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More than any other of the many media which Transformers have invaded in the past 20+ years, it is '''''The Transformers''''', the original cartoon (1984-1987) which captured the imagination of children and children-at-heart worldwide.   
More than any other of the many media which Transformers have invaded in the past 20+ years, it is '''''The Transformers''''', the original cartoon (1984-1987) which captured the imagination of children and children-at-heart worldwide.   


==Overview==
==Overview==
Line 5: Line 6:


Through its 98-episode run this series took viewers to many strange places and times:  the alien Cybertron, the Earth's prehistoric past, the Earth's then-future of 2005, the ''Metropolis''-like society of Nebulos, and more.  It is not the best animated series ever to air, but it stimulated viewers with its concept at the time, and continued to do so in the years to come.
Through its 98-episode run this series took viewers to many strange places and times:  the alien Cybertron, the Earth's prehistoric past, the Earth's then-future of 2005, the ''Metropolis''-like society of Nebulos, and more.  It is not the best animated series ever to air, but it stimulated viewers with its concept at the time, and continued to do so in the years to come.


==Production==
==Production==
Line 10: Line 12:


The series was produced on an enormously rushed schedule, due to the need to get episodes on the air in synch with the toys appearing on shelves.  That, combined with the vast number of characters and the difficulties involved with the overseas animation process, resulted in a cartoon that is notoriously riddled with animation errors and other mistakes.  The producers were often aware of these mistakes, but tight deadlines left them no time to correct them.
The series was produced on an enormously rushed schedule, due to the need to get episodes on the air in synch with the toys appearing on shelves.  That, combined with the vast number of characters and the difficulties involved with the overseas animation process, resulted in a cartoon that is notoriously riddled with animation errors and other mistakes.  The producers were often aware of these mistakes, but tight deadlines left them no time to correct them.


==Episodes==
==Episodes==
Note: These episodes are listed in production order rather than original airdate. In a few instances, this means that episodes are not in the correct chronological story order, the specifics of which are noted in their own articles. Note that Season 3, in particular, suffers from this - the Rhino DVD release of the season reordered the episodes in question so that they were in order, but also reordered many episodes that did not have any placement problems, throwing off the whole shebang. Conversely, the R2 Metrodome release of the season just reorganized the problematic ones. <br>
Note: These episodes are listed in production order rather than original airdate. In a few instances, this means that episodes are not in the correct chronological story order, the specifics of which are noted in their own articles. Note that Season 3, in particular, suffers from this - the Rhino DVD release of the season reordered the episodes in question so that they were in order, but also reordered many episodes that did not have any placement problems, throwing off the whole shebang. Conversely, the R2 Metrodome release of the season just reorganized the problematic ones. <br>
Note: [[The Transformers: The Movie (1986)]] is part of this series, taking place between Season 2 and Season 3.
Note: [[The Transformers: The Movie (1986)]] is part of this series, taking place between Season 2 and Season 3.


===Season 1===
===Season 1===
The first season is primarily set on Earth, with a few excursions to Cybertron.  It started with the 1984 toys as its charcters, and introduced the early wave of 1985 toys as it progressed -- the Constructicons, Dinobots, Insecticons, and Skyfire.<br>
The first season is primarily set on [[Earth]], with a few excursions to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].  It started with the 1984 toys as its characters, and introduced the early wave of 1985 toys as it progressed -- the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s, [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s, [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticon]]s, and [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]].
1. [[More Than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]<br>
{{collist|colwidth=20em|
2. [[More Than Meets the Eye, Part 2]]<br>
# [[More Than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]
3. [[More Than Meets the Eye, Part 3]]<br>
# [[More Than Meets the Eye, Part 2]]
4. [[Transport to Oblivion]]<br>
# [[More Than Meets the Eye, Part 3]]
5. [[Roll For It]]<br>
# [[Transport to Oblivion]]
6. [[Divide and Conquer]]<br>
# [[Roll For It]]
7. [[Fire in the Sky]]<br>
# [[Divide and Conquer]]
8. [[S.O.S. Dinobots]]<br>
# [[Fire in the Sky]]
9. [[Fire on the Mountain]]<br>
# [[S.O.S. Dinobots]]
10. [[War of the Dinobots]]<br>
# [[Fire on the Mountain]]
11. [[The Ultimate Doom, Part 1]]<br>
# [[War of the Dinobots]]
12. [[The Ultimate Doom, Part 2]]<br>
# [[The Ultimate Doom, Part 1]]
13. [[The Ultimate Doom, Part 3]]<br>
# [[The Ultimate Doom, Part 2]]
14. [[Countdown to Extinction]]<br>
# [[The Ultimate Doom, Part 3]]
15. [[A Plague of Insecticons]]<br>
# [[Countdown to Extinction]]
16. [[Heavy Metal War]]
# [[A Plague of Insecticons]]
# [[Heavy Metal War]]
}}


===Season 2===
===Season 2===
The very long second season greatly expanded the cartoon's scope and cast.  It breaks down very roughly into three segments: the first dozen episodes features the Season 1 cast; a second batch of episodes brings in the remainder of the 1985 toys; and the final nine episodes introduce the four combiner teams that formed the early entries in the 1986 line.  The second season tends to feature more character-driven episodes than the first season, with many characters getting their own "spotlight" episode.<br>
The very long second season greatly expanded the cartoon's scope and cast.  It breaks down very roughly into three segments: the first dozen episodes features the Season 1 cast; a second batch of episodes brings in the remainder of the 1985 toys; and the final nine episodes introduce the four combiner teams that formed the early entries in the 1986 line.  The second season tends to feature more character-driven episodes than the first season, with many characters getting their own "spotlight" episode.
1. [[Autobot Spike]]<br>
{{collist|colwidth=20em|
2. [[Changing Gears]]<br>
# [[Autobot Spike]]
3. [[City of Steel]]<br>
# [[Changing Gears]]
4. [[Attack of the Autobots]]<br>
# [[City of Steel]]
5. [[Traitor]]<br>
# [[Attack of the Autobots]]
6. [[The Immobilizer]]<br>
# [[Traitor]]
7. [[The Autobot Run]]<br>
# [[The Immobilizer]]
8. [[Atlantis, Arise!]]<br>
# [[The Autobot Run]]
9. [[Day of the Machines]]<br>
# [[Atlantis, Arise!]]
10. [[Enter the Nightbird]]<br>
# [[Day of the Machines]]
11. [[A Prime Problem]]<br>
# [[Enter the Nightbird]]
12. [[The Core]]<br>
# [[A Prime Problem]]
13. [[The Insecticon Syndrome]]<br>
# [[The Core]]
14. [[Dinobot Island, Part 1]]<br>
# [[The Insecticon Syndrome]]
15. [[Dinobot Island, Part 2]]<br>
# [[Dinobot Island, Part 1]]
16. [[The Master Builders]]<br>
# [[Dinobot Island, Part 2]]>
17. [[Auto Berserk]]<br>
# [[The Master Builders]]
18. [[Microbots]]<br>
# [[Auto Berserk]]
19. [[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1]]<br>
# [[Microbots]]
20. [[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2]]<br>
# [[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1]]
21. [[Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1]]<br>
# [[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2]]
22. [[Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2]]<br>
# [[Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1]]
23. [[Blaster Blues]]<br>
# [[Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2]]
24. [[A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court]]<br>
# [[Blaster Blues]]
25. [[The Golden Lagoon]]<br>
# [[A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court]]>
26. [[The God Gambit]]<br>
# [[The Golden Lagoon]]
27. [[Make Tracks]]<br>
# [[The God Gambit]]
28. [[Child's Play (episode)|Child's Play]]<br>
# [[Make Tracks]]
29. [[Quest for Survival]]<br>
# [[Child's Play (episode)|Child's Play]]
30. [[The Secret of Omega Supreme]]<br>
# [[Quest for Survival]]
31. [[The Gambler]]<br>
# [[The Secret of Omega Supreme]]
32. [[Kremzeek!]]<br>
# [[The Gambler]]
33. [[Sea Change]]<br>
# [[Kremzeek!]]
34. [[Triple Takeover]]<br>
# [[Sea Change]]
35. [[Prime Target]]<br>
# [[Triple Takeover]]
36. [[Auto-Bop]]<br>
# [[Prime Target]]
37. [[The Search for Alpha Trion]]<br>
# [[Auto-Bop]]
38. [[The Girl Who Loved Powerglide]]<br>
# [[The Search for Alpha Trion]]
39. [[Hoist Goes Hollywood]]<br>
#[[The Girl Who Loved Powerglide]]
40. [[The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1]]<br>
# [[Hoist Goes Hollywood]]
41. [[The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2]]<br>
# [[The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1]]
42. [[Aerial Assault]]<br>
# [[The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2]]
43. [[War Dawn]]<br>
# [[Aerial Assault]]
44. [[Trans-Europe Express]]<br>
# [[War Dawn]]
45. [[Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust]]<br>
# [[Trans-Europe Express]]
46. [[Starscream's Brigade]]<br>
# [[Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust]]
47. [[The Revenge of Bruticus]]<br>
# [[Starscream's Brigade]]
48. [[Masquerade]]<br>
# [[The Revenge of Bruticus]]
49. [[B.O.T.]]
# [[Masquerade]]
# [[B.O.T.]]
}}


===Intermediate===
===Intermediate===
Line 90: Line 98:


===Season 3===
===Season 3===
Season 3 ''transformed'' the whole premise of the show.  Gone were the two teams stranded on Earth, along with many of the characters that composed those teams.  In their place was a galaxy-spanning tale of battles on alien worlds.  The Decepticons were somewhat reduced as villains, with the Autobots in firm control of Cybertron; new enemies in the form of the Quintessons were introduced.  Late in Season 3, as in Season 2, the forerunners of the 1987 toy line were introduced.<br>
Season 3 ''transformed'' the whole premise of the show.  Gone were the two teams stranded on Earth, along with many of the characters that composed those teams.  In their place was a galaxy-spanning tale of battles on alien worlds.  The Decepticons were somewhat reduced as villains, with the Autobots in firm control of Cybertron; new enemies in the form of the [[Quintesson]]s were introduced.  Late in Season 3, as in Season 2, the forerunners of the 1987 toy line were introduced.
1. [[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1]]<br>
{{collist|colwidth=20em|
2. [[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2]]<br>
# [[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1]]
3. [[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3]]<br>
# [[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2]]
4. [[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4]]<br>
# [[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3]]
5. [[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5]]<br>
# [[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4]]
6. [[The Killing Jar]]<br>
# [[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5]]
7. [[Chaos (episode)|Chaos]]<br>
# [[The Killing Jar]]
8. [[Dark Awakening]]<br>
# [[Chaos (episode)|Chaos]]
9. [[Forever is a Long Time Coming]]<br>
# [[Dark Awakening]]
10. [[Starscream's Ghost]]<br>
# [[Forever is a Long Time Coming]]
11. [[Thief in the Night]]<br>
# [[Starscream's Ghost]]
12. [[Surprise Party]]<br>
# [[Thief in the Night]]
13. [[Madman's Paradise]]<br>
# [[Surprise Party]]
14. [[Nightmare Planet]]<br>
# [[Madman's Paradise]]
15. [[Ghost in the Machine]]<br>
# [[Nightmare Planet]]
16. [[Webworld]]<br>
# [[Ghost in the Machine]]
17. [[Carnage in C-Minor]]<br>
# [[Webworld]]
18. [[The Quintesson Journal]]<br>
# [[Carnage in C-Minor]]
19. [[The Ultimate Weapon]]<br>
# [[The Quintesson Journal]]
20. [[The Big Broadcast of 2006]]<br>
# [[The Ultimate Weapon]]
21. [[Fight or Flee]]<br>
# [[The Big Broadcast of 2006]]
22. [[Dweller in the Depths]]<br>
# [[Fight or Flee]]
23. [[Only Human]]<br>
# [[Dweller in the Depths]]
24. [[Grimlock's New Brain]]<br>
# [[Only Human]]
25. [[Money is Everything]]<br>
# [[Grimlock's New Brain]]
26. [[Call of the Primitives]]<br>
# [[Money is Everything]]
27. [[The Face of the Nijika]]<br>
# [[Call of the Primitives]]
28. [[The Burden Hardest to Bear]]<br>
# [[The Face of the Nijika]]
29. [[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1]]<br>
# [[The Burden Hardest to Bear]]
30. [[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2]]
# [[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1]]
 
# [[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2]]
}}
===Season 4===
===Season 4===
1. [[The Rebirth, Part 1]]<br>
1. [[The Rebirth, Part 1]]<br>

Revision as of 02:46, 20 November 2007

More than any other of the many media which Transformers have invaded in the past 20+ years, it is The Transformers, the original cartoon (1984-1987) which captured the imagination of children and children-at-heart worldwide.


Overview

The cartoon set up the basic story of Transformers that all other incarnations were to follow: two warring factions of robots on the planet Cybertron leave in search of resources. The factions crash-land on Earth and, millions of years later, begin their battle anew in Reagan-era America and across the globe.

Through its 98-episode run this series took viewers to many strange places and times: the alien Cybertron, the Earth's prehistoric past, the Earth's then-future of 2005, the Metropolis-like society of Nebulos, and more. It is not the best animated series ever to air, but it stimulated viewers with its concept at the time, and continued to do so in the years to come.


Production

Writing and distribution for this series were handled as a joint effort by Marvel Productions and Sunbow Productions. Animation was produced overseas, primarily by Toei and AKOM.

The series was produced on an enormously rushed schedule, due to the need to get episodes on the air in synch with the toys appearing on shelves. That, combined with the vast number of characters and the difficulties involved with the overseas animation process, resulted in a cartoon that is notoriously riddled with animation errors and other mistakes. The producers were often aware of these mistakes, but tight deadlines left them no time to correct them.


Episodes

Note: These episodes are listed in production order rather than original airdate. In a few instances, this means that episodes are not in the correct chronological story order, the specifics of which are noted in their own articles. Note that Season 3, in particular, suffers from this - the Rhino DVD release of the season reordered the episodes in question so that they were in order, but also reordered many episodes that did not have any placement problems, throwing off the whole shebang. Conversely, the R2 Metrodome release of the season just reorganized the problematic ones.
Note: The Transformers: The Movie (1986) is part of this series, taking place between Season 2 and Season 3.


Season 1

The first season is primarily set on Earth, with a few excursions to Cybertron. It started with the 1984 toys as its characters, and introduced the early wave of 1985 toys as it progressed -- the Constructicons, Dinobots, Insecticons, and Skyfire.

Season 2

The very long second season greatly expanded the cartoon's scope and cast. It breaks down very roughly into three segments: the first dozen episodes features the Season 1 cast; a second batch of episodes brings in the remainder of the 1985 toys; and the final nine episodes introduce the four combiner teams that formed the early entries in the 1986 line. The second season tends to feature more character-driven episodes than the first season, with many characters getting their own "spotlight" episode.

  1. Autobot Spike
  2. Changing Gears
  3. City of Steel
  4. Attack of the Autobots
  5. Traitor
  6. The Immobilizer
  7. The Autobot Run
  8. Atlantis, Arise!
  9. Day of the Machines
  10. Enter the Nightbird
  11. A Prime Problem
  12. The Core
  13. The Insecticon Syndrome
  14. Dinobot Island, Part 1
  15. Dinobot Island, Part 2>
  16. The Master Builders
  17. Auto Berserk
  18. Microbots
  19. Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1
  20. Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2
  21. Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1
  22. Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2
  23. Blaster Blues
  24. A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court>
  25. The Golden Lagoon
  26. The God Gambit
  27. Make Tracks
  28. Child's Play
  29. Quest for Survival
  30. The Secret of Omega Supreme
  31. The Gambler
  32. Kremzeek!
  33. Sea Change
  34. Triple Takeover
  35. Prime Target
  36. Auto-Bop
  37. The Search for Alpha Trion
  38. The Girl Who Loved Powerglide
  39. Hoist Goes Hollywood
  40. The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1
  41. The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2
  42. Aerial Assault
  43. War Dawn
  44. Trans-Europe Express
  45. Cosmic Rust
  46. Starscream's Brigade
  47. The Revenge of Bruticus
  48. Masquerade
  49. B.O.T.

Intermediate

The Transformers: The Movie

Season 3

Season 3 transformed the whole premise of the show. Gone were the two teams stranded on Earth, along with many of the characters that composed those teams. In their place was a galaxy-spanning tale of battles on alien worlds. The Decepticons were somewhat reduced as villains, with the Autobots in firm control of Cybertron; new enemies in the form of the Quintessons were introduced. Late in Season 3, as in Season 2, the forerunners of the 1987 toy line were introduced.

Season 4

1. The Rebirth, Part 1
2. The Rebirth, Part 2
3. The Rebirth, Part 3


DVD Releases

Kid Rhino (US)

  • Transformers First Season Collector's Edition
  • Transformers Season 2 Part 1
  • Transformers Season 2 Part 2
  • Transformers Season 3 Part 1
  • Transformers Season 3 Part 2/Season 4

Madman Entertainment (Aus)

  • Transformers Collection 1 - Season 1
  • Transformers Collection 2 - Season 2 Part 1
  • Transformers Collection 3 - Season 2 Part 2
  • Transformers Collection 4 - Season 3 Part 1
  • Transformers Collection 5 - Season 3 Part 2
  • Transformers Collection 6 - Season 4
  • The Best of Transformers Generation 1
  • Transformers Generation 1 - Complete Collection

Maverick Entertainment (UK)

  • Transformers - Original Series, Vol 1 (Season 1, episodes 9-13)
  • Transformers - Original Series, Vol 2 (Season 1, episodes 1-6)
  • Transformers - Original Series, Vol 3 (Season 1, episodes 7, 8, 14-16)
  • Transformers - Complete Original Series (complete Season 1)
  • Transformers - Five Faces of Darkness
  • Transformers - The Rebirth

Metrodome (UK)

  • Transformers - Season 1
  • Transformers - Season 2 Part 1
  • Transformers - Season 2 Part 2
  • Transformers - Season 3 & Season 4
  • Transformers - The Complete Generation 1 Collection
  • Transformers - Generation 1 Bumper Special
  • Transformers - The Classic Episodes
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