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The Transformers (TV series)

The Transformers
American and Japanese Transformers logo.jpg
The American and Japanese logos
Genre Science fiction
Action
Adventure
Created by Hasbro
Takara Tomy
Based on Transformers
by Hasbro and
Takara Tomy
Written by Various
Voices of
Narrated by Victor Caroli
Composer(s) Johnny Douglas
Robert J. Walsh
Country of origin United States
No. of seasons 4
No. of episodes 98(list of episodes)
Production
Producer(s) Gwen Wetzler
Nelson Shin
Joe Bacal
Margaret Loesch
Tom Griffin
Lee Gunther
Running time 23–24 minutes
Production company(s) Sunbow Productions
Marvel Productions
Toei Animation
AKOM Production
Distributor Claster Television
Release
Original network First-run syndication
Audio format Stereo
Original release September 17, 1984 (1984-09-17) – November 11, 1987 (1987-11-11)
Chronology
Followed by The Headmasters (Japan)
Transformers: Generation 2 (US)

The Transformers is a half-hour American animated television series which originally aired from September 17, 1984 to November 11, 1987. The first of many series in the Transformers franchise, it was based upon Hasbro's Transformers toy line (itself based upon the Diaclone and Microman toy lines originally created by Japanese toy manufacturer Takara) and depicts a war among giant robots that can transform into vehicles and other objects.

Co-produced between Marvel Productions and Sunbow Productions for first-run syndication, animation for the series was predominantly done by Toei Animation in Japan, and AKOM in South Korea. The series was supplemented by a feature film, The Transformers: The Movie (1986), taking place between the second and third seasons.

This series is also popularly referred to as "Generation 1", a term originally coined by fans in response to the re-branding of the franchise as Transformers: Generation 2 in 1992, which eventually made its way into official use.

The Transformers toyline and cartoon/animated series was inspired by the Japanese toyline, Microman (an Eastern descendant of the 12" G.I. Joe action figure series). In 1980, the Microman spin-off, Diaclone, was released, featuring inch-tall humanoid figures able to sit in the drivers' seats of scale model vehicles, which could transform into humanoid robot bodies the drivers piloted. Later still, in 1983, a Microman sub-line, MicroChange was introduced, featuring "actual size" items that transformed into robots, such as microcassettes, guns and toy cars. Diaclone and MicroChange toys were subsequently discovered at the 1983 Tokyo Toy Fair by Hasbro toy company product developer Henry Orenstein, who presented the concept to Hasbro's head of R&D, George Dunsay. Enthusiastic about the product, it was decided to release toys from both Diaclone and MicroChange as one toyline for their markets, although there were eventual changes to the color schemes from the original toys to match the new series.


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Wikipedia

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