Transformers is the famous line of toy robots from Hasbro. Transformers change from robots into objects such as cars, planes, guns, buildings, or even radios. These toys were later adapted into animated tv shows, a comic book series, and feature films. Transformers have had the biggest following in the United States, the UK, and Japan.

Transformers originated in Japan in the 1970s with the toylines "Microman" and "Diaclone" produced by Japanese toy maker Takara. In 1984 both toylines were licensed by Hasbro and rebranded as "Transformers". The toys were basically the same, though they were often repainted in different colors or had other minor changes. Hasbro also created a new storyline for the toys, giving new names and personalities to the Japanese toys. Hasbro later started creating new characters and toys that had no antecedent in the Japanese toylines. In 1985 Takara stopped producing Microman and Diaclone, and instead started to market them as Transformers, emulating the success of the new American toyline.

A Transformers tv series began in 1984, as well as a MARVEL comic book series. In 1986 the animated tv series gave rise to a full length feature film called Transformers: The Movie. The movie caused a shock to Transformer fans with the death of many beloved characters, including Optimus Prime, the leader of the heroic Autobots. Optimus would later be resurrected at the end of the third season of the tv show in 1987. The American tv show was concluded that year, but in Japan the show continued to be produced, and in the UK and the US comic book series continued to be produced. It's worth noting that all of these series diverged widely in story, and contradicted each other on many levels.

Since the end of the original tv series, new "generations" of Transformers have arisen, though most fans of the original series are not thoroughly impressed and prefer the Transformers of 1984-1987. Beast Wars was an incarnation of the Transformers series produced in Canada from 1995-1999, and was followed by Beast Machines from 2000-2001. This new generation also included a Hasbro toyline. It was set in the future from the original Transformers series, with many story tie-ins.

There have been additional comic book series with new generations of Transformers, but they have never enjoyed the popularity of the original series. The only Transformers phenomena to reach the levels of the 1980s  series is the recent film franchise, with the 2007 release of a semi-live action film "Transformers", followed by "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" in 2009. A third installment is due in 2011 or 2012. Featuring fantastic computer-animated action and a young allstar cast of actors, the franchise has revived Transformers as a dominant force in the entertainment industry as well as the toy industry.

I grew up on the Transformers and own every issue of their Marvel Comics series. See my recommended Transformers coloring books at Printable Coloring Pages.