with a wide range of immersive entertainment offerings based on the Company’s world-class brand portfolio. From toys and games, to television programming, motion pictures, video games and a comprehensive licensing program, Hasbro strives to delight its customers through the strategic leveraging of well-known and beloved brands such as THE TRANSFORMERS, LITTLEST PET SHOP, NERF, PLAYSKOOL, MY LITTLE PONY, G.I. JOE, MAGIC: THE GATHERING and MONOPOLY. The Hub, Hasbro’s multiplatform joint venture with Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) launched on October 10, 2010. The online home of The Hub is www.hubworld.com. The Hub logo and name are trademarks of Hub Television Networks, LLC. All rights reserved.

Come see how we inspire play through our brands at http://www.hasbro.com. © 2010 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

About Shout! Factory
Shout! Factory is a diversified entertainment company devoted to producing, uncovering and revitalizing the very best of pop culture. Founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos have spent their careers sharing their music, television and film faves with discerning consumers the world over. Shout! Factory’s DVD offerings serve up classic, contemporary and cult TV series, riveting sports programs, live music, animation and documentaries in lavish packages crammed with extras. The company’s audio catalogue boasts GRAMMY®-nominated boxed sets, new releases from storied artists, lovingly assembled album reissues and indispensable “best of” compilations. These riches are the result of a creative acquisitions mandate that has established the company as a hotbed of cultural preservation and commercial reinvention. Shout! Factory is based in Santa Monica, California. For more on Shout! Factory, visit www.shoutfactory.com.