Challenge of the GoBots/International releases
Challenge of the GoBots was exported to several countries.
This list is accurate but not yet exhaustive.
Argentina[edit | edit source]
The series was dubbed in Spanish as El Desafio de Los GoBots. A comic was also produced to support the show.
Home Video[edit | edit source]
Episodes were released on VHS by Lightning Video, including:
- "La Saga de Los GoBotron" ("The GoBotron Saga")
- "Invasion desde el Nivel 21" ("Invasion from the 21st Level")
- "La Rebelión de Los Renegados" ("Renegade Rampage")
Australia[edit | edit source]
While the series was not redubbed for the Australian market the series was retitled as Challenge of the Machine Men, to reflect the strong sales of the Machine Men toyline. The start titles were edited to feature the new name and the show was given a new theme tune derived from the Machine Men toy commercial jingle, itself based on that used in Tonka's GoBots toy commercials.
Home Video[edit | edit source]
Episodes were released on VHS by Worldvision under their Rainbow Children's Video label, including:
- "Time Wars" and "Renegade Alliance"
Finland[edit | edit source]
The series was subtitled in Finnish as GoBots.
Home Video[edit | edit source]
Episodes were released on VHS by Vestron Video under their Lasten Videokirjasto label.
France[edit | edit source]
The series was dubbed in French as Le Defi des GoBots and was a sizeable hit, even leading to Machine Robo: Revenge of Cronos being imported and dubbed as quasi-sequel Revenge of the GoBots. The adaptation was written by Patricia Angot and featured a new theme tune, "Go GoBots", performed by Bernard Minet. The series was broadcast on TF1's Vitamine strand from 11 September 1985.
Cast[edit | edit source]
- Henry Djanik - Leader (Leader-1)
- Jacques Deschamps - Cyclos (Cy-Kill)
- Sady Rebbot - Proto (Turbo)
- Jacques Ferriere - Scooter and Doctor Braxis
- Monique Thierry - Demo (Crasher) and UFO (Path Finder)
- Jose Luccioni - Matt Hunter
- Vincent Violet - Nick Burns
- Régine Teyssot - Agi (A.J. Foster)
- Roger Lumont - Matt Hunter (replacement) and Rescue (Rest-Q)
- Mario Santini - Van (Van Guard)
- René Bériard - Leader (replacement)
- Georges Caudron - Matt Hunter (replacement)
- Francis Lax - Scooter (replacement)
- Bernard Métraux, Alain Lacour, Jackie Berger - Additional voices
Home Video[edit | edit source]
Episodes were released on VHS by Vestron Video, including: -
- "La Saga GoBotron" ("The GoBotron Saga")
- Volume 1: "La Guerre du Temps" ("Time Wars"), "La Piege Catackysme de Cyclos" ("Cy-Kill's Cataclysmic Trap"), "Triple Menace" ("Trident's Triple Threat")
- Volume 2: ?
- Volume 3: "L'Invasion Du 21 Niveau" 1er parte ("Invasion from the 21st Level, Part I"), "L'Invasion Du 21 Niveau" 2e parte ("Invasion from the 21st Level, Part II"), "Vague du Crime" ("Crime Wave")
- Volume 4: ?
Germany[edit | edit source]
The series was dubbed in German, retaining the Challenge of the GoBots name.
Home Video[edit | edit source]
Episodes were released on VHS by Vestron Video under their Child's Video Library label, including: -
- "The GoBotron Saga"
- "Die Invasion" ("Invasion from the 21st Level")
Netherlands[edit | edit source]
The series was dubbed in Dutch, retaining the Challenge of the GoBots name.
Home Video[edit | edit source]
Episodes were released on VHS by Vestron Video under their Child's Video Library label.
Spain[edit | edit source]
The series was dubbed in Spanish as El Desafio de Los GoBots.
Home Video[edit | edit source]
Episodes were released on VHS by Vestron Video under their Child's Video Library label, including: -
- "La Triple Amenaza de Trident" ("Trident's Triple Threat") and "Doppel Ganger" ("Doppelganger")
- "Invasion Desde el Nivel 21" ("Invasion from the 21st Level")
Sweden[edit | edit source]
The series was subtitled in Swedish as GoBots.
Home Video[edit | edit source]
Episodes were released on VHS by Vestron Video under their Barnens Videobibliotek label, including: -
- "Den Fantastika Historien om GoBotron" ("The GoBotron Saga)
- "Överlöparnas Raseri I-II" ("Renegade Rampage") and "Påtvingad Vänskap" ("Forced Alliance")
United Kingdom[edit | edit source]
British TV at the time consisted of four channels; with two being the publicly funded BBC1 and BBC2 which were adverse to showing licenced cartoons and Channel 4 having no money, the various toy-promoting cartoons were all effectively funnelled to ITV, who could pick and choose. Such an arrangement counted against Challenge of the GoBots, which eventually found a limited slot as part of the Wide Awake Club Saturday morning strand, edited to five minute segments and alternating with Transformers.
Home Video[edit | edit source]
Like Transformers, the show would find a larger audience on home video, with VHS releases handled by Vestron Video once again, with 21 episodes ultimately being released.