History Franchise / Transformers

* The TransformersAlignedUniverse is meant to establish a definitive multi-medium continuity for Transformers by [[AdaptationDistillation cherry-picking the best aspects of past iterations of the franchise]], the continuity line was launched in 2010 with the video game ''[[TransformersWarForCybertron Transformers: War for Cybertron]]'' and the corresponding ''Exodus'' book. The intention behind this set-up is to create a longer-lasting AlternateContinuity than the frequent [[ContinuityReboot reboots]] every few years in the 2000's.

* WesternAnimation/TransformersTheMovie opened in 1986, between the second and third seasons of the cartoon. The timeline [[TimeSkip jumped]] to [[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture to futuristic 2005]] and Optimus Prime and [[KillEmAll most of the original Autobots]] were killed off, passing the torch to a new generation led by Rodimus Prime. The movie featured the voice talents of Judd Nelson, [[StarTrek Leonard Nimoy]], Robert Stack (Of UnsolvedMysteries fame) and [[MontyPython Eric Idle]], as well as the last screen performance of [[Film/CitizenKane Orson Welles]] (as the [[ApocalypseWow first on-screen appearance]] of Unicron, a Transformer the size of a planet).[[hottip:*:The irony did not go unnoticed.]]

** [[TransformersGenerationOneDreamwave Transformers: Generation One]], a {{revival}} published by Dreamwave between 2002 and 2004

* Manga/KissPlayers (2006-2007) was a short lived incarnation of the franchise, depicting Transformers given power-ups when kissed by human girls.

*** Comic Book/TransformersMoreThanMeetsTheEye

* InterpretativeCharacter: Several names have been used throughout all the various continuities. While there are often consistencies between these incarnations of these names, there is usually enough leeway to take them in all sorts of directions. TFWiki's article on the term "[[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Character character]]" is a good analysis on this phenomenon.

A [[LongRunners long-running]] franchise consisting of dozens of toy lines, many AnimatedSeries, quite a few ComicBooks, and a trilogy of live-action movies. Reduced to its simplest terms, ''Transformers'' is the story of an eons-old battle between two factions of a race of [[TransformingMecha transforming robots]], usually called the Autobots and Decepticons, whose battles frequently take them to [[EarthIsTheCenterOfTheUniverse Earth]]. Originally, the Autobots primarily transformed into cars, while the Decepticons transformed primarily into military hardware (with both becoming innocuous items such as cassettes and cameras), though this became less distinct over time.

A [[LongRunners long-running]] franchise consisting of dozens of toy lines, many AnimatedSeries, quite a few ComicBooks, and a trilogy of live-action movies. Reduced to its simplest terms, ''Transformers'' is the story of an eons-old battle between two factions of a race of [[TransformingMecha transforming robots]], usually called the Autobots and Decepticons, whose battles frequently take them to [[EarthIsTheCenterOfTheUniverse Earth]]. Originally, the Autobots primarily transformed into cars, while the Decepticons transformed primarily into military hardware (with both becoming innocuous items such as cassettes and cameras), though this became less distinct over time.

* TransformersTimelines is the label which many of Fun Publications' Transformers stories are put under.

* '''Primus''': In the later series, the effective "god" of all Transformers: their individual [[OurSoulsAreDifferent sparks]] were split off from Primus. Primus actively serves as Optimus's superior in ''Robots In Disguise'' and ''Armada'', but is semi-mythical by ''Cybertron'', ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'' and others. He originally showed up in the UK Marvel comics before being imported to the US line and, eventually, other continuities altogether. His name is often used as an UnusualEuphemism for God. In some continuities, he's linked to the Transformer-creating computer Vector Sigma, from ''Generation 1''. In others, he is the actual Planet Cybertron. Though other characters may change between series, Primus and directly related characters are ''generally'' multiversal constants. Starting with ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'', the ''Covenant of Primus'' became a multiversal Cybertronian [[TheBible bible]].
* '''Unicron''': A [[PlanetEater planet-eating]] giant transformer, sort of a EldritchAbomination''/''{{Satan}}-esque counterpart to Primus. In ''WesternAnimation/TransformersTheMovie'', he is destroyed by Rodimus Prime using the Matrix, though his disembodied head continues to work its evil machinations throughout the third season of ''Generation 1''. Unicron appears at the end of ''Armada'', and is destroyed again, but is resurrected in ''Energon'' by Alpha Q, in an attempt to recreate its home planet (in this incarnation, Unicron is able to recreate anything it has consumed). Supplementary materials to the Transformers multiverse suggest that Primus and Unicron are incarnations of rival gods, born from the same ''The One''. Though other characters may change between series, Unicron and directly related characters are ''generally'' multiversal constants. [[CaptainErsatz Has never been seen in the same room as]] [[MarvelUniverse Galactus.]]

* '''Optimus Prime''': Leader of the Autobots. In the original continuity, he appeared to be the supreme leader of all Autobots by a sort of divine right. In later incarnations, he is often reduced to the role of a high-ranking military leader that answers to an Autobot High Council. In the third season of the original series, his successor was Rodimus Prime. A version of Rodimus (sans Prime) reappeared in ''Energon'', as an Autobot general of comparable rank to Optimus. In ''Beast Wars'', he was replaced by Optimus Primal, a sort of cousin, who transformed into an ape. In one of the more recent series, ''Transformers: Animated'', Optimus Prime is actually a lower-ranked Autobot and "Prime" is actually a military title rather than a personal designation. Optimus Prime is often portrayed as a conflicted pacifist shouldering the burden of military leadership. His alternate form is usually an eighteen-wheeler truck cab of some kind, but a fire truck is also slowly gaining acceptance. Japanese versions of the series have given him the alternate modes of a lion, a woolly mammoth, and a sports car, and also have shown alternate leaders of the Autobots, including one driven by a human.
* '''Megatron''': Leader of the Decepticons. Often portrayed as quite mad, but usually brilliant as well. His original form was a Walther P38 pistol modeled after the variant created for ''TheManFromUNCLE''. This was back in the days when children were allowed to play with realistic firearm toys. Later characters with the same name transformed into a tank, tyrannosaurus, dragon, ''body parts'' (because they ''could''), several kinds of space fighter jets, a "futuristic" [[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/For_safety_reasons (i.e. Nerf-inspired)]] pistol, an attack helicopter and [[EvilCounterpart a Mack truck]]. In ''Generation 1'', ''Robots In Disguise'', and all three Unicron Trilogy series, he was eventually upgraded and renamed "Galvatron". The WesternAnimation/BeastWars variant is generally considered to be the most successful, despite ''several'' instances of...

''If you're looking for the live-action movie trilogy, see '''''Film.{{Transformers}}'''''. For the original [[TransformersGeneration1 Generation One]] animated film, see '''''[[TransformersTheMovie Transformers The Movie]]'''''.''

* '''Unicron''': A [[PlanetEater planet-eating]] giant transformer, sort of a EldritchAbomination''/''{{Satan}}-esque counterpart to Primus. In ''Transformers: TheMovie'', he is destroyed by Rodimus Prime using the Matrix, though his disembodied head continues to work its evil machinations throughout the third season of ''Generation 1''. Unicron appears at the end of ''Armada'', and is destroyed again, but is resurrected in ''Energon'' by Alpha Q, in an attempt to recreate its home planet (in this incarnation, Unicron is able to recreate anything it has consumed). Supplementary materials to the Transformers multiverse suggest that Primus and Unicron are incarnations of rival gods, born from the same ''The One''. Though other characters may change between series, Unicron and directly related characters are ''generally'' multiversal constants. [[CaptainErsatz Has never been seen in the same room as]] [[MarvelUniverse Galactus.]]

* [[TransformersTheMovie Transformers: The Movie]] opened in 1986, between the second and third seasons of the cartoon. The timeline [[TimeSkip jumped]] to [[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture to futuristic 2005]] and Optimus Prime and [[KillEmAll most of the original Autobots]] were killed off, passing the torch to a new generation led by Rodimus Prime. The movie featured the voice talents of Judd Nelson, [[StarTrek Leonard Nimoy]], Robert Stack (Of UnsolvedMysteries fame) and [[MontyPython Eric Idle]], as well as the last screen performance of [[Film/CitizenKane Orson Welles]] (as the [[ApocalypseWow first on-screen appearance]] of Unicron, a Transformer the size of a planet).[[hottip:*:The irony did not go unnoticed.]]

* GrumpyOldMan: [[TransformersTheMovie Kup]], [[{{Film/Transformers}} Jetfire]] and [[TransformersAnimated Ratchet]] qualify.

* OffModel: To the point where it's not funny. None of the shows, movies, comics, games or toys are safe. Special mention goes to the ''Generation One'' cartoon and ''Armada'' Anime.

* In addition, a pre-school based Transformers series, [[TransformersGoBots Transformers: Go-Bots]] was released during this part of the franchise. It's usually considered as its own cannon from the rest of the franchise.

* TransformersGeneration1 premiered in 1984. It involved Autobots and Decepticons crashing on prehistoric Earth and remaining in stasis until they were revived by an erupting volcano in 1984. To blend in with their surroundings, they took on the forms of common Earth vehicles and other machines. It consisted of:

* TransformersAnimated had its pilot in late 2007 to ride the popularity of the movie, and was the first American-written series since ''Beast Machines''. Despite severe fan reactions to the character designs and animation style, the show's story and scripting (and a healthy respect to the saga as a whole) have won over many converts in short order. This time the Autobot/Decepticon war ended years ago and Optimus Prime is only the commander of a small repair crew, with Ultra Magnus as the Autobot commander. Megatron hasn't been seen in years but when they come across the [=AllSpark=] this small team has to deal with the feared Decepticon, which eventually strands them on Earth.

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