Transformers

Synopsis
The title song promised “More than meets the eye,” and for over four seasons of syndication, The Transformers delivered. Robots who transformed into vehicles, weapons, boom boxes, and eventually dinosaurs, insects, animals and more, waged an eternal battle of good Autobots versus evil Decepticons. Hasbro premiered its line of morphing toys in the spring of 1984, following up with a comic book series that summer and a syndicated cartoon at the end of the year.

The story of The Transformers begins on the planet Cybertron, home to both Autobot and Decepticon. When the Autobots head for their ship to seek out new energy reserves, the Decepticons attack, leading to a crash landing on Earth several million years B.C. An erupting volcano in the present day reactivates the dormant robot/vehicles, and the battle begins anew, led by good robot/big rig Optimus Prime and bad robot/big gun Megatron. Helpful humans Spike and Sparkplug Witwicky befriend the Autobots and aid their cause. In later seasons, other humans would join each side, like wheelchair-bound wunderkind Chip Chase and the arch evil Dr. Archeville.

Production was underwritten by Hasbro, but the series always promised more than simply a half-hour toy commercial. The plots were elaborate, often in two, three, or five parts, with a constant influx of new ‘bots: Dinobots, Constructicons, Aerialbots, Insecticons, etc. The show employed the voice talents of some of the best in the business, including the legendary Frank Welker as Megatron and others, all mechanically altered to make the characters sound more robot-like.

In 1986, Transformers: The Movie was released in theaters, featuring the voices of Leonard Nimoy, Eric Idle, Robert Stack, and in one of his final performances, Orson Welles as the evil transforming planet Unicron. A 1993 series, Transformers: Generation II, revamped old episodes with computer-generated bumpers and transitions. And in 1996 the Transformers craze was reborn with Beast Wars, a new series of toys and cartoons that introduced another generation to these “Robots in disguise.”

Release History 1984 syndicated

Sub Categories animated
sci-fi/fantasy
action/adventure

Studio Sunbow, Hasbro, Marvel

Cast

Air Raid		Rob Paulsen
Alpha Trion		John Stephenson
Apeface		Dick Gautier
Arcee		Susan Blu
Astrotrain		Jack Angel
Beachcomber		Alan Oppenheimer
Blades		Frank Welker
Blaster		Buster Jones
Blitzwing		Ed Gilbert
Bluestreak		Casey Kasem
Blurr		John Moschitta
Bombshell		Michael Bell
Bonecrusher		Neil Ross
Brainstorm		Michael Bell
Brawn		Corey Burton
Bumblebee		Dan Gilvezan
Buzzsaw		Frank Welker
Carly		Arlene Banas
Chip Chase		Michael Horton
Chromedome		Frank Welker
Cliffjumper		Casey Kasem
Crosshairs		Kevin Ross
Cyclonus		Roger C. Carmel
Daniel		David Mendenhall
Defensor		Chris Latta
Devastator		Arthur Burghardt
Dirge		Brad Davis
Dr. Archeville		Casey Kasem
Fastlane		Rob Paulsen
Firebolt		Dick Gautier
First Aid		Michael Bell
Fracas		Kevin Ross
Freeway		Danny Mann
Frenzy		Frank Welker
Galvatron		Frank Welker
Gears		Don Messick
Gort		Michael Bell
Grimlock		Gregg Berger
Groove		Frank Welker
Haywire		Rob Paulsen
Hook		Neil Ross
Hot Rod		Dick Gautier
Hot Spot		Dan Gilvezan
Hound		Ken Sansom
Huffer		John Stephenson
Inferno		Walker Edmiston
Ironhide		Peter Cullen
Jazz		Scatman Crothers
Kickback		Clive Revill
Krunk		Chris Latta
Kup		John Stephenson
Laserbeak		Frank Welker
Lightspeed		Danny Mann
Long Haul		Gregg Berger
Marissa Faireborn		Susan Blu
Megatron		Frank Welker
Mirage		Frank Welker
Mixmaster		Frank Welker
Monzo		Kevin Ross
Omega Supreme		Jack Angel
Optimus Prime		Peter Cullen
Perceptor		Paul Eiding
Pipes		Hal Rayle
Pointblank		Kevin Ross
Prowl		Michael Bell
Ramjet		Jack Angel
Ratbat		Frank Welker
Ratchet		Don Messick
Ravage		Frank Welker
Reflector		Chris Latta
Rodimus Prime		Dick Gautier
Rumble		Frank Welker
Scavenger		Don Messick
Scourge		Stan Jones
Scrapper		Michael Bell
Seaspray		Alan Oppenheimer
Shockwave		Corey Burton
Shrapnel		Hal Rayle
Sideswipe		Michael Bell
Sixshot		Kevin Ross
Skyfire		Gregg Berger
Skywarp		Frank Welker
Slag		Neil Ross
Slingshot		Rob Paulsen
Sludge		Frank Welker
Smokescreen		Jack Angel
Snarl		Hal Rayle
Soundwave		Frank Welker
Sparkplug Witwicky		Chris Latta
Spike Witwicky		Corey Burton
Spoilsport		Danny Mann
Springer		Neil Ross
Starscream		Chris Latta
Sunstreaker		Corey Burton
Swoop		Michael Bell
Thrust		Ed Gilbert
Thundercracker		John Stephenson
Trailbreaker		Frank Welker
Ultra Magnus		Jack Angel
Warpath		Alan Oppenheimer
Wheelie		Frank Welker
Wheeljack		Chris Latta
Windcharger		John Stephenson