Transformers
[Sep. 17 1984 - Nov. 11
1987][related: Megatron, Creation Matrix, Unicron]
Long format television show based on toy line by Japanese manufacturer Takara.
The show focused on a dystopian alternate reality populated by shape shifting
robots in which humans are incapable of any kind of meaningful interpersonal
contact, perhaps due to Social Panic and/or a mass reversion to a
bicameral
mindstate. At the time of its
initial release,
Transformers
was subject to widespread derision due
in part to the unreality presented by Megatron's (the metallic lead villain)
ability to drastically shrink the material volume of his form by up to 800% in
order to be deployed as a handgun by fellow Decepticons Starscream or
Soundwave while battling the Autobots. It was also initially unclear if either
the Autobots or Decepticons were capable of procreation as they collectively
appeared to be of one neutral gender. Upon the
death of Optimus Priime
né Orion Pax
1
, the 5 million-year-old leader
of the Autobots, it was revealed that the lifeforce and religious beliefs of the
Autobots centered around the Creation Matrix - a crystal orb housed in Optimus
Prime's chest containing within it the digital imprint of all deceased Autobots.
Via this vast, almost limitless storage of information, the Matrix is able to impart
sentient life force into newly designed machines. In this way, the Matrix is
positioned as the antithesis of the Unicron, a swirling "infinite void"
hellbent on dismantling the multiverse through "Unicron
Phenomenon
2
" — a viral process estimated to have consumed
approximately 84% of the multiverse
3,4. The intoxicating metaphysical
substratum of Transformers lore was significantly undercut by the poorly
received (even by children) crossover Devil's Due comic book series in which
GI Joe, led by
Destro, reformats Autobots and Decepticons
alike to function as vehicles in Cobra's futile brigade.
1 "Until all are one and rejoined in the Allspark of Primus".
2 Notably portrayed by Orson Welles in his final acting role - he died months previous to the release of Transformers: The Movie (TFTM).
3 Thought to be inspired by the Norse concept of Ragnarok.
4 Comparable to dark matter (a hypothesized imperceptible substance of unknown origin that does not reflect, absorb, or emit light but is necessary to explain the gravitational motion of galaxies).