Title sequence

Mooooooom! Crosshairs and Pinpointer are making a title sequence!

A title sequence is the animation that accompanies the theme song or opening narration of a television series, introducing the audience to the show's characters and storyline on a visual level. Title sequences are some times comprised of original animation commissioned solely for the sequence, a collection of clips from actual episodes, or a mixture of both. Often times, the original animation commissioned for the title sequence is of vastly superior quality to the animation seen in the actual program. Often times, but not always. These sequences can range from thirty seconds to a minute and thirty seconds, depending on the length of the theme song or opening narration.

Generation 1 (US)

Theme song: The Transformers by Anne Bryant and Ford Kinder.

Each season of the Generation 1 cartoon boasted an original title sequence with varying performances of the original Transformers theme song. Seasons 1 and 2 each offered original performances of the theme song, while from season 3 onward, a third and final version was performed and used exclusively.

Season 1

Animation: Toei

Prime at perhaps his wussiest.

The Autobot and Decepticon insignias fly by as Optimus Prime and several of his troops transform. After the title flips to different faction colors, the Seekers transform and fire upon several Autobot cars. Optimus Prime and Megatron join the battle. Skywarp clashes with Jazz and judo flips him, though Jazz transforms to car mode, lands, drives back and returns to robot mode, punching Skywarp in the face. Soundwave unleashes several of his cassette troops while Megatron transforms to gun-mode and fires on the Autobots. Both sides then fly into the air and behind a mountain, where the title pops out.

Season 2

Animation: Toei

The Autobot and Decepticon insignias go flying out from space and across the landscape of Cybertron before the scenery changes to that of Earth. The "Transformers" title then appears and is snatched in the jaws of Grimlock where it morphs into Thrust. Grimlock releases Thrust as the rest of the Dinobots transform and fire upon Blitzwing. Blitzwing transforms to tank mode and makes the mistake of firing upon Omega Supreme, who transforms to robot modenad squashes him beneath his heel. Scrapper picks up the remains of Blitzwing and Omega fires on the approaching Astrotrain, who transforms to space shuttle mode just as the tracks drop off into a pit of lava. Down in the lava, the Insecticons are swimming about for some reason. The lava then changes into a Tron-like grid where Optimus Prime and Megatron clash before sinking into a pit as the title explodes onto the screen.

Season 3 ("Five Faces of Darkness")

Animation: AKOM

This title sequence was used only for the "Five Faces of Darkness" episodes.

The valiant Springer leaves Rodimus to die.

The Autobot and Decepticon insignias glide across the landscape of Cybertron, passing over several battered Decepticons, dogpiling ontop of a single Energon cube. As the Decepticons fight over the Energon, Ultra Magnus, Kup and Spike choose this strategic time to blast their helpless foes with laser fire. Rodimus Prime then drives up and transforms to robot-mode within a wall of flames as the title appears on his chest. The scene shifts to Thrull, where Galvatron emerges from his plasma bath and fires on a nearby planet, destroying it. Beneath the planet, back on Cybertron, Daniel is confronted by Trypticon, only to be rescued by Metroplex. Then, on Quintessa, Ultra Magnus, Kup and Spike are dropped into a Sharkticon pit and swim away in fear from one of the approaching beasts. The faction insignias then go racing again through space, this time to the planet Goo, where the Autobots are stuck in slime. Springer transforms to helicopter mode and rescues everyone but Rodimus Prime, who gets sucked into a giant spaceship. Rodimus blasts his way out of the ship as several letters scramble together to form the title.

Season 3

Animation: AKOM

Remember that bit about title sequences having better animation than the show-itself...?

A vector grid forms the disembodied head of Unicron, orbiting Cybertron. Ratbat flies through his eye as the scene shifts to the landscape of Cybertron and an entire army of Blitzwings in tank mode. One of them fires a blast at the audience which blows up the title. Out in space, Sky Lynx is chasing a unit of Sweeps and a miscolored Cyclonus through a field of space debris. Amid the debris is a TV set that shows Metroplex battling Trypticon. Grabbing Trypticon by the shoulders, Metroplex whirls him around into a crudely drawn tornado. That tornado then becomes the rings of Saturn, upon which are driving Blurr and Wheelie. Wheelie's spinning tire becomes the barrel of Galvatron's cannon, aimmed directly at the audience. The Decepticon insignia on his chest then rises up, becomes an Autobot insignia and then situates itself onto the chest of Blaster, who is engaged in a battle of Earth. Blaster transformers to boombox mode and emits several soundwaves. Those soundwaves then become the ripples in a pool of water filled with Sharkticons. A Sharkticon swims toward the audience and the darkness in its mouth becomes a space background and a platform. Rodimus Prime, Ultra Magnus and Kup (with Springer's head) come running over the platform and toward the audience. The platform is then revealed to be the title.

Season 4

Animation: Toei, AKOM

The animation for this title sequence is comprised of animation commissioned for several Transformers toy commercials as well as a few clips recycled from the season 3 title sequence.

Rodimus Prime and Blurr race across a wall and through an electrical field where they meet a distraught Kup. Scorponok then unites beautifully with his head. Elsewhere, the Technobots unite into Computron. Flywheels then transforms to robot mode and fires. Blitzwing appears with the title in front of his cannon in tank mode and blows it up (recycled season 3 footage). Above Cybertron, Triggerhappy and Blowpipe fire and land on the ground. Triggerhappy is immediately tackled by Sureshot. Spoilsport and Blowpipe transform out of gun-mode and clash. As they do, Crosshairs and Pinpointer arrive in vehicle mode and transform, only to immediately be tackled by Misfire and Aimless. On another planet, ship-mode Fortress Maximus blasts the approaching Terrorcons. The scene shifts to the barrel of Galvatron's cannon as his Decepticon insignia rises and becomes Blaster's Autobot insignia (recycled season 3 footage). Back on Cybertron, Sureshot and Triggerhappy are still going at it. On Earth, Metroplex transforms from battlestation mode to robot mode as he's fired upon by Bruticus. The scene shifts to the platform in outer space, as Rodimus Prime, Ultra Magnus and Kup (with Springer's head) run across it, revealing it to be the title (recycled season 3 footage).

Generation 2

Animation: ?

Rather than sport a theme song, the Generation 2 series featured new CG-animation accompanied by narration.

G2 Prime was too extreme for his own good, some times.

Optimus Prime drives over a bridge on some alien planet with two moons in the sky and transforms to robot mode as the narrator describes him as "More than meets the eye, he's a robot in disguise!" Optimus is then strafed by Ramjet in jet-mode. The narrator describes him and the Decepticons as "Going ballistic to destroy the Autobots". Ramjet transforms to robot mode and fires a missile into Prime's chest, damaging it, and then shoves him against the side of a cliff. Prime kicks Ramjet away and before he can stand back up, punches the fallen Ramjet square in the face (way to fight fair, Prime). Prime then begins stomping on the defeated Ramjet repeatedly with his foot while triumphantly firing his rifle into the sky (jeez, man). The narrator then explains to the audience the "Magic of the Cybernet Space Cube" and introduces the "computer enhanced stories of the Transformers".

Generation 1 (Japan)

Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers

Animation: Toei

Theme song: "TRANSFORMER" by Satoko Shimonari

The Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers title sequence consisted of the animation used for the US season 1 sequence with additional clips from "More than Meets the Eye" to pad out the full minute and twenty second length.

The Autobot and Decepticon insignias fly by as Prime, atop the Autobot one, transforms from truck to robot mode. The Japanese title then appears floating in space. The Seekers fly down and transform to robot mode, attacking several Autobot cars who transform to robot mode and fire back. Prime and Megatron join the battle as the two sides clash. Skywarp judo-flips Jazz, who transforms to car-mode as he lands, drives back, transforms to robot mode and punches Skywarp in the face. Soundwave unleashes several of his cassette warriors as Megatron transforms to gun-mode and fires upon the Autobots (recycled from US season 1 title sequence). Prime then commands a full line-up of Autobots to transform and they roll out over the desert (recycled from "More than Meets the Eye, Part 3"). Underwater, Rumble causes an earthquake that begins destroying a dam. On top of the dam, Prime and Megatron battle with Energon-axe and Energon-mace, only for Prime to be knocked off the ledge (recycled from "More than Meets the Eye, Part 2"). At the ruby crystal mines of Burma, an explosion sends truck-mode Prime tumbling down the side of a mountain (recycled from "More than Meets the Eye, Part 2"). Out in the desert, Prime transforms from truck mode to robot mode and rushes toward the audience. Megatron transforms to gun-mode and is caught by Skywarp as Soundwave unleashes several of his cassette warriors (recycled from "More than Meets the Eye, Part 3"). A trio of Air Warriors transform to jet-mode and fly off (recycled from "More than Meets the Eye, Part 2"). On Cybertron, Bumblebee transforms to his pre-Earth saucer-mode (recycled from "More than Meets the Eye, Part 1"). In the desert, Soundwave and Rumble watch as Starscream transforms to jet-mode and flies off into the distance (recycled from "More than Meets the Eye, Part 1"). The Autobots and Decepticons then go flying behind a mountain. In the US version where the words creating the title would have popped out from behind the sides of the mountain, the Japanese title pops out from over top of the mountain (recycled from US season 1 title sequence).

Scramble City

Animation: Toei

Theme song: "TRANSFORMER" by Satoko Shimonari

The Scramble City title sequence consisted of the animation used for the US season 2 sequence with additional clips from "More than Meets the Eye" to pad out the full minute and twenty second length.

The Autobot and Decepticon insignias fly across the landscape of Cybertron which becomes the landscape of Earth. The English title appears and is bitten by Grimlock, then morphs into Thrust. Grimlock releases Thrust as the Dinobots transform and fire upon Blitzwing. Blitzwing transforms to tank-mode and fires on Omega Supreme, who squashes him beneath his foot. As Scrapper hauls off Blitzwing's remains, Omega fires on Astrotrain, who transforms to shuttle mode above a pit of lava. Down in the lava, the Insecticons are swimming around for no apparent reason (recycled from US season 2 title sequence). On Cybertron, three Seekers (including Sunstorm) attack Bumblebee and Wheeljack with a flame-thrower (recycled from "More than Meets the Eye, Part 1"). On Earth, a quake rumbles the crashed Ark and knocks Optimus Prime into the repair beam of Teletraan-1, who converts him into a truck (recycled from "More than Meets the Eye, Part 1"). Soundwave ejects Laserbeak, who chases after Hound and Cliffjumper, blasting the former off of a cliffside (recycled from "More than Meets the Eye, Part 1"). A vector grid then appears with both Autobots and Decepticons charging over top of it. Prime and Megatron clash and sink into a pit as the English title explodes onto the screen (recycled from US season 2 title sequence).

Transformers 2010

Animation: Toei

Theme song: "TRANSFORMER 2010" by Shō Hirose

Rather than recycle any of the crude animation from the US season 3 title sequence, the Transformers 2010 title sequence was cobbled together from multiple toy commercials and clips from "The Transformers: The Movie". Oddly, "The Transformers: The Movie" would not be released in Japan until 1990.

It was a choice between "Cross of heat" or "BURNING HEART!" This won out.

Unicron's head orbits Cybertron as the Japanese title pops out of his broken eye (recycled from "The Transformers: The Movie"). On an Earth highway, Ultra Magnus and several Autobots appear. Magnus transforms and fires his missiles at the approaching Galvatron and multiple Decepticons. Glavatron flies right through the flames, only to be socked in the jaw by Magnus. Galvatron transforms to cannon mode and returns fire. Elsewhere, Trypticon is approached by the Protectobots who transform and open fire on the city. Trypticon transforms first to battlestation mode, then dinosaur mode. The Protectobots combine into Defensor as Trypticon breathes fire in their direction. Metroplex arrives in mobile battlestation mode and is attacked by Bruticus. Metroplex transforms to robot mode and returns fire (footage from Metroplex commercial was also used in the US season 4 intro). In some other desert, Broadside and Standstorm show off their three transformations as they battle Blitzwing and Astrotrain. And yet elsewhere, the Predacons mow down Sludge and then pose on a cliff before combining into Predaking. Inside Unicron, Rodimus Prime gives Galvatron the "End of the road" speech, picks him up and hurls him out into space. On Cybertron, Rodimus rallies a line-up of Autobots as the Japanese title appears (recycled from "The Transformers: The Movie").

The Headmasters

Animation: Toei

Theme song: "The Headmasters" by Hironobu Kageyama

The first completely original title sequence commissioned by Takara. Beginning with "Explosion on Mars!! Maximus Is in Danger", the Decepticons in the sequence would flash on and off as a tie-in with the light-gun game Video Challenger.

As the sun is eclipsed by a planet, the title appears on the screen. Chromedome and the Autobot Headmasters head-on and fly toward the audience. Above Earth, the Battleship Maximus transforms and deploys Twincast and the Trainbots. On the moon, Spike and Daniel Witwicky hop along the surface in their Exosuits as Sixshot and the Decepticon Headmasters fly up behind them. In space, Galvatron, Mega Zarak and the Decepticon Headmasters open fire on the Trainbots who combine into Raiden. The Autobot and Decepticon Headmasters then engage in a massive outer space firefight with lasers flying all over the place. Rodimus Prime is struck by a laser and injured, but quickly shielded by Chromedome, who then blasts Soundblaster in the chest and sends him flying. Skullcruncher then attacks Chromedome with his sword, but is immediately defelcted. The Terrorcons then arrive on the scene but are all blown up by the combined efforts of Raiden and the recovered Rodimus Prime. Sixshot and the remaining Decepticons are then driven back by a blast from Hardhead. The Autobot insignia then appears and every Autobot that matters lines himself up in front of it with Chromedome taking center point.

Super-God Masterforce

Animation: Toei

Theme song: "Chōjin Masterforce no Theme" by Toshiya Igarashi

Title sequence #1

At a drive-in movie theater, Shūta Gō and Minerva prepare a computer, which projects the rest of the opening sequence onto the big screen for the theater's patrons. The title is revealed, standing atop a pedestal with spotlights illuminating it, before cutting away to a blue-tinged shot of human-mode Metalhawk racing across a field of anime speed-lines. The image is soon replaced with one of him in his Pretender armor, quickly joined by Phoenix, Diver and Lander in theirs. The four Pretenders transform into robot mode and then fly into the screen. Jet-mode Metalhawk and Phoenix fly around Ginrai's trailer in battle station mode, as the Trainbots soar by in the background, all in the sky above the Autobots' mountain headquarters. Buster and Hydra fly by a dark castle in jet mode, and inset boxes appear onscreen revealing their names, ages and nationalities, before they engage Metalhawk and Phoenix in a dogfight. As Shūta and Minerva look on, worried, the two Decepticons merge into Darkwings. On the ground below, Lightfoot, Ranger and Road King come speeding into action, as an inset gives Lightfoot's details to the audience. Lightfoot races into a tunnel where he is confronted by Pretender-mode Dauros, Gilmer and Blood, the latter transforming to robot mode and opening fire. As Minerva cheers, Lightfoot transforms into robot mode and fire back, nailing Blood. Elsewhere, humans run in panic as a Tentakil rampages through their city, before combining with its fellow Seacons to form King Poseidon. Ginrai comes rolling onto the scene with the requisite inset box, transforms into robot mode and leaps into the air, avoiding King Poseidon's cannon fire and flattening the combiner with a kick. The projection ends with Ginrai and the four Autobot Pretenders standing on Ginrai's battle station, and the camera pulls back out to show Minerva and Shūta watching. The five Transformers onscreen leap towards the camera and the two kids fall over as they come out of the screen and land in front of them. Shuta and Minerva right themselves and cheer.

Title sequence #2

Ginrai and the Headmaster Juniors come running towards the audience on a white field (Cab swings in on a rope), which dissolves to reveal the image of the Autobots' mountain headquarters. The quartet turn stage-left and jump into the air as flames fill the screen, segueing to the title on a background of green spotlights. Ginrai very dramatically dons his Godmaster armor just before King Poseidon comes bursting through a field of ice and shoots at him, prompting him to leap into the air and merge with his Transtector to become Super Ginrai. Mega and Giga appear against a black field, surrounding by rainbow-colored energy, then combine with their Transtectors into Overlord. Human-form Road King, Lightfoot and Ranger slide across a sparkly green background, and their vehicle-mode Transtectors roll by below them. Each one of the three fades away as their Transtector lines up below them, transitioning into close-ups of their cockpits, with their armored drivers now behind the wheel. The three Godmasters drive off the top of waterfall and transform into robot mode before they hit the ground below. Back at the battle, Ginrai flips King Poseidon and slams him into the tundra, where he explodes dramatically. Ginrai then turns, and the scene changes to a city, where Overlord shields himself against a blast from Ginrai's cannon. Overlord unleashes his own weapons, but Ginrai leaps over the volley and kicks Overlord in the face. Overlord spins and launches his "Mega Child" jet-shield to pursue Ginrai, but the Autobot whips around and knocks it out of the air, before blasting Overlord some more, then finally bringing him down with a rain of punches and kicks. Cab, Shuta and Minerva are then seen driving Godbomber into action, and the drone launches into the air, linking up with Ginrai to form God Ginrai. A long pan up God Ginrai's body concludes with the Headmaster Juniors jumping from Godbomber's cockpit, and being joined by Ginrai. They all join hands and run forward, with the images of God Ginrai and their mountain base in the background.

Victory

Animation: Toei

Theme song: "Transformer V" by Kōji Kaya and Morinoki Children's Chorus

The Brainmasters roll across a blue grid and transform into robot mode, quickly followed by the Breastforce doing the same, only on a red grid. A glowing "V" descends into shot, and the scene transitions to the show's title, with the V in place as part of the logo. Star Saber flies in space above the Earth, as Deathsaurus wreaks havoc in a city down on the planet's surface. Star Saber transforms to robot mode and lunges into battle with Deathsaurus, while the Brainmasters clash with the Breastforce. Elsewhere, the Dinoforce attack the Autobots' Shuttle Base, but are repelled by Galaxy Shuttle. Jean Minakaze's face then fills the screen, and the camera zooms out to show him standing on a green grid, with an image of Earth hanging in space in the background. Galaxy Shuttle and the Brainmasters jump down from offscreen to join him, and then Star Saber's face fills the whole screen. The camera zooms out again, and the grid and other characters are gone, leaving only Star Saber standing before the Earth. He swings his sword and poses dynamically.

Zone

Animation: Toei

Theme song: "Transformer Z no Theme" by Ichirō Mizuki

Emusa cues the beginning of the sequence by popping up with a clapperboard. The Jet Patrol Team and Sunrunner come flying out of the sunset, over the ocean, followed by the huge form of Dai Atlas, who fills the whole screen. By the time Dai Atlas has passed, the scene has changed to a shot of Planet Zone from space, before the title card appears. Violen Jiger whirls in space, and from the folds of his cloak, the Nine Great Demon Generals emerge. Dai Atlas transforms from jet to robot mode, while Sonic Bomber destroys some kind of flying monster then transforms to robot mode himself. The Rescue Patrol Team, Battle Patrol Team and Race Car Patrol Team prepare for action. The Rocket Base's Galaxy Rocket flies through space, flanked by the Jet Patrol Team, while on Zone's surface, the other Micromasters ride the Rocket Base itself into battle. Moon Radar and Rabbicrater pose in front of a large "Z", then drive through a field, just behind Cain and Akira Serikawa, who are hand-in-hand. Zone Base tranforms into battle mode as Cain, Akira and Emusa leap through the air excitedly, while Dai Atlas dodges his way around a series of explosions. He emerges from the dust of the explosions in drill tank mode, and lunges towards the monster that is attacking him, drilling right through and destroying it. Dai Atlas and Sonic Bomber land in front of Zone Base, Cain and Akira pop up in front of them, and then Emusa reappears with his clapperboard to signify that it's all over.

Beast Wars (US)

Animation: Mainframe Entertainment

Beast Wars (Japan)

Beast Wars

Animation: Mainframe Entertainment

Theme song: "WAR WAR! STOP IT" by Banana Ice, Shitamachi Kyōdai

Beast Wars Metals

Animation: Mainframe Entertainment

Theme song: "Tamashī no Evolution" by Hironobu Kageyama

Theme song: "Sen'nen no Soldier" by Hironobu Kageyama

Beast Wars II

Title sequence #1

Theme song: "GET MY FUTURE" by Cyber Nation Network

Title sequence #2

Theme song: "SUPER VOYAGER" by Cyber Nation Network

Beast Wars Neo

Theme song: "Love For Ever —Kimi o Mamoru Tame ni—" by M.C.R.

Beast Machines

Animation: Mainframe Entertainment

Theme song: "Phat Planet" by Leftfield

Robots in Disguise

Theme song: Robots in Diguise theme by Shuki Levy

Car Robot

Theme song: "Honō no Overdrive ~Car Robot Cybertron~" by Kōji Wada

Unicron Trilogy (Japan)

Micron Legend

Title sequence #1

Theme song: "TRANSFORMER -Dream Again-" by Psychic Lover

Title sequence #2

Theme song: "Transformers ~Kōtetsu no Yūki~" by Hideaki Takatori

Super Link

Theme song: "Taiyō no transform!!" by Hiroshi Kitadani

Galaxy Force

Title sequence #1

Theme song: "CALL YOU... Kimi to Boku no Mirai" by Shinji Kakijima

Title sequence #4

Theme song: "IGNITION!" by CHINO

Animated

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