Origin of Transformers ?

[Xtreme987]

I was just thinking about Transformers & their origin. Which company originated them ? Was it Hasbro, Takara Tomy or some other company ?

I know I can probably find this out on a TF wiki page but then I thought it would be some interesting conversation for the board.

Thanks in advance for any responses.

[pandaprime]

which origin aspect? the toys? the characters? just the name "Transformers"?

[skrilla 88]

I was under the impress that the Transformers lived among us for eons, and, only until recently(1984), revealed their existence to us. Hasbro and Takara were the only two companies to monopolize on the Transformers.

[elburrito]

The lore as I have it is that Hasbro made the "Transformers" using rights they obtained from Takara primarily consisting of Takara's microman (soundwave, megatron, reflector) and diaclone (the cars) lines. Takara rebranded those lines to Transformers around the same time.

[Xtreme987]

Originally Posted by pandaprime

which origin aspect? the toys? the characters? just the name "Transformers"?

Well I guess I'm asking about the name "Transformers". Basically when did they first come about (ie. toys, movie, TV show, comic book etc.). Obviously there has to be a start date on the brand itself.

[Xtreme987]

Originally Posted by elburrito

The lore as I have it is that Hasbro made the "Transformers" using rights they obtained from Takara primarily consisting of Takara's microman (soundwave, megatron, reflector) and diaclone (the cars) lines. Takara rebranded those lines to Transformers around the same time.

So basically it came from Takara first ? Interesting

[lavaller]

a good book too get that explains that is transformers vault if you dont already have it you MUST get it its awesome

[Xtreme987]

Originally Posted by lavaller

a good book too get that explains that is transformers vault if you dont already have it you MUST get it its awesome

^
Kewl I just found this book on Chapters. Here is the link if anyone else wants to check it out:

http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/...FQsO5wod6H8AAA

Thanks lavaller for the tip

Also when I searched for Transformers here on Chapters a few Construct-A-Bots popped up in my results. Didn't think they sold any TF's at all.

[Scaleface]

As I understand Takara came up with the toys as Dialcone and Microchange toys. Hasbro licensed them, then went to Marvel Comics and asked them to write some fiction for the American kids to make them interested in the toys.

So Takara made the toys, Hasbro brought them to the US and hired Marvel to write a story.

[lavaller]

no problem , enjoy =)