| Transformers is the famous line of toy robots from | | | | The American tv show was concluded that year, but |
| Hasbro. Transformers change from robots into objects | | | | in Japan the show continued to be produced, and in |
| such as cars, planes, guns, buildings, or even radios. | | | | the UK and the US comic book series continued to be |
| These toys were later adapted into animated tv | | | | produced. It's worth noting that all of these series |
| shows, a comic book series, and feature films. | | | | diverged widely in story, and contradicted each other |
| Transformers have had the biggest following in the | | | | on many levels. |
| United States, the UK, and Japan. | | | | Since the end of the original tv series, new |
| Transformers originated in Japan in the 1970s with the | | | | "generations" of Transformers have arisen, though |
| toylines "Microman" and "Diaclone" produced by | | | | most fans of the original series are not thoroughly |
| Japanese toy maker Takara. In 1984 both toylines | | | | impressed and prefer the Transformers of 1984-1987. |
| were licensed by Hasbro and rebranded as | | | | Beast Wars was an incarnation of the Transformers |
| "Transformers". The toys were basically the same, | | | | series produced in Canada from 1995-1999, and was |
| though they were often repainted in different colors or | | | | followed by Beast Machines from 2000-2001. This |
| had other minor changes. Hasbro also created a new | | | | new generation also included a Hasbro toyline. It was |
| storyline for the toys, giving new names and | | | | set in the future from the original Transformers series, |
| personalities to the Japanese toys. Hasbro later | | | | with many story tie-ins. |
| started creating new characters and toys that had no | | | | There have been additional comic book series with |
| antecedent in the Japanese toylines. In 1985 Takara | | | | new generations of Transformers, but they have |
| stopped producing Microman and Diaclone, and instead | | | | never enjoyed the popularity of the original series. The |
| started to market them as Transformers, emulating | | | | only Transformers phenomena to reach the levels of |
| the success of the new American toyline. | | | | the 1980s series is the recent film franchise, with the |
| A Transformers tv series began in 1984, as well as a | | | | 2007 release of a semi-live action film "Transformers", |
| MARVEL comic book series. In 1986 the animated tv | | | | followed by "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" in |
| series gave rise to a full length feature film called | | | | 2009. A third installment is due in 2011 or 2012. Featuring |
| Transformers: The Movie. The movie caused a shock | | | | fantastic computer-animated action and a young allstar |
| to Transformer fans with the death of many beloved | | | | cast of actors, the franchise has revived |
| characters, including Optimus Prime, the leader of the | | | | Transformers as a dominant force in the |
| heroic Autobots. Optimus would later be resurrected at | | | | entertainment industry as well as the toy industry. |
| the end of the third season of the tv show in 1987. | | | | |