History WesternAnimation / TheTransformers

The show ran for three whole seasons, plus season 4, [[WrapItUp which was just a three-part episode]], "The Rebirth". The Japanese version branched off into a different continuity right after the end of the third season, replacing "The Rebirth" with ''Anime/TransformersHeadmasters''. ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformersTheMovie'', released between the second and third seasons, is set prior to the third season.

''The Transformers'' was the first ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' cartoon, part of the ''Franchise/TransformersGeneration1'' franchise. It premiered in 1984. The writing and distribution of the series was handled by both Marvel Productions and Creator/SunbowEntertainment. Animation was done by Creator/ToeiAnimation and a few other (uncredited, just like its [[WesternAnimation/GIJoeARealAmericanHero sister series]]) studios, including Creator/{{AKOM}} in their first project, Creator/SeiYoung, Creator/{{Mihahn}}, some [[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Unknown_Generation_1_animation_studios unknown studios]] and several feeder studios[[note]]including Creator/DaiWon, [[Creator/SamYoungAnimation Sam Young]], [[Creator/ProductionGrimi Shin Won]], Creator/TransArts, Creator/AnimeR, Lensa Film, Creator/AshiProductions, Creator/NakamuraProductions, Creator/KanameProductions, Creator/StudioLook, [[Creator/StudioNo1 Studio No. 1]], Creator/TNishimura, Creator/TMSEntertainment, the International Animation Institute (aka Yoyogi Animation Academy), XAM! Entertainment, Creator/HanhoHeungUp, and possibly Creator/StudioLive and Creator/StudioJunio. With Studio OX for illustration work during the series' initial Japanese release[[/note]]. AKOM, Mihahn, and Sei Young's episodes were generally worse than Toei's.

''The Transformers'' was the first ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' cartoon, part of the ''Franchise/TransformersGeneration1'' franchise. It premiered in 1984. The writing and distribution of the series was handled by both Marvel Productions and Creator/SunbowEntertainment. Animation was done by Creator/ToeiAnimation and a few other (uncredited, just like its [[WesternAnimation/GIJoeARealAmericanHero sister series]]) studios, including Creator/{{AKOM}} in their first project, Creator/SeiYoung, Creator/{{Mihahn}}, some [[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Unknown_Generation_1_animation_studios unknown studios]] and several feeder studios[[note]]including Creator/DaiWon, [[Creator/SamYoungAnimation Sam Young]], [[Creator/ProductionGrimi Shin Won]], Creator/TransArts, Creator/AnimeR, Lensa Film, Creator/AshiProductions, Creator/NakamuraProductions, Creator/KanameProductions, Creator/StudioLook, [[Creator/StudioNo1 Studio No. 1]], Creator/TNishimura, Creator/TMSEntertainment, the International Animation Institute (aka Yoyogi Animation Academy), XAM! Entertainment, Creator/HanhoHeungUp, and possibly Creator/StudioLive and Creator/StudioJunio. With Studio OX for illustration work during the series' initial Japanese release[[/note]]. AKOM's animation was generally worse than Toei's.

''The Transformers'' was the first ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' cartoon, part of the ''Franchise/TransformersGeneration1'' franchise. It premiered in 1984. The writing and distribution of the series was handled by both Marvel Productions and Creator/SunbowEntertainment. Animation was done by Creator/ToeiAnimation and a few other (uncredited, just like its [[WesternAnimation/GIJoeARealAmericanHero sister series]]) studios, including Creator/{{AKOM}} in their first project, Creator/SeiYoung, some [[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Unknown_Generation_1_animation_studios unknown studios]] and several feeder studios[[note]]including Creator/DaiWon, [[Creator/SamYoungAnimation Sam Young]], [[Creator/ProductionGrimi Shin Won]], Creator/TransArts, Creator/AnimeR, Lensa Film, Creator/AshiProductions, Creator/NakamuraProductions, Creator/KanameProductions, Creator/StudioLook, [[Creator/StudioNo1 Studio No. 1]], Creator/TNishimura, Creator/TMSEntertainment, Creator/{{Mihahn}}, the International Animation Institute (aka Yoyogi Animation Academy), XAM! Entertainment, and possibly Creator/StudioLive, Creator/StudioJunio, Creator/IshigakiProduction and Creator/HanhoHeungUp. With Studio OX for illustration work during the series' initial Japanese release[[/note]]. AKOM's animation was generally worse than Toei's.

''The Transformers'' was the first ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' cartoon, part of the ''Franchise/TransformersGeneration1'' franchise. It premiered in 1984. The writing and distribution of the series was handled by both Marvel Productions and Creator/SunbowEntertainment. Animation was done by Creator/ToeiAnimation and a few other (uncredited, just like its [[WesternAnimation/GIJoeARealAmericanHero sister series]]) studios, including Creator/{{AKOM}} in their first project, Creator/SeiYoung, some [[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Unknown_Generation_1_animation_studios unknown studios]] and several feeder studios[[note]]including Creator/DaiWon, [[Creator/SamYoungAnimation Sam Young]], [[Creator/ProductionGrimi Shin Won]], Creator/TransArts, Creator/AnimeR, Lensa Film, Creator/AshiProductions, Creator/NakamuraProductions, Creator/KanameProductions, Creator/StudioLook, [[Creator/StudioNo1 Studio No. 1]], Creator/TNishimura, Creator/TMSEntertainment, [=MiHahn=] Animation Studio, the International Animation Institute (aka Yoyogi Animation Academy), XAM! Entertainment, and possibly Creator/StudioLive, Creator/StudioJunio, Creator/IshigakiProduction and Creator/HanhoHeungUp. With Studio OX for illustration work during the series' initial Japanese release[[/note]]. AKOM's animation was generally worse than Toei's.

** Creator/ShoutFactory aimed to fix this mistake by consulting fans on what order the episodes should be in for the DVD releases (specifically, using a book called "Prime Targets" which lists the episodes in chronolgical order), but a last-minute fluke resulted in the season three episodes on the DVD sets being in airdate order even though the DVD cases listed them in the order they were intended to occur.

** Starscream later does the same to Unicron in Season Three. However since Unicron is severely damaged and in no power to discipline unruly surbodinates anymore, Starscream actually gets away with conning him.

** The 4th season's opening credits (i.e. the credits of the Rebirth three-parter) show the Duocon Flywheels, a character who never shows up in the cartoon proper. This is due to the animation being reused from a commercial advertising the Duocons.

* GrandFinale: "The Rebirth" serves as the end of the cartoon in the American Generation 1 continuity, ending with both the Autobots and the Decepticons gaining Headmaster and Targetmaster partners as well as Cybertron finally being restored after the eons of war the Autobots and Decepticons went through. The Japanese continuity chose to ignore the three-part episode in favor of the ''[[Anime/TransformersHeadmasters Headmasters]]'' anime, though the three-part episode was eventually dubbed in Japanese.

Recap [[Recap/TransformersGeneration1 here]]. The show has since been uploaded to Hasbro Pulse's official channel in its entirety.

* StalkerShot: Soundwave, Laserbeak, and Ravage would often be revealed to have been listening in on important conversations, either amongst humans or the Autobots, by having the camera pan over to some nook or cranny they'd been placed in while in their alt-modes.

''The Transformers'' was the first ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' cartoon, part of the ''Franchise/TransformersGeneration1'' franchise. It premiered in 1984. The writing and distribution of the series was handled by both Marvel Productions and Creator/SunbowEntertainment. Animation was done by Creator/ToeiAnimation and a few other (uncredited, just like its [[WesternAnimation/GIJoeARealAmericanHero sister series]]) studios, including Creator/{{AKOM}} in their first project, Creator/SeiYoung, some [[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Unknown_Generation_1_animation_studios unknown studios]] and several feeder studios[[note]]including Creator/DaiWon, [[Creator/SamYoungAnimation Sam Young]], [[Creator/ProductionGrimi Shin Won]], Creator/TransArts, Creator/AnimeR, Lensa Film, Creator/AshiProductions, Creator/NakamuraProductions, Creator/KanameProductions, Creator/StudioLook, [[Creator/StudioNo1 Studio No. 1]], Creator/TNishimura, Creator/TMSEntertainment, [=MiHahn=] Animation Studio, the International Animation Institute (aka Yoyogi Animation Academy), and possibly Creator/StudioLive, Creator/StudioJunio, Creator/IshigakiProduction and Creator/HanhoHeungUp. With Studio OX for illustration work during the series' initial Japanese release[[/note]]. AKOM's animation was generally worse than Toei's.

''The Transformers'' was the first ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' cartoon, part of the ''Franchise/TransformersGeneration1'' franchise. It premiered in 1984. The writing and distribution of the series was handled by both Marvel Productions and Creator/SunbowEntertainment. Animation was done by Creator/ToeiAnimation and a few other (uncredited, just like its [[WesternAnimation/GIJoeARealAmericanHero sister series]]) studios, including Creator/{{AKOM}} in their first project, Creator/SeiYoung, some [[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Unknown_Generation_1_animation_studios unknown studios]] and several feeder studios[[note]]including Creator/DaiWon, [[Creator/SamYoungAnimation Sam Young]], [[Creator/ProductionGrimi Shin Won]], Creator/TransArts, Creator/AnimeR, Lensa Film, Creator/AshiProductions, Creator/NakamuraProductions, Creator/KanameProductions, Creator/StudioLook, [[Creator/StudioNo1 Studio No. 1]], Creator/TNishimura, Creator/TMSEntertainment, [=MiHahn=] Animation Studio, the International Animation Institute (aka Yoyogi Animation Academy), and possibly Creator/StudioLive, Creator/StudioJunio, and Creator/HanhoHeungUp. With Studio OX for illustration work during the series' initial Japanese release[[/note]]. AKOM's animation was generally worse than Toei's.

** Some of the Autobot and Decepticon sub-groups are able to combine into one giant robot. The Constructicons combine to form Devastator, the Stunticons merge to become Menasor, the Predacons merge to become Predaking, the Terrorcons have a combined form named Abominus, the Aerialbots combine to become Superion, the Combaticons merge to form Bruticus, the Protectobots combine to form Defensor, and the Technobots have a combined form known as Computron.

** Creator/ShoutFactory aimed to fix this mistake by consulting fans on what order the episodes should be in for the DVD releases, but a last-minute fluke resulted in the season three episodes on the DVD sets being in airdate order even though the DVD cases listed them in the order they were intended to occur.

''The Transformers'' was the first ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' cartoon, part of the ''Franchise/TransformersGeneration1'' franchise. It premiered in 1984. The writing and distribution of the series was handled by both Marvel Productions and Creator/SunbowEntertainment. Animation was done by Creator/ToeiAnimation and a few other (uncredited, just like its [[WesternAnimation/GIJoeARealAmericanHero sister series]]) studios, including Creator/{{AKOM}} in their first project, Creator/SeiYoung, some [[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Unknown_Generation_1_animation_studios unknown studios]] and several feeder studios[[note]]including Creator/DaiWon, [[Creator/SamYoungAnimation Sam Young]], [[Creator/ProductionGrimi Shin Won]], Creator/TransArts, Creator/AnimeR, Lensa Film, Creator/AshiProductions, Creator/NakamuraProductions, Creator/KanameProductions, Creator/StudioLook, [[Creator/StudioNo1 Studio No. 1]], Creator/TNishimura, Creator/TMSEntertainment, [=MiHahn=] Animation Studio, and possibly Creator/StudioLive, Creator/StudioJunio, and Creator/HanhoHeungUp. With Studio OX for illustration work during the series' initial Japanese release[[/note]]. AKOM's animation was generally worse than Toei's.

** '''Season 1:'''
** '''Season 2:'''

''The Transformers'' was the first ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' cartoon, part of the ''Franchise/TransformersGeneration1'' franchise. It premiered in 1984. The writing and distribution of the series was handled by both Marvel Productions and Creator/SunbowEntertainment. Animation was done by Creator/ToeiAnimation and a few other (uncredited, just like its [[WesternAnimation/GIJoeARealAmericanHero sister series]]) studios, including Creator/{{AKOM}} in their first project, Creator/SeiYoung, some [[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Unknown_Generation_1_animation_studios unknown studios]] and several feeder studios[[note]]including Creator/DaiWon, [[Creator/SamYoungAnimation Sam Young]], [[Creator/ProductionGrimi Shin Won]], Creator/TransArts, Creator/AnimeR, Lensa Film, Creator/AshiProductions, Creator/NakamuraProductions, Creator/KanameProductions, Creator/StudioLook, [[Creator/StudioNo1 Studio No. 1]], Creator/TNishimura, Creator/TMSEntertainment, [=MiHahn=] Animation Studio, and possibly Creator/StudioLive, Creator/StudioJunio, Creator/{{Dogakobo}}, Creator/TamaProductions, Creator/TakahashiProduction, Creator/AtelierMusa and Creator/HanhoHeungUp. With Studio OX for illustration work during the series' initial Japanese release[[/note]]. AKOM's animation was generally worse than Toei's.

''The Transformers'' was the first ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' cartoon, part of the ''Franchise/TransformersGeneration1'' franchise. It premiered in 1984. The writing and distribution of the series was handled by both Marvel Productions and Creator/SunbowEntertainment. Animation was done by Creator/ToeiAnimation and a few other (uncredited, just like its [[WesternAnimation/GIJoeARealAmericanHero sister series]]) studios, including Creator/{{AKOM}} in their first project, Creator/SeiYoung, some [[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Unknown_Generation_1_animation_studios unknown studios]] and several feeder studios[[note]]including Creator/DaiWon, [[Creator/SamYoungAnimation Sam Young]], [[Creator/ProductionGrimi Shin Won]], Creator/TransArts, Creator/AnimeR, Lensa Film, Creator/AshiProductions, Creator/NakamuraProductions, Creator/KanameProductions, Creator/StudioLook, [[Creator/StudioNo1 Studio No. 1]], Creator/TNishimura, Creator/TMSEntertainment, [=MiHahn=] Animation Studio, and possibly Creator/StudioLive, Creator/StudioJunio and Creator/HanhoHeungUp. With Studio OX for illustration work during the series' initial Japanese release[[/note]]. AKOM's animation was generally worse than Toei's.

''The Transformers'' was the first ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' cartoon, part of the ''Franchise/TransformersGeneration1'' franchise. It premiered in 1984. The writing and distribution of the series was handled by both Marvel Productions and Creator/SunbowEntertainment. Animation was done by Creator/ToeiAnimation and a few other (uncredited, just like its [[WesternAnimation/GIJoeARealAmericanHero sister series]]) studios, including Creator/{{AKOM}} in their first project, Creator/SeiYoung, some [[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Unknown_Generation_1_animation_studios unknown studios]] and several feeder studios[[note]]including Creator/DaiWon, [[Creator/SamYoungAnimation Sam Young]], [[Creator/ProductionGrimi Shin Won]], Creator/TransArts, Creator/AnimeR, Lensa Film, Creator/AshiProductions, Creator/NakamuraProductions, Creator/KanameProductions, Creator/StudioLook, Creator/StudioJunio, Creator/{{Dogakobo}}, Creator/TamaProductions, [[Creator/StudioNo1 Studio No. 1]], Creator/TNishimura, Creator/TakahashiProduction, and possibly Creator/TMSEntertainment, Creator/StudioDub, Creator/StudioLive, [=MiHahn=] Animation Studio, Creator/HanhoHeungUp, Pan Sang East and Creator/AtelierMusa. With Studio OX for illustration work during the series' initial Japanese release[[/note]]. AKOM's animation was generally worse than Toei's.

** This trope is ''notorious'' among fans of the series. The [[https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Scale Scale entry]] on the TF Wiki is one of the longest pages on the site, and the very first words on it really spells it out.

** To reinforce how ''awesome'' Starcream's [[MerchandiseDriven Combaticon combiner team and their combined form, Bruticus, are,]] former bad-ass Devastator was handed a severe beatdown in the episode "Starscream's Brigade." However, right when Starscream has Megatron at his mercy, the Stunticons (fairly old toys) show up, merge into Menasor and take down Bruticus and a surprised Starscream in one massive punch.

** For 4 million years, the ''Ark'' held the Decepticons and Autobots in stasis, under a volcano... until volcanic activity shook things up and woke up the evil Decepticons.