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Transformers: The Movie (1986 animated version) (a WIP)

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 (Edited)

I’ve been working on compiling everything for a personal project to make my own blu-ray restoration of the 1986 animated film, Transformers: The Movie.

Hopefully, I will have some help getting this all packaged into a nice Blu-Ray.  I plan to repair/restore some of the more heavily scratched/torn frames in the transfer. I’m also orrecting the matting to the true 1.85:1 aspect ratio.  I probably won’t do much with the colors since there is not definitive color reference and the Metrodome release apparently already had the colors corrected as closely as possible to the original intended colors.

I have a large list of extras that I’ve been compiling and creating, which is about 80-90% done, but there are a few things I’m still looking for.

Is there a better copy of Stan Bush’s “The Touch” music video than what is on Youtube or the Blu-Ray?

Here is what I have so far:

[Movie]

HD Theatrical version - 1080p widescreen transfer
[COMPLETE] English DTS 5.1 Surround soundtrack
[COMPLETE] LPCM Stereo soundtrack
[COMPLETE] Running commentary by story consultant Flint Dille, director Nelson Shin, and voice actress Susan Blu
[COMPLETE] Fan commentary featuring prominent fans of the franchise - Paul Hitchens, Rik Alvarez, Joe Moore, and Alex Weiner
[COMPLETE] Running commentary by Chris McFeely
[COMPLETE] custom isolated music and score track
[COMPLETE] Subtitles: English, Spanish, French

SD International TV & video version - 480i fullframe
[COMPLETE] reconstructed English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
[COMPLETE] Spanish Language mono dialog track
[COMPLETE] French Language mono dialog track
[COMPLETE] Japanese Language stereo dialog track

[Trailers]

Promo Reel
[COMPLETE] restored original audio track
[COMPLETE] running commentary by Paul Hitchens

Teaser Trailer

Theatrical Trailer
[COMPLETE]  original audio track
[COMPLETE]  alternate audio track with additional narration

Theatrical Trailer HD Remaster
[COMPLETE]  original audio track
[COMPLETE]  alternate audio track with additional narration

30 second “kid” version TV commercial SD original w multiple audio tracks
[COMPLETE]  “opens in three days” narration
[COMPLETE]  “opens today” narration

30 second “kid” version TV commercial HD remaster w multiple audio tracks
[COMPLETE]  “opens in three days” narration
[COMPLETE]  “opens today” narration

60 second “teen” version TV commercial SD original w multiple audio tracks
[COMPLETE]  “opens august 8th” narration
[COMPLETE]  “opens tomorrow” narration
[COMPLETE]  “now playing” narration

60 second “teen” version TV commercial HD remaster w multiple audio tracks
[COMPLETE]  “opens august 8th” narration
[COMPLETE]  “opens tomorrow” narration
[COMPLETE]  “now playing” narration

30 second “teen” version TV commercial SD original w multiple audio tracks
[COMPLETE]  “opens in three days” narration
[COMPLETE]  “opens august 8th” narration
[COMPLETE]  “opens tomorrow” narration
[COMPLETE]  “now playing” narration

30 second “teen” version TV commercial HD remaster w multiple audio tracks
[COMPLETE]  “opens in three days” narration
[COMPLETE]  “opens august 8th” narration
[COMPLETE]  “opens tomorrow” narration
[COMPLETE]  “now playing” narration

15 second UK TV commercial- SD original (restored)

15 second UK TV commercial- HD remaster

Special sweepstakes commercial

[Toy Commercials]

US, Japanese, and Pre-Transformers “Diaclone” toy commercials video

[Scramble City OVA semi-prequel]

Scramble City Japanese OVA
[COMPLETE]  Original Japanese Audio
[COMPLETE]  Running Commentary by Chris McFeely
[COMPLETE]  Fan Commentary
[COMPLETE]  English subtitles based on the original international translation
[COMPLETE]  New English subtitles with improved translation

Japanese “Scramble City Toys” promo video

Japanese “Scramble City” toy commercials

Animated Storyboards (from the 20th anniversary DVD and UK bluray)
[COMPLETE]  Gone Fishing
[COMPLETE]  Autobot/Decepticon Battle
[COMPLETE]  Optimus Prime vs Megatron
[COMPLETE]  Unused Devastator Scene
[COMPLETE]  Death of Ultra Magnus
[]Additional Storyboard Art gallery

Extended Cinex Test

Test footage with deleted and alternate scenes
[COMPLETE]  running commentary track by Paul Hitchens
[COMPLETE]  running commentary track by Chris McFeely

[Interviews and featurettes]

Flint Dille interview, Peter Cullen Q&A, and Vince DiCola interview video

“Q&A”, “The Cast And Characters”, and “The Death of Optimus Prime” featurette with Flint Dille, Susan Blu, and Nelson Shin

[Music Videos]

Stan Bush - “The Touch” music video

“Weird Al” Yankovic - “Dare To Be Stupid” music video

[additional secret easter eggs]

[Animated Slide Shows]

Character Bios slideshows with production art, toy photos, and artwork:
[] - Character Bios - Classic Heroes
[] - Character Bios - Classic Villains
[] - Character Bios - New Heros
[] - Character Bios - New Villains

[]Merchandise and Promotional Material

[]Production Art - Various model sheets, production sketches and other production art, character bios, cover artwork, promotional art, and promo posters

[bd rom content]

Transformers The Movie original script pdf file
Theater and Ziploc store promotion kit package pdf
Transformers: The Movie 1986 Marvel Comics comic adaptation pdf
Transformers: The Animated Movie 2007 IDW comic adaptation pdf
Transformers The Movie storybook from Ladybird Books Ltd pdf
Transformers The Movie Sticker Book digital archive pdf

Sources:
Austrialian Blu-Ray (Madman Release)
DTS track from the UK Blu-Ray (Metrodome Release)
English PCM audio from the original Japanese LD (Hillcrane Release)
Original US DVD (Rhino Release)
US 20th Anniversary DVD (Sony Release)
UK Ultimate Edition DVD (Metrodome Release)
UK Reconstructed DVD (Metrodome Release)

Transformers Visual Works artbook

Transformers First Series Complete book

Transformers Generations series of photobooks

Transformers Vault book

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Sounds like an excellent project, I've always loved the Transformers cartoons.

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This looks to be a fantastic project.  I'm anxious to see how it turns out.  You have A LOT of good stuff here, so hopefully it all comes together great.  With such an abundance of material, are you planning on making the release a BD50 or will this all fit onto a BD25?

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I'm hoping for a BD50.  I'd have to compress the extras too much to make it all fit on a BD25.

I have a copy of the Rhino DVD coming now, so I can get the extra material off of that one.  I really wish I could get a hold of the original Japanese Laserdisc so I could get the original stereo sound mix off of it.

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I have the UK blu-ray I have no idea why it became so darned expensive 

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Space Kaijuu said:

I'm hoping for a BD50.  I'd have to compress the extras too much to make it all fit on a BD25.

I have a copy of the Rhino DVD coming now, so I can get the extra material off of that one.  I really wish I could get a hold of the original Japanese Laserdisc so I could get the original stereo sound mix off of it.

I've got the Rhino DVD ..... I love it.  I have the DVD release after that as well.  I believe it fixed the color timing issue.

 

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 (Edited)

Every transfer of the movie has different color timing.  Both the Sony transfer used for the 20th Anniversary DVD and the Metrodome transfer used on the UK and Australian BDs have decent color but neither one matches and both show signs that the colors may still be wrong.  It seems like ever since the Rhino DVD, they've been making more and more of an effort to oversaturate the colors as well.  I'm not sure f it is simply a desire to try and make every video release look more vivid than the previous one or something wrong with the negatives they've been using.

(edit: I found out that the UK releases used a new transfer off of the original negatives.)

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I have been waiting for ever for the a version with the Japanese language track and English subtitles.  Not dubtitles.

I know that is not the aim of your project.

I wish you luck anyways.

“Always loved Vader’s wordless self sacrifice. Another shitty, clueless, revision like Greedo and young Anakin’s ghost. What a fucking shame.” -Simon Pegg.

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 (Edited)

I don't have the Japanese audio but a kind donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, has provided me with a rip of the stereo LPCM audio from the Japanese Laserdisc.

Also, I just finished the isolated music and score track.

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A long time ago I was thinking about subtitling the Japanese dub myself since I really like it too (the Japanese cast are especially great if you're a fan of seiyuu from Gundam, etc.), but there's so much stuff I have/want to do nowadays, I doubt I'll ever get around to it.

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BTW, are you planning on trying and reducing some of the MPEG-2 blocking? It's not too bad but it is somewhat noticable. I can live with it though, especially if trying to reduce it could affect the PQ negatively.

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So, it seems I might be able to get the Japanese dub track as well but I don't have the resources to have it translated to English at the moment.  If I had a script, creating the subtitles wouldn't be an issue.

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Space Kaijuu said:I don't have the Japanese audio but a kind donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, has provided me with a rip of the stereo LPCM audio from the Japanese Laserdisc.

That's fantastic because the LD that has PCM is extremely expensive.  Do you plan to sync the PCM to the BD?

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The isolated music and score track sounds like it is going to be entertaining. There have been so many differing releases of DiCola's score it will be nice to have something comprehensive.

“That’s impossible, even for a computer!”

“You don't do ‘Star Wars’ in Dobly.”

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Chewtobacca said:

Space Kaijuu said:I don't have the Japanese audio but a kind donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, has provided me with a rip of the stereo LPCM audio from the Japanese Laserdisc.

That's fantastic because the LD that has PCM is extremely expensive.  Do you plan to sync the PCM to the BD?

If you're referring to eBay auctions, a lot of that has been due to people overpricing the auctions or getting trolled by shill bidders.  In Japan, good condition used copies show up every few months on Japanese auction sites and sell for roughly $50-75.

 

StarThoughts said:

The isolated music and score track sounds like it is going to be entertaining. There have been so many differing releases of DiCola's score it will be nice to have something comprehensive.

 

Yeah, it took a lot of work to piece it all together properly.  The score was obviously written so that it could be edited and looped in places to fit with the final action sequences.

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StarThoughts said:

The isolated music and score track sounds like it is going to be entertaining. There have been so many differing releases of DiCola's score it will be nice to have something comprehensive.

Do you have any of them? They're rare and "hard to find" but you can find them if you know where to look ;)

There's the official soundtrack (20th anniversary remaster has bonus tracks), Lighting Their Darkest Hour, The Protoform Sessions, and probably 1 or 2 others that I'm forgetting., hehe.

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I have the CDs for "Lighting Their Darkest Hour" and the 20th Anniversary reissue of the original Soundtrack album.  I used those to create the isolated score.

"Lighting Their Darkest Hour" has the complete score, including tracks that weren't included on the previous score album but it omits the unused audition track.  My only gripe is that all the releases use the version of the "Autobot/Decepticon Battle" track that appeared on the original soundtrack and not the original source score.  It fades out early at the end so I had to do a lot of work to reconstruct the correct fadeout for the isolated score.

Most of the tracks in-film were edited differently from what was on the soundtrack albums, so the isolated score will be quite different from what is on the CD releases.

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Does anyone whether the UK Metrodome "Reconstructed" or "Ultimate Edition" releases used frame blending or PAL speedup to convert the video to 25fps?

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It's field blended, which is a real shame because it's an interesting release, despite its many flaws.

And I was indeed referring to eBay auctions in my previous post.  Thanks for setting me straight.  :-)

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 (Edited)

I have the original soundtrack release and the 2 disc ‘Till All Are One’ Botcon '97 set, which has the score on disc one minus what appeared on the original soundtrack presentation, and a live DiCola show on disc 2.

“That’s impossible, even for a computer!”

“You don't do ‘Star Wars’ in Dobly.”

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wow, this sounds pretty damn cool :)

i'm looking forward to the final product.

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bigrob said:maybe that will give an indication to colour timing?

Unfortunately, the colors on that DVD are far too saturated, especially the reds.  They are not broadcast legal, so I wouldn't use the disc as a guide to color timing.

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I think the Reconstructed version uses the same transfer that was used for the UK and Austrialian BD.  The US anniversary edition has a lot of areas with blown out whites while the BD has a few areas of where the darker areas are too dark and lose some details.