Today when someone mentions Transformers, most people can conjure up images from the most recent full length feature films, with the state-of-the-art technology and special effects. But if you’re a Transformer geek you know where it all began for the Decepticons and Autobots.
Back in 1984, the original Transformer cartoon series was released for the main purpose of marketing the Transformer toy collection. In order to have a decent cartoon to put out, the writers had to develop characters and story lines for them. After all a toy is only as cool as its character, just ask Buzz LightYear. What happened after that, no one could have predicted.
Writers and illustrators went to work creating heroes and villains of epic proportions and a whole new world for them to defend. Of course where there are good guys there have to be bad guys. The Autobots are the heroes and the Decepticons (word meaning deception/to deceive-con/negative) were the bad guys.
Optimus Prime is a beloved character throughout the Transformers long history. Of course the largest and most powerful Auto bot, Optimus is the role models’, role model. He is the strongest, wisest, most uplifting character! We learn to respect him, and care what happens to him. The fans jumped on board and never looked back, they wanted more and more of everything Transformers.
That first season had 16 episodes in all. The first three were called “More Than Meets the Eye”. These episodes developed the strong story line of the two enemies and provided the jumping off point for the rest of the season.
The Decepticons and Autobots battle over the control of energy sources and when they crash to earth, they awaken dormant powers on earth and the war is on! This season introduced some of the characters like Bumblebee, Hound, Spike and Sparkplug.
With their energy reserves dwindling, the Autobots set out in their ship to find new reserves but are followed by the Decepticons, who attack right in the middle of a meteor shower. They board the Autobot ship, and in the course of the ensuing battle the ship is badly damaged and sent crashing to Earth.
In the second episode, the Autobots escape from the rubble of the crash to save the humans. Spike and Sparkplug return to Autobot Headquarters with them to help them in their battle. The Decepticons greedily plunder Earth’s resources and make Energon cubes, planning on returning to Cybertron with enough energy to ensure victory. Clearly the side that acquires control over the energy source has the upper hand, at least in the short story.
The first season ends with Megatron building the Constructicons in order to create a machine that can transfer all the Decepticons’ powers to him. When Megatron challenges Optimus Prime to a fight he must accept according to the code of honor. Prime is defeated and the Autobots must abandon Earth.
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