Transformers franchise turns 30
As you know, Transformers: The Age of Extinction, the fourth movie in the series, is scheduled to open here in Brazil: July 18th. But did you know that the alien robot franchise is also completing 30 successful years in 2014? It all began in 1984, when Hasbro - the US toy and game maker - took over the Japanese Takara Diaclone and Microman lines and renamed them Transformers.
The manufacturer has launched a collection of robots that convert into cars - and vice versa - an immediate success. Then, with the support of cartoons, comics and movies, the line consolidated and became world famous. So to celebrate, how about knowing a little more about how the Tranformers conquered the world?
Brief history
1984: Hasbro launches a line of toys called Transformers and, in addition to creating an animated television series, the manufacturer also commissioned Marvel Comics to create a comic book;
1985: autobot cartoons begin to be broadcast here in Brazil by Rede Globo, and the first toys are released here by Estrela;
1986: release of the first animated film, “Transformers: The Movie”;
1992 to 2001: emergence of four new Transformers animated series: Generation 2, Beast Wars, Beast Machines and Robots in Disguise;
2002: Transformers will be aired in Brazil by Fox Kids and later “Transformers: New Generation” will be aired by Rede Globo; Despite having the same theme as the other animated series, it brings more content aimed at children;
2003: Animation is replaced at Fox Kids by the anime Transformers: Armada;
2007: release of “Transformers” - directed by Michael Bay - a feature film responsible for reinvigorating the franchise and giving rise to the first film trilogy;
2008: Hasbro arrives in Brazil bringing a product line inspired by the series “Transformers Animated”, exhibited by Cartoon Network and Rede Globo;
2009: release of the second trilogy movie, “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”;
2010: This year aired five pilot episodes of the animated film “Transformers: Prime”, a project that spawned three more seasons (Transformers Prime - 1st and 2nd seasons and Tranformers: Prime - Beast Hunters) and another animated film ( Transformers: Prime - Predacon Rising), all aired on Cartoon Network;
2011: release of the third feature of the first trilogy, “Transformers: The Hidden Side of the Moon”;
2013: Bandeirantes will air the first season of “Transformers Prime” and the launch of the animated series “Transformers: Rescue Bots”, aired by Discovery Kids and aimed at preschoolers;
2014: Launch of the second trilogy with the new movie “Transformers: The Age of Extinction”, also directed by Michael Bay. The premiere is scheduled for Brazil in July this year and will be the beginning of a new story that begins four years after the "Transformers: The Hidden Side of the Moon" events. Check out the following trailer:
Transformers in numbers
- Products bearing the Transformers name move more than $ 1 billion annually;
- More than 15 million video games have been sold worldwide;
- More than 2.5 million downloads of Transformers applications have been completed;
- The franchise has three films released, and the fourth hits theaters in July 2014;
- The three films yielded more than $ 3 billion at the box office;
- In its debut alone, the first feature film, Transformers, in 2007, grossed $ 67.6 million, one of the biggest box office of all time;
- The first movie generated an increase and $ 1.6 billion in product sales;
- The Transformers Facebook fan page has over 19 million fans.
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