While it has existed in several mediums (you may have heard about a movie or two) Transformers feels most at home as an animated series, where the world of the Autobots and Decepticons is given room to breathe while still offering dynamic action and innovative storytelling. Originally imported from Japan by toy manufacturing behemoth Hasbro in 1984, Marvel was commissioned with creating a back story for the shape-shifting toys that would be used both in that company’s Transformers comic book, as well as in Sunbow’s beloved animated series. (incl.One of the longest running toy-centric franchises in the world, Transformers has enjoyed no shortage of innovation and evolution on the small screen.