Shout! to Distribute G.I. Joe, Tformers Animated on DVD

If you thought most of your ‘80s and early ‘90s animation dreams were answered with the announcement that Disney would distribute the original X-Men Animated Series on DVD, prepare to have your world rocked.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, “Shout! Factory has signed a multiyear agreement with toymaker Hasbro to bring to DVD several animated properties based on the company's toy lines. The deal includes episodes of 1980s animated series The Transformers and G.I. Joe., as well as the direct-to-DVD animated movie My Little Pony: Twinkle Wish Adventure."

Shout! President Gary Foos indicates in the story that the company will be moving quickly on the properties, especially G.I. Joe and Transformers, but will not sacrifice quality.

From THR: Shout! Factory's first release under the agreement will be "The Transformers: The Complete First Season -- 25th Anniversary Edition." The set is slated for June 16 (prebook May 19), a week before the big-screen debut of the Michael Bay-directed feature film sequel "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," due in theaters June 24.

The $29.99 three-DVD set will include the original broadcast versions of all 16 episodes from the 1984 season in the intended story line order, with remastered picture and a new stereo soundtrack created from the original audio. The Rhino releases featured incomplete work prints of episodes and modified sound effects.

Tentative extras include the featurette "Triplechanger: From Toy to Comic to Screen: The Origins of the Transformers"; a printable script; rare PSAs; toy commercials; concept art; and a limited-edition Autobot magnet.

Complete series sets of Transformers and G.I. Joe will follow later this summer.

Rhino originally held the license to distribute the two series, but the company lost the rights before the full series were released. The new sets from Shout! Factory will be the first time some of the episodes have been seen on DVD.