Transformers ( TV Series 1984 - 1987 )
Plot
Four million years ago, on a distant planet called Cybertron, life existed in the form of sentient robots which could think and feel, called Transformers. The race of Transformers was divided into two main clans. Autobots (known as Cybertrons in the Japanese cartoon), led by Optimus Prime, wished for peaceful co-existence. Decepticons (known as Destrons in the Japanese version), under the command of Megatron, sought conflict and universal conquest. Both sides were embroiled in an ages old war for supremacy.
With both sides running low on energy, the Autobots, aboard the Ark, sought out a new source, but the Decepticons, aboard their space-cruiser (later given the name Nemesis in the Beast Wars animated series), ambushed them in hopes of gaining a decisive advantage. The Decepticons boarded the Ark and the ensuing space battle resulted in both the ships crash landing on a prehistoric Earth, the Ark crashing into the side of a dormant volcano. (The fate of the Nemesis is subject to retroactive continuity. For the full story, see the Nemesis article.)
Four million years passed while the Autobots and Decepticons lay dormant aboard the Ark. In the Earth year 1984, the volcano housing the Ark erupted, reawakening the ship's computer, Teletraan I, which then set out a probe to scan Earth life, and modified the Transformers so as to give them alternate modes that could blend in on Earth, but the probe did not recognize carbon-based life, and instead chose vehicles like a truck for Prime and F-15 Eagles for 3 Decepticons.
The Autobots and Decepticons, now stuck on Earth, continued their war more ferociously than ever. The Decepticons wished to drain Earth of all its resources, converting it into energon for their use, while the Autobots were committed to stopping them, and to protecting the human race. This era would later be referred to by Transformers as the "Great War." The war was almost ended as soon as it began, as the Decepticons gained an early lead, and were even able to build a space cruiser to leave Earth, however Autobot intervention prevented them from escaping orbit.
New allies were gained on both sides. Humans Sparkplug Witwicky and his son, Spike Witwicky, allied with the Autobots, while the human Doctor Arkeville sided with the Decepticons. Jetfire and the Insecticons were discovered already living on Earth. Both sides even built new allies to join their cause, the Autobots building the Dinobots and the Aerialbots, and the Decepticons building the Stunticons and the Combaticons. They were later joined by some allies who had been elsewhere in the universe including Omega Supreme and the Constructicons.
Despite wild gimmicks on both sides, including attempts to build better weapons, to undermine history through time travel, and even a temporarily successful attempt to warp Cybertron into Earth's orbit, neither side gained an overwhelming advantage, despite the Decepticons being defeated by the Autobots in nearly every episode. In the long run however, the Decepticons took the lead in the Great War, creating a Space Bridge that allowed them to warp individual Transformers to and from Cybertron at any time. This allowed them to claim rule of Cybertron, which gave them the winning edge for many years.
All of this changed in 2005, over 20 years after the start of the Great War. The Decepticons launched a surprise attack on Autobot City, on Earth. Countless Transformers lost their lives in the battle for Autobot City, but the Decepticons were repelled thanks to Optimus' victory over Megatron, a victory that came at the cost of his own life.
Megatron and the other wounded Decepticons were abandoned by the stronger members of the team, in part due to Starscream's desire to usurp Megatron as leader. The god-like Unicron found them drifting in space. He rebuilt Megatron as Galvatron, and sent him on a quest to destroy the Matrix of Leadership. The Autobots' new leader, Rodimus Prime, was able to stop the Decepticons however. In his first battle as leader, he destroyed Unicron, reclaimed Cybertron for the Autobots, and expelled Galvatron into deep space.
The Decepticons, without focus and dangerously low on energon, retreated to the burnt out world Charr. It was there they waited, until Cyclonus discovered Galvatron was simply expelled and not killed. Upon rescuing Galvatron, the Decepticons renewed their efforts to vanquish the Autobots and to claim complete control of Cybertron.
Both the Autobots and Decepticons soon learned they had a common enemy. A secretive race known as the Quintessons plotted the destruction of both Autobots and Decepticons. Rodimus Prime learned that these "new" Quintessons were no strangers to the Transformers at all. Rather, the Quintessons were the original creators of the early Transformers. Cybertron was a Quintesson factory before it was ever the Transformers' "home." The Quintessons went so far as to destroy their own home world in an attempt to vanquish the Transformers. In the end, the Quintessons, who relied on thorough probability analyses, were outdone by a now adult Spike Witwicky whose actions, unlike those of the robotic Transformers, the Quintessons were not able to predict.
The Great War continued, this time with the Autobots controlling Cybertron, and enjoying the advantage. The war was no longer waged primarily on Earth. Now, the whole universe was their battlefield.
In 2006, a disease called the Hate Plague was released upon the universe. This disease, which infected human and Transformer alike, threatened to destroy everything. With their leader Rodimus Prime infected, the remaining Autobot Sky Lynx and a Quintesson finished rebuilding Optimus Prime, who was able to reclaim the Autobot Matrix of Leadership from Rodimus Prime and use it to eradicate the Hate Plague, draining the Matrix of all the power it had possessed.
Optimus retains leadership of the Autobots. While the Decepticons continue to pose a threat to peace, Optimus vows to resist Decepticon rule forever.
Cast & Characters
Charlie Adler - Duros,Silverbolt, Triggerhappy
Jack Angel - Arcana, Astrotrain, Breakdown (1st Time), Cyclonus (2nd voice), Omega Supreme, Ramjet, Smokescreen, Sweep, Ultra Magnus
Marlene Aragon -Elita One
Arlene Banas - Carly Witwicky
Jered Barclay - Cerebros, Sinnertwin (one of the heads)
Roger Behr - Runabout, Runamuck
Michael Bell - Bombshell, Brainstorm, First Aid, Prowl, Scrapper, Sideswipe, Swoop
Gregg Berger - Grimlock, Jetfire/Skyfire, Long Haul, Outback
Susan Blu - Arcee, Marissa Faireborn
Steve Bulen - Strafe
Arthur Burghardt - Devastator
Wally Burr - Kremzeek, substitute voices of Jazz, Ratchet, Seaspray, and Thundercracker
Corey Burton - Brawn, Shockwave, Spike Witwicky, Sunstreaker, Vector Sigma, Wideload
Roger C. Carmel - Bruticus, Cyclonus (1st voice) Menasor (1st Voice), Motormaster, Unicron
Victor Caroli - Narrator
Michael Chain - Hoist, Powerglide, Red Alert, Skids
Philip L. Clarke - Dead End, Tantrum
Townsend Coleman - Rewind
Regis Cordic - Menasor (2nd Voice)
Scatman Crothers - Jazz
Peter Cullen - Optimus Prime, Ironhide, Slugslinger, Wingspan
Jim Cummings - Afterburner, Rippersnapper
Bud Davis - Dirge, Metroplex, Predaking
Walker Edmiston - Inferno
Paul Eiding - Perceptor
Marshall Efron - Hun-Gurrr (2nd Head)
Laurie Faso - Divebomb, Rampage, Skydive
Ron Feinberg - Headstrong
Ron Gans - Drag Strip
Brad Garrett - Trypticon
Linda Gary - Chromia
Dick Gautier - Apeface, Firebolt, Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime, Sweep
Ed Gilbert - Blitzwing, Superion (2nd Voice), Thrust
Dan Gilvezan - Bumblebee/Goldbug, Hot Spot, Rollbar, Scamper, Snapdragon, Skids (2nd voice)
Jim Gosa - Abominus
Joy Grdnic - Jessica Morgan
Johnny Haymer - Highbrow, Swindle, Vortex
Michael Horton - Chip Chase
John Hostetter - Ramhorn
Jerry Houser - Sandstorm, Sweep
Milt Jamin - Blast Off
Buster Jones - Blaster
Stan Jones - Misfire, Pounce, Scourge, Weirdwolf, Zarak
Casey Kasem - Bluestreak, Cliffjumper, Teletraan I, Doctor Arkeville
Stephen Keener - Fortress Maximus, Hardhead, Hun-Grrr (1st Head), Mindwipe, Scattershot, Scorponok
Aron Kincaid - Sky Lynx, Sweep
Bert Kramer - Computron
Maurice LaMarche - Six-Gun
Chris Latta - Starscream, Defensor, Reflector, Slammer, Sparkplug Witwicky, Sweep, Wheeljack, Old Snake
Joe Leahy - Razorclaw
Morgan Lofting -Firestar, Moonracer
Jeff MacKay - Fireflight
Danny Mann - Chase, Freeway, Cloudraker, Lightspeed
Bill E. Martin - Broadside
Michael McConnohie - Cosmos, Tracks
Terry McGovern - Wildrider
Don Messick - Gears, Ratchet, Scavenger
John Moschitta, Jr. - Blurr, Punch-Counterpunch
Alan Oppenheimer - Beachcomber, Breakdown (2nd Time), Seaspray, Warpath
Rob Paulsen - Air Raid, Chase, Fastlane, Haywire, Slingshot
Tony Pope - A-3, Wreck-Gar
Hal Rayle - Shrapnel, Snarl, Sweep, Pipes
Peter Renaday - Grapple
Clive Revill - Kickback
Neil Ross - Bonecrusher, Crosshairs, Hook, Pointblank, Sixshot, Slag, Springer
Ken Sansom - Hound
Ted Schwartz - Tailgate
John Stephenson - Alpha Trion, Devcon, Huffer, Thundercracker, Kup, Windcharger
Beau Weaver - Octane
Frank Welker - Megatron/Galvatron, Blades, Buzzsaw, Chromedome, Frenzy, Groove, Laserbeak, Mirage, Mixmaster, Ratbat, Ravage, Rumble, Sharkticons, Skywarp, Sludge, Soundwave, Superion (1st Voice), Sweep, Teletraan II, Trailbreaker
David Workman - Nosecone, Sinnertwin (one of the heads)
Episode Guide
Series 1
1 More Than Meets The Eye, part 1 George Arthur Bloom 1984-Sep-17
2 More Than Meets The Eye, part 2 George Arthur Bloom 1984-Sep-18
3 More Than Meets The Eye, part 3 George Arthur Bloom 1984-Sep-19
4 Transport to Oblivion Dick Robbins and Bryce Malek 1984-Oct-06
5 Roll For It George Arthur Bloom 1984-Oct-13
6 Divide and Conquer Donald F. Glut 1984-Oct-20
7 Fire in the Sky Alfred A. Pegal 1984-Dec-08
8 S.O.S. Dinobots Donald F. Glut 1984-Oct-27
9 Fire on the Mountain Douglas Booth 1984-Dec-22
10 War of the Dinobots Donald F. Glut 1984-Nov-24
11 The Ultimate Doom, part 1: Brainwash Larry Strauss, story outline by Douglas Booth 1984-Nov-03
12 The Ultimate Doom, part 2: Search Earl Kress, story outline by Douglas Booth 1984-Nov-10
13 The Ultimate Doom, part 3: Revival Leo D. Paur, story outline by Douglas Booth 1984-Nov-17
14 Countdown to Extinction Reed Robbins and Peter Salas 1984-Dec-01
15 A Plague of Insecticons Douglas Booth 1984-Dec-29
16 Heavy Metal War Donald F. Glut 1984-Dec-15
Season 2
17 Autobot Spike Donald F. Glut 1985-Sep-23
18 Changing Gears Larry Parr 1985-Oct-01
19 City of Steel Douglas Booth 1985-Oct-17
20 Attack of the Autobots David Wise 1985-Oct-04
21 Traitor George Hampton and Mike Moore 1985-Sep-27
22 The Immobilizer Earl Kress 1985-Sep-24
23 The Autobot Run Donald F. Glut 1985-Oct-31
24 Atlantis, Arise! Douglas Booth 1985-Oct-03
25 Day of the Machines David Wise 1985-Oct-10
26 Enter the Nightbird Sylvia Wilson and Richard Milton 1985-Sep-30
27 A Prime Problem Dick Robbins and Bryce Malek 1985-Oct-02
28 The Core Dennis Marks 1985-Oct-29
29 The Insecticon Syndrome Douglas Booth 1985-Oct-09
30 Dinobot Island, part 1 Donald F. Glut 1985-Sep-25
31 Dinobot Island, part 2 Donald F. Glut 1985-Sep-26
32 The Master Builders David N. Gottlieb and Herb Engelhardt 1985-Oct-08
33 Auto Berserk Antoni Zalewski 1985-Oct-16
34 Microbots David Wise 1985-Oct-07
35 Megatron's Master Plan, part 1 Donald F. Glut 1985-Oct-14
36 Megatron's Master Plan, part 2 Donald F. Glut 1985-Oct-15
37 Desertion of the Dinobots, part 1 Earl Kress 1985-Oct-21
38 Desertion of the Dinobots, part 2 Earl Kress 1985-Oct-22
39 Blaster Blues Larry Strauss 1985-Oct-23
40 A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court Douglas Booth 1985-Oct-24
41 The Golden Lagoon Dennis Marks 1985-Nov-04
42 The God Gambit Buzz Dixon 1985-Oct-28
43 Make Tracks David Wise 1985-Oct-30
44 Child's Play Beth Bornstein 1985-Nov-07
45 Quest for Survival Reed Robbins and Peter Salas 1985-Nov-05
46 The Secret of Omega Supreme David Wise 1985-Nov-06
47 The Gambler Michael Charles Hill 1985-Nov-11
48 Kremzeek! David Wise 1985-Dec-27
49 Sea Change Douglas Booth 1985-Nov-20
50 Triple Takeover Larry Strauss 1985-Nov-19
51 Prime Target Flint Dille and Buzz Dixon 1985-Nov-14
52 Auto-Bop David Wise 1985-Nov-13
53 The Search for Alpha Trion Beth Bornstein 1985-Nov-12
54 The Girl Who Loved Powerglide David Wise 1985-Nov-18
55 Hoist Goes Hollywood Earl Kress 1985-Nov-21
56 The Key to Vector Sigma, part 1 David Wise 1985-Nov-25
57 The Key to Vector Sigma, part 2 David Wise 1985-Nov-26
58 Aerial Assault Douglas Booth 1985-Dec-10
59 War Dawn David Wise 1985-Dec-25
60 Trans-Europe Express David Wise 1985-Dec-23
61 Cosmic Rust Paul Davids 1985-Dec-26
62 Starscream's Brigade Michael Charles Hill 1986-Jan-07
63 The Revenge of Bruticus Larry Parr 1986-Jan-08
64 Masquerade Donald F. Glut 1985-Dec-16
65 B.O.T. Earl Kress 1986-Jan-09
The Movie
Transformers: The Movie Ron Friedman 1986-Aug-08
Season 3
66 Five Faces of Darkness, part 1 Flint Dille 1986-Sep-15
67 Five Faces of Darkness, part 2 Flint Dille 1986-Sep-16
68 Five Faces of Darkness, part 3 Flint Dille 1986-Sep-17
69 Five Faces of Darkness, part 4 Flint Dille 1986-Sep-18
70 Five Faces of Darkness, part 5 Flint Dille 1986-Sep-19
71 The Killing Jar Michael Charles Hill & Joey Kurihara Piedra 1986-Sep-29
72 Chaos Paul Davids 1986-Sep-30
73 Dark Awakening Antoni Zalewski 1986-Oct-01
74 Forever is a Long Time Coming Gerry Conway and Carla Conway 1986-Oct-08
75 Starscream's Ghost Megeen McLaughlin 1986-Oct-02
76 Thief in the Night Paul Davids 1986-Oct-06
77 Surprise Party Steve Mitchell and Barbara Petty 1986-Oct-09
78 Madman's Paradise Craig Rand 1986-Oct-13
79 Nightmare Planet Beth Bornstein 1986-Oct-31
80 Ghost in the Machine Michael Charles Hill & Joey Kurihara Piedra 1986-Oct-21
81 Webworld Len Wein and Diane Duane 1986-Oct-20
82 Carnage in C-Minor Buzz Dixon 1986-Oct-14
83 The Quintesson Journal Richard Merwin 1986-Nov-11
84 The Ultimate Weapon Arthur Byron Cover 1986-Nov-10
85 The Big Broadcast of 2006 Michael Reaves 1986-Nov-12
86 Fight or Flee Tony Cinciripini and Larry Leahy 1986-Oct-15
87 The Dweller in the Depths Paul Dini 1986-Oct-30
88 Only Human Susan K. Williams 1986-Nov-13
89 Money is Everything Gerry Conway and Carla Conway 1986-Nov-17
90 Grimlock's New Brain Paul Davids 1986-Nov-14
91 Call of the Primitives Donald F. Glut 1986-Nov-18
92 The Face of the Nijika Mary Skrenes and Steve Skeates 1986-Nov-20
93 The Burden Hardest to Bear Michael Charles Hill 1986-Nov-19
94 The Return of Optimus Prime, part 1 Marv Wolfman and Cherie Wilkerson 1987-Feb-24
95 The Return of Optimus Prime, part 2 Cherie Wilkerson and Marv Wolfman 1987-Feb-25
Season 4
96 The Rebirth, part 1 David Wise 1987-Nov-09
97 The Rebirth, part 2 David Wise 1987-Nov-10
98 The Rebirth, part 3 David Wise 1987-Nov-11
