A new threat to Earth arises when powerful giant Decepticon Pretenders shaped like Earth's beasts escape their ancient prison at the bottom of the ocean. Autobot Pretenders who can turn into human and live among them fight back.
That's saying a fair bit as Headmasters from personal perspective didn't hold up(despite saying that I remembered it being good) and I didn't care at all for Victory. Masterforce was really well done though, the concept initially did seem a little shaky and as with a lot of shows the first couple of episodes had a yet-to-find-its-feet feel to it. The execution however was truly impressive. Of the three 1980s anime-Transformers shows Masterforce is the most Japanese-anime-like and also has the most detailed animation and the most consistent characterisations. And it also doesn't try to cram in too much in the story lines or the terrible dubbing like Headmasters and has more energy and characters that are relatable unlike Victory. The animation is rich in detail and quite exciting in the action, definitely the best animated of this show, Victory and Headmasters combined. The music is dynamic and un-repetitive and the theme tune is catchy and not cheesy. The writing is thought-provoking and has a freshness to it, ill-placed humour and slapstick being nowhere in sight. The stories are well-paced, exciting, with emotion and are gripping, without trying to do too much. The series also has a well-rounded end, not anti-climatic like Headmasters. The characterisation is remarkably consistent with Devil Z being a very sinister villain and not a Megatron clone, and we even see some familiar faces. The voice is decent. In conclusion, excellent and the best of the 1980s anime-Transformers shows by some distance. Also one of the high points of the franchise along with the original 1984 show and Beast Wars. 9/10 Bethany Cox
