Transformers universes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Transformer is a fictional robot that is able to "transform", rearranging itself into a common and innocuous form, such as a car, aircraft, or animal. The taglines "More Than Meets the Eye" and "Robots in Disguise" reflect this ability. The Transformers were introduced in 1984 by Hasbro in a toyline. Since then they have appeared in countless comics, cartoons, video games and films with their own fictional universes, none of which are definitive according to Hasbro or the fans.
The story features two main factions warring for control of their home planet, Cybertron. The heroic Autobots are led by Optimus Prime and their opponents are the Decepticons, led by Megatron. All Transformer incarnations have been based around this core concept, with some similarities and differences including the Transformer's fictional creator (most popular is the deity, Primus), the presence of Female Transformers and when and why the Transformers came to Earth.
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[edit] Generation One/Two (1984 onwards)
The term Generation 1 (G1) originated as an unofficial fan term, retroactively coined after the releasing of the Generation 2 toyline. In the 2000s, however, the term "G1" entered into official use with Hasbro's "commemorative series" re-release toys and Dreamwave's comic books. The term indicates the characters that appeared as toys between 1984 and 1992, and is the only defining aspect of the multiple fictional universes based on this era of the franchise.
In 1984, the Sunbow cartoon and Marvel comic was launched, immediately creating a split. The Sunbow cartoon went on to a film, and tended to depict the story solely as Prime and Megatron leading Autobots and Decepticons against one another. The Marvel comic, which originally was part of the main Marvel Universe, depicted it as more of a mess of factions that fight before uniting once it entered the Generation 2 era.[1] A big difference between the two is their backstory: in the TV series, they are former slaves of the Quintessons, but in the comic, Primus creates the Transformers to serve his material body that is planet Cybertron. In the Marvel comics, females of the race do not exist due to the rationale for robots being sexless machines.
Both productions were singular entities that also spawned new fictional universes. The Japanese broadcast of the series produced new episodes that sewed in and out of the continuity, before carrying and ignoring the 1987 end of the American series. Likewise, the movie which soon created material for the Marvel UK comic. Marvel UK's title was weekly, and interspliced original material into US reprints.
In 2002, Dreamwave Productions began a new universe of G1 comics that faithfully pulled together both cartoon and Marvel comic. Also part of this universe were three novels, and a DK guide, as well as plans to make Beast Wars (see below) a part of a definitive continuity. In 2005 however, they went bankrupt, and the following year IDW Publishing rebooted the entire series from scratch within various limited series, beginning with The Transformers: Infiltration. This allowed long time writer of Marvel and Dreamwave comics Simon Furman to create his own universe without continuity hindrance, similiar to Ultimate Marvel.
[edit] Beast Era (1996 onwards)
The 1996 Beast Wars TV series used elements of the G1 series and comics as a historical backstory. Unlike the various contradictory and separate G1 universes, its spin-offs form an extended and cohesive story.
The Canadian CGI animated series Beast Wars and its sequel Beast Machines, which ended in 2000, depicted the descendants of the Autobots and Decepticons, Maximals and Predacons, time travel to prehistoric Earth in a battle for the future. It exists in the same universe as "a" Generation One, with references to the comics only God Primus and important female characters, and some appearances from G1 characters too.
After the first season of Beast Wars (comprising 26 episodes) aired in Japan, the Japanese were faced with a problem - the second Canadian season was only 13 episodes long, not enough to warrant airing on Japanese TV. So, while they waiting for the third Canadian season to be completed (thereby making 26 episodes in total when added to season 2), they produced two exclusive cel-animated series of their own, Beast Wars II (also called Beast Wars Second) and Beast Wars Neo, to fill in the gap. The 2006 IDW comic book Beast Wars: The Gathering eventually confirmed the canonicity of these series with appearances of the Japanese characters within a story set during Season 3.
The storyline of Transformers: Universe, mainly set following Beast Machines sees characters from many assorted alternate continuities - including existing and new ones - encounter each other. The story was told in an unfinished comic book exclusive to the Official Transformers Collectors' Convention.
[edit] Robots in Disguise (2001)
A 2001 39-episode animated series from Japan. In this version, Megatron creates the Decepticons as a subfaction of the Predacons on Earth, a potential reference to the return to the vehicle based characters following the previous dominance of the animal based characters of the Beast Era. It is a stand alone universe with no ties to any other Transformers fiction. Some of the characters from Robots in Disguise did eventually make appearances in Transformers: Universe, including Optimus Prime, Sideburn and Prowl.
[edit] Unicron Trilogy (2002-2005)
These three lines, launched in 2002 and dubbed "The Unicron Trilogy" by Transformers designer Aaron Archer, are co-productions between Hasbro and Takara, simultaneously released in both countries, each lasting 52 episodes. But in Japan, the series Transformers: Cybertron showed no ties to the previous two series, telling its own story. The American version is linked directly to Armada/Energon. Plot elements have been changed from the Japanese story into references to the previous shows to enhance continuity, but they largely only add up to mentioning Unicron once or twice.
Just as Marvel produced a companion comic to Generation One, Dreamwave produced companion comics to the new cartoon series, lasting 30 issues. Unfortunately, Dreamwave went bankrupt and ceased all publications before the storyline could be completed. But the Transformers Fan Club made it into the Cybertron era.
[edit] G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers (2002 onwards)
G.I. Joe characters existed within the original G1 Universes. In the early 21st century, Dreamwave Publications and Devil's Due Publishing published thier own seperate G.I. Joe/Transformers crossovers.
Devil's Due's story comprised three limited series. The first series lasting six issues, the second series lasting four issue and the third series, subtitled The Art of War lasting five issues. A fourth limited series, entitled Black Horizon is scheduled for January 2007. In this universe, the Cobra Organization uncovered the Ark, and the Transformers within, and reconfigured them into various Cobra vehicles. The second series then featured G.I. Joe travelling throughout time to recover several missing Transformers to save both Earth and Cybertron. The third series focused on the repercussions of leaving parts from the defeated Decepticons, from the first crossover, in the hands of the government, leading to the creation of Serpentor.
Dreamwave's story comprised one six-issue limited series. The second, subtitled Divided Front had six issues planned, but only one was published due to Dreamwave's bankruptcy. Similar to Devil's Due's approach, Cobra discovers the Transformers' craft and makes an alliance with the Decepticons, except here, the action is set during World War II, with the Transformers redesigned to transform into contemporary war-era vehicles and weapons and G.I. Joe reimagined as a WWII infantry team. Its sequel series, set in the present day, did not make it beyond its first issue before Dreamwave closed.
[edit] IDW Evolutions (2006 onwards)
In addition to their new G1 universe and TV-series-compatible Beast Wars: The Gathering comic (mentioned above), IDW are also exploring numerous Elseworlds styled stories in the series The Transformers: Evolutions beginning with Hearts of Steel, a six-issue story which sets the action in the Industrial Revolution era.
[edit] Film (2007)
Like most comic book movies the live-action film is expected to be inspired by previous incarnations to form its own unique story.
The film will feature classic Transformers looking for the Allspark on Earth, with humanity in the balance. Characters included are Optimus Prime, Megatron, Bumblebee, Starscream, Jazz, Frenzy, Ironhide, Scorponok, Ratchet, Brawl, Bonecrusher, Barricade and Blackout.
[edit] Heroes (2007)
In a Cartoon Network 2007 Program Schedule shown at ToonTalk, a new series called Transformers Heroes was included. Its expected to premiere next fall, and it is first the in the series to be produced by CN Studios, and the first US Transformers since Beast Machines. Little is known about it, but it will appear to be stand alone. The rumored characters for Heroes are Optimus Prime, Megatron, Bumblebee, Ultra Magnus, Prowl, Starscream plus some human characters.
It is rumored that David Kaye will voice Optimus Prime in this series.
Recent rumors have recently showed up
- Animation studio not Gonzo ... rather it's Answer and Mook. Whether they're associated with Gonzo, no idea. - Not "anime"
- Only TF related writer that's even submitted details/info is a guy who did some story editing on Beast Machines (ie: no beast wars writers)
( Character design ... guy from Teen Titans, Legion of Superheroes, Fosters...
- Director ... did work on Teen Titans, X-Men Evolution
- Cartoon Network is partner in the show, not just the airing network The overall look is brand new ... like nothing seen before in Transformers. It will not look like the Amarda/Energon/Cybertron trilogy.
[edit] References
- ^ Simon Furman (w), Manny Galan (p), Jim Amash (i). "Escalation/Tales of Earth (Part 5)" Transformers: Generation 2 #8 June 1994 Marvel Comics.
[edit] External links
- Transformers.com - Official Hasbro Transformers Site
- TFU.Info - The most complete toy image gallery on the web.
- TFKenkon.com - Photo galleries of more recent toys.
- Lukis Bros Transformers Collector Site - Transformers collector site with pictures and profiles from all universes.
- Cybertronian-Alliance.com - Character information database, gallery and forums.
- Transformers @ The Moon - Largest Transformers toy gallery, and huge Transformers resource founded in 1999
