More Than Meets The Eye: The Future of Transformers

As any true child of the '80s can tell you,Alex Kurtzman.
Transformers were created by the toy companyA Closer Look
Hasbro after meeting Takara (a Japanese toyThe film begins when Captain Archibald Witwicky
company) at the Tokyo Toy Show in 1983. Bylands on Decepticon leader Megatron's hand after
combining Takara's toy lines Diaclone and Microhe has fallen into an chasm during a voyage
Change, Hasbro created a product line unlike anythrough the Arctic circle in the 1800s. Megatron
other.creates a map to Allspark in Witwicky's glasses,
With their unmistakable electronic changing noisewhich are handed down to his descendant Sam
and the tag line "Robots in Disguise" from the '80sWitwicky in the present. Sam purchases his first
cartoon, it's hard to ignore the Tranformers. Ascar, the Autobot Bumblebee, which in turn, helps
any true child of the '80s can tell you,him meet Mikaela, a new love interest. As the
Transformers were created by the toy companyAutobots search for Witwicky's glasses, the
Hasbro after meeting Takara (a Japanese toyDecepticon's invade Sam's house, triggering a
company) at the Tokyo Toy Show in 1983. Bychain of events that leads Autobot leader
combining Takara's toy lines Diaclone and MicroOptimus Prime and Megatron to the ultimate
Change, Hasbro created a product line unlike anybattle.
other. The initial toys were released with theOne of the most surprising and refreshing aspects
television series, and since then, nine differentof the film promises to be the effects. Producer
Transformers toy lines have hit AmericanLorenzo di Bonaventura wanted to keep things on
markets.the realistic side, so instead of going with a
What Was. . .standard box like look for the main character
The Transformer's storyline initially had theOptimus Prime, he turned him into a Peterbuilt
Autobots (the story's heroes) fighting thetruck. Autobot Bumblebee was changed from a
Decepticons (the ultimate villains) for control ofVolkswagen Beetle into a Chevrolet Camero, and
Cybertron, their home planet. The eventually leftother Autobots were all shifted to GM vehicles as
their home in search of energy, which they foundpart of contract negotiations. The transformation
on Earth.sound effect many fans heard as children was
What is . . .reused throughout the movie, and motion capture
Because of the continued popularity of this storypoints were used to create many of the effects
line and these toys, Producer Don Murphy lookedmovie-goers will see on screen.
into the possibility of creating a live-action filmGiven that the internet trailers received more hits
based on the franchise. Slated for release in Julythan any other movie trailer online, the new
of 2007, the film brings together the creativeTransfomers movie promises to be a great
minds of co-producer Adam DeSanto, Stevensuccess and a wonderful addition to the family.
Spielberg, and screen writers Roberto Orci and