Every ‘Transformers’ Series, in Order of Release

Emerging from the ’80s, Transformers positioned itself as one of the hottest toy properties of all time, with new lines still being produced and fans, old and young, acting as collectors. Transformers would also see great box-office success, starting with Michael Bay’s 2007 action epic. For every fan, there was a jumping-on point, but for many who grew up watching Saturday-morning cartoons, and for younger generations streaming on the kids’ channels, their first introduction to Transformers likely came from TV.

Television has always remained integral to the Transformers franchise, from sustaining toy sales, deepening the lore, establishing the brand outside America, to experimenting with new designs. This has resulted in many TV series since their debut in 1984. It can be pretty overwhelming to track, especially with some series short-lived and other parts of a larger collection.

Transformers Series in Order of Release:

21

‘Challenge of the GoBots’

2 Seasons (1984–1985)

In an interesting footnote to Transformers history, a similar transforming-robot series actually predated Hasbro’s iconic franchise. Challenge of the GoBots was created from a toyline originally developed by the Japanese company Bandai, known as Machine Robo, and licensed in the U.S. by Tonka. The story would follow a similar structure to Transformers with two warring, transforming robotic factions whose intergalactic conflict spills onto Earth. Although never integrated into the Transformers franchise, GoBots have occasionally appeared in Transformers comics and media, typically as Easter eggs or alternate-universe nods.

20

‘The Transformers’

4 Seasons (1984–1987)

Sunbow Productions

The original 1984 The Transformers TV series was the introduction to many to the Autobots, led by Optimus Prime, and the Decepticons, commanded by Megatron. The series, bringing a global conflict to Earth, would expand into a broader space opera, bringing with it the now-established Cybertronian history, while introducing new characters like Rodimus Prime throughout its run.

The series would help redefine 1980s children’s television, pushing toward the trend of using animated shows as marketing for a larger toy line. Indeed, between 1984 and the end of the decade, Transformers toys generated several billion dollars in global revenue, making it a massive success and cementing it into pop culture.

19

‘The Transformers: The Headmasters’

1 Season (1987)

NNS

The Transformers: The Headmasters was a Japanese anime that also offered a split between continuity between American and Asian series. Here, Takara (Hasbro’s Japanese partner) retconned the ending of the final episode of the 1984 series to create a new continuity. Here, the defeat of Galvatron, which marked the end of the war, serves as a catalyst for the emergence of new robots known as the “Headmasters,” which could align with and be partially piloted by people.

With a more mature tone and a militaristic focus, the single season offered a tonal and stylistic shift to align with the Japanese anime style of the time. Consequently, the show gained a cult following, and its focus on human–Transformer partnerships and epic science-fiction adventures, rather than the more obvious toy-marketing approach, would prove influential throughout the series.

18

‘The Transformers: Super-God Masterforce’

1 Season (1988)

NNS

While a direct continuation of The Headmasters from the year prior, The Transformers: Super-God Masterforce still saw a massive shift in the series tone and lore, which has been less influential on the franchise. While the Headmasters saw humans able to pilot the giant robots, Super-God Masterforce saw humans themselves able to transform into robots through a sort of spiritual connection, with select humans able to embody Transtectors (lifeless Transformer bodies). It remains the most radical reinterpretation of Transformers to date, that, while making for a fascinating concept, is far removed from any current lore.

17

‘The Transformers: Victory’

1 Season (1989)

NNS

The subsequent anime series following up to Super God Masterforce, The Transformers: Victory would mark the final chapter of Takara’s original Japanese Transformers trilogy. Here, the series would see a sort of return to form, focusing more on heroism and epic space battles and less on politics or relationships with humanity. Here, the series acts as a standalone, taking place in a galactic war much after the events of the previous series under two new leaders: Star Saber (Autobots) Deathsaurus (Decepticons). A samurai epic-style story, the anime series is one of the strongest earlier entries in the Transformers animated series. The series would also get a standalone epilogue OVA in 1990: Transformers: Zone.

16

‘Transformers: Generation 2’

1 Season (1993)

Sunbow Productions

Transformers: Generation 2 is essentially repackaged G1 content, meant to keep the brand relevant while also testing a new toy design. Here, Hasbro took the original episodes and repackaged them, introducing a Transformer entity known as the “Cybernet Space Cube” which would reiterate the story from the original with some new visuals and commentary. It did present a sharper design on the toyline with new vibrant colors, so it has a bit of nostalgia in itself.

15

‘Beast Wars: Transformers’

3 Seasons (1996–1999)

YTV

What proved to be a needed revitalization of the property in America, Beast Wars: Transformers, placed itself at the forefront of cutting-edge TV with it being one of the notable early series to be entirely computer generated. While rough by today’s standards, for the period, the series was quite a visual wonder that captured kids’ interest and spawned a whole new line of action figures for Hasbro.

The series, set centuries after the original Autobot–Decepticon war, would feature a new breed of Transformers known as Maximals and Predacons, who, in a world ruled by nature, would adapt by transforming into various animals. Throughout the series’ run, its episodic nature would slowly transition into a larger narrative.

14

‘Beast Machines: Transformers’

2 Seasons (1999–2000)

Fox Kids

Beast Machines would take the beloved creature designs of Beast Wars and blend them with mechanical and techno-organic elements, blurring the lines between machine and animal. Here, the series would deliver long-form storytelling across multiple episodes and keep to a slightly darker tone than Beast Wars.

Storywise, the series continues the events of Beast Wars, with a future shaped by Megatron’s Vehicon army, and a few survivors, led by Optimus Primal, trying to survive. While a continuation, the show was vastly tonally different, and it remains a divisive entry within the Transformers TV legacy.

13

‘Transformers: Robots in Disguise’

1 Season (2000)

Fox Kids

Overshadowed and sometimes confused with the more popular 2015 TV series of the same name, the 2000s Transformers: Robots in Disguise saw the Autobots, led by Optimus Prime, battling against the Predacons on Earth. Here, fans got a continuation of classic G1-style Transformers with an anime design, with the show meant to help keep the property established. The series had a few clear goals: keep the IP fresh, attract a younger audience with its family-friendly approach, and make it broadly acceptable as an entry point. For this reason, thoughts on the series remain mixed, though there are certainly those who adore the 36-episode run as a Japanese-made series within the franchise.

12

‘Transformers: Armada’

1 Season (2002)

TXN

Armada was primarily created to relaunch the Transformers franchise for a new generation and coincide with a new toy line post G1. Notably, this series would introduce “Mini-Cons,” smaller transformers that serve as upgrades. The Mini-Cons and their control would become central to the series plot, with both Autobots and Decepticons trying to capture them all (Think Ash and his Pokémon companion’s quest).

This, of course, was built mainly to push a new toy line, with the series’ tone following a similar, accessible approach. Here, my love for the Mini-Con toy line and the series offer a pretty divided view of the single-season entry. At the same time, the series marked the start of the overall well-received Unicron Trilogy.