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Transformers (toy line)

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File:Transformers toys.jpg
Various Transformers toys

Transformers is the name of a line of toys produced by Hasbro from 1984 onwards, and also of a number of spin-offs based on the toys including a Marvel comic book series, an animated television series that began airing in 1984 (Transformers series) and a feature-length movie, Transformers: The Movie. The original series was followed by a number of spin-offs with varying levels of popularity.

A Transformer is an intelligent robot (usually a large humanoid, though there are many exceptions such as animal forms) that is able to "transform", reconfiguring itself into a common and innocuous form, such as a car, airplane or animal. The taglines "More Than Meets the Eye" and "Robots in Disguise" reflect this ability.

Transformers originally featured two main factions warring for control of their home planet, Cybertron. The heroic Autobots (Cybertrons in the Japanese version) were led by Optimus Prime, and their opponents, the Decepticons (Destrons in the Japanese version), were led by Megatron. The Autobots were mainly cars in warm colors while the Decepticons were planes in cool colors, with some exceptions.

The Transformers toyline was developed by Hasbro after they met up with Takara representatives at the 1983 New York Toyfair and decided to combine and re-brand Takara's Diaclone and Micro Change toylines into the Transformers for release in the United States.

The basic backstory of the toyline and subsequent comic books and cartoons was developed by the Marvel Comics writers Jim Shooter and Dennis O'Neil (O'Neil actually giving Optimus Prime his name). Most of the subsequent character names and profiles throughout the original run were done by the primary Transformers US comic book writer, Bob Budiansky.

Floro Dery was primarily responsible for the look and feel of the Transformers cartoon series and was the visual creator of Transformers: The Movie. He refined some of the initial season one animated character models done in Japan, and subsequently interpreted the toy box art for further characters, creating the models that would become the visual guidelines both for the comic books and the animated cartoon.

Most Transformers come with tech specs which detail the Transformer’s characteristics. Older Transformers come with Robot Points which could be redeemed for special Transformers which were not sold in stores, such as the Omnibots or the Decepticon triplets known as Reflector (which featured heavily in the early episodes of the television series, despite not being easily available as toys).

Incarnations

The following Transformers toys came out:

See also: Transformers Universes and Transformers series.

Backstory

(Note: This only applies to original G1 cartoon continuity, and not to many of the later series.)

Ravaged from the war between the Autobots and the Decepticons, Cybertron was almost completely drained of its energy resources. Neither side had enough energy reserves to continue the battle, which led to a stalemate. The Autobots, with their leader Optimus Prime, leave their home planet to seek new sources of energy. The Decepticons pursue them and board the Autobot starship (called the Ark in the comic). During the ensuing fight, they crash-land into a volcano on prehistoric Earth. Awakened in 1984 when the volcano erupts, the Decepticons are repaired by the ship's computer and flee, leaving the still-deactivated Autobots behind. Decepticon leader Megatron soon discovers that Earth has nearly limitless energy resources. Hoping to tip the war's balance in favor of the Decepticons, Megatron plans to transfer Earth's energy to Cybertron even if it means ruining the Earth in the process.

Unfortunately for them, the Decepticons made a fatal mistake. After the Decepticons were awakened, the Autobots remained deactivated on the Ark. Upon leaving, the Decepticon Starscream simply blasted the rocks around the ship to seal the entrance, rather than destroying the helpless Autobots altogether; the jolt from the explosions moved Optimus Prime within the Ark's repair beam. The remaining Autobots are subsequently revived and rise up to become the protectors of life on Earth and the Decepticons' nemeses.

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