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.

ummary

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. However, as the series progresses, the general public's opinon of ZZ begins to change as the Corp's actions are put into question. The series ends on a cliffhanger, as ZZ strikes a major blow against the Corp, while the Corp makes a major discovery.

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/leader of the Boyzz Brigade. A master of disguise and an excellent mimic, as well as a capable fighter on his own. Has a number of over-technological devices built into his combat suit - anti-gravity boots and a paralyzing beam in his left forearm, for example - but lacks the battery power to use them for long periods. Something of a ladies man. Apparently able to play lead guitar and sing - or finger-and-lip-synch convincingly enough - when disguised as a rock star ("Rock the Corp"). Attempts to avoid civilian casualties, and thus tends to plan towards commando raids rather than outright combat, more so as the series progresses. Has the family trait of a lethal allergic reaction to the pollen of a certain cactus ("Flowers for ZZ") - and despite this being Lady Frenzy's plan, still has a thing for her. Both he and Blitzy are originally from Santa Marta, a blue-collar factory-based town apparently some distance away from Mega City ("ZZ Come Back").

*Blitzy "Blitz" Zulander - Ziv's impulsive 10 year old sister. Tries to aid her older brother in his missions, often in the capacity of supporting fire. Not as talented a creator as ZZ, but was still able to build Jungle Fiver with Genesix' help. Can drive, when no one else is able to, but prefers to fly the VAF (and its heavier artillery) instead. Tends to solve tactical problems on impulse, with force rather than guile - usually, by the time it is necessary for her to do so, the situation has gotten to the point where guile would be ineffective. Shares ZZ's lethal allergy to a certain cactus pollen.

RM Corp

*Sir Lewis Leon Paradim (LLP) - The main villain of the series who vows to take over the world through Krang Chips in the first half of the series, then seeks to become World President in the second half, all while attempting to discredit and destroy ZZ's heroic efforts. Crafty enough to send a bomb-equipped robot duplicate of himself to his own birthday celebration, knowing that ZZ will be there ("Rock the Corp").

*Dr. Hiss - The Corp's resident Mad Scientist with a lisp, and the chief creator of the Corp's bots. His faith in said bots is high, and while they are blown up on a regular basis, he became visibly dismayed upon learning that Krang Chip-equipped 3A could be hacked ("You Can Bank On It"). Obviously a cyborg, but the reason for this is never revealed in-show - it is thought, by fans, that he blames ZZ for the accident that caused it. Has a personal hatred for ZZ, generally attempting to kill him outright with overwhelming firepower (but will stop shooting where the press can see - "Lost"). Often personally enters battle (the Boyzz Brigade tries to avoid killing him).

*Lady Frenzy - Paradim's Second-In-Command who holds romantic feelings for ZZ which sometimes conflict with her loyalties to LLP & the Corp. She doesn't share Dr. Hiss' confidence in RM Corp's bots, and thus will generally attempt to negotiate and threaten before resorting to outright violence. As fitting to her position, she has a far cooler mind than Hiss.

Other human characters

*President Bando - The President of Africa, who is a political opponent of LLP and is one of the few people on earth who believes in ZZ.

*Lonnie Chang - News reporter and anchor. The primary source of ZZ's bad press, although she doesn't seem to consider him a threat in person, getting within interviewing distance of him at one point ("Lost"). Based off of Connie Chung, if only in name.

The Boyzz Brigade (Brain Operated Young Zygoetopic Zoids)

The Street Boyzz (Construction Type Bots) - can retract roller blades from their feet for quick movement. Front line combatants.

* Jammerzz - Has a large (jack)hammer for one arm, ending in laser cannons at the shoulder. The only Boyzz to have built-in laser weapons. Occasionally speaks in rhyme/rap.

* Toolzz - Typically seen with Jammerzz. Uses a wrench and drill as weapons, often dismantling the opposition rather than destroying them. Has a dislike of heights.

The Sports Boyzz (Sport Type Bots) - during combat, they use their expertise in sports to lob, hit, kick, drive, smash, and otherwise launch sports-ball-type explosives at the opposition.

* All Ball - Expert in volleyball and soccer. His wide body design, while effective, gives him a comical running style at times.

* Batzz - Expert in baseball, and carries a bat. The most humanoid of the Boyzz in appearance. Had the unenviable experience of crashing into a baseball light fixture and briefly losing his memory ("Lost").

* Bogey - Expert in golf. His single arm is a club - when piloting something, like a Jungle Fiver component, he appears to project beams from his eyes to do so.

* Ace - Expert in tennis, and has a racket arm - consequently, he pilots one-handed.

The Science Boyzz (Analysis Type Bots) - they stay out of combat for the most part except for dire emergencies, and usually only leave the base for intelligence/reconnaissance purposes.

* Genesix - Creates most of the new vehicles and things for ZZ, often in the sense of being the one to actually build them. The engineer of the Boyzz Brigade. Boyzz prototype and his name is a play on the word 'Genesis.'
* D'Nerd - Large databank, and occasionally brought out into the field in that capacity. Often replies to statements with the dictionary definitions of words. Notably forgot to put film into a camera before taking an important, incriminating video ("This Land Is My Land").

* Watzon - The doctor and a dry wit. Repairs the Boyzz, and gives medical aid to humans when needed. Surprisingly fearless for his intended purpose, he dragged Cook along on a dangerous mission to save Ziv and Blitzy's lives while the other Boyzz were paralyzed without leadership ("Flowers For ZZ").

Other Boyzz (Stand Alone Bots)

* Cook, the Cooking Boyzz - Usually stays at the base and cooks for the Zulanders.

* Ninjzz, the Ninja Boyzz - Is the unoffical third-in-command of the Boyzz Brigade. The first Boyzz to be built during the show, and the only one specifically built for combat.

* Kiddie, the Child Boyzz

* Momzz, the Mother Boyzz - Was only present for one episode, when Genesix felt ZZ and Blitzy needed a mother. Destroyed during a suicide run to save everyone else.

* Swang, the Bug Boyzz - Acts as a reconnaissance and distractions specialist. Moves by hopping. Cannot speak normally, instead communicating with synthesized chirps the rest of the Boyzz Brigade (ZZ and Blitzy included) can understand.

* Twig - ZZ's talking car able to transform into a robot or fly when his master is in danger. Twig and the car are separate entities (ZZ refers to them as such in "Lost"), and he can detach from the car itself when not out on a mission, so he can fit inside the base. In doing so, he becomes the largest Boyzz. In vehicle mode, the other Boyzz used him as a mode of transportation by hanging his sides - underneath, in jet mode - especially in earlier episodes, until the Splitvan began being used.

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 (they can turn towards one another), 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 heavily armed giant robotic fighting machine. The individual vehicles and Jungle Fiver appear to have some sort of auto-pilot, but are usually (more so as the series progressed) piloted by the Boyzz or the Zulanders. Jungle Fiver usually engages the Corp's "monster bots" and is treated as a 'trump card' by the Boyzz Brigade. The combination itself is password-protected at one point ('zucchini' - "Flowers for ZZ"), possibly related to Blitzy yelling "(Jungle Fiver,) Combine!" when it combines. The name is a pun on the phrase, "Jungle Fever." Jungle Fiver is upgraded later in the series to be capable of trans-lunar space travel, but is otherwise capable of atmospheric flight. Its biggest weakness is its combined size - civilian airport radar can easily spot it ("Lost").

*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 stealth submarine (invisible to radar/sonar, but visually identifiable), and the Splitvan (a van that can divide into multiple smaller vehicles). Blitzy is especially fond of her VAF, a sort of attack jet with GERWALK-capable 'legs'.

There are also other bots under ZZ's command, known only as "Battle Bots".

RM Corp Bots (3A type)

Although the RM Corp's bots are devoid of personality (and universally speak in the same monotone synthesized voice), there are a few common types.

*SecurityBot - SecurityBots are the most common opposition ZZ and the Boyzz Brigade encounter in the first half of the series. They are of average construction and have exposed joints, which Jammerzz and especially Toolzz can and frequently do exploit to dismantle their opponents.

*GreenBot - GreenBots are the Corp's standard soldier robots. They are tougher than SecurityBots, but otherwise are little different.

*MassiveDestructionBot or MDB is one of Dr. Hiss's creations. MDB is most frequently used in episodes requiring an outsized foe for Jungle Fiver to fight with. MDB does not speak.

*3P is a power booster bot for MDB.

ee also

* Jean Chalopin

External links

* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0124232/ The Bots Master at IMDb]
* [http://adamrulz.com/botsmaster/ Fansite]
* [http://www.virtualtoychest.com/mediawiki-1.8.2/index.php?title=Bots_Master Bots Master toy wiki @ Virtual Toy Chest]
* [http://www.tv.com/the-bots-master/show/5001/summary.html?q=bots The Bots Master at TV.com]