History Franchise / TransformersGeneration1

However, it never ends, and soon after the conclusion of IDW's initial G1 continuity, [[ComicBook/Transformers2019 a new one]] would be made for 2019. ''However'', this time it would actually end as after 2022 passes, IDW will lose the license to publish ''Transformers'' comics.

* OffModel: Nearly every episode of the cartoon (even the larger-budget movie) had various kinds of animation errors. In the comics, some characters used older models throughout much of its run instead of revised models that came later on. The toys also have this issue due to their background of being from different Japanese toy lines, with the most glaring example being Jetfire, whose toy is a repackaged VF-1 from Anime/SuperDimensionFortressMacross, and Ironhide and Ratchet, both of whom had figures made without proper [[TheFaceless heads]] due to their Diaclone heritage.

%%* AssKickingEqualsAuthority: Galvatron

* ShoutOut: The original three Microchange cassette toys that became the first Cassetticons were [[Manga/BabelII a bird, a panther, and a humanoid robot]].

* NearVillainVictory: ''Megatron's Master Plan'' involved using humans to turn against the Autobots. Had it not been for Cosmos turning back to Earth, the Autobots would have been dead and Megatron would have won.

%%* BeardOfEvil: Scourge and the Sweeps (and Unicron).
%%* BigBad: Megatron, Unicron, Galvatron

%%* CoolCar: Most of the Autobots. Also all the Stunticons except Motormaster, who transformed into a truck.
%%* CoolPlane: Most of the Decepticons as well as the Aerialbots. The original Seekers transformed into F-15s, for one.

%%* TheDragon: Cyclonus is this to Galvatron, oh so very much, in the cartoon.

%%* HatePlague: TropeNamer.

%%* KingOfBeasts: Razorclaw and Steeljaw.

%%* NearVillainVictory: ''Megatron's Master Plan''

%%* NotQuiteDead: Megatron and the Decepticons on several occasions during the first season: The end of ''More than Meets the Eye part 3'' (all), ''Transport to Oblivion'' (just Megatron), ''The Ultimate Doom Part 3'' (just Megatron), and ''Heavy Metal War'' (all).
%%-->Megatron: We shall riiiiiiiiiiise, agaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaain!

%%* RhinoRampage: Headstrong and Ramhorn.

* CombiningMecha: The various combiner teams, consiing of five characters capable of forming one larger one.

%%* EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs: The Dinobots, obviously, but also [[DumbMuscle Trypticon]] and [[InsufferableGenius Sky Lynx]].

What made the show really special was the incredible quality of the voice acting. The huge number of characters made it difficult to firmly establish a distinct personality for each one. However, each character had a distinct, very fitting voice, which subtly indicated their personalities without needing to devote an entire episode to them. In fact, Peter Cullen's role as Optimus Prime was so respected that, when it was announced he would be reprising his role in 2007's live-action ''Film/{{Transformers}}'' movie, fans immediately stopped complaining and started supporting the film (in fact, the AndTheFandomRejoiced trope was for a short time known as The Cullen Effect due to this).

* Remaster: The cartoon is notable for having had two DVD-release remasters. The first, by Kid Rhino, was a botched job, containing ''more goofs than the original versions''. The second, by Creator/ShoutFactory, is a marked improvement.

* [[ThroughAFaceFullOfFur Through a Face Full of Metal]]: Blushing is used as a visual device for robots; a simple example would be Seaspray's humanoid love interest noticing him blushing at her in "Sea Change."

What made the show really special was the incredible quality of the voice acting. The huge number of characters made it difficult to firmly establish a distinct personality for each one. However, each character had a distinct, very fitting voice, which subtly indicated their personalities without needing to devote an entire episode to them. In fact, Peter Cullen's role as Optimus Prime was so respected that, when it was announced he would be reprising his role in 2007's live-action ''Film/{{Transformers}}'' movie, fans immediately stopped complaining and started supporting the film.

Most episodes were produced in a very short space of time, with the result that a large number of [[OffModel animation errors crept in]]. Characters were often drawn the wrong size, sometimes for effect or by accident. Another constant problem was characters being drawn in the wrong colours, which was very confusing as many of the characters were identical save for different colours (they were often simply repainted toys). This problem was particularly bad in season 3, as many of the episodes were animated by AKOM, a Korean animation company which, while cheaper than Toei and produced animation with a slightly higher framerate, was also considerably sloppier, with characters using outdated animation models, Creator/HannaBarbera-esque shortcuts, rampant miscolorings. "Carnage in C-Minor" is the most egregious example.

The most infamous addition to the Japanese continuity is ''Kiss Players'', set between the movie, and Season 3, where Optimus Prime has been revived by Marissa Faireborn (who looks about 8 even though she's 20) kissing him. It's [[{{Squick}} worse than it sounds]].

* Remaster: The cartoon is notable for having had two DVD-release remasters. The first, by Kid Rhino, was a botched job, containing ''[[UpToEleven more goofs than the original versions]]''. The second, by Creator/ShoutFactory, is a marked improvement.

As well as ''Diaclone'' and ''Microchange'', quite a few other, completely unrelated transforming robot toys were brought into the ''Transformers'' line by Hasbro. For example, Jetfire is easily recognisable as a Valkyrie from ''Anime/{{Macross}}'' (with the original commercial advertising him being the only time one was depicted as such in non-''Macross'' fiction). This served to make the toys even more eclectic. As part of Hasbro and Takara's distribution agreement, toys not originally made by Takara (in particular the [[Creator/NamcoBandaiEntertainment Bandai]] licensed ones) could only receive limited screentime to avoid advertising rival products at best. But most of them were simply not adapted into the show and instead were utilized in the comics.

As well as ''Diaclone'' and ''Microchange'', quite a few other, completely unrelated transforming robot toys were brought into the ''Transformers'' line by Hasbro. For example, Jetfire is easily recognisable as a Valkyrie from ''Anime/{{Macross}}''. This served to make the toys even more eclectic. As part of Hasbro and Takara's distribution agreement, toys not originally made by Takara could only receive limited screentime to avoid advertising rival products.

* CombiningMecha The various combiner teams, consiing of five characters capable of forming one larger one.

-->''Main Articles: ''ComicBook/TheTransformersMarvel'', ''ComicBook/TransformersGeneration2''''

It finally ended after 80 issues (in America) or 332 (in Britain) due to declining interest in ''Transformers'', though Marvel would later publish the short-lived ''[[ComicBook/TransformersGeneration2 Generation 2]]'' comic. In 2012, IDW Publishing announced ''Transformers: Regeneration One'', a relaunch of the Marvel Transformers continuity picking up 21 years after where issue 80 left off. This series ran for 22 issues (including #80.5, given away for Free Comic Book Day 2012, and issue #0, set between #94 and #95), concluding definitively with issue #100 in March 2014.

* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: After all, it did serve to advertise an extremely large toyline. Often characters appeared out of nowhere--and vanished just as mysteriously.

* Creator/FrankWelker: He voiced many, many characters, but most notably Megatron/Galvatron, Soundwave and all of his cassette minions.

* KillEmAll: The movie was made to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FhelgV5qHM off the old characters to the soundtrack of the '80s.]] The comic also had an extremely high death toll, particularly in "Dark Star!" In both cases the motivation was to clear space for new toys.

-->''Main Articles: ''ComicBook/TheTransformers'', ''ComicBook/TransformersGeneration2''''

-->''Main Articles: Franchise/TransformersClassics, ComicBook/TransformersWingsOfHonor''

The official fanclub for Transformers has also on occasion created its own stories under its ''Franchise/TransformersTimelines'' label which use ''Generation 1'' series as a foundation for new continuities. ''[[Franchise/TransformersClassics Classics]]'' uses the US Marvel comic as a jumping point, ignoring ''Generation 2'' and the UK issues and instead continuing the storyline from the events of issue 80. ''[[ComicBook/TransformersWingsOfHonor Wings of Honor]]'', meanwhile, uses the cartoon as its source, with both prequel stories involving the new [[BadassCrew Elite Guard]] that take place long before the first episode, and "Generation 2 Redux" sequel stories which take place after season 3, ignoring "The Rebirth" and the Japanese series.

However, it never ends, and soon after the conclusion of IDW's initial G1 continuity, [[ComicBook/Transformers2019 a new one]] would be made for 2019.

* IdiotBall: Starscream plays with the idiot ball regularly. In fact, the only reason the war continued on Earth was because he was trying to assure the Autobots were trapped and opened fire on the mountain the Ark was trapped in. The resulting tremors then awakened the ship's computer, and ''[[NiceJobFixingItVillain managed to reactivate Optimus.]]''

-->'''Sweep 1''': "I think that plasma bath fried Galvatron's circuits."\\
'''Scourge''': "It's not your ''place'' to think! Where he leads, all Decepticons must follow!"

* IWarnedYou: Starscream does this a lot in the first two seasons. Scourge is prone to it in Season 3.
* {{Jerkass}}: Sunstreaker and Slingshot.

* JokerImmunity: Starscream. [[spoiler:Even killing the bastard didn't keep him down.]]

* KidAppealCharacter: Holi and his rescue team, and the former TropeNamer Bumblebee.

* KingOfBeasts: Razorclaw and Steeljaw.

* LowerDeckEpisode
* MacGuffin: Sometimes called in the fandom an EI/AD - Evil Invention/Alien Device.
* MadScientist

** [[PantheraAwesome Ravage]] used it to cling to objects in his tiny alt-mode, making him an excellent spy.
** Windcharger actually has a relatively realistic portrayal, he can make each of his arms the pole of an electromagnet and use it to manipulate metal. The closer the metal is, the more powerful his pull.
** Tailgate (incidentally, his toy is a remold of Windchargers) has a powerful magnet in his front bumper, which he uses to follow other vehicles while saving fuel.

** "Prime" was eventually retconned into being the title of the Autobot leader, and it shows.

* MechaMooks: The Insecticon clones. Later, the Sweeps.
* MedievalStasis: In four million years, ''nothing'' has changed on Cybertron.
** {{Justified|Trope}}. It seems when Shockwave told Megatron that "Cybertron will remain as it is until your return," he wasn't kidding.

* MrFanservice: Starscream, as has been mentioned, although during and after the movie Spike was quite muscular.

* NearVillainVictory: ''Megatron's Master Plan''

* NewPowersAsThePlotDemands: really all over the place, but Ironhide is the king of this. He would use a random power that had never been seen before and then never use it again. See also ForgottenPhlebotinum.

* NinjaPirateZombieRobot: Before Optimus was fully resurrected the first time, he was sort of turned into a zombie by {{sufficiently Advanced Aliens}}. And then there was that Ninja Robot built by the Japanese.
* NoGravityForYou
* NostalgiaFilter
* NotQuiteDead: Megatron and the Decepticons on several occasions during the first season: The end of ''More than Meets the Eye part 3'' (all), ''Transport to Oblivion'' (just Megatron), ''The Ultimate Doom Part 3'' (just Megatron), and ''Heavy Metal War'' (all).
-->Megatron: We shall riiiiiiiiiiise, agaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaain!
* NoWaterProofingInTheFuture: One issue of the comic featured a [[ChallengingTheChief fight for Decepticon leadership]] between Megatron and Shockwave. The fight ends when Shockwave attacks with a water tower, short-circuiting Megatron. Possibly justified in that Megatron was not fully repaired from severe damage incurred earlier.

* TheOriginalSeries
* OurGhostsAreDifferent: Although ghostly vehicles have precedent in folklore, Starscream was probably the first case in which this trope was ever applied to a sentient robot.

** The Autobots of Paradron in the Season 3 cartoon episode "Fight or Flee."

* QuirkyMinibossSquad: the various combiner teams could qualify.
* RaceLift: [[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Raoul Raoul.]]

* RefusedTheCall: Rodimus Prime is tired of leading the Autobots and allowed the Decepticons to steal the Matrix of Leadership in "The Burden Hardest to Bear". A human kendo sensei convinced Rodimus to take his responsibilities more seriously.

* RhinoRampage: Headstrong and Ramhorn.
* RidiculouslyHumanRobots
* RoboFamily: Sideswipe and Sunstreaker are considered brothers.

* RoboSpeak: Soundwave: superior. Rumble, Laserbeak, Ravage: Eject. Operation: [[MerchandiseDriven Sell toys]].

* ScreamsLikeALittleGirl: [[TheStoic Soundwave.]]
* SesquipedalianLoquaciousness: Perceptor and Sky Lynx.

* StarfishAliens: The Quintessons.

* StrawNihilist: Dead End.
* SuperSpeed: Blurr again.

** Somewhat inverted recently, as the [=GoBots=] have started coming into the Transformers universe from theirs to seek either help or a new home (their universe is being destroyed as a result of one of Unicron's "deaths").

* TheStarscream: TropeNamer.
** Several combiner teams have at least one member who also behaves this way internally; Particularly, Hook of the Constructicons, who gives Starscream himself a run for his money as far as "being TheStarscream" goes.
** According to the More Than Meets The Eye profile books, there are at least two Micromaster teams that consist entirely of one leader and ''three'' [[TheStarscream Starscreams]].

** Soundwave's alternate mode is a perfect example. He turned into a cassette player; an useful disguise back then, nowadays not so much. Of course, some more... nostalgic fans (luckily a minority) disagree with any attempt at modernization.
* TeenGenius: Chip, Carly.

* TimeSkip: To TheMovie.

* TransformingMecha
* TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture

* VerbalTic: several:

** Shrapnel repeats the last word of every sentence, sentence.
*** sometimes even the last two syllables of every sentence, whether they form a single word, or two.

** Devastator began giving the Autobots a good run for their money, until the appearance of Bruticus, who [[CurbStompBattle defeated him]] without much trouble. In post-movie appearances, even ''Perceptor'' would defeat him.

* CoolCar: Most of the Autobots. Also all the Stunticons except Motormaster, who transformed into a truck.
* CoolPlane: most of the Decepticons as well as the Aerialbots. The original Seekers transformed into F-15s, for one.

* CorruptCorporateExecutive: Lord Zarak as his "Mr Z" alias in the Marvel comic run.
** Abraham Dante of the Machination is this as well, working with Skorponok to expand his business empire... which he and Skorponok both intend to become a far more LITERAL empire.
** Shawn Berger in ''Megatron's Master Plan''.
* TheCorruption: Scourge when he uses the Matrix in ''The Burden Hardest to Bear''.

* DeadpanSnarker: Gears and Huffer are both unceasingly grouchy because they frankly couldn't care less about the war and absolutely hate the lush, green landscape of Earth almost as much as they hate the people who live there. They're the good guys, by the way.
** It's worth noting that, according to his tech specs, Gears does this ''intentionally'' as a form of mood-leavening. A satire of Huffer and Mirage's own apathy towards organics?
** The Decepticons have Crankcase, who is basically exactly the same except more actively malicious.

* DependingOnTheWriter: Several, but most notably Shockwave; comic writers tend to portray him as being a cold-blooded usurper who constantly is plotting against Megatron AND SUCCEEDING, while the [=Gen1=] cartoon portrayed him as super-loyal servant of Megatron.

* TheDragon: Cyclonus is this to Galvatron, oh so very much, in the cartoon.
* DumbMuscle: Most combined robots, but also the Dinobots, Slugfest, and Overkill. And Headstrong, Tantrum, Rampage, the Firecons (except for Sparkstalker), Beastbox, Brawl... Note that almost all of these are Decepticons.

** Due to merging two different Takara toylines together, Ironhide and Ratchet are the clear-cut example of this which explained their lack of popularity as toys. For starters, in their original ''Diaclone'' incarnations, they were supposed to be mounted drones that can split in two as opposed to looking like sentient or mecha robots. This is why they lack actual ''heads'' and faces when they were released. Takara later reissues were an attempt to alleviate this with attachable cardboard of their cartoon faces, but this [[https://tfwiki.net/wiki/File:Encoretoy-Ironhidewithhead.jpg made the transformation]] [[https://tfwiki.net/wiki/File:Encoretoy-Ratchetwithhead.jpg rather awkward]].

** In the Three Episode Pilot ''More Than Meets the Eye'' the Autobots were consistently shown to be capable of independent flight ''without'' the use of jetpacks, something that would '''never''' happen again. Skyfire and the Aerialbots come into the story ''much'' later on, but they are shown to only be capable of flight in their vehicle mode (even when the location of their jets would logically make it possible in robot mode).
* EnemyCivilWar: Starscream was constantly trying to usurp Megatron and never succeeded. He did come within an ace in the episode ''Starscream's Brigade''. In the Marvel comic, it was even worse, with Megatron, Starscream, Shockwave, Soundwave, Ratbat ([-yes, one of the tape guys-]), Scorponok, Thunderwing, and Bludgeon all vying for leadership.
* EnemyMine: Blitzwing's cooperation in ''Five Faces of Darkness''.

* EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs: The Dinobots, obviously, but also [[DumbMuscle Trypticon]] and [[InsufferableGenius Sky Lynx]].

* EvilPoacher: [[QuintessentialBritishGentleman Lord Chumley]] in ''Prime Target''.
* EvilVersusEvil

* {{Expy}}: Daniel is an expy for his own father, Spike. The original Spike himself is very likely meant to be an expy of the original Amuro Ray.
** Likewise, Jetfire's an expy to [[Anime/SuperDimensionFortressMacross Macross]]'s VF-1 fighter.

* FateWorseThanDeath: [[spoiler: In the IDW continuity: Sunstreaker and Hunter]].
** In "Countdown to Extinction," [[spoiler: Dr. Archeville gets turned into an immobile cyborg, trapped in a chair on Cybertron.]]

* FiveEpisodePilot
* FlyingCar: Tracks

* TheGeneralissimo: [[http://transformers.wikia.com/wiki/Abdul_Fakkadi Abdul Fakkadi]].

* GeniusLoci: Unicron and Cybertron. The former is the physical manifestation of the GodOfEvil in the form of a transforming planet. The latter is the dormant shell of Primus, the creator of the Cybertronian race; Vector Sigma is believed to be an interface that allows Cybertronians to communicate with their sleeping god.

* GeniusCripple: Chip Chase. Ultra-genius and mysteriously immune to acid. Also, Josie Beller/Circuit Breaker (see below).
* GladiatorRevolt: [[spoiler: Megatron Origins]]
* GreenRocks: Literally. [[{{Phlebotinum}} Cybertonium]] in ''Desertion of the Dinobots''.

* HatePlague: TropeNamer.
* HaveAGayOldTime: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7IJ8QJITGI From Space-Jesus himself.]]
* [[HeroWithBadPublicity Heroes With Bad Publicity]]: The Autobots are frequently afflicted with this, as the humans often fear them as much as they do the Decepticons. In the humans' defense, it isn't always easy for them to distinguish between the huge, destructively-powered robots that want to ''enslave'' them and the huge, destructively-powered robots that want to ''protect'' them. Needless to say, the Decepticons actively exploit this by causing chaos and then framing the Autobots for it.
* HeterosexualLifePartners: Red Alert and Inferno, Hoist and Grapple, Thundercracker and Skywarp, Dreadwind and Darkwing.
* HeyYouHaymaker: Optimus loves doing these to Megatron.
* HoistHeroOverHead: Megatron does it to Optimus in the comic.
* HumongousMecha: Multiple:
** Taken to greater and greater levels with the Gestalts (combiners), the fortress robots Metroplex and Trypticon, the even larger city Transformers Fortress Maximus and Skorponok, and the final ridiculous level with Unicron, a robot ''the size of a planet''.

* ActionGirl: Carly, Marissa Faireborn, Elita One

* AffablyEvil: Swindle. Also, Lord Chumley.
* AlienKudzu: The Morphobots in ''Quest For Survival''

* AlwaysChaoticEvil: The Quintessons.
* AmbiguouslyGay: Tracks and his human friend Raoul.
* AMechByAnyOtherName
* AssKickingEqualsAuthority: Galvatron

* AxCrazy: [[spoiler:IDW Arcee]]
** Ax Crazy doesn't even begin to describe Galvatron.
* BeardOfEvil: Scourge and the Sweeps (and Unicron).
* BigBad: Megatron, Unicron, Galvatron
** In the comic, the role was also taken at different points by Shockwave, Lord Zarak (A.K.A. Scorponok), Bludgeon and (believe it or not) Ratbat.
*** Soundwave and Starscream got in on the act once or twice too.

* CameBackWrong: Optimus Prime in the 3rd season episode "Dark Awakening". [[DamagedSoul Type II]], since his chassis was recovered by the Quintessons and reprogrammed into a ManchurianAgent.

* CastHerd
* ChekhovsGun
* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: Many of the original Transformers who weren't killed off in the movie (or said/implied to have died before or immediately after) ended up being eligible for this trope.

* ClingyCostume: Circuit Breaker, from the Marvel G1 comic book series.
* CoDragons: Megatron's chief lieutenants are [[TheStarscream Starscream]] (the most iconic), [[EvilGenius Shockwave]] (the most powerful), and [[TheSpymaster Soundwave]] (the most loyal).

* ColourCodedForYourConvenience - Autobot guns fired yellow energy bolts, while Decepticon guns fired purple energy bolts. In addition, Autobots had blue eyes and Decepticons had red. And of course, the traditional colour for Autobots is red, whereas for Decepticons it is purple, as shown in their insignias.
** Averted in the Marvel comic book series, which tended to have eyes matching whatever color was on the toy... except when colorist Nelson Yomtov just didn't seem to care.
* CombiningMecha The various combiner teams.

* CoolCar: most of the Autobots. Also all the Stunticons except Motormaster, who transformed into a truck.