The "Transformers"

In honor of the approaching release of the motion picture, Classic Television Blog wants to take this opportunity to remember yet another great cartoon from the 1980s:  "Transformers."

The original cartoon aired from 1984 to 1987.  The plot line followed a struggle between good vs. evil; the Autobots, led by Optimus Prime vs. the Decepticons, led by Megatron.  The Decepticons are attempting to drain Earth of all of its natural resources, converting it to energon for their own use.  The Autobots are committed to stopping this, engaging in a high-flying, high-octane war.  Surprisingly, the cartoon retrospectively acts as a social commentary on today's society's dependence on fossil fuels and the ensuing war.  However, this is Classic Television Blog and that is all we have to say about that!  Back to the cartoon...

In 1986, the cartoon was made into a movie that offed its most celebrated hero—Optimus Prime.  There was a major public outcry; mothers were claiming that his death very negatively affected their children.  In the following years the show's creators attempted to bring Optimus Prime back from the dead with follow-up TV specials, but they eventually got rid of him to make way for the second wave of Transformers.

I'm excited to see what the newest movie's director, Michael Bay, did with the live-action version.  Will Optimus Prime live to star in a potential sequel?