The Transformers – CliqueClack (for older) Kids

Let’s continue our occasional series on animated robots of the 1980s. In the first part we discussed Challenge of the Gobots, which was a less than stellar example of the transforming robots genre. This time around we’ll talk about the Greatest Robot Cartoon Ever Made! I speak of The Transformers.

You may not believe this, but the original (and greatest) Transformers series premiered twenty-five years ago! No, your eyes aren’t deceiving you. It’s been a quarter of a century since you rushed home after school to forego your homework and watch Transformers (as well as G.I. Joe and Voltron) before your folks came home from work. With the current Transformers movie raking in the big bucks at theaters and the 25th anniversary Transformers season 1 DVD set currently available, now is the perfect time to talk about these “Robots in Disguise”.

Though they premiered only one week after each other, Transformers tended to be the favorite over direct competitor Gobots. There were numerous reasons for this, including the animation style of the two programs. Sure, by today’s standards, the animation style of Transformers could be considered average at best (though it was produced in Japan, a country known for its high-quality animation). Back in 1984, however, it was seen as downright movie-like. Especially after viewers had endured years of sub-par, Saturday morning animation.

Then there was the focus on characters. While Gobots had its mix of serious and comic robots, they seemed like every other stereotypical character that Hanna-Barbera produced. On the other hand, each of the Transformers had a uniqueness to them. Which meant everyone had their favorites. From the noble Optimus Prime, the plucky Bumblebee, and tough Ironhide on the side of the Autobots, to the evil Megatron, power-hungry Starscream, and analytical Soundwave on the side of the Decepticons.

And, with unique characters came unique voices that people still remember today. In particular were Peter Cullen and Frank Welker, who voiced Optimus Prime. Like Olan Soule and Kevin Conroy did with animated versions of Batman, Cullen gave Optimus Prime a voice of calm authority that became the standard for others to follow in future incarnations of Transformers. So connected was his voice to the character that he’s reprised it for the live-action Transformers movies.

Of course, another big draw was that these robots actually transformed into something else, with the Autobots assuming the guise of various land vehicles while the Decepticons, at first, focused more on flying machines. As the series progressed new robots were introduced that could turn into construction vehicles, dinosaurs, and insects. Soon enough, thanks to the popularity of shows like Voltron, some of these new robots would even combine to become one giant robot.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cOjD64pYdw

However, what really drew viewers in was the underlying, and epic, story of good and evil. Unlike Gobots, where Cy-Kill and his merry band of evil doers were lighter in tone, Megatron, Starscream, and the rest of the Decepticons were really bad folks. They wanted one thing and one thing only: the elimination of the Autobots in order to obtain all of the energy in the known universe. It’s what drove them in every adventure and eventually caused their downfall.

The first two seasons of The Transformers are considered the standard for most fans. This is when the history of the robots was established and secondary characters like Spike were introduced. These seasons also set the stage for The Transformers: the Movie, which killed off Optimus Prime, eliminated most of the original Autobots, saw Spike utter the word ‘shit’ to Bumblebee, and changed the status quo of the series. By season 3 the show was unrecognizable from its beginnings, which caused a riff in the fan base. Even the reincarnation of Optimus Prime towards the end of that season couldn’t bring back the magic. By 1987, after a very short fourth season, The Transformers ended its original run.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXG_zG2SEaw

Though there have been a number of Transformers series in years since, none have really come close to the popularity of the original series (except, possibly, Beast Wars). Even the current version, Cartoon Network’s Transformers Animated, doesn’t have the same feel and scope of the original. Luckily, anniversary DVD releases and video outlets like YouTube help us relive easier times when all we needed to do was root for either the Autobots or Decepticons.

Clacked by Richard Keller
on Jul 02, 2009 @ 13:00 EST5EDT