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 didnt 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. Joes 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 ONeil; ONeil who actually changed
Convoys 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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