What is the Transformers franchise?
The Transformers, often retrospectively known as Generation 1 (or "G1" for short), is the original Transformers franchise which took the United States by storm in 1984 and founded the Generation 1 continuity family . The The Transformers franchise as it ran in the 1980s/90s featured the following primary components:
What is the history of the Transformers?
Transformers is a media franchise, produced by American toy company Hasbro and Japanese toy company Takara Tomy. Initially a line of transforming mecha toys rebranded from Takara 's Diaclone and Microman toylines, the franchise began in 1984 with the Transformers toy line, and centers on extraterrestrial factions...
What are the Transformers mini-franchises?
In Japan, rather than simply be identified as The Transformers throughout its lifespan, the franchise was rebranded with a new title and a shift in storytelling every year. This led to a collection of mini-franchises within the larger Generation One franchise, each featuring their own individual components. They are: 1985 - Fight!
What company makes transformers?
Transformers (Japanese: トランスフォーマー, Hepburn: Toransufōmā) is an American and Japanese media franchise produced by American toy company Hasbro and Japanese toy company Takara Tomy.
How old are the Transformers?
A conservative estimate would put the average Transformer lifespan at four to seven million years, though some universes, most recently 2018's Cyberverse cartoon, has suggested that its cast of characters are more than 65 million years old, with the Autobots having landed on Earth during the end of the Late Cretaceous ...
When did the Transformer franchise start?
1984The franchise began in 1984 with the Transformers toy line, comprising transforming mecha toys from Takara's Diaclone and Micro Change toylines rebranded for Western markets.
How old is Optimus in Transformers?
Optimus Prime, as a character, has existed since 1984, making him (and also the Transformers media franchise) 34 years old. In most continuities, the Autobot-Decepticon War ( the Great Cybertronian Civil War) has either been going on for, or concluded after, a period of roughly 4 million years.
How old is the first Transformer?
The first "Transformers" film was released almost 14 years ago, in July 2007. The film made over $700 million and went on to spawn four more sequels and a prequel, "Bumblebee." After the film, both Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox, who turns 35 on May 16, became immediate stars.
How are Autobots born?
In the original U.S. cartoon line, Autobots were the descendants of a line of robots created as consumer goods by the Quintessons on the planet Cybertron. Their bodies were forged by the Plasma Energy Chamber and given their sparks by the Autobot supercomputer Vector Sigma in order for the work to be carried out.
Who is the strongest transformer?
It shouldn't come as a surprise when one names Optimus the strongest Autobot. His battles are too numerous to count. He's defeated Megatron on multiple occasions and has taken down foes even Sentinel would have no chance against. After all, he managed to kill both Megatron and Sentinel- with one good arm!
Who is the youngest Autobot?
BumblebeeBumblebee is the youngest, yellowest, and most energetic of the Autobots...as usual. A hyperactive wisecracker, Bumblebee is quite convinced he's the fastest—and coolest—thing on four wheels.
Who is the oldest Transformer?
Alpha Trion is an Autobot from the Animated continuity family. "I'm Alpha Trion!" Billions of stellar cycles before the Decepticon movement had even been conceived, Alpha Trion fought in countless Cybertronian battles. He is, perhaps, the oldest Transformer anybody knows.
Who is Optimus Prime's brother?
Ultra MagnusOptimus Prime / BrotherUltra Magnus is a fictional character from the various Transformers storylines in the Transformers franchise, generally appearing as a chief lieutenant of Optimus Prime. Wikipedia
Is Optimus Prime 13?
Optimus Prime was created as the last of the Thirteen Primes, the first generation of Transformers, each created directly by Primus as a band of unique warriors to combat and defeat Unicron. Upon his creation, Optimus united the Thirteen by his greeting All are one.
Who are the original 26 Transformers?
DEBUT: Bluestreak, Brawn, Bumblebee, Cliffjumper, Gears, Hound, Huffer, Ironhide, Jazz, Laserbeak, Megatron, Mirage, Optimus Prime, Prowl, Ratchet, Ravage, Reflector, Rumble, Shockwave, Sideswipe, Skywarp, Soundwave, Starscream, Sunstreaker, Thundercracker, Trailbreaker, Wheeljack and Windcharger (The Transformers: ...
Why is Optimus a Prime?
The Transformer everyone knows as Optimus Prime originally began as Orion Pax and only obtained the title of Prime after the previous Prime, Sentinel, had just been killed (through the utilization of acid rain, a bolt of lightning and a kamikaze so fierce it ripped him in half).
Is transformer 7 coming out?
Transformers 7: Rise of the Beasts got pushed back to June 9, 2023, delayed from its original release date of June 24, 2022.
Will Transformers 7 come out?
June 9, 2023Transformers: Rise of the Beasts / Initial release
Who was the first transformer character?
The first ever Transformer to appear on the series was Wheeljack, episode The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye: Part 1 (1984).
How much did the Transformers franchise make?
709.7 million USDTransformers / Box office
What is the Transformers franchise?
The Transformers, often retrospectively known as Generation 1 (or "G1" for short), is the original Transformers franchise which took the United States by storm in 1984 and founded the Generation 1 continuity family .
When did Generation 1 start?
The Transformers, often retrospectively known as Generation 1 (or "G1" for short), is the original Transformers franchise which took the United States by storm in 1984 and founded the Generation 1 continuity family .
When did Generation One come out?
The term "Generation One" (spelled as the word "One") saw its first official use on the packaging of Takara 's SCF (Super Collection Figures) line of PVC figures, launched in 2000.
Is Transformers a Japanese franchise?
Japanese release. In Japan, rather than simply be identified as The Transformers throughout its lifespan, the franchise was rebranded with a new title and a shift in storytelling every year. This led to a collection of mini-franchises within the larger "Generation 1" franchise, each featuring their own individual components.
Is Optimus Primal a Beast Era character?
Thus, someone like Optimus Primal is listed as being "a character from the Beast Era portion of the Generation 1 continuity family .".
Who distributed Transformers?
The series has been distributed by Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures. The original Transformers film series has received negative to mixed reception, except for Bumblebee, which received positive reviews. It is the 13th-highest-grossing film series, with a total of $4.8 billion; two films in the series have grossed over $1 billion each.
Who was the first Transformers producer?
For the first film, producer Don Murphy was planning a G.I. Joe film adaptation, but when the U.S. launched the invasion of Iraq in March 2003, Hasbro suggested adapting the Transformers franchise instead. Tom DeSanto joined Murphy because he was a fan of the series.
What is the Transformers series?
Transformers. (film series) Transformers is a series of American science fiction action films based on the Transformers franchise which began in the 1980s . Michael Bay has directed the first five films: Transformers (2007), Revenge of the Fallen (2009), Dark of the Moon (2011), Age of Extinction (2014), and The Last Knight (2017).
What is the highest rated Transformers movie?
The 2018 spin-off film, Bumblebee, received generally positive reviews with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 90%, making it the highest-rated film in the series. Critics praised it for its lighter tone, story, visuals, acting, direction, and faithfulness to the 1980s Transformers show.
How many Transformers movies has Michael Bay directed?
Michael Bay has directed the first five films: Transformers (2007), Revenge of the Fallen (2009), Dark of the Moon (2011), Age of Extinction (2014), and The Last Knight (2017). A spin-off film, Bumblebee, directed by Travis Knight and produced by Bay, was released on December 21, 2018. A seventh film, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, ...
When will Transformers One be released?
In May 2020, Paramount scheduled a release date for one of their Transformers projects as June 24, 2022. Untitled prequel film: In September 2015, it was announced that Barrer and Ferrari were hired to write a film that will explore the origins of Cybertron, with a working title of Transformers One.
How many robots are there in Transformers?
Lorenzo di Bonaventura said that in total, there are around forty robots in the film, while ILM 's Scott Farrar has said there are actually sixty. Orci added that he wanted to "modulate" the humor more, and felt he managed the more "outrageous" jokes by balancing them with a more serious plot approach to the Transformers' mythology. Bay concurred that he wanted to please fans by making the tone darker, and that "moms will think its safe enough to bring the kids back out to the movies" despite his trademark sense of humor.
What is a Transformers franchise?
A franchise, for lack of a better term, is an incarnation or "generation" of the Transformers brand. Strictly speaking, the entire Transformers brand can be viewed as a single franchise, coexisting alongside other Hasbro franchises with multiple distinct entries such as G.I. Joe or My Little Pony, but on the wiki the word is used to refer to ...
How long has Transformers been around?
Below are the majority of franchises that have appeared in the 37-year history of the Transformers brand, highlighting some of the key aspects of each franchise and their lasting impact on the brand as a whole.
What is the name of the anime that was made in 2001?
2001–2002: Coming off the controversial Beast Machines franchise, Robots in Disguise was a stopgap: originally intended to be a Japanese-exclusive anime series, the need to buy time and retain a presence on store shelves while Hasbro and Takara collaborated to create the Unicron Trilogy led to Hasbro hastily importing and dubbing the Car Robots anime, giving rise to the odd beast known as Robots in Disguise. A transition of sorts away from the Beast Era and back to an age of vehicular Transformers, Robots in Disguise incorporated a mixture of new molds and a handful of Beast Wars toys, featuring heroic, vehicle-mode Autobots and evil, beast-mode Predacons.
How many Transformers movies are there?
The success of this franchise paved the way for the five sequels that make up what the wiki calls the " live-action film series ", as well as 2008's Transformers Animated franchise, taking advantage of the resurgence of the Transformers in the pop culture consciousness. Indeed, the first movie's toyline proved so popular that it would delay the release of Transformers Animated ''s own toyline by several months, well after the cartoon had first premiered.
Why aren't Transformers in the multiverse?
Several Transformers franchises do not fit cleanly into any one category; this may because they encompass a wide variety of characters from multiple continuities, because they crossover with outside intellectual properties, they can't be slotted neatly somewhere into the Transformers multiverse, or simply because they never grew beyond a handful of toys.
What year did Go Bots come out?
2002–2005: Transformers: Go-Bots, which also went by the names Playskool Big Adventures: Transformers and just Go-Bots, followed up on 1-2-3 Transformers, featuring more toys aimed at toddlers too young for the main Transformers brand. The toyline was supported by a short-lived cartoon, which featured a group of heroes from the city-planet Botropolis and their adventures on Earth.
How many Dinobots were there in 2003?
2003: The tiny Dinobots franchise consisted of six redecoed Beast Wars toys, including several Japanese-exclusive molds from the Beast Wars Neo franchise. No fiction explaining their place in the broader Transformers canon was ever produced until a brief mention in 2015's " Ask Vector Prime " feature retroactively slotted the characters into the Robots in Disguise universe.
What is Generation 1 Transformers?
The term "Generation One" (G1) was originally a fan-coined back-formulation of Generation 2. Until the Transformers: Generation 2 line was released, Generation One was simply called The Transformers. Over the years, the use of the term G1 has become fairly universal and has frequently been used in official materials. It has even appeared on Takara toy packaging and on Hasbro 's official Transformers website and reissue toy packaging.
What is Generation One?
Cartoon. Marvel comic. 3-D comics. Transformers G1 is Japanese-American cartoon and also Generation One, originally known as The Transformers, is the original Transformers franchise which took the United States by storm in 1984. The term "Generation One" (G1) was originally a fan-coined back-formulation of Generation 2.
Is Optimus Primal a Beast Era character?
Thus a character like Optimus Primal is listed as being "a character from the Beast Era portion of the Generation One continuity family ." Despite hailing from a later post-Generation One franchise, he is a part of the same Generation One continuity family.
What is a franchise in Transformers?
Franchise. A franchise, for lack of a better term, is an incarnation or "generation" of the Transformers brand. The word is used here to refer to the collection of not just toys, but also media, merchandise, and ideas that surround each of these incarnations.
When did Takara start rebranding Transformers?
Beginning in 1986, (the second year of the franchise in Japan), Takara got into the habit of annually rebranding the Transformers property. Moreover, 1987's The Headmasters kicked off a trend in which Takara's toylines and fiction branched off from Hasbro 's versions to increasingly significant degrees.
What toys were used in BotCon 2002?
2002: Expanded Universe was a short-lived labeling of BotCon toys. It was only used for BotCon 2002 and only consisted of CatSCAN, Cyclonus, Glyph, and Tap-Out.
What is Generation One?
1984–1991: Generation One is the retroactively-applied term for the original toys and associated media, including the original cartoon and Marvel comics.
What is the Unicron Battles franchise?
The latter portion of the franchise was subtitled " The Unicron Battles ". It was marketed in Japan as Micron Legend. The toyline was supported by a full cartoon series, comic book, pack-in mini-comics, on-line bios, and a great deal of ancillary merchandise.
Is Transformers reissued in Japan?
The toys were previously reissued by Takara in Japan, in the Transformers Collection line. As a reissue line, fiction was limited solely to on-package bios. 2003–2005: Universe supplemented the wildly successful Armada with redecos of older toys and convention -based fiction.
Is Animorphs a fiction?
Fiction was limited to on-package bios. 1999: Animorphs was a short-lived franchise using the Transformers name but unrelated with regard to fictional backstory. As this line was in support of a non-Transformers fictional universe, no specific fiction was tied to the toy line.
What are the villains in Transformers?
The "Transformers" movies have benefitted from the use of great villains throughout the series, villains that the movies have revolved around, villains that have posed a very real threat to our heroes and the world as a whole. Starscream, Megatron, The Fallen, Sentinel Prime and Lockdown were all antagonists that proved incredibly hard to put down. In fact, when it comes to Megatron, he is one who just can't seem to stay dead, coming back to life again and again.
Who played Agent Simmons in Transformers?
From Jon Voight as the US Secretary of Defense and John Turturro as recurring ally Agent Simmons to Frances McDormand as the Director of National Intelligence. All of them were characters who had a very important role to play in the events of the movies, characters that allowed their actors a chance to shine and flex their acting muscles a little differently than they are used to.
What happened to Optimus Prime in Age of Extinction?
Optimus Prime was in hiding and most of his friends were gone or dead. The movie ended with him leaving Earth to find his makers and "The Last Knight" looks once again to follow through on that promise.
What does Optimus Prime remind us?
Optimus Prime and his friends remind us that we have the strength in each of us to make a difference and that only together can we truly overcome evil. Even when things seem dire and all seems lost, they remind us that we need to keep being there for each other. And that, more today than ever, is a message that we can all get behind. Unity and inclusion is something we could all use more of, and the fact that all of these movies remind us of that makes them uplifting and, in many ways, timeless.
What is the strongest element of Transformers?
One of the strongest elements of all the "Transformers" series are their impeccable visual effects, which are always cutting edge. From the cars, trucks and helicopters transforming into robots, every single piece of machinery coming alive, twisting, turning and whirring to life to having these robots interact with humans like they were actually there, the incredible work by the visual effects team has always been something to look forward to in these movies.
Do Transformers have humans?
Yes, the humans have always had a starring role in the series. Crucial and identifiable roles. And yes, great actors have embodied them and made us care about them, to the point that some fans and critics lament the fact that the "Transformers" films are more about their humans characters than the Transformers themselves. And yet, they seem to forget that most of these characters have come and gone through a revolving door and that there is only once constant to be found in all movies: Optimus Prime.
Who voices Optimus Prime in Transformers?
Long ago, there was a time when Tom Hanks wanted to portray the voice of Optimus Prime in the live-action version of "Transformers." While that would have been an easy sell to the producers, a big name to draw in the crowds, long-time fans of the old cartoons were ecstatic to learn that Peter Cullen , who provided the voice for Optimus back in the original animated series, would be providing the voice to the fan-favorite character. To this day, Cullen is the one and only voice for Optimus, from the movies and cartoons to the video games.
When did the Transformers craze start?
Despite becoming a sensation among American children of the '80s, the Transformers craze actually began in Japan with a toy company named Takara. In 1974, Takara launched a line of toys in Japan called Microman, a series of small but impressively detailed action figures that included robots and vehicles with interchangeable parts (such as Robotman, pictured to the left). A spin-off toy line named Diaclone was launched in 1980 and introduced vehicles that transform.
When did Transformers make their first movie?
By 1986, after two seasons of the cartoon, the show had grown popular enough that it earned its very own feature-length animated movie. Skipping ahead in the series’ timeline to the year 2005, Transformers: The Movie upped the ante, forcing the Autobots and Decepticons to unite against the powerful planet-sized Unicron (pictured above and voiced by Orson Welles in his final film performance ever). The movie featured introductions for numerous new characters as well as the dramatic deaths of several classic Autobots and Decepticons, which lent the story some weight and gave Hasbro the opportunity to phase out some lesser-selling toys in favor of new models. One of the casualties of the movie was even Optimus Prime himself, though he ended up returning by the end of the cartoon's third season.
How many Transformers are there in Generation 1?
As I mentioned already, the original line of Generation 1 Transformers toys were based on two Japanese toy lines that Hasbro bought the rights to. However, Hasbro's Western rebranding in 1984 proved popular enough that in 1985 Takara began remarketing the Japanese lines as Transformers as well. The original set of Hasbro toys includes 21 figures, but as the cartoon took off and new robots were introduced, this number quickly expanded.
When did Hasbro reboot Transformers?
In 2000 and 2001, Hasbro did the first in a series of continuity reboots for the Transformers franchise. The Japanese animated series Transformers: Car Robots was brought over to the U.S. under the name Transformers: Robots in Disguise. This very anime-influenced show found the Autobots fighting the Predacons this time, with the Decepticons as a separate third faction introduced later in the series. The series also introduced Omega Prima, a powerful robot created from combining Optimus Prime and his brother, Ultra Magnus.
What is the Transformers game based on?
In 2004, Atari released Transformers, a game based on the Armada cartoon series that is probably the closest a video game has come to satisfying Transformers fans thus far. The Mini-Con concept borrowed from Armada lent itself very well to the video game format. In the game, Mini-Cons were essentially hidden collectibles that would unlock power-ups for your Transformers. Scouring levels for new Mini-Cons and making strategic choices about which to equip made this a fun experience, and it contained lots of fan service in the form of numerous epic boss encounters and unlockable concept art and cartoon goodies. However, the game’s success is only relative; it may be the most fan-pleasing Transformers game to date, but that doesn’t elevate it to anything more than an average (at best) third-person action experience.
How many issues are there in Transformers?
Originally planned as a four-issue mini-series to go along with the new cartoon, Marvel began publishing The Transformers in 1984. The series ended up continuing past its fourth issue, eventually ending in 1991 with 80 issues, a number that's still as impressive by today's standards as it was then. Even more impressive was the U.K. version of The Transformers, which ran for a nigh unbelievable 332 weekly issues, most written by Simon Furman.
What was Megatron's plan in the cartoon?
Most episodes of the cartoon consisted of Megatron coming up with a plot to destroy the Autobots, gain more Energon, take over the Earth, or all three -- followed by the Autobots slowly unraveling and thwarting his plan. New characters were introduced constantly, but a handful of fan favorites often took center stage, including Starscream, Soundwave, Bumblebee, and Jazz. This simple formula made for some great action and plenty of transforming every week.
Overview
- In Japan, rather than simply be identified as The Transformersthroughout its lifespan, the franchise was rebranded with a new title and a shift in storytelling every year. This led to a collection of mini-franchises within the larger "Generation 1" franchise, each featuring their own individual components. They are: 1. 1985 - Fight! Super Robot Lif...
Development
Potential shared universe
Short films
Transformers is a series of American science fiction action films based on the Transformers franchise, which began in the 1980s. Michael Bay directed the first five films: Transformers (2007), Revenge of the Fallen (2009), Dark of the Moon (2011), Age of Extinction (2014), and The Last Knight (2017), and has served as a producer for subsequent films. A spin-off film Bumblebee, directed by Travis K…
Web series
For the first film, producer Don Murphy was planning a G.I. Joe film adaptation, but when the U.S. launched the invasion of Iraq in March 2003, Hasbro suggested adapting the Transformers franchise instead. Tom DeSanto joined Murphy because he was a fan of the series. They met with comic book writer Simon Furman, and cited the Generation 1 cartoon and comics as their main influence. They made the Creation Matrix their plot device, though Murphy had it renamed because of the fil…
Reception
In March 2013, during the release of G.I. Joe: Retaliation, producer di Bonaventura announced the studio's plans to develop a G.I. Joe/Transformers crossover. On July 26, 2013, G.I. Joe: Retaliation director Jon M. Chu stated that he is also interested in directing a Transformers/G.I. Joe crossover film. Despite di Bonaventura stating that a crossover was not in the immediate plans for the franchises, he acknowledged that it is something they intended to do. In July 2021, producer Di …
Other media
Released separately from the first film on home release in October 2007, on DVD as a Walmart Exclusive; the short is an animated prequel, presented in the form of a motion comic, with narration from the character Bumblebee. Mark Ryan provides the voice-over work for the roll, while the short depicts Megatron's arrival on Earth, as well as Archibald Witwicky's discovery 4 million years later. The short skips to 2003 with Bumblebee arriving on Earth, and Sector 7's pursuit of h…
See also
A 13 episode long web mini series released in 2010 and set within and using the Transformers design from the continuity of the live action movies. It was released on Hasbro's website and in 2011 re-released on Transformers official YouTube channel. The series was made by TG Studios in only three months. It is set between the events of Revenge of the Fallen and Dark of the Moon.
Bumblebee's First Life on Earth (バンブルビー 初めての地球生活, Banburubī Hajimete no Chiky…
Generation 1
With the exception of Bumblebee, common elements of the original film series received negative reception, such as the repeated formulaic plots, acting, dialogue, filming, Transformer redesigns, sophomoric and toilet humor, female character objectification, the Transformers being reduced to secondary characters in their own films, clichéd and controversial characterizations, aimless story arcs, lack of character development, inconsistent tone, incoherent action, questionable marketing, …
Robots in Disguise
In addition to the films, the film series has a promotional expanded series that is set both before and after the events of the films. This includes comic books, video games, and novels. While the novels are partially based on the films themselves, and the video games are not in the same continuity as the films, the comic books and graphic novels are in the same continuity and fill in several parts of the stories from the films. Also, Transformers: The Ride 3D is an amusement rid…
The Unicron Trilogy
• The Transformers: The Movie, a 1986 animated film based on the original TV series
• G.I. Joe film series (soon to be a shared cinematic universe with ROM, M.A.S.K., Visionaries and Micronauts)
Live-Action Film Series
Transformers Animated
Shattered Glass
Aligned Continuity Family
Kre-O
- Transformers Animated
1. Main article: Transformers Animated (franchise) 2. Transformers Animated was the first American-written cartoon franchise in just under a decade, a movie-inspired reinvention that adopted the same design sensibilities as other contemporary Cartoon Network shows such as B…
Cyberverse
Botbots