We are all aware that a Transformer is a robot that is able to “transform,” or reconstruct itself, into a common and innocuous form, such as a car, an aircraft, a device, or an animal. So, of course, the taglines “More Than Meets The Eye” and “Robots In Disguise” reflect this ability. However, here are ten facts you probably didn’t know.
1. Contrary to what people may think, there has
never been a break in the production of new Transformer toys; there have been new Transformers toys every year since its debut in 1984 because the UK and Japan produced their own continuing series in the period of 1991 to 1994.
2. Megatron, the Decepticon leader, originally transformed into a realistic
Walther P-38 pistol with stock and barrel estensions and scope. But due to stricter American laws governing toy guns, the Megatron toy was never produced (but was sold) in the United States and was delayed till 1985 for release in the UK.
3. The official international Transformers convention is
BotCon but other fan events include Auto Assembly and TransForce in the UK and past Transformers only events have included BotCon Japan, BotCon Europe and “OTFCC”. Various other events also celebrate Transformers.
4. Like G.I. JoeÂ’s Larry Hama,
Robert Budiansky wrote the majority of the tech specs, the personal profile of each Transformer, for the Generation 1 series.
5. Hasbro
sold the digital gaming rights various properties, including My Little Pony, Magic: The Gathering, Tonka, Playskool, and The Transformers,) to Infogrames for 100 million dollars in American money in 2000, buying back the rights for 65 million in American money in June of 2005
6. The Hasbro toyline Battle Beasts was known as
Beastformers in Japan, and was a part of the Japanese Transformers toyline.
7. The basic back-story of the toyline and subsequent comic books and cartoons was developed by the Marvel Comics writers Jim Shooter and Dennis OÂ’Neil; OÂ’Neil who actually changed
ConvoyÂ’s name to
Optimus Prime.
8. Old Transformers, when purchased, came with
Robot Points which could be redeemed for special Transformers which were not sold in stores, such as the Omnibots or the Decepticon triplets known as Reflector, a character who featured heavily in the early installments of the television series program.
9. London electro band
“Robots In Disguise” are named after the famous Transformers tagline.
10. The
Transformers is the name of a line of toys designed and produced by toy companies Takara in Japan, and Hasbro in the United States, from 1984 onward.
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