Making Sense of Generation One: Part 1

Inspired by a recent comment from a friend about there being six seasons of the original Transformers, I thought I'd start a new series to make sense of the original Transformers animated series from the 1980's. In this series, I will discuss each season of the U.S. series and then the show's jump to Japan to wrap up the story. Let's start first with season one in 1984.

In the beginning, Hasbro contracted Sunbow (who had done the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero series) and the Japanese animation company Toei Animation to produce a three part mini-series which told the origin of how the Transformers came to Earth and how the Autobots got connected with the humans. The mini-series in conjunction with the new four issue Marvel comic book proved to be a huge success, and Hasbro commissioned the both mediums to continue their series past their end points. Transformers launched its first season in September of 1984 with the original three part mini-series added in as its premiere now dubbed "More Than Meets the Eye". In addition to the mini-series, the season consisted of 13 original episodes which aired on Saturday/ Sunday mornings across the U.S.

The design of the first season was more consistent with how current Transformers cartoons operate in that the episodes could stand alone, but they were really designed to be watched in order. Although there was no overlying story arc for the season, events from one episode usually carried into the next. Highlights of the season involved the introduction of both the Autobots and Decepticons; the introduction of the main human characters Spike, Sparkplug, and Chip Chase; the first appearances of Skyfire, the Dinobots, the Insecticons, and the Constructicons; and also the brief appearance of the evil human scientist Dr. Archevil. The season also contained fan favorite episodes S.O.S. Dinobots, The Ultimate Doom (Parts 1, 2, & 3), and Heavy Metal War. The episodes from this season are among the most remembered although there were some inconsistencies at times as the core mechanics of the characters were still being developed. The season also contained the now iconic theme song of the Transformers.

The Transformers franchise proved so popular that Japan ended their Diaclone and Microman toy lines (which are the lines Hasbro imported, combined, and rebranded as the Transformers) to import the Transformers. The first season of the animated series would air in Japan as Fight! Super Robot Life Form Transformers!