The Bots Master
The Bots Master is a 1993 cartoon series, produced by Jean Chalopin though his company "Creativite et Developpement" in France (where it is known as Le Maître des bots). In total 40 episodes were made, each one having a special 3D segment and titles. The series was also co-produced by Avi Arad and Associates. The show also had a toyline based on it.
Summary
The year is 2025 AD. The world hasn't ended. War hasn't overcome the planet. Life goes on, and technology advances. Robots become commonplace, doing menial tasks and working in industry. And for that, the world can thank Ziv Zulander, and the Robotic Megafact Corporation. Power will corrupt. It has been proven time and time again. And RM Corp has much power... Though the use of an insidious new chip, they intend to take control of all the bots on the planet, and take over the world. But not everyone will stand for that...
Genius robot engineer Ziv "ZZ" Zulander resigns when he discovers 'RM Corp' (his employers, the Robotic Megafact Corporation, the largest company in the world) intend world domination; he tries to warn people about their plans and the company's powerful CEO, Sir Lewis Leon Paradim ("LLP").
Ziv has developed a personality chip which he fits to a number of 'Bots', making them a powerful force against an army of security robots.
During the first half of the series, "LLP"'s plans mostly revolve around traditional supervillain fodder, mainly trying to install "Krang Chips" in Bots worldwide to allow him to turn them into an army under his control at the push of a button; during the second half, the idea of the World Presidency (originally floated in the first episode but left to languish for half the series), LLP is in the running for the World Presidency and the episodes take a more political bent as ZZ must switch from fighting LLP on the battlefield to thwarting his attempts to underhandedly improve his political capital.
It also doesn't help that ZZ is thought to be a criminal in the eyes of the public, thanks to numerous "tele-viewer" broadcasts portraying him as such. No matter how many lives Ziv & the Boyzz saves, LLP & the Corp continue to discredit and distort their heroic efforts as lies of terrorism in the public arena.
Voice cast
- Dr. Hisss - Ian James Corlett
- Ziv 'ZZ' Zulander - Mark Hildreth
- Lady Frenzy - Janyse Jaud
- Ninjzz - Surya Kellar
- GeneSix/Cook - Michael Donovan
- Toolzz/Bogie - Stefano Giulianetti
- D'Nerd - Terry Klassen
- Jammerzz - Cusse Mankuma
- Blitzy Zulander - Crystaleen O'Bray
- Sir Lewis Leon Paradim - Dale Wilson
It's Lazer Time
In addition to the credits, every episode of the show had a short segment in 3D. Using a method called the Pulfrich effect, the segment would be both acceptable to view for viewers with or without the special glasses that came with action figures based on the series. To inform viewers to wear their glasses a character, usually Zulander, would shout "It's Lazer time!" followed by an image of the 3-D glasses on the screen. Once the 3-D sequence is over, ZZ calls "Game over" and an image of the 3-D glasses appear once more on the screen, this time with a no symbol superimposed on it. For the Bots Master series the effect was made by Nuoptix 3-D.
Characters
Humans
The Zulanders
- Ziv "ZZ" Zulander - Freedom fighter and Creator of the Boyzz Brigade.
- Blitzy "Blitz" Zulander - Ziv's impulsive younger sister.
RM Corp
- Sir Lewis Leon Paradim (LLP) - The main villain of the series who vows to become World President and to discredit and destroy ZZ's heroic efforts.
- Dr. Hiss - The Corp's Mad Scientist who speaks as his name implies and is the chief creator of the Corp's bots.
- Lady Frenzy - Paradim's Second-In-Command who holds romantic feelings for ZZ which sometimes conflict with her loyalties to LLP & the Corp.
The Boyzz Brigade (Brain Operated Young Zygoetopic Zoids)
The Street Boyzz (Construction Type Bots)
- Jammerzz - Has a large hammer for one arm. Occasionally speaks in rhyme/rap.
- Toolzz - Typically seen with Jammerzz. Uses a wrench and drill as weapons. Has a fear of heights.
The Sports Boyzz (Sport Type Bots)
- All Ball - Expert in volleyball and soccer.
- Batzz - Expert in baseball. Carries a bat.
- Bogey - Expert in golf. His single arm is a club.
- Ace - Expert in tennis, and has a racket arm.
The Science Boyzz (Analysis Type Bots)
- Genesix - Creates most of the new vehicles and things for ZZ. Boyzz prototype and his name is a play on the word 'Genesis.'
- D'Nerd - Large databank. Often replies to statements with the dictionary definitions of words.
- Watzon - The doctor. Repairs the Boyzz, and gives medical aid when needed.
Other Boyzz (Stand Alone Bots)
- Cook, the Cooking Boyzz
- Ninjzz, the Ninja Boyzz
- Kiddie, the Child Boyzz
- Momzz, the Mother Boyzz - Was only present for one episode, when Genesix felt ZZ and Blitzy needed a mother.
- Swang, the Bug Boyzz
- Twig - ZZ's talking car able to transform into a robot when his master is in danger.
The Talking Heads - Exactly what the name implies. The Talking Heads (or "T-Heads") are a group of robot heads that sit on a shelf in ZZ's house. They usually just comment on goings on but occasionally (such as in the episode "Flowers for ZZ") are put to work helping the other Boyzz. Individually, they are T1 (the green one with fins), T2 (the pink one who laughs a lot), T3 (the rectangular, purple one), T4 (the green one with eyestalks), and T5 (the gold-colored one). Even though they are mostly immobile, their positions on the shelf rearrange from episode to episode.
Birden and Freehand - These bots aid the team by acting as decoys against the Corp's Security Bots. Birden is a robot bird built by Genesix, but he was too busy to build an accurate navigation system causing Birden to fly around randomly and cause havoc. Freehand is basically an arm attached to a rotor that flies around ZZ's house, usually doing things for the Talking Heads.
Jungle Fiver: The Boyzz Brigade's most powerful weapon. A group of five vehicles that can transform into robots and also combine into a giant robotic fighting machine. This robot is usually engaging the Corp's "monster bots". The name is a pun of the phrase, "Jungle Fever."
- Half Bot
- Jet Bot
- Tank Bot
- Heli Bot
- Hover Bot
The Boyzz Brigade also have a number of other vehicles, including a "mole" digger, a submarine, and the Splitvan (a van that can divide into multiple smaller vehicles).