auto-nots

I recently got the first 12 episodes of Transformers Galaxy Force, which is the original Japanese version of the current Transformers Cybertron cartoon. As I'd hoped, I find the original, with the excellent voices, to be far superior and more watchable.

However, as I'm watching the US/english episode, number 38 or something, (called "Warp" in the US and "Breaking Through the Super Space-Time Tunnel" in Japan! You tell me which is more awesome) I am again caught by surprise by some of the writing, which is now and again clever and enjoyable. One of the humans asks 'do minicons dream of electric ships?', the context of which fits in with the episode plot of course. As most will catch, this is a reference to the P.K. Dick novella which was the inspiration for Blade Runner. Only some 30 seconds later, the minicons, who are being stubborn, are asked by the human 'if they are Autobots, or Auto-Nots?' While probably not a direct reference to my favorite "are you a Mexican, or a Mexican't?" line in Once Upon a Time in Mexico, I'll just imagine it is.

It's always a surprise when they bust out something like that in this show, and I can almost guarantee that wasn't in the Japanese version, so really speaks to some clever translation. The bootleg copy I have is totally Engrish Transrate, so it's awesome, just in a less movie-reference sort of way.

Also, the MASK vehicles Thunder Hawk and Piranha have joined the archive.
Posted by charlie on October 26th 2006
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