"Transformers" (1984) TV series 1984-1987

Director:

Peter Wallach

Writer:

Roger Slifer (live-action sequences)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

17 September 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Action | Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

More than meets the eye!

Plot:

Two opposing camps of alien transforming robots fight in a war that has the fate of Earth in the balance.

Plot Keywords:

Alien | Robot | Battle | Actor Playing Multiple Roles | High Tech

Cast

 (Series Cast Summary - 14 of 68)

Frank Welker	...	Megatron / ... (72 episodes, 1984-1987)
Peter Cullen	...	Optimus Prime / ... (63 episodes, 1984-1987)
Chris Latta	...	Starscream / ... (63 episodes, 1984-1987)
Corey Burton	...	Spike Witwicky / ... (58 episodes, 1984-1987)
John Stephenson	...	Thundercracker / ... (54 episodes, 1984-1987)
Dan Gilvezan	...	Bumblebee / ... (51 episodes, 1984-1987)
Casey Kasem	...	Teletraan I / ... (51 episodes, 1984-1986)
Don Messick	...	Ratchet / ... (49 episodes, 1984-1986)
Michael Bell	...	Prowl / ... (48 episodes, 1984-1987)
Jack Angel	...	Ramjet / ... (41 episodes, 1985-1987)
Scatman Crothers	...	Jazz (34 episodes, 1984-1986)
Gregg Berger	...	Grimlock / ... (30 episodes, 1984-1986)
Ken Sansom	...	Hound / ... (30 episodes, 1984-1985)
Michael Chain	...	Hoist / ... (29 episodes, 1985-1986)

Also Known As:

Super God Robot Force
Tatakae! Chô robot seimeitai Transformer (Japan)
The Transformers (USA) (new title)
Transformer 2010 (Japan) (third season title)
Transformers: Generation 1 (USA) (informal title)

Runtime:

Argentina:30 min | USA:30 min (98 episodes)

Country:

USA | Japan

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:U (video rating) | Singapore:G | Canada:G (TV rating) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG (DVD rating) | USA:TV-Y7 | Australia:G (some episodes)

Company:

Sunbow Productions

Trivia:

Many new characters (Triple-Changers, Blaster, Perceptor, etc.) suddenly began to appear during season two, beginning with episode 2.08 "A Prime Problem" and 2.03 "Dinobot Island Part 1". Their sudden appearance was not explained. In the episodes produced after Transformers the Movie (1986), in which Megatron (Frank Welker) became Galvatron (Leonard Nimoy), Frank Welker took over the role of Galvatron, which seems appropriate. The actors who continued the roles they orignated in Transformers the Movie (1986) for season 3 were: Neil Ross (Springer), Susan Blu (Arcee), David Mendenhall (Daniel Witwicky),John Moschitta Jr. (Blurr), Stan Jones (Scourge), and Roger C. Carmel(Cyclonus, Quintesson).

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: In most episodes, the Decepticon symbol is drawn incorrectly. It has three "spikes" jutting out of its middle-upper section, when there should only be two. This is probably due to faulty animation models, and is this a legitimate error. On a handful of occasions, the symbols are drawn the right way.

Quotes:

Megatron: [charging into battle] SHOW NO MERCY!
Starscream: [sarcastically] Did we ever?

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Family Guy: No Meals on Wheels (#5.14)" (2007)

car-robots

This is one of the most popular cartoons of the 80s. It was original and not follow the trend of Hanna-Barbera's copycat mysteries/adventure cartoons a decade earlier. Automobiles that become robot fighting machines,producers couldn't be more creative then that. It was all action which us kids grow into after watching Superfriends or Spiderman and the amazing friends. I remember collecting some of the action figures then giving them away after they became out-dated. Though still a classic and one of the best cartoons of that generation.