#transformers version comparison

In the past, I found a couple of scenes from Shadow The Hedgehog (2005) in two different languages, and compared them side by side.  Now, I have found a scene from The Transformers: The Movie (1986), where the Decepticons disposed of their own comrades (including Megatron) to lighten the load from Astrotrain.

There is an interesting twist: the English version of the scene is the original, while the Japanese version is the dubbed version with English subtitles (or should I say, dubtitles).

Here is the original version:

Astrotrain said to “jettison some [sic] weight, or he’ll never make it to Cybertron,” and the Decepticons (led by Starscream) voted on who will be disposed of (survival of the fittest), and those who said “nay” were to be jettisoned.  We see Skywarp and Thundercracker falling into space, and then Starscream, about to toss Megatron, gives this exchange:

“Oh, how it PAINS me to DO this!”

And then Megatron weakly said, “WAIT!  I STILL FUNCTIIION!!” and then Starscream replied with, “wanna BET?” and let Megatron go (the way Megatron yelled his second-in-command’s name was hilarious).

Afterwards, Starscream declared that since Megatron is gone, then he is the new leader.  But then, conflict ensued, as the Constructions protested, saying that since they form Devestator, “the most POWERFUL robot,” then THEY should be leaders of the Decepticons.  And then, Soundwave came with this iconic exchange:

Well, that really riled up the Constructicons.  One of them called Soundwave an “uncarismatic bore,” which provoked Soundwave’s Cassettes, and then the Decepticons started brawling all the way to Cybertron.  (It is implied that one of the Constructicons won the battle, but then Starscream sucker punched him, and that was how he was being crowned leader of the Decepticons; before Galvatron annihalated him.)

Now, here is the dubbed version:

(Pardon the quality change)

Basically, it is the same scene with some differences (besides the language and voices).  After Starscream declared that those who said “nay” will be jettisoned, we actually get to hear Skywarp and Thundercracker SCREAM as they were falling into space.  And when Megatron was about to be disposed of, this exchange is not as iconic as the original, but still:

“Oh, my heart aches having to say goodbye to you.”

“W-Wait!  I can still function properly!”

“Then, function!”

“S-STARSCREAM!  UWAAAAAAAUUGGGHHHH!!!!!”

So, while Starscream declared himself as the new [Decepticon] leader (Decepticons are called Destrons in earlier Japanese canon), the Constructicons (called Buildrons) said that since they form Devastator (called Devastor), then they should be leaders.  And then Soundwave came with this exchange:

“Soundwave: intelligent.  [Constructicons]: nothing but idiots!”

Like the original version, the Constructicons got riled up; one of the Constructicons called Soundwave a “sycophantic piece of trash,” which provoked the Cassettes, and a more intense brawl ensued.

Most of the time, the original version is better, but this dub also had more intriguing moments and changes in this particular scene.  For example, the dub made the Transformers a lot more human than the English version (like in Micron Legend and Superlink), and some of the dialogue and environment are darker and more intense than the original; even though the original film itself is more intense than the G1 show it was based on.

That said, even the Japanese dub of the film had extra dialogue thrown in, which may kill off the mood of a scene (like the death of Optimus Prime, for example).

So, I will call this a tie, since they are both good, even though the original version is almost always the best.  I will always like the environment (voice cast, characters, music and soundtrack, and the premise) of the original version, but I will also like the darker themes in the dub, as well (Micron Legend and Superlink are darker, which is why I actually like these shows better than the original G1 show).

Like if you found this post useful.  Reblog for the original version.  Comment for the dub.