Transformers

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the electrical device, see Transformer. For other uses, see Transformers (disambiguation).

Transformers

Creator

Takara Tomy and Hasbro

Original work

Transformers toy line based on Diaclone &Microman

Print publications

Books

Transformers: Exodus Transformers: Exiles Complete list

Comics

Marvel series Dreamwave series IDW series Complete list

Comic strips

Robo Machines

Films and television

Films

Animated The Transformers: The Movie Battle of the Rock Lords Lio Convoy, Close Call! Live-action

Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Dark of the Moon

Animated series

The Transformers Challenge of the GoBots The Headmasters Super-God Masterforce Victory Zone Generation 2 Beast Wars Beast Wars II Beast Wars Neo Beast Machines Robots in Disguise Armada Energon Cybertron Animated Cyber Missions Prime Rescue Bots Games

Video games

War for Cybertron Fall of Cybertron Transformers Universe Complete list Audio

Soundtracks

Transformers audio releases Miscellaneous

Related franchises

G.I. Joe Battle Beasts

Transformers ( Toransufm?) is an entertainment franchise co-produced between the Japanese Takara Tomy and American Hasbro toy companies. Initially developed as a brand by Hasbro and made up of renamed, rebranded transforming toys from Takara's Diaclone and Microman toylines,[1] the franchise began in 1984 with the Transformers toy line, and centers on factions of transforming alien robots (often the Autobots and the Decepticons) in an endless struggle for dominance or eventual peace. In its decades-long history, the franchise has expanded to encompass comic books, animation, video games and films. The term "Generation 1" covers both the animated television series The Transformers and the comic book series of the same name, which are further divided into Japanese and British spin-offs, respectively. Sequels followed, such as the Generation 2 comic book andBeast Wars TV series, which became its own mini-universe. Generation 1 characters underwent two reboots with Dreamwave in 2001 and IDW Publishing in 2005, also as a remastered series. There have been other incarnations of the story based on different toy lines during and after the 20th-Century. The first was the Robots in Disguise series, followed by three shows (Armada, Energon, andCybertron) that constitute a single universe called the "Unicron Trilogy". A live-action film was also released in 2007, with a sequel in 2009, a second sequel in 2011, and a third sequel coming out in 2014[2] again distinct from previous incarnations, while theTransformers: Animated series merged concepts from the G1 story-arc, the 2007 live-action film and the "Unicron Trilogy".Transformers: Prime currently airs on The Hub. Although initially a separate and competing franchise started in 1983, Tonka's Gobots became the intellectual property of Hasbro after their buyout of Tonka in 1991. Subsequently, the universe depicted in the animated series Challenge of the GoBots and follow-up filmGoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords was retroactively established as an alternate universe within the Transformers franchise.[3]
Contents
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1 Transformers: Generation 1 (19841993)

o o o o o o

1.1 Transformers: Generation 2 (19931995) 1.2 Beast Wars/Machines (19962000) 1.3 Dreamwave Productions (20012005) 1.4 G.I. Joe crossovers (2003 onwards) 1.5 IDW publishing (2005 onwards) 1.6 Alternative stories

2 Robots in Disguise (20002001 / 2002) 3 The Unicron Trilogy (2001 / 20022006) 4 Transformers: Universe (2003present) 5 Live-action film franchise (2007present) 6 Transformers: Animated (2007 - 2009 / 2010) 7 Hunt for the Decepticons (2010) 8 Cyber Missions Webisodes 9 Transformers: Prime/War for Cybertron (2010)/Fall of Cybertron (2012) 10 Official Convention and Collector's Club releases 11 References 12 External links

Transformers: Generation 1 (19841993)

Main articles: Transformers: Generation 1 and The Transformers (TV series)

Spider-Man battles Megatron on the cover of The Transformers #3

Generation One is a retroactive term for the Transformers characters that appeared between 1984 and 1993. The Transformers began with the 1980s Japanese toy lines Microman and Diaclone. The former utilized varying humanoid-type figures while the latter presented robots able to transform into everyday vehicles, electronic items or weapons. Hasbro, fresh from the success of the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline,

which used the Microman technology to great success, bought the Diaclone toys, and partnered with Takara.[4]Jim Shooter and Dennis O'Neil were hired by Hasbro to create the backstory; O'Neil also created the name "Optimus Prime."[5]Afterwards, Bob Budiansky created most of the Transformers characters, giving names and personalities to many unnamed Diaclone figures.[6] The primary concept of G1 is that the heroic Optimus Prime, the villainous Megatron, and their finest soldiers crash land onpre-historic Earth in the Ark and the Nemesis before awakening in 1985, Cybertron hurtling through the Neutral zone as an effect of the war. The Marvel comic was originally part of the main Marvel Universe, with appearances from SpiderMan and Nick Fury, plus some cameos,[7] as well as a visit to the Savage Land.[8] The Transformers TV series began around the same time. Produced by Sunbow Productions and Marvel Productions, later Hasbro Productions, from the start it contradicted Budiansky's backstories. The TV series shows the Autobots looking for new energy sources, and crash landing as the Decepticons attack.[9] Marvel interpreted the Autobots as destroying a rogue asteroid approachingCybertron.[10] Shockwave is loyal to Megatron in the TV series, keeping Cybertron in a stalemate during his absence,[11] but in the comic book he attempts to take command of the Decepticons.[12] The TV series would also differ wildly from the origins Budiansky had created for the Dinobots,[13][14] the Decepticon turned Autobot Jetfire[15] (known as Skyfire on TV[16]), the Constructicons (who combine to form Devastator),[17][18] and Omega Supreme.[17][19] The Marvel comic establishes early on that Prime wields the Creation Matrix, which gives life to machines. In the second season, the two-part episode The Key to Vector Sigma introduced the ancient Vector Sigmacomputer, which served the same original purpose as the Creation Matrix (giving life to Transformers), and its guardian Alpha Trion. In 1986, the cartoon became the film The Transformers: The Movie, which is set in the year 2005. It introduced the Matrix as the "Autobot Matrix of Leadership", as a fatally wounded Prime gives it to Ultra Magnus; however, as Prime dies he drops the matrix, which is then caught by Hot Rod who subsequently becomes Rodimus Prime later on in the film. Unicron, a transformer who devours planets, fears its power and recreates a heavily damaged Megatron as Galvatron, as well as Bombshell becoming Cyclonus, one of the Seekersbecoming Scourge and two other Insecticons becoming Scourge's huntsmen, the Sweeps. Eventually, Rodimus Prime takes out the Matrix and destroys Unicron.[20] In the United Kingdom, the weekly comic book interspliced original material to keep up with U.S. reprints,[21] and The Movie provided much new material. Writer Simon Furman proceeded to expand the continuity with movie spin-offs involving the time travelling Galvatron.[22][23] The Movie also featured guest voices from Leonard Nimoy as Galvatron, Scatman Crothersas Jazz, Casey Kasem as Cliffjumper, Orson Welles as Unicron and Eric Idle as the leader of the Junkions (Wreck-Gar, though unnamed in the movie). The Transformers theme tune for the film was performed by Lion with "Weird Al" Yankovic adding a song to the soundtrack. The third season followed up The Movie, with the revelation of the Quintessons having used Cybertron as a factory. Their robots rebel, and in time the workers become the Autobots and the soldiers become the

Decepticons. (Note: This appears to contradict background presented in the first two seasons of the series.) It is the Autobots who develop transformation.[24] Due to popular demand,[25] Optimus Prime is resurrected at the conclusion of the third season,[26] and the series ended with a three-episode story arc. However, the Japanese broadcast of the series was supplemented with a newly-produced OVA, Scramble City, before creating entirely new series to continue the storyline, ignoring the 1987 end of the American series. The extended Japanese run consisted of The Headmasters, Super-God Masterforce, Victory and Zone, then in illustrated magazine form as Battlestars: Return of Convoy and Operation: Combination. Just as the TV series was wrapping up, Marvel continued to expand its continuity. It followed The Movie's example by killing Prime[27] and Megatron,[28] albeit in the present day. Dinobot leader Grimlock takes over as Autobot leader.[29] There was a G.I. Joecrossover[30] and the limited series The Transformers: Headmasters, which further expanded the scope to the planet Nebulon.[31] It led on to the main title resurrecting Prime as aPowermaster.[32] In the United Kingdom, the mythology continued to grow. Primus was introduced as the creator of the Transformers, to serve his material body that is planet Cybertron and fight his nemesis Unicron.[33] Female Autobot Arcee also appeared, despite the comic book stating the Transformers had no concept of gender, with her backstory of being built by the Autobots to quell human accusations of sexism. [34] Soundwave, Megatron's second-in-command, also broke the fourth wall in the letters page, criticising the cartoon continuity as an inaccurate representation of history.[35] The UK also had a crossover in Action Force, the UK counterpart to G.I. Joe.[36] The comic book featured a resurrected Megatron,[37]whom Furman retconned to be a clone[38] when he took over the U.S. comic book, which depicted Megatron as still dead.[39] The U.S. comic would last for 80 issues until 1991,[40]and the UK comic lasted 332 issues and several annuals, until it was replaced as Dreamwave Productions, later in the 20th-Century. In 2009, Shout! Factory released the entire G1 series in a 16-DVD box set called the Matrix of Leadership Edition. They also released the same content as individual seasons.