On this day in 1984 - Celebrating 28 years of Transformers Generation 1 the Cartoon

Many millions of years ago, on the planet Cybertron, life existed.
But not life as we know it today. Intelligent robots that could think and feel inhabited the cities. They were called Autobots and Decepticons. But the brutal Decepticons were driven by a single goal - total domination. They set out to destroy the peace-loving Autobots - and a war between good and evil raged across Cybertron; devastating all in its path, draining the planet's once rich sources of energy. The Autobots, on the verge of extinction, battled valiantly to survive...

With these words on this day in 1984, the first-ever episode of Transformers Generation 1 was broadcast. While Transformers itself had already launched with the first issue of the comic book from Marvel comics on May 8 1984, for many of us it was the cartoon that truly cemented the Transformers into our imagination. In this first episode we were introduced to the heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons and their war that had led them to leave their homeworld of Cybertron and crashland on Earth. It was the beginning of a legend that would span 98 episodes and a theatrical released movie, not to mention countless series that spun off from the mythology on both sides of the Pacific. This original three-part story arc even now stands the test of time and stands strong and proud as the beginning of all Transformers cartoons.

If you were a fan from the beginning who remembers watching More than Meets the Eye Part 1 on the original broadcast or one of the members of our fandom who perhaps joined later, I hope that today you will join me in raising a glass and celebrating the 28th birthday of the first airing of the cartoon that started it all.

Happy 28th birthday, More than Meets the Eye! Happy 28th birthday, Transformers cartoons!


Pictured at left, Wheeljack, the first Transformer to appear on screen in More than Meets the Eye Part 1.