The original Transformers animated series debuted in 1984.
Known simply as The Transformers, the Generation 1 cartoon first aired in the United States on September 17, 1984. Its three-part opening miniseries, “More than Meets the Eye,” introduced viewers to Optimus Prime, Megatron, the Autobots, and the Decepticons as they continued their ancient war on Earth.
The program was produced by Marvel Productions and Sunbow Productions, with animation work by Toei Animation. It was created alongside Hasbro’s toy line and Marvel’s tie-in comic, making it an early example of a coordinated multimedia franchise. The first season followed the pilot with 13 additional episodes, while the full series eventually ran for 98 episodes through 1987.
A common mix-up is confusing the cartoon’s debut with the 1986 animated film or with later Transformers series. The film arrived two years after the show, while “Generation 1” is a retrospective label for the original era rather than the title used at the cartoon’s launch.