History Anime / TransformersSuperGodMasterforce

* OmnicidalManiac: Devil Z.

* {{Sentai}}
* ShesGotLegs: In "Panic! Protect the Wild Animals!!," Minerva dons an outfit that shows off her legs (and invokes BareYourMidriff and WhoWearsShortShorts to boot). Shuta and Cab immediately start [[HelloNurse ogling her]].

** The Autobot Pretenders and Headmaster Juniors could not defeat Hydra and Buster in any one-on-one fights. Ginrai showed up to even the odds.
** Ginrai in his regular form was unable to defeat King Poseidon and had to combine with his trailer to become Super Ginrai in order to even the odds.
** Super Ginrai was easily overwhelmed by Overlord and had to one-up the Decepticons with God Ginrai.
** Black Zarak teams up with Overlord. Black Zarak had no Godmaster abilities but however is demonstrably Overlord's equal at least. God Ginrai too gets back up from Grand Maximus.
** When this is not enough to defeat the Autobots, Devil Z merged with Black Zarak to give God Ginrai (Who is given additional empowering from the Autobot Headmaster Juniors) his biggest final challenge.

* UnwillingRoboticisation: Played with but mostly and clearly subverted with this entire show's premise of humans becoming Transformers. All the recruited human Autobots and Decepticons are clearly fine with becoming robots - The resemblance to this trope is that most of them are not keen on losing their humanity either (The transformation is not a permanent process).
** Played Straight: In some way, that was Giga and Mega's fate in the series' finale. Overlord lost the human component of Giga and Mega, becoming a full robot (And also becoming fully loyal to Devil Z). Another perspective is of Giga and Mega losing their powers while Overlord became sentient.
** Subverted: Hydra and Buster willingly gave up their humanity in order to become a full robot.

* BodyHorror: Downplayed with the humans becoming Transformers. No matter how dark the show is for its time, its ultimately still meant for kids. Nevertheless, the implications of body horror still exist when you think a bit more in depth.
** Hydra and Buster becoming robots permanently were initially given an intentionally creepy portrayal that unnerved their leader Giga (Although that was mostly out of his pride over his own "human heritage"). Hydra and Buster's original morphed forms no longer featured any human faces but instead showed emotionless robotic faces with monotone voices.
** After morphing, the very human Headmaster Juniors and Godmasters are able to contort their physical bodies into the head/engine of their robot mode? It is never elaborated as to whether their physical bodies turn mechanical or not, but at the very least the physical head never seem to turn mechanical - We actually saw the human Ginrai bleeding in his morphed form.

* BroadStrokes[=/=]ContinuitySnarl:
** ''Masterforce'' is both a clean break from and a continuation of ''Headmasters'' -- something that tends to frustrate ''Transformers'' fans. The creators wanted to try something new with this series, and it has a dramatically different feel compared to any ''Transformers'' media that precedes it. But it also canonically follows ''Headmasters'', which makes viewers wonder things like "if this show is set post-2020, why is its setting indistinguishable from the late 1980s?" or "considering that the Autobots previously had a public presence on Earth, why don't humans recognize Transformers anymore?" Don't expect the show to address these questions.
** Metalhawk claims that Chromedome supplied the Transtectors for the Headmaster Juniors, but the ending of Masterforce put this into question because BOTH Headmasters and Godmasters loses their powers after Devil Z's death. This implies that Devil Z created both the Headmaster Juniors and Godmasters, and might also mean the Headmaster Junior technology was actually stolen by the Autobots.

* GoodIsNotSoft: Unlike older Transformers series where the Autobots merely react to Decepticons, the Autobots in this series are relatively proactive and actually took the initiative to invade the Decepticon base after locating it. While the Autobots do not unnecessarily kill, they do brutalize their Decepticon foes on multiple occasions, punching off their enemies' body parts (After all, [[GoodThingYouCanHeal Transformers can heal]]). Additionally, Ginrai in his early appearances was not above kidnapping his enemies for interrogation, although he quickly toned down as part of his CharacterDevelopment.

* BroadStrokes[=/=]ContinuitySnarl: ''Masterforce'' is both a clean break from and a continuation of ''Headmasters'' -- something that tends to frustrate ''Transformers'' fans. The creators wanted to try something new with this series, and it has a dramatically different feel compared to any ''Transformers'' media that precedes it. But it also canonically follows ''Headmasters'', which makes viewers wonder things like "if this show is set post-2020, why is its setting indistinguishable from the late 1980s?" or "considering that the Autobots previously had a public presence on Earth, why don't humans recognize Transformers anymore?" Don't expect the show to address these questions.

* TheCameo / ContinuityNod: Chromedome makes a brief appearance in an early episode, linking this series with ''Headmasters''. Metalhawk reveals that Chromedome supplied the Transtectors for the Headmaster Juniors, but the ending of Masterforce invokes a bit of ContinuitySnarl because BOTH Headmasters and Godmasters loses their powers after Devil Z's death. This implies that Devil Z created both the Headmaster Juniors and Godmasters, and would also mean Chromedome wasn't so much a supplier but rather a thief.

* MagicCountdown: In "Crisis! The Day of Human Extinction", during BlackZarak's second countdown, approximately 27 seconds pass between "five" and "two" when God Ginrai and Overload gets into a fight and Overload tries to prevent Ginrai from stopping Devil Z's weapon from completely destroying the stratosphere.

* MysteriousPast: Devil Z spends most of the series looking like a pulsating energy ball. Then, when he fuses with Blackzarak, he states he is revealing his true form. We get a brief glimpse of some creepy looking foetus, and that's it. A later clip show hurriedly explained he was an energy being from space. And as further revealed by [[WordOfGod Ask Vector Prime]], Devil Z is the Godmessenger from the origins of the Godmasters he described. Godmessenger (Devil Z) and Godmaster, were originally children of a Light God, but when they entered Earth's atmosphere, Godmaster got [[PiecesOfGod shattered into the 8 Godmasters]], and [[FallenAngel Godmessenger got corrupted into Devil Z]].

* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: Giga has green hair.

* TheCameo / ContinuityNod: Chromedome makes a brief appearance in an early episode, linking this series with ''Headmasters''. Metalhawk reveals that he supplied the Transtectors for the Junior Headmasters.

* ChivalrousPervert: As part of comic relief in the first half of the show, Roadking and Ginrai in their human forms had very brief moments of this but this wasn't their defining characteristic. There is at least one or two times when Ginrai was seen ogling at pretty women. When Roadking saw the female nurses in a hospital that Ginrai was in he jokingly asked if he can take Ginrai's place.

** Giga, Mega, and by extension Overlord gradually grew uneasy about Devil Z's hatred of humanity and how little he values his subordinates, berates Hydra and Buster for voluntarily giving up their own humanity, and decided to engage God Ginrai in a pure physical combat to demonstrate his pride in his own flesh. Overlord turned on Devil Z when he thought the latter killed Hydra and Buster, and had to be rescued by God Ginrai. After the rescue, he decided to repay his debt to God Ginrai by attacking Devil Z again.

* QuirkyMinibossSquad: The Decepticon Pretenders probably count.

* RedemptionEqualsDeath: Overlord and Sixknight get this.

* ADayInTheLimelight: Lightfoot who at best fits a typical generic Autobot role with flat personality, was strangely the focus in a {{Filler}} episode where his father gets kidnapped. It wasn't complete filler though, because the overarching plot of the arms race between the Autobots and Decepticons was highlighted in a separate scene.

* ArchEnemy: Every friggin' Decepticon treat Ginrai as their most powerful and dangerous enemy, treating the other Autobot Godmasters as if they donn't matter.

* DespairEventHorizon: Buster and Hydra hatch an utterly [[ComplexityAddiction ''ridiculous'' plan]] to do this with their hostages so they'll lose their will to live. This involves kidnapping ''every'' doctor in the entire world. They make Megatron or Galvatron look like geniuses.

* ChivalrousPervert: As part of comic relief in the first half of the show, Roadking in his human form had moments of this. Ginrai is implied to have a few moments, but it isn't made clear.

** DarkActionGirl: Mega. She is a [[spoiler:Godmaster]] too, after all.

** Just what the heck the deal is with Devil Z. A clip show explained he was an evil alien. Decades later, Ask Vector Prime said [[spoiler:He was the child of a Light God, partner and sibling to the original Godmaster, who became corrupted on entering Earth's atmosphere. And also a space alien, since that reality had become more strange after Zarak blew up Cybertron.]]

* MetaphoricallyTrue: a villainous example – [[spoiler: as revealed by [[WordOfGod Ask Vector Prime]], the Godmasters being parts of a divine being, the complete Godmaster, and Godmessenger being it's sibling, as told by Devil Z, are true, with the exception of the fact Godmaster wasn't a Decepticon God – he/she and it's sibling Godmessenger – Devil Z, are children of a Light God – member of Primus' pantheon of light, and kin to Primus and Unicron. It's more complicated though, as the origin of them eight Transtectors from the G Nebula stolen by Devil Z is also true, due to a Cosmic Paradox that created a UsefulNotes/SchrodingersCat situation.]]

* MysteriousPast: Devil Z spends most of the series looking like a pulsating energy ball. Then, when he fuses with Blackzarak, he states he is revealing his true form. We get a brief glimpse of some creepy looking foetus, and that's it. A later clip show hurriedly explained he was an energy being from space. And as further revealed by [[WordOfGod Ask Vector Prime]], Devil Z is [[spoiler: the Godmessenger from the origins of the Godmasters he described. Godmessenger (Devil Z) and Godmaster, were originally children of a Light God, but when they entered Earth's atmosphere, Godmaster got [[PiecesOfGod shattered into the 8 Godmasters]], and [[FallenAngel Godmessenger got corrupted into Devil Z]].]]

* {{Expy}}: Ginrai's Transtector looks essentially identical to Optimus Prime, the [[MerchandiseDriven toy]] having been designed as a new version of the character.

* SupportingProtagonist: Shuta plays this role in the first few episodes when the Pretenders hold pivotal roles in the series. TheProtagonist Ginrai only appears episode 10 onwards, and since then the show shifted its entire focus on him. However, all three Headmaster Juniors become the supporting protagonists to Ginrai, given how prominently they are featured with him both in the second opening and much of the rest of the show.

* BrokenAesop: The series' overarching theme is that HumansAreSpecial. However, this theme conveniently forgets that an alien entity Devil Z was the one who created the Godmasters and gave them access to the purported key ability "Jinchokon" - Humans did not invent any of this, and without that no amount of willpower will prevent them from getting squashed by a regular Transformer. Another glaring contradiction was when Hydra and Buster willingly gave up their humanity to become fully robotic, and this actually gave them the edge over Super Ginrai. Although a still-human God Ginrai eventually defeats them, it doesn't change the fact that fully robotic Hydra and Buster are presented as being more effective than humans Hydra and Buster.

** Clouder chose to join the Decepticons because EvilIsCool, and became a DoubleAgent for both sides. After relaying critical information to the Decepticons, he was imprisoned by the Autobots. With the information provided, the Decepticons attacked the base but abandoned Clouder to his fate, leaving the Autobots to rescue him before the base blew up. Given this turn of events, Clouder [[HeelFaceTurn turned against the Decepticons]].
** Wilder was one of the more vicious humans on the side of the Decepticons, but during a particular mission he abandoned Hydra and Buster in a fit of disgust after they put him in harm's way while he was fighting Ginrai. Towards the end, he and Bullhorn completely deserted the Decepticons when they were abandoned to die in their own headquarters.

* GoodThingYouCanHeal: This is touted as one of the Godmasters' abilities. Transformers in general are capable of healing from even the most debilitating injuries, but Godmasters appear to heal at a faster rate.

** Sixknight wanted to prove to the Decepticons he is the strongest by defeating Super Ginrai. When he was defeated by Super Ginrai instead, he was shocked to learned that Ginrai was a human. He began to change his perspective of humans and occasionally dropped by to help the Autobots.

** Shuta and Cab find Minerva attractive but there's only a few irregular references of that dropped throughout the show. The most risque (If that can even be used here) shown of Minerva was her in a modest swimsuit, and that only happened once.

* CharacterDevelopment: This is the first ''Transformers'' show where characters effectively change and grow as people. Though admittedly, the Transformers aren't subject to development. Just the humans.

** Averted again for God Ginrai's first battle. Again unlike most traditional super robot anime scenes, God Ginrai's first appearance granted him neither instant nor easy victory and he needed help from Grand Maximus to defeat Overlord and Black Zarak. In most of the later episodes however, God Ginrai was easily defeating any Decepticon not named Black Zarak or Overlord, and sometimes even them, at least depending on the episode.
* DarkerAndEdgier: This is the darkest series in the G1 Transformers era. Humans are routinely killed either onscreen or through frequent [[GoryDiscretionShot gory discretion shots]]. The BigBad is an outright omnicidal monster, and the brutal themes of war, the loss of innocence, and the meaning of evil are explained very frequently.

* DespairEventHorizon: Buster and Hydra hatch an utterly ''ridiculous'' plan to do this with their hostages so they'll lose their will to live. This involves kidnapping ''every'' doctor in the entire world. They make Megatron or Galvatron look like geniuses.

** Clouder chose to join the Decepticons because EvilIsCool, and became a DoubleAgent for both sides. After relaying critical information to the Decepticons, he was imprisoned by the Autobots. With the information provided, the Decepticons attacked the base but abandoned Clouder to his fate, leaving Ginrai to rescue him before the base blew up. Given this turn of events, Clouder [[HeelFaceTurn turned against the Decepticons]].

* HumansAreSpecial: Jinchokon (meaning "The Power of Man" essentially) is unique to humans. It allows the Godmasters to attain their full power by combining the three primal energies of life: the other two on their own are nowhere near as potent without Jinchokon.

** This actually happened early in the series with the introduction of the Godmasters. When Hydra and Buster appeared, the Autobot Pretenders and Headmaster Juniors could barely hold them off. A Godmaster Transformer is capable of healing from minor injuries almost instantly, making it more durable and seemingly proportionately stronger and faster as a result. Godmasters are also capable of manipulating a mystical force known as Chokon Power. ** When Ginrai appeared, the Godmasters' involvement gradually became "business as usual", so much so that combiners and combiner-sized robots were introduced, allowing them to overwhelm the regular-sized Godmasters by sheer size and power.
** As episodes went on, Ginrai gets a SuperMode in the form of Super Ginrai and a further SuperMode in the form of God Ginrai, becoming a Godmaster that towers over his fellow Autobot Godmasters in both stature and power. Similarly, Giga and Mega became Overlord, and shortly after Black Zarak (A mindwiped Scorponok) shows up, who appeared to be a combiner-sized Transformer with no Godmaster abilities but is so powerful that he can actually contend with God Ginrai in combat.

* SoLastSeason: This actually happened early in the series with the introduction of the Godmasters. When Hydra and Buster appeared, the Autobot Pretenders and Headmaster Juniors could barely hold them off. A Godmaster Transformer is capable of healing from minor injuries almost instantly, making it more durable and seemingly proportionately stronger and faster as a result. Godmasters are also capable of manipulating a mystical force known as Chokon Power. When Ginrai appeared, the Godmasters' involvement gradually became "business as usual". As episodes went on, Ginrai gets a SuperMode in the form of Super Ginrai and a further SuperMode in the form of God Ginrai, becoming a Godmaster that towers over his fellow Autobot Godmasters in both stature and power. Similarly, Giga and Mega became Overlord, and shortly after Black Zarak (A mindwiped Scorponok) shows up, who appeared to be a combiner-sized Transformer with no Godmaster abilities but is so powerful that he can actually contend with God Ginrai in combat.

* ChivalrousPervert: As part of comic relief in the first half of the show, Ginrai and Roadking in their human forms had moments of this.

** Averted again for God Ginrai's first battle. Again unlike most traditional super robot anime scenes, God Ginrai's first appearance granted him neither instant nor easy victory and he needed help from Grand Maximus to defeat Overlord and Black Zarak. In most of the later episodes however, God Ginrai was easily defeating any Decepticon not named Black Zarak or Overlord, and sometimes even them.

** Ginrai decidedly chose to bring 3 Godmasters instead of just him and one other to handle Buster and Hydra, leaving the exposed Autobot base raided by Decepticons.

* KickTheDog: Wilder literally kicked and ''killed'' a little girl's puppy simply because it was annoying him. As if he hadn't been shown to be an utter sociopath already...

* MerchandiseDriven: 'natch.

* SupportingProtagonist: Shuta plays this role in the first few episodes when the Pretenders hold pivotal roles in the series. TheProtagonist Ginrai only appears episode 10 onwards, and since then the show shifted its entire focus on him.

* BittersweetEnding: The Autobots saved Earth from Devil Z's omnicidal plan, marking the end of the Masterforce War. However, the war between the Autobots and Decepticons continue in space. The humans who served as Autobots and Decepticons permanently lost their powers, but what was truly bittersweet was that the character development underwent by Overlord and the Decepticons vanished as their human halves had been forcibly purged out, leaving only the robotic part that remained wholly loyal to the Decepticon cause.

* ChangingOfTheGuard: The Autobot Pretenders are the focus of the series for the first 9 episodes. TheProtagonist Ginrai only appears on the 10th episode, and the series instantly started revolving around him. Metalhawk who was then the Autobot leader eventually passes on his leadership role to Ginrai, which on hindsight is rather jarring given that Ginrai lacks experience relative to other longer-lived Autobots and was presumably only chosen because he's the [[AuthorityEqualsAsskicking strongest]] and the sudden excuse that humans need to take ownership of the Masterforce War.

* HeelFaceTurn: Sixknight, Clouder and Cancer eventually abandoned their original cause and choose to help the Autobots. Although the rest of the human Decepticons sans Hydra and Buster also turned against Devil Z, they did not do so because of this trope where they think they are better aligned with the Autobots but rather [[DefectorFromDecadence they find their prior master detestable]].