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The Transformers (U.S. Seasons 1-3)

General information:

The Transformers was a cartoon series began in 1984 to promote the new toyline of the same name. The story behind these transforming robots was created in a joint venture between Hasbro, Takara, and Marvel Comics. This was the vehicle that introduced the majority of the existing fans to the Transformers' world and has served as a catalyst for Transformer sci-fi entertainment ever since it arrived. Marvel writers were responsible for crafting the backstory of the new series (in addition to the technical specifications on the back of the toy packaging and the comic storyline), and their artists adapted the robots' appearances for television. Thus, the Transformers series was born!

This series was composed of a first season of 16 highly memorable episodes, a second season with 49 episodes (that were mainly character rather than plot driven), and a third season whose setting took place following the time frame from the theatrically released Transformers: The Movie (which was set in the year 2005) and featured the post-movie Transformers cast. The three seasons of Transformers in America are virtually identical to the first three seasons of the Japanese Transformers, which were entitled "Transformers: Super Robot Life Form!" (U.S. Seasons one and two) and "Transformers: 2010" (U.S. Season three). There was a fourth season in the U.S., which told the story of the origin of the Headmasters and Targetmasters, but it was only composed of three episodes. The series ended in America following this three part episode.

Series synopsis:

The series started by setting up the conflict of the two warring Transformer factions, the Autobots and the Decepticons. The Autobots, led by Optimus Prime, leave their home world of Cybertron in search of a new source of energon, the fuel by which they live and of which are desperately short. The Decepticons, led by Megatron, are the current rulers of Cybertron and attempt to end the Autobot expedition to cement their rulership of their planet. After the Decepticons board the Autobot shuttle, the Ark, and the two factions fight a fierce battle in space, the craft becomes caught in the magnetic field of a nearby planet. The Ark then crash-lands on a primitive world, causing the Transformers inside to be deactivated for four million years. During this time, the inhabitants of the planet, Earth, have created a bustling civilization and utilize machinery that resembles the mechanical forms of the sleeping Transformers. In 1984, Mount St. Helens, the mountain on which the Ark crashed four million years prior, explodes in a volcanic eruption, activating the ship's computer system. The computer, Teletran I, sends out a satellite to investigate the surrounding area and view the local life forms. The computer reactivates the Transformers using the data transmitted and grants the Cybertronians Earth-style forms. The battle between Optimus Prime's Autobots and Megatron's Decepticons begins once more!

In the battles that follow, the battle lines become clearly drawn: the Decepticons realize that the planet Earth's abundant resources of energy can enable them to conquer the universe, and the Autobots must protect the inhabitants of Earth and keep the Decepticons from claiming the planet's resources for themselves. From his fallen command ship, Optimus Prime keeps a vigilant eye out for Megatron's forces as they continually attempt to gain the upper hand on this new battleground.

Many battles and events occur in the series.

Notable Characters:

A number of notable characters appeared in the series.

• Optimus Prime is the leader of the Autobots in all continuities. He is the most powerful, valiant, and intelligent Autobot and is very much the heart and soul of the Autobot cause. It is because of Optimus Prime's leadership that the Autobots have survived through the millions of years of war, and is greatly respected even by his enemies. His alternate mode is an 18-wheeler, of which he forms the cab with an external trailer module and scout drone.
• Megatron is the Decepticon doppelganger of Optimus Prime. It is Megatron who started the Third Cybertronian War, a move he made so that his race may flourish and ascend to dominance over the galaxy. He an exceptional leader, with his strength, cunning, and ruthlessness being widely known and feared by all, even his own followers. In his transformed state, Megatron becomes a Walther P38 handgun with extentions, and can shrink to the size consistant with the actual human weapon. During the movie, Megatron is reconstructed to form Galvatron, with an alt form of a laser cannon.
• Starscream is the commander of the Decepticon air corps. One of the most dangerous and fearsome Decepticons to ever come off the assembly line, he is also the most devious. It is his goal to overthrow Megatron's rule and claim it as his own, as his massive ego dictates that his virtues are greater than Megatron's. However, in his millions of years of service to the Decepticon cause, he has been unsuccessful at gaining the leadership. His other form is that of an F-14 Tomcat fighter jet. Starscream is destroyed in the movie by Galvatron, after he finally was able to become leader; but his "ghost" haunts the third season as well as the first season of Beast Wars.
• Soundwave is Megatron's right hand man and Decepticon Chief of Intelligence. Very little occurs that Soundwave does not know about. His monotone voice is chilling and souless, successfully sheathing his underlying humility. His alternate form is of a Walkman tape deck, and he has a number of subordinates within his body in the form of cassettes. These tiny Decepticons can conduct reconnaissance missions by themselves and are quite lethal warriors in their own right. Their names are Rumble, Frenzy, Laserbeak, Buzzsaw, Ravage, and, later, Ratbat.
• The Dinobots are Autobots who were created on Earth with alternate forms that emulate the ancient dinosaurs. Their slow wits and agility are balanced by their incredible strength and stamina. The Dinobots are the heavy hitters for the Autobots before the arrival of combination teams, and can successfully match up to those teams as well. They are led by Grimlock (Tyrannasauras Rex), and are comprised of Slag (Triceratops), Sludge (Braichiosaurus), Snarl (Stegasaurus), and Swoop (Pteranadon).
• Spike Witwicky is a human ally to the Autobots. His father is William "Sparkplug" Witwicky, and eventually marries his longtime girlfriend Carly and has a son named Daniel. During the first two seasons, he is more like a sidekick, but during and after the Movie in 2005, he is an ambassador of Earth to the Autobots, and is the most important human in any Transformer series.