Editing Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 franchise)

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'''''Transformers: Robots in Disguise''''' is a Transformers [[Franchises|franchise]] that launched in the year [[2001]]. It was an American port of the [[2000]] Japanese Transformers series '''''Transformers: Car Robots''''' (トランスフォーマー カーロボット). The franchise was the first full-on [[Continuity|reboot]] series in ''Transformers'' history on both sides of the globe, which caused a heck of a ruckus among the [[fandom]] when it was new. Since then, however, it has faded into relative obscurity.

Taking place on [[Earth]] at the turn of the century, the series follows [[Optimus Prime (RID)|Optimus Prime]] (or "Fire Convoy") and his Autobots (or "Cybertrons") protecting the planet and its long-lost Cybertronian artifacts from the ambitions of the evil [[Megatron (RID)|Megatron]] (or "Gigatron") and his [[Predacon (RID)|Predacon]]s (or "Destrongers").

In-universe, the ''Robots in Disguise'' continuity is referred to as "[[Viron]]" in the [[Transcendent Technomorph|TransTechs]]' [[universal stream]] designators... but ''Car Robots'' is not. We'll explain that below.

The ''Robots in Disguise'' franchise featured the following primary components:

*[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 toyline)|A toyline]]
*[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 cartoon)|A cartoon series]]
*[[Ultra Magnus...to the Rescue?|A single American comic book story]] by [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] (produced after the series ended production) set in the same continuity as the cartoon series.

Due to [[retcon]]s by the Facebook edition of [[Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime]], the franchise is also tied to:
*[[Transformers: Dinobots|Another toyline which is composed of Dinobots]]<ref>[[Ask Vector Prime/Facebook src#May 29, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 29/05/2015]]</ref>
*[[Shell Game|Another American comic book story]]<ref>[[Ask Vector Prime/Facebook src#July 29, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 29/07/2015]]</ref>

==History==
[[File:Car Robots logo.jpg|left|300px]]
The series's original incarnation, ''Car Robots'', was created in response to the continually-declining sales of [[TakaraTomy|Takara's]] ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]''-based toylines. As [[Hasbro]] moved into ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Machines]]'', Takara opted instead to start anew -and tap into nostalgia as well- by bringing back the traditional modern Earth vehicle heroes with the classic [[Autobot]] big red face [[insignia|faction symbol]]. However, the villains of the series did not follow suit; while "Destronger" leader "Gigatron" was an all-new toy mold, his lackeys were all [[redeco]]ed [[Transmetal 2]] molds that had been developed for ''Beast Wars'', and the team was given the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] symbol as had the villains from the prior shows. Further villain reinforcements, the [[Decepticon#2001 Robots in Disguise cartoon|Combatrons]], were even older molds based on modern Earth vehicles, but got a black, upside-down ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]'' Autobot symbol... apparently due to Takara's unwillingness to [[retool]] one of the toys to remove the faction symbol from it.

A year later in America, Hasbro decided it was time to end the [[Beast Era]] (which was also flagging in sales). Hasbro and Takara began work to co-develop the next series intended for both markets, ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'', but Hasbro refused to not have ''Transformers'' toys on the shelves despite ''Beast Machines'' under-performing. Thus, they quickly ported over ''Car Robots'', re-branding it as ''Robots in Disguise'', as a low-cost, low-work "filler" line. While the animalistic badguys retained the Predacon logo (and faction name), all of the badguys who turned into Earth vehicles got the traditional Decepticon emblem. Hasbro even expanded the product offerings with more redecos and minor retools of older molds, including a few previously-canceled ones. (Takara, meanwhile, apparently had no qualms about letting almost two years pass with no kid-aimed ''Transformers'' toys on the shelves.)

Where ''Car Robots'' sputtered in Japan, ''Robots in Disguise'' took off with a roar in America, thanks in no small part to the cartoon airing on the popular [[Fox Kids]] programming block.

===The continuity kerfuffle===
Fictionally, ''Car Robots'' itself contains no ties to the [[Generation 1 cartoon timeline (Japan)|prior long-running continuity]] in any way... a tactic that is common in long-running Japanese franchises, but had not yet been applied to ''Transformers''. Taken on its own, it ''is'' on its own. ''Robots in Disguise'' followed suit, being irreconcilable with [[Marvel Comics continuity|either of the major]] [[Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hasbro-backed Generation 1 continuities]], which caused no end of confusion among the fandom. The idea of a total continuity reboot took some time to settle in... which was ''not'' helped by the English dub adding in numerous references to Generation 1 concepts and characters (which typically made things ''less'' compatible), nor the toy line having two characters from prior series ([[Axer (G1)|Axer]] and [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]]) actually cross dimensions into the current continuity.

Eventually, the fandom got used to the idea of this series being on its own, helped along when ''Armada'' would similarly reboot the continuity.

''HOWEVER''. 

In 2007, Takara's ''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (franchise)|Kiss Players]]'' comic had begun a time-jumping story, with the series' protagonists traveling in [[Fortress Maximus (RID)|Brave Maximus]]... a ''Car Robots'' concept. The series even ended with Brave crashing into [[Master (planet)|Planet Master]] before its refugee inhabitants had developed the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster technology]], stating that Brave Maximus's wreckage would provide the catalyst not just for the technology, but for the construction of the physically identical [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]. Other printed materials then produced a long, [[Generation 1 cartoon timeline (Japan)/src|highly detailed timeline]] which mapped out just how the hell this worked.

[[File:Japaneseflowchart.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.67|This has only gotten MORE complicated since its publication.]]

Yes, Takara had [[retcon]]ned ''Car Robots'' into the massive, sprawling Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity, hand-waving the cartoon's original lack of previous-series Transformers on Earth as the results of a [[Transformers: The Battle of the Star Gate|painfully obscure Generation 1 based manga]] that ended with virtually the entire cast being accidentally swept away from Earth in a huge [[space bridge]] accident. (This was not the only continuity shuffle done at this point: Takara had originally presented [[Transformers: Cybertron (franchise)|''Galaxy Force'', their version of the ''Cybertron'' series]] as a disconnected reboot during its original run. But this new timeline put it back as the sequel to ''[[Transformers: Energon (franchise)|Super Link]]'' just as ''Cybertron'' was a sequel to ''Energon'' in the West... albeit not without some hiccups caused by the cartoon's reboot-ness.) In what is almost certainly a hilarious twist of fate, a promotional ad on Japanese television for ''Car Robots'' had [[Fire Convoy]] thanking the [[Maximal]] Beast Warriors for preserving [[Earth|Earth's]] history and promising to keep the modern day safe from the [[Predacon (RID)|Destrongers]].<ref>https://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm16590450</ref> Some Japanese fans have even suggested that this is proof that this was ''always'' part of the plan!

Hasbro, however, had no such plans. ''Robots in Disguise'' remains to this day its own little separate thing, and Hasbro shows little inclination to revive any of its characters or concepts; most of the callbacks have come from licensee [[Fun Publications]].

Thus, ''Car Robots''/''Robots in Disguise'' is in the unique position of being simultaneously part of Generation 1 and completely separate from Generation 1... depending on which side of the globe you're looking at.

Head hurt yet?

In order to keep things simple for readers and cut back on redundancies, '''{{SITENAME SHORT}}''' has opted to roll ''Car Robots'' character and cartoon information into the ''Robots in Disguise'' counterparts' pages. Just know that any ''Robots in Disguise'' character who appears in the "[[:Category: Car Robots characters]]" category has a nigh-identical Generation-1-timeline doppelganger who did pretty much all the same stuff in the cartoon, only they did all that in a Generation 1 timeline.

Some modern Western fiction has introduced Generation 1 versions of ''Robots in Disguise'' characters, such as [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]]. These versions of the characters are covered on the same pages as their RID counterparts.

<!--*[[TakaraTomy|Takara]] considers ''Robots in Disguise'' to be the 'same' series as ''Car Robots''.{{fact|August, 2009}} Source like interview in magazines or other materials? Thus, the American release of Sideways for the ''Robots in Disguise'' toyline means that [[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Legends of the Microns]] [[Sideways (RID)|Double Face]] (Sideways's Japanese name) first appeared in ''Car Robots''.-->

==Notes==
*Despite [[Misconceptions and urban legends about Transformers|fan rumors]] to the contrary, ''Car Robots'' was never called and was never ''going'' to be called "Transformers 2000".
*"Car Robots" is also the original name of the [[Autobot Cars]] (including [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Generation 1|Optimus Prime]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys#Generation 1|Ultra Magnus]]) in the ''[[Diaclone]]'' toyline.

==External links==
*[http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/products/TF/table.html Takara's Transformers Continuity Map places ''Car Robots'' in Generation 1.]

==References==
<references/>

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[[Category:Continuity families]]
[[Category:Franchises]]
[[Category:Robots in Disguise (2001)| ]]