"Transformers" (1984) TV series 1984-1987

User Rating:

8.3/10   

Director:

Peter Wallach

Writer:

Roger Slifer (live-action sequences)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

17 September 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Action | Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

More than meets the eye!

Plot:

Two opposing camps of alien transforming robots fight in a war that has the fate of Earth in the balance.

Plot Keywords:

Battle | Alien | Robot | Alien Technology | Space Bridge

Cast

Frank Welker	...	Megatron / ... (44 episodes, 1984-1987)
Peter Cullen	...	Optimus Prime / ... (42 episodes, 1984-1987)
Chris Latta	...	Starscream / ... (42 episodes, 1984-1987)
John Stephenson	...	Thundercracker / ... (38 episodes, 1984-1987)
Corey Burton	...	Spike Witwicky / ... (37 episodes, 1984-1987)
Dan Gilvezan	...	Bumblebee / ... (36 episodes, 1984-1987)
Casey Kasem	...	Cliffjumper / ... (36 episodes, 1984-1986)
Michael Bell	...	Prowl / ... (34 episodes, 1984-1987)
Don Messick	...	Ratchet / ... (34 episodes, 1984-1986)
Scatman Crothers	...	Jazz (27 episodes, 1984-1985)
Ken Sansom	...	Hound / ... (26 episodes, 1984-1985)
Gregg Berger	...	Grimlock / ... (22 episodes, 1984-1986)
Neil Ross	...	Slag / ... (18 episodes, 1984-1986)

(more)

Series Directed by
Andy Kim		(49 episodes, 1985-1986)
Bob Kirk		(49 episodes, 1985-1986)
Al Kouzel		(49 episodes, 1985-1986)
Bob Matz		(49 episodes, 1985-1986)
Norm McCabe		(49 episodes, 1985-1986)
Margaret Nichols		(49 episodes, 1985-1986)
Karen Peterson		(49 episodes, 1985-1986)
Tom Ray		(49 episodes, 1985-1986)
Robert Shellhorn		(49 episodes, 1985-1986)
Bob Treat		(49 episodes, 1985-1986)
John Walker		(13 episodes, 1984)
Jaeho Hong		(3 episodes, 1987)
Peter Wallach		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
David Wise		(16 episodes, 1985-1987)
Donald F. Glut		(12 episodes, 1984-1986)
Doug Booth		(12 episodes, 1984-1985)
Earl Kress		(7 episodes, 1984-1986)
Michael Charles Hill		(6 episodes, 1985-1987)
Flint Dille		(6 episodes, 1985-1986)
George Arthur Bloom		(4 episodes, 1984)
Paul Davids		(4 episodes, 1985-1986)
Steve Skeates		(4 episodes, 1986-1987)
Larry Strauss		(3 episodes, 1984-1986)
Beth Bornstein		(3 episodes, 1985-1986)
Buzz Dixon		(3 episodes, 1985-1986)
Bryce Malek		(2 episodes, 1984-1985)
Dick Robbins		(2 episodes, 1984-1985)
Reed Robbins		(2 episodes, 1984-1985)
Peter Salas		(2 episodes, 1984-1985)
Antoni Zalewski		(2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Dennis Marks		(2 episodes, 1985)
Carla Conway		(2 episodes, 1986)
Gerry Conway		(2 episodes, 1986)
Joey Kurihara Piedra		(2 episodes, 1986)
Cherie Wilkerson		(2 episodes, 1987)
Marv Wolfman		(2 episodes, 1987)
Roger Slifer		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Joe Bacal	....	executive producer (98 episodes, 1984-1987)
Tom Griffin	....	executive producer (98 episodes, 1984-1987)
Margaret Loesch	....	executive producer (98 episodes, 1984-1987)
Nelson Shin	....	supervising producer / producer (98 episodes, 1984-1987)
Michael Charles Hill	....	associate producer (95 episodes, 1984-1987)
George Singer	....	producer (79 episodes, 1985-1987)
Roger Slifer	....	associate producer / co-producer (74 episodes, 1985-1987)
John Walker	....	producer (49 episodes, 1985-1986)
Gwen Wetzler	....	producer (49 episodes, 1985-1986)
Flint Dille	....	associate producer (44 episodes, 1985-1986)
Gerald Moeller	....	producer (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Kenichi Morohashi	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Edward Lee Rapp	....	producer: live action sequences (unknown episodes)
Atsushi Shimizu	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Tim Spiedel	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Johnny Douglas		(98 episodes, 1984-1987)
Robert J. Walsh		(82 episodes, 1985-1987)

Series Cinematography by
Michael Sullivan		(unknown episodes)
Michael J. Sullivan		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Al Breitenbach		(3 episodes, 1987)

Series Production Design by
Floro Dery		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Lee Gunther	....	executive in charge of production (98 episodes, 1984-1987)
Carole Weitzman	....	production manager / director of production / ... (98 episodes, 1984-1987)
Jim Graziano	....	director of production (82 episodes, 1985-1987)
Yung Shin	....	production manager (79 episodes, 1985-1987)
Eric Early	....	post-production supervisor (33 episodes, 1986-1987)
Steven Heth	....	post-production supervisor (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Elise Goyette	....	production manager (3 episodes, 1987)
Gerald Moeller	....	production manager (3 episodes, 1987)
Mel Lombardo	....	production manager: live-action sequences (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kyungmi Kim	....	assistant director (3 episodes, 1987)
Mooyoung Song	....	assistant director (3 episodes, 1987)

Series Art Department
David Shin	....	storyboard artist (79 episodes, 1985-1987)
Peter Chung	....	storyboard artist (65 episodes, 1984-1986)
Gregg Davidson	....	storyboard artist (65 episodes, 1984-1986)
George Goode	....	storyboard artist (65 episodes, 1984-1986)
David Russell	....	storyboard artist (65 episodes, 1984-1986)
Doug Lefler	....	storyboard artist (62 episodes, 1984-1986)
Gerald Moeller	....	storyboard artist (62 episodes, 1984-1986)
Rhoydon Shishido	....	storyboard artist (62 episodes, 1984-1986)
Wendell Washer	....	storyboard artist (62 episodes, 1984-1986)
Vincenzo Trippetti	....	storyboard artist (49 episodes, 1985-1986)
Del Barras	....	storyboard artist (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Bill Barry	....	storyboard artist (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Danny Bulanadi	....	storyboard artist (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Soo Young Chun	....	storyboard artist (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Jooin Kim	....	storyboard artist (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Yeun Young Sang	....	storyboard artist (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Leo Sullivan	....	storyboard artist (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Floro Dery	....	storyboard artist (16 episodes, 1984)
Bob Smith	....	storyboard artist (16 episodes, 1984)
Lindsay Dawson	....	storyboard artist (13 episodes, 1984)
Don Goodman	....	storyboard supervisor (13 episodes, 1984)
Gabriel Hoyos	....	assistant designer (13 episodes, 1984)
Leandro Martinez	....	assistant designer (13 episodes, 1984)
Brian Ray	....	storyboard artist (13 episodes, 1984)
George Scribner	....	storyboard artist (13 episodes, 1984)
Victor Dal Chele	....	storyboard artist (3 episodes, 1984)
Jim Fletcher	....	storyboard artist (3 episodes, 1984)
Paul Gruwell	....	storyboard artist (3 episodes, 1984)
Don Sheppard	....	storyboard artist (3 episodes, 1984)
Michael J. Sullivan	....	production designer: live-action sequences (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Jim Blodgett	....	sound effects editor (95 episodes, 1984-1987)
Michael L. DePatie	....	sound effects editor (95 episodes, 1984-1987)
John Detra	....	sound effects editor (95 episodes, 1984-1987)
Ron Fedele	....	sound effects editor (95 episodes, 1984-1987)
Michael Tomack	....	sound effects editor (95 episodes, 1984-1987)
Allison Cobb	....	sound effects editor (79 episodes, 1985-1987)
Nicholas James	....	sound effects editor (79 episodes, 1985-1987)
Scott Brownlee	....	voice processing / voice recording engineer (68 episodes, 1984-1987)
Bruce Elliott	....	sound effects editor (65 episodes, 1984-1986)
Richard S. Gannon	....	sound effects editor (65 episodes, 1984-1986)
Efraim Reuveni	....	sound effects editor (49 episodes, 1985-1986)
Ellen Burr	....	recording coordinator (33 episodes, 1986-1987)
Joel Iwataki	....	voice recording engineer (33 episodes, 1986-1987)
Matt Cope	....	sound effects editor (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Karen Doulac	....	sound effects editor (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Jacquie Freeman Ross	....	dubbing supervisor (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Leonard T. Geschke	....	sound effects editor (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Brad Gunther	....	sound effects editor (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
David Hankins	....	sound effects editor (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
John Hart	....	dubbing supervisor (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Richard Raderman	....	sound effects editor (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Joseph G. Sorokin	....	sound effects editor (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Warren Taylor	....	sound effects editor (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Peter Tomaszewicz	....	sound effects editor (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Richard C. Allen	....	sound effects editor (13 episodes, 1984)
Sylvester Rivers	....	voice recording engineer (3 episodes, 1987)
Roy Braverman	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Peter Reale	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Animation Department
Dennis Venizelos	....	key background artist / background supervisor / ... (92 episodes, 1984-1987)
Pat Agnasin	....	background designer / model designer (79 episodes, 1985-1987)
Fred Carrillo	....	background designer / model designer (79 episodes, 1985-1987)
Phyllis Craig	....	color modeler (79 episodes, 1985-1987)
Romeo Francisco	....	background designer / model designer (79 episodes, 1985-1987)
Gabriel Hoyos	....	background designer / model designer (79 episodes, 1985-1987)
Robert Schaefer	....	key background artist / key background designer (79 episodes, 1985-1987)
Floro Dery	....	background designer / model designer (65 episodes, 1984-1986)
Del Barras	....	background designer / model designer (49 episodes, 1985-1986)
Philip Phillipson	....	key background artist (49 episodes, 1985-1986)
Romeo Tanghal	....	background designer / model designer (49 episodes, 1985-1986)
Eufronio R. Cruz	....	background designer / model designer (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Ernie Guanlao	....	background designer / model designer (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Andrew Phillipson	....	key background designer (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Jeff Richards	....	key background designer (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Rico Rival	....	background designer / model designer (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Fred Warter	....	key background designer (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
George Goode	....	background designer / model designer (3 episodes, 1984)
Andy Kim	....	background designer / model designer (3 episodes, 1984)
Nam-Ryeol Baek	....	animator (3 episodes, 1987)
Sungok Cho	....	animator (3 episodes, 1987)
Hangyong Chung	....	animator (3 episodes, 1987)
Chigeun Kang	....	animator (3 episodes, 1987)
Kyoungkwan Kim	....	animator (3 episodes, 1987)
Youngduk Kim	....	animator (3 episodes, 1987)
Nosoo Kwak	....	animator (3 episodes, 1987)
Choi Byoung Nam	....	animator (3 episodes, 1987)
Byungchong Oh	....	animator (3 episodes, 1987)
Chiman Park	....	animator (3 episodes, 1987)
Eynam Park	....	animator (3 episodes, 1987)
Myunghi Park	....	animator (3 episodes, 1987)
Youngchan Shin	....	animator (3 episodes, 1987)
Sang Il Sim	....	animator (3 episodes, 1987)
Baekyup Sung	....	animator (3 episodes, 1987)
Joe Landari	....	animator: live action sequences (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Robert T. Gillis	....	supervising editor (65 episodes, 1984-1986)
Sarah Swiskow	....	telecine supervisor (33 episodes, 1986-1987)
Steven C. Brown	....	supervising editor (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Rick Gehr	....	assistant to supervising editor (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Andrew Golov	....	telecine supervisor (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Terry Jennings	....	post-production services (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
L. Ed Walsh	....	post-production services (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Larry Whelan	....	assistant to supervising editor (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Dave Weathers	....	assistant editor (3 episodes, 1987)
Lisa Orlando	....	supervising editor: live action sequences (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Anne Bryant	....	composer: main theme (98 episodes, 1984-1987)
Ford Kinder	....	composer: main theme (98 episodes, 1984-1987)
Johnny Douglas	....	conductor (95 episodes, 1984-1987)
Mark Shiney	....	music editor (95 episodes, 1984-1987)
Robert J. Walsh	....	conductor (82 episodes, 1985-1987)
Peter Collier	....	music editor (79 episodes, 1985-1987)
Joe Siracusa	....	music editor (65 episodes, 1984-1986)
Richard C. Allen	....	music editor (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Robert Mayer	....	music editor (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Robert Randles	....	music editor (30 episodes, 1986-1987)

Series Other crew
Jay Bacal	....	creative director (98 episodes, 1984-1987)
Wally Burr	....	voice director (98 episodes, 1984-1987)
Paul Davids	....	production coordinator (79 episodes, 1985-1987)
Bryce Malek	....	story editor (62 episodes, 1984-1986)
Dick Robbins	....	story editor (62 episodes, 1984-1986)
Terri Gruskin	....	production assistant (49 episodes, 1985-1986)
Terry Lennon	....	supervising director (49 episodes, 1985-1986)
Tom Ray	....	sequence director (46 episodes, 1984-1987)
Flint Dille	....	story editor / supervising story editor (35 episodes, 1985-1987)
Hildy Mesnik	....	production coordinator / production assistant (35 episodes, 1985-1987)
Warren Batchelder	....	sequence director (33 episodes, 1984-1987)
Gerry Chiniquy	....	sequence director (33 episodes, 1984-1987)
Norm McCabe	....	sequence director (33 episodes, 1984-1987)
Lizabeth Aguiar	....	production assistant (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Bob Bemiller	....	sequence director (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Myrna Bushman	....	assistant to supervisor (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Rudy Cataldi	....	sequence director (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Chuck Downs	....	sequence director (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Lillian Evans	....	sequence director (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
John Freeman	....	sequence director (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Steve Gerber	....	story editor (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Elise Goyette	....	production coordinator (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Mitsuko Y. Hays	....	production assistant (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Caroline Heyward	....	sequence director (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Andy Kim	....	supervising director (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Bob Kirk	....	sequence director (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Bill Knoll	....	sequence director (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Ray Lee	....	supervising director (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Bob Matz	....	sequence director (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Margaret Nichols	....	sequence director (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Spencer Peel	....	sequence director (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Karen Peterson	....	sequence director (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Stan Phillips	....	sequence director (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Bob Treat	....	sequence director (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Neal Warner	....	sequence director (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Lisa Wilson	....	assistant to supervisor (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
Marv Wolfman	....	story editor (30 episodes, 1986-1987)
John Gibbs	....	sequence director / supervising director (16 episodes, 1984)
Jeff Hale	....	sequence director (16 episodes, 1984)
Yung Shin	....	production assistant (16 episodes, 1984)
Brad Case	....	sequence director (13 episodes, 1984)
Dave Brain	....	sequence director (3 episodes, 1984)
Dan Thompson	....	sequence director (3 episodes, 1984)
James T. Walker	....	sequence director (3 episodes, 1984)
John Walker	....	sequence director (3 episodes, 1984)
Laurie Pessell	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 1987)
Kôzô Morishita	....	director: Toei Animation (unknown episodes)
Marty Robinson	....	head puppeteer: live action sequences (unknown episodes)
Cherie Wilkerson	....	executive script consultant (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Sunbow Productions
• Marvel Productions
• Hasbro
• Akom Production Company
• Toei Doga
• Tokyo Movie Shinsha (TMS) (episode "Call of the Primitives")

Distributors

• Claster Television (1984-1987) (USA) (TV)
• Filmwelt
• Guangdong Qianhe Audio & Video (2007) (China) (DVD) (remastered edition)
• Rhino Entertainment Company (USA) (DVD)
• Sky Channel (198?) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Veronica Omroep Organisatie (1988-1990) (Netherlands) (TV)

Other Companies

• Saturday Morning Incorporated  post-production services (1986)
• Sound Trax Studios  voice processing (1984) (as Soundtraxx)
• Starwild Music Inc.  music
• Vitello Productions  post-production services (1987) (as Paul Vitello and Associates)
• Wally Burr Recording  voice processing (1985)
• Wildstar Music Inc.  music

Also Known As:

"Super God Robot Force"
"Tatakae! Chô robot seimeitai Transformer" (Japan)
"The Transformers" (USA) (new title)
"Transformer 2010" (Japan) (third season title)
"Transformers: Generation 1" (USA) (informal title)

Runtime:

Argentina:30 min | USA:30 min (98 episodes)

Country:

USA | Japan

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:U (video rating) | Singapore:G | Canada:G (TV rating) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG (DVD rating) | USA:TV-Y7 | Australia:G (some episodes)

Company:

Sunbow Productions

Trivia:

In season one Frank Welker voiced 7 of the 13 original Decepticons. He provided the voices of Megatron, Soundwave, Skywarp, Rumble, Frenzy, Laserbeak (screeches), and Ravage (growls). The exceptions were Starcream (Chris Latta), Thundercracker (John Stephenson), Shockwave (Corey Burton), and Reflector (three identical robots with Chris Latta's voice).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Animation errors can be found in each and every episode, and some of these are quite noticeable. Characters are colored differently from shot to shot at times, robots that should be dead appear randomly, and sometimes, you can see the same character twice in the same shot. Another issue is the misplacing of animation cels, which resulted in characters appearing to be small/gigantic, and in some instances, full limbs and other body parts are missing.

Quotes:

Megatron: Can't Thrust carry out a simple mission?
Starscream: I think the answer is obvious.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Undergrads: Traditions (#1.2)" (2001)

A blast from the past.

This review that I'm going to write about is on the DVD collections of Transformers. Here they are:

Season 1 Boxset:The Beginning of Generation 1 I bought this box-set during summer of 2002. I really like all the episodes that were in order. My favorite feature on the special features disc was Botcon 2001. It was my first convention which I liked. I had some fun at that convention and got an autograph form Ernie Burns of N.R.G. that performed the song,"Instruments of Destruction", from Transformers the Movie. I think this is the perfect series to add to your collection. In closing, after season 1, see season 2.

Season 2 ,Part 1 Boxset:The first part of season 2 This Season picks up after the first Season. This season has some great episodes including The Autobot Run, Dinobot Island Part's 1 & 2, The Master Builder, and more. My favorite feature in this Collecton was the Interview with Michael McConnohie, the voice actor who played Tracks and Cosmos. Also I liked the scenes from Botcon 2002. In closing, after this part, see part 2.

Season 2, Part 2 Boxset:The 2nd Half of Season 2 This part picks up after the first. My favorite characters are Tracks and Smokescreen because they were in most of the episodes. I saw these episodes before on Transformers Generation 2. My favorite episodes in this collection are Autobop,and The Gambler. This box-set is a must get for your collection. In closing, after this season, see the movie

Season 3, Part 1 Boxset:The Beginning of Season 3 What I like about this box-set, it picks up after the movie. In this season the new leader of the Autobots is Rodimus Prime. Ever since the movie, some of the best Autobots have died,they are "Prowl, Ratchet, Wheeljack, Windcharger, Ironhide, Huffer, Brawn, and Optimus Prime. This box-set also has scenes from Botcon 2003. It also had the History of the Autobots,and the Decepticons, also had info on the Preadicons. I also like the Public Service Announcements because the Autobots teaches kids on some good tips to keep safe. And they use the same phrase from GI-Joe :"Now you know, and knowing is the half the battle". Also Frank Welker takes the role of Galvatron that Leonard Nimoy did in the Movie. In closing, if you have seen the Movie. Then get this collection. You will see what I mean.

Season 3, Part 2, Season 4 Boxset: The end of Generation 1 In this final Half of the Transformers, the war rages on. In the Episode:"Ghost in the Machine", the ghost of Starscream visits Unicron and asked to get his old body back. He had to steal the eyes of Metroplex, but he has broken one of his eyes. He stole the other eye from Trypticon. In "Grimlock's new brain", Grimlock became smart and created the Technobots. What I also like about this final collection is the 2 part saga:"The Return Of Optimus Prime" when we last saw him in the Episode"Dark Awakening", he destroyed himself by ramming into a Quintesson warship. But somehow he managed to survive. But it was great for the Autobots to have their old leader back. In Season 4, it was the beginning of the end in the 3-part"The Rebirth", it was the first time I got to see the Headmasters, and Fortress Maximus and how Spike saved Cybertron from Destruction. So in closing, we hoped you enjoyed seeing the entire series of Transformers Generation 1. If you don't have this one yet, get it. You'll see what I mean

In closing to this review on the seasons of Transformers, add them to your collection. You will see what I mean!