Which came first the toy or the show? In this case the toy. In 1983 representatives from Hasbro discovered that the manufacturer Takara was producing several transforming robot toy lines. Hasbro bought the North American licensing rights and decided to release them under the single brand name of Transformers.

Hasbro has already worked with Marvel to successfully produce the G.I. Joe comic series as well as a five episode mini series. For Transformers they decided to try to repeat the success found with the G.I. Joe series and launch a marketing campaign consisting of the toy line, comics, and an animated mini-series.

The first series (coined Generation 1 by fans and later adopted as a term by Hasbro) featured twenty eight characters. Eighteen of these were Autobots (the good guys) and ten were Decepticons (the villan).

Autobot Cars (12):

• Optimus Prime
• Bluestreak
• Hound
• Ironhide
• Jazz
• Mirage
• Prowl
• Ratchet
• Sideswipe
• Sunstreaker
• Trailbreaker
• Wheeljack

Autobot minicars (6):

• Brawn
• Bumblebee
• Cliffjumper
• Gears
• Huffer
• Windcharger

Decepticon Main Characters (2):

• Megatron
• Soundwave

Decepticon Microcasettes (5):

• Buzzsaw
• Frenzy
• Laserbeak
• Ravage
• Rumble

Decepticon Planes (3):

• Skywarp
• Skyscream
• Thundercracker

To save on production costs, several of the toys re-use the same chassis and are only cosmetically different. This is very evident with the 3 Decepticon Planes which all transform into the same model of plane in the exact same method.

Megatron as a dangerous weapon? Due to the toy looking like a Walther P38 handgun there are some legal restrictions around this toy. It has been banned from boarding airplanes but the biggest ban is entering Australia. The toy is considered a replica firearm and customs has been known to seize them. This has given rise to groups and clubs to collect the toy as well as lobbying the government to adjust the laws.