The Transformers (TV series)

The Transformers
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	see list Charlie Adler Jack Angel Arlene Banas Jared Barclay Roger Behr Michael Bell Gregg Berger Susan Blu Steve Bulin Arthur Burghardt Corey Burton Roger C. Carmel Michael Chain Phillip Clarke Rege Cordic Scatman Crothers Peter Cullen Bud Davis Walker Edmiston Paul Eiding Laurie Faso Ron Feinberg Ron Gans Linda Gary Brad Garrett Richard Gautier Ed Gilbert Dan Gilvezan Joy Grdnic John Haymer Michael Horton John Hostetter Jerry Houser Milt Jamin Buster Jones Stan Jones S. Marc Jordan Casey Kasem Stephen Keener Aron Kindaid Chris Latta Joe Leahy Morgan Lofting Jeff MacKay Danny Mann Mona Marshall Michael McConnohie Terrence McGovern David Mendenhall Don Messick Denise Mora John Moschitta Alan Oppenheimer Rob Paulsen Tony Pope Bill Ratner Hal Rayle Peter Reneday Clive Revill Neil Ross Ken Sansom Ted Schwartz Tony St. James John Stephenson Beau Weaver Frank Welker
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.