Transformers G1 (Generation 1) - Series Retrospective

[@rodneyholmes5260]

G1 will forever hold a place in my heart. No, it's not perfect when looking at it through the lens of storytelling and in depth character development. And the animation is iffy at times (looking at season 3). But even now, nothing beats it in terms of sheer enjoyment.

[@matthewreynoso6904]

Facts

[@FakeJake5843]

Facts tho

[@cyberx1254]

+1

[@kray97]

It's the music from the G1 Sunbow show that really sets it apart for me. The music, the voice acting...it's all an integral part of the G1 experience.

[@michaelalameda2002]

Operation Combination, what the actual hell?

[@rodrickadamginsburg8960]

The death of Optimus prime is what Transcended him from just another leader to the immortal status that he enjoys today!

[@garou12]

and what damned rodimus in many fans' hearts.

[@rodrickadamginsburg8960]

@@garou12 sadly yes… but Hot Rod was an inexperienced kid who made his mistake with Nobel Intentions and should be taken into account when they scorn him….

[@garou12]

@@rodrickadamginsburg8960 the problem is the lore that came after G1 showed that he's not that green of a kid.

[@ahaduchasemusic3276]

G1 will always be the best, the designs the actors the story line everything, it just was amazing generation 1 forever till all are one

[@ahaduchasemusic3276]

Thank you rodimus heycan you do transformers prime yet it’s my second fav series

[@jackytran4885]

How about evergreen/G1 continuity family of the transformers world forever, till all are one 🆚 until all are gone.

[@ahaduchasemusic3276]

@@jackytran4885 lol

[@matthewreynoso6904]

Amen!

[@matthewreynoso6904]

@@ahaduchasemusic3276 Yes please!!

[@Rodsuper]

G1 will forever be the greatest time of this Franchise!!!!

[@PhillieCheezeKC]

My favorites will always be The Ultimate Doom 1-3. Terrifying concept, Decepticons abducting humans for slave labor. And I find it amusing that the gravitational effects of Cybertron being pulled closer to the Earth are shown more realistically in the cartoon than the movie (DoTM)

[@ChibiProwl]

My favorites are Roll For It, The Secret of Vector Sigma, Child’s Play, War Dawn, Aerial Assault, and Day of the Machines. From Season 3, my favorites are, The Ultimate Weapon, Fight or Flee, Call of the Primitives, The Burden Hardest to Bear, Dark Awakening, and The Face of Nijika.

[@hazielpax2290]

I loved that storyline and was happy when I could see hints of it in dark of the moon. Wish it was more like it.

[@hazielpax2290]

​@@ChibiProwlThose are the ones that I used to rewatch over and over as a kid, however as I've grown up I've developed different tastes. Warworld speaks to me a bit more than it should, as a child dealing with troubled parents doing what you think is best yet being terrified of what they are and what they're willing to do... I'm talking a bit much about myself there but yeah. That and Dark Awakening, as someone who viewed Optimus as a father figure, has experienced death and has seen it in the face... yeah. I think I'm an emotional masoquist.

[@aarmsofsin959]

The old School never left.. G1 and its characters is timeless..

[@OutOfIdeas9977]

Wrong

[@unstoppableExodia]

G1 lives on in our hearts despite hasbro’s best efforts to sabotage and kill it

[@jmurray1110]

Mostly I do wish the designs weren’t so simplified as to remove wheels though I understand why Also it really needed a better idea of what the seekers are coloured

[@BladeAllspark]

The G1 cartoon is Top 😀 Reminds me of my childhood when i watched on tv 👍

[@michaelbutkus4790]

I grew up on the unicron trilogy, animated and the first 3 live action films. I wanted to go back to the beginning and see how it all started. I recently found a box set of the entire G1 series in chronological order and have been binge watching it since. Despite it having countless animation errors, it's one of the best cartoon series ever made. Going from it's cast of now legendary voice actors, it scratches that constant 80's nostalgic itch I always have (I even bought myself an 80's corvette to scratch it) and has made me a life long fan of the Transformers franchise

[@tigerbread78]

You should also check out the G1 Marvel comic, and not just the US version, but the UK stuff as well

[@Eireyes622]

Yeah same here as well. But I may don’t have DVD Sets. So G1 will always be part or our childhood

[@joaolucasnascimentoleite2831]

I first watched g1 back in 2009 when i was 7 years old here in Brazil . My mother took me to a dvd shop close to my house and bought the entire first season for me and since that i fell in love with the franchise since and i got to say they were an important part of my childhood.

[@ahaduchasemusic3276]

2010 for me when I was 3 I had the shout factory DVDs, found it hidden away in my closet

[@joaolucasnascimentoleite2831]

@@ahaduchasemusic3276 That us pretty cool yo

[@nicolekarpa7468]

my favorite episode is "Cosmic Rust", because, i love the coughing of Megs!!!

[@Smuckkly]

G1 is a classic 😌

[@ChibiProwl]

Yep, and for us children of the 80s it always will be.

[@brianng8350]

War Dawn is still one of my favorite cartoon episode ever - the origin of Optimus Prime and good lesson for kids about not being impressed by fancy new robots like Megatron.

[@tylertroknya9780]

My favorite episode arc is Megatron’s master plan because he tricked and manipulated a greedy politician to make him believe that the autobots were the evil and the decipticons were good. Personally, I didn’t like the idea of the humans turning against the Autobots. That arc reminds me of dark of the moon. When I was 8, I thought it was the actual series finale of the show.

[@VisualdelightPro]

Corrupt politicians hit so close to the Matrix Home

[@sarahjohnson7500]

Gen 1 will forever be one of my favorite shows. I was introduced to it after seeing the Bayverse movies. While the animation is not the best in today's terms, it is still one of the most entertaining shows ever. I don't have one favorite episode, for there are so many that I have watched hundreds of times.

[@RodimusPrimal]

This comment MADE my day! Totally agree that G1 is so entertaining! Till all are one!

[@sarahjohnson7500]

@@RodimusPrimal Thank you so much for replying! Means so much to me! I am so happy that I made your day. Been loving your videos recently and your content is amazing! Till all are one!

[@PRIMEEDITS76]

G1 is what got me into transformers as a 13 years old right now being a DIEHARD transformer fan over a year so far

[@drozwalker9]

There were so many wonderful voices in Transformers. The artwork itself was very simple but it was very interesting which versions were actually released to the public. It's like a rock band releasing their demo instead of the actual finished product. Robotech had similar issues with their remastered version versus what is available to stream. Thanks for such an in-depth respective on the G1 series which touched many generations of fans. I do plan on seeing Transformers the movie for its 35th anniversary during its limited release this falll.

[@matthewreynoso6904]

Frank Welker became my favorite voice actor since he was many voices in the G1 cartoon!

[@stephencastro4723]

Here is an interesting part of my G1 viewing. I watched Transformers Season 3 and 4 first. During those times, i have questions about Optimus Prime and Megatron. Then I watched Transformers Generation 2 which chronicles the battles of Optimus and Megatron. What bridged the gap between the 2 shows is Transformers The Movie. Rather than giving me a shock of seeing Optimus die when i was a kid, it instead answers all the questions on how Transformers Season 3 and 4 and Generation 2 were connected. And because i saw first the revival of Optimus Prime, i had a greater appreciation with Transformers The Movie. And then there is Beast Wars which like G1, i also loved it.

[@jmurray1110]

It’s too bad 90’s CGI was 90’s CGI

[@masonyoung7834]

I grow up with the Michael bay movies but since g1 is on KZbin I’ll watch it

[@harlanPerry]

G1 is my favourite transformers show.

[@Maxshade7]

Lots of favorites. One stand out is the key to vector sigma. When the Aerialbots first combined and the Autobots had their first combiner was pretty cool. Heavy metal war was great too.

[@RodimusPrimal]

Those two are great episodes for sure. Fire on the Mountain and The Ultimate Weapon are among my favorites.

[@Drawkcabi]

I never read comic books as a kid so the G1 cartoon was my sole introduction to Transformers lore and was my main source for it all the way up until internet discussion forums became a thing. I loved this show so much!!! I had a vcr back in 1984 even though it was a Betamax and recorded episodes sporadically. I had the 3 episode pilot and the Five Faces of Darkness mini series, as well as the Return of Optimus Prime two-parter and the 3 episode Rebirth series finale. I tried to record episodes I thought were especially notable. When Dark Awakening aired I freaked out because I had no idea they were going to do an episode like that. I threw a tape into the vcr and managed to at least record half of it. I was grateful for that much because they never reran it again and I was constantly looking for it. It wasn't until much later I learned they pulled that episode out of rotation after only airing it the one time. Apparently there were a lot of angry letters from parents about it. First kids got traumatized by Optimus Prime dying in the movie, then he's brought back as a zombie and then killed again? So kids who saw the movie got a double dose of trauma and the ones who didn't get a chance to see it then weren't left out? I did finally manage to record the entire episode of Dark Awakening...during the rerun season with Tommy Kennedy (wasn't that a game show host's name?) I got myself out of bed at 7am every Saturday morning as that was the only time episodes of that season aired where I kept hoping it would be that episode. It finally was. Yes, I could have set the timer on my vcr, but I liked editing out the commercials as I recorded...something I now wish I hadn't done so much...vintage commercials are nostalgic goodness! I was one of the lucky kids who got to see Transformers: The Movie in the theater, and I wasn't traumatized by it. I loved it!!! I was a pretty sensitive kid compared to my friends but with this movie I just thought it was so amazing they were doing what they did and the story so epic I wasn't hurt by it but enthralled. I also was a huge fan of Robotech and watched that every day too...maybe the story lines of that show prepared me somewhat to handle Transformers: The Movie. I was so amazed by it I had to "see it twice to take it all in!" Exactly one week later after I saw it for the first time, I was back at the theater to see it again. Then there was the Dark Awakening episode and I was similarly thrilled by it, thus my obsession with getting the entire episode recorded. All that said, I was still extremely happy for the Return of Optimus Prime and enjoyed the heck out of those episodes. If anything upset me, it was getting the Rebirth mini series, not knowing it was the finale, expecting it to be only the beginning of a new season of Transformers goodness, then being bereft no new episodes came on after that. Favorite episode? If the movie counts...then that would have to be it. Otherwise, I can't pick just one episode from the series there's just too many I love: More Than Meets the Eye Heavy Metal War The Core Auto-Bop The Desertion of the Dinobots The Secret of Omega Supreme The Golden Lagoon The Key To Vector Sigma Masquerade War Dawn Starscream's Brigade Dark Awakening Ghost in the Machine Only Human The Burden Hardest To Bear The Return of Optimus Prime Rebirth I so wish season 2 had gotten even more episodes! Excluding B.O.T., that was an amazing run at the end, imagine what they could have done with another 10 episodes? Skids might actually have gotten a spotlight episode. There could have been a proper introduction for the Protectobots. Imagine the writers being able to play around for a few more episodes with the "scramble city" aspect of the Combiners: An episode where one of the Aerialbots goes missing but a Protectobot is there to fill in and help form Superion. Maybe the reason the Aerialbot went missing was because a Combaticon was badly damaged so they abducted an Aerialbot and forced him to help form Bruticus. An episode where one or even two Stunticons decide it's for the greater good to help the Protectobots form Defensor when two Protectobots are far away and can't get back because people need their help. I also wish there had been a better introduction for the rest of the new characters in season 2. Maybe after Megatron brings the 3 Conehead seekers and the triple changers from Cybertron to Earth to bolster his forces and with the Constructicons and Insecticons also working with the Decepticons, the Autobots are seriously outnumbered and almost defeated. Optimus Prime sends Skyfire on a mission to find Autobots that had also left Cybertron to go to other worlds. Just when it seems Megatron is about to defeat the Autobots once and for all, Omega Supreme and Cosmos show up. Inside Omega Supreme are the rest of the new season 2 Autobots and help hold off the Decpticons. When Optimus Prime asks Perceptor where Skyfire is, Perceptor replies he went on to keep searching for more Autobots. This explains why Skyfire is no longer seen in the series. Also, maybe the name "Ultra Magnus" is dropped as a continuity set up for the movie and season 3. It also would have been neat continuity - wise if they had a chance to introduce the idea of The Matrix of Leadership in season 2. It would have been really cool if the idea of the subspace pocket to explain where Optimus Prime's trailer goes had been thought of back during this series. It could also explain where Omega Supreme's base goes too...even as a kid that was one of the things that bothered me the most. They could explain that the power of the Matrix gives prime the ability to use subspace pockets. Without the Matrix, only a transformer as massive as Omega Supreme could have the ability to generate subspace pockets and even then it's a massive energon drain on him. Whew! I've gone off the deep end into fan fiction territory! I apologize for that and this novel length reply in the comments. This is just a topic I get so easily carried away with! I really enjoyed this series retrospective! Would have enjoyed it if it was even longer. Great video! Best Regards!

[@victorvangrimgamming6784]

I remember rewatchimg the g1 transformers on Netflix in the mid 2000s along side futerama and red vs blue on an Xbox 360. G1 will forever be engraved in my memory as a simpler time, with few hard rules besides treat the show like your watching playtime, it suffers the problems of most 80s and 90s animeted tv shows. G I joe, transformers, many imported anime, suffer from animation issues but thoes can add to a show. Little issues can be overlooked when viewing the whole show.

[@shootingreal5945]

Grew up on G1 and while I have enjoyed other Transformers toons, they all take second place to G1 Transformers..it's the standard bearer for all other Transformer toons,TV shows,etc

[@BurntTM]

Even though I was born in the 2006 my favorite is G1 and holds a special place in my heart due to watching it as a child.

[@matthewreynoso6904]

@@BurntTM Same even though I was born in 2002 and watched G1 in 2004

[@DoubleGdenchello]

Same I was born in 2005 and now watch g1

[@cjparks7881]

G1 were my childhood & they will always have a place in my heart

[@rocketshipevan]

I still watch the movie every couple of years, but the series I havent seen since I was a kid. I need to remedy that. The episodes I remember the most are Starscreams Ghost, The resurrection of Prime, Star Scream building the Bruticons and the episodes where Spikes dad gets chipped.

[@ssmc2112]

This show deserve more love and respect

[@RodimusPrimal]

Absolutely. Especially after seeing so much hate as of late from certain Transformers groups.

[@ssmc2112]

@@RodimusPrimal I totally agree

[@warlordsquerk5338]

@@RodimusPrimal What groups are they? (I don't follow transformers discussions much online)

[@RodimusPrimal]

@@warlordsquerk5338 on Facebook and in the Movie section forums of TFW2005.

[@warlordsquerk5338]

@@RodimusPrimal Thank you for your swift reply! :)

[@kyledamron]

Nothing will ever beat G1 for me. Best cartoon of all time. It'd gotten me through so much.

[@OutOfIdeas9977]

Not the best

[@MCDJACDC]

G1, where the magic begins. Though I like several of the TF universe cartoon series.

[@codekhalil6437]

If we can just talk about "The Ultimate Doom" for a minute. Imho, it was the darkest themed and most well animated episode (before Dawn of the Primitives). Not so much the first episode, but 2 and 3 were something to behold. The keyframes/poses in episode 3 are some of the best in the entire run. Also, the music score of season 1 needs mentioning. Utterly flawless. Thank you Rodimus Primal for this. We won't say no to more throwback episodes

[@johnzillastudio]

I love the original Transformers G1 Cartoon it was a great show, and I love it, awesome Retrospective and Happy 37 Anniversary on G1 Cartoon.😁👍

[@cabbitkisser2620]

i was just 12 when the gen 1 transformers came out back 1984. i watch the cartoon & i bought my first transformer from kmart. but i still have my gen 1 transformers comic book's still today.

[@captainfantastic9158]

The main thing I got from your retrospective here, Rodimus, was something I've stated many times over the years: The Transformers had THE GREATEST VOICE CAST OF ANY CARTOON IN WESTERN ANIMATED HISTORY. In addition to those you named, Casey Kasem, Don Messick, John Stephenson, Ken Sansom, and my main man Michael Bell (Prowl is #1!) added such colour and style and just plain fun to the series that it made it even more special when you heard those voices speaking at you every morning/ afternoon! (Did Mr. Burr assemble all of this talent personally?) Other toons come close, notably G.I. Joe with ITS large and talented cast...but, hey, TF secured the Scatman! HONG KONG PHOOEY HIMSELF! That ALONE set the show apart from others!! I know you've got a million retros to do, but now this whets my appetite for a "salute to the original voice cast" post!

[@RodimusPrimal]

Yeah I could have rattled off names with so many good ones. They are all fantastic. It's why I highlight them when I do a Retrospective video. I really wanted this video to be the help people needed to watch the series in order, but a voice cast video might be one to think about in the future.

[@chrisedwards3214]

All the voice casts was already legends and professionals

[@captainfantastic9158]

@@chrisedwards3214 Darn right they were! Hasbro themselves should do a retrospective on them. They didn't know the greatness they had!

[@chrisedwards3214]

@@captainfantastic9158 i.think.they did to.think.they all put in work for other studios to hear messick doing ratchet then go to Hanna Barbera and do boo boo bear, papa Smurf and Scooby Doo and to.hear frank welker do everything under the sun And to see Peter Cullen play the og Mario on donkey Kong and welker do donkey Kong Jr and then hear welker voice could, wrong way, ugg, slick and Sam on q bert This whole cast put in serious work

[@schmidington]

"Call of the Primitives" always comes to mind when asked about favorite G1 episodes. Another Grimlock spotlight in "Grimlock's New Brain" introduced a favorite combiner team of mine in the Technobots/Computron.

[@RobinSwede]

I like how one of the few good animation s3 episodes is the Galavtron therapy episode.

[@RodimusPrimal]

There's quite a few actually. Ultimate Weapon. Burden Hardest to Bear. Chaos. Call of the Primitives. Money is Everything. The Killing Jar. Surprise Party. Madman's Paradise. Return of Optimus Prime. They were animated by Toei.

[@MechWomanWarrior15]

Perfect timing! I've been re-watching G1 over the last few months, about halfway through the second season now. I didn't grow up with G1 (my first series was Cybertron) but my dad introduced me to G1 at about the same time and I've loved it ever since. With the anniversary of the movie this year, I realized I hadn't watched G1 at all since that time (about 15 years ago lol) and when you mentioned in a stream that all of G1 was on Tubi I decided to start (Yes, I have everything on physical media, Tubi just allows more flexibility; I can even watch them at work over lunch). No it's not perfect, and some of the animation errors are glaring, but it's still my favorite series - just good plain fun and some awesome/hilarious dialogue!

[@RodimusPrimal]

I LOVE the dialog in G1. So many quotable lines with fantastic delivery.

[@Grillenheimer]

Can't wait to listen to this! Just in time for the 35th anniversary and release of the movie in selected theaters this Sunday!!!! Which I'm seeing. It's like a whole new experience and movie on the big screen. (Edit) yeah saw it 5 years ago in the theater for the 30th... and after years of watching the DVD or VHS.... it seemed brand new. So many movies lose so much when they are on the small screen or at home, and this movie is definitely one of them.

[@jaytime3435]

G1 will always be the greatest and I wish I could see those times when it was in it's highs

[@gozcubukcu1]

I was one of the lucky few that got Optimus on Christmas 84.

[@theonlymatthew.l]

Me too!! 😁

[@nils920]

I have to admit something, I've never really been much of a Transformers fan. Not as a kid, and not as an adult. But who can blame me? I was born in 1989, way after the animated movie AND I'm not American nor Canadian(I'm Swedish) so suffice to say, I had the odds against me from the get-go. Don't get me wrong, I learned from my much older brother what Transformers was but neither him or myself had any of the toys growing up. It wasn't until really until 2007 when I decided to check out the original G1 cartoon for myself(at least the few ones which could be found on KZbin at the time before the DMCA takedown rampage began) and I found them to be enjoyable at least. And before you ask: no, I never saw the first Bayformers film in 2007. I only checked out the G1 cartoon because a lot of my friends were hyped for it. It wasn't until Hasbro Pulse put up all the episodes of G1 when I saw the whole cartoon. As someone who never grep up with it as a kid and didn't get the hype for the first Bayformers, I can safely say the G1 cartoon holds up surprisingly well! Granted, it has it's fair share of animation errors, some episodes can be a little too silly for my taste(Kremzeek for example) and some new characters just shows up right out of the blue without any explanation whatsoever which can get confusing, especially during the second season. But it also has a lot of well written episodes as well, Fire in the Sky being one of my favourites. At the end of the day, while a bit corny at times(then again, many cartoons at the time also had it's many goofiness) the original G1 Transformers cartoon is something I'd recommend to newcomers of the franchise. It didn't make me want to buy any of the toys, but I still enjoy it.

[@Grillenheimer]

Heck, Kremzeek is one of my favorite episodes! Prime, "Like a bull in a China shop...." There were so many funny lines in that episode. To the Godzilla reference near the end... and many of them getting stuck in mid transformation near the beginning.... Also Prime, (with Autobots hanging off of him), "Who's had time to think of a plan!?"

[@apex2000]

Might wanna check out Transformers Prime. It has a less campy tone but many similarities

[@Grillenheimer]

@@apex2000 Prime was good, but Beast Wars (despite its aging look) is still my favorite....all are worthy to check out the first TEN episodes of to truly see if you like one of the newer shows since G1...

[@matthewreynoso6904]

G1 is on my list of the good Transformers shows to watch after watching the movies!

[@patrickperalta59]

my favorite episode is SOS DINOBOTS their debut episode as well as the episode where two more Dinobots are created.

[@samuelfawley646]

I have a lot of favorite episodes of The Transformers including Divide and Conquer, Fire On The Mountain, The Ultimate Doom parts 1-3, City of Steel, The Autobot Run, The Master Builder, Auto Beserk, Microbots, Megatron's Master Plan parts 1 & 2, Make Tracks, Triple Takeover, Prime Target, The Key to Vector Sigma parts 1 & 2, Masquerade, War Dawn, Trans Europe Express, Cosmic Rust, Starscream's Brigade, The Revenge of Bruticus, Aerial Assault, The Five Faces of Darkness parts 1-5, Dark Awakening, Fight or Flee, A Thief In The Night, Starscream's Ghost, The Ultimate Weapon, and The Return of Optimus Prime parts 1 & 2 to name a few of my favorite G1 episodes.

[@captainmartin1219]

Loved this show as a kid. I watch the box set every now and then.

[@willieg7895]

The biggest mistake they made was killing off most of the original G1 characters. It was never the same after that. Even after bringing back Optimus prime, the damage was already done.

[@Dwayne3007]

Chris Latta is not mentioned enough. One of the greats. RIP. I had the VHS of the first episode. It was called "Arrival from Cybertron" and was feature length not 3 the episodes that we know

[@retropcgamer]

I remember watching the G1 Series for the first time. I had just gotten 3 DVD box sets, which came with the comic story 'The Beast Within'. I loved it as a kid, along with the 86 film, & with the series now on KZbin, I'm currently falling back in love with it all over again. Anyone else remember getting that box set, & loving it?

[@gottagetitgaming7759]

I was 11 years old when season 1 hit the air waves and I still enjoy watching episodes every now and then and probably watch the 86 movie at least a couple times every year. A great series then and still a great series today.

[@KnickKnacksPlasticPlanet]

My Top 3 1.The Burden Hardest to Bear 2. Call of the Primatives 3. Web World

[@shadowdramon01]

I love the semi-interconnectivity of season 1 where it feels like almost every episode is a chapter in a single narrative, which is why it’s my favorite. Season 2 went a little too off the walls with the episode ideas. Autobots vs a big game hunter? Starscream tries to conquer Camelot? The Decepticons try to conquer the world with a mind-controlling discotheque? B.O.T.? And who decided (twice) that it was a good idea to have organic women try to get clapped by Autobots? However, it also has probably my favorite episodes of the series: “War Dawn”, “The Search for Alpha Trion”, “The Key to Vector Sigma”, “The Secrets of Omega Supreme”, “Autobot Spike”, “Microbots” (especially that scene where all the Decepticons get drunk), “The God Gambit” and especially “The Golden Lagoon”. (I also get a chuckle out of “Triple Takeover”. It’s silly, but in a good way”) Season 3 is at its best when the old guard come back such as the two Starscream episodes, and the 3 episodes where Optimus returns (especially Dark Awakening). “Call of the Primitives” is probably my 2nd favorite episode this season, after “Dark Awakening”, and “Only Human” was cool because of Cobra Commander. My problem with 3 and 4 is the writers, I feel, leaned TOO heavily into the “it’s a toy commercial” aspect of the series. Yeah, yeah. I know, it’s always been a toy commercial, but seasons 1 and 2, at least tried to develop as many characters as possible and make them interesting. I couldn’t care less for most of season 3’s cast (plus it also had Carbombya, 🤮) and 4, introducing that many characters in that short of a time, was ridiculous, though I do like the Headmaster concept (the Targetmaster concept was meh).

[@RodimusPrimal]

The Ultimate Weapon and The Burden Hardest to Bear are two of my all time favorite episodes. I agree with you in Season 2 to a degree but I loved some of the spotlight episodes like Make Tracks and Auto Bop. Season 1 was simply fantastic.

[@unstoppableExodia]

This was a welcome and timely retrospective of the best transformers series (IMHO) Been a huge fan of G1 ever since I first saw it in the early nineties. I even enjoyed season three and the rebirth despite their shortcomings and I was one of those kids left wanting after the ending of the rebirth hinted that scorponok’s head master was going to be to galvatron what starscream was to megatron. I wanted to see the new toys be introduced as new characters in the cartoon. But sadly it was not to be as Hasbro seemingly had no interest in doing that anymore 😭 We did have the Japanese exclusive continuations which were cool in their own way but they really lost a lot of what made G1 special when the marvel/sunbow alliance ended. I’m really happy tho that hasbro decided to put good quality G1 episodes up in KZbin. They should earn mad adrev off that. But it kinda pisses me off that hasbro nowadays can come up with a new take on their most marketable characters from G1 frequently in new series in what seem to be rehashes of the basic story of G1 but with newer characters added in and with story elements from the comics and even the bay movies added in yet they couldn’t continue G1 when it was hot and at its best. I could write a novel about all the things G1 could have done better under ideal circumstances with the benefit of hindsight. But the more important thing to note is that in spite of those shortcomings it managed to not only lay the blueprint for all newer iterations but also managed to be way more memorable than all of them. I would love it if Hasbro had it within them to remake G1 in a way that’s very faithful to the source material while also embracing new tools and technologies and techniques allowing it to look familiar yet amazing and for the stories told to cover familiar lore and events but in a more in depth way.

[@maxhocks2006]

Having seen what he’s capable of in the more than meets the eye comics, and cyberverse cartoon I wish rodimus was the leader of the autobot more often. He’s not as good as prime but he has a unique style all to him. Also the episode of g1 with traxx and blaster fighting sound wave will forever be my favorite.

[@XenoJehuty84]

The Transformers have been a part of my life since my earliest memories. No matter how long time goes by, I never ever lost my love for the franchise. Despite the ups and downs and Hasbro themselves making choices that I deem questionable; my love for the series has never waned. If G1 was not as good and memorable as it was and established these wonderful characters, none of us would have cared once the original series finished airing. Nor would Hasbro have felt such backlash for callously killing Optimus Prime (and many other Ark crew bots), that they revived Optimus Prime near the end of season three. Despite the fact it was a toy commercial in syndicated form, the producers of the show, like many others despite the stigma usually associated with toy tie-in media, gave a damn to at least make it entertaining on its own. If not for the creative talent behind the scenes, and the wonderful voice-acting by many VA-legends giving life to the characters, then Hasbro wouldn't have bothered trying to revive the franchise with Generation 2 or Beast Wars, and once technology made it possible, a live-action film franchise. Everything Transformers is today, can be traced to the foundation Generation 1 set in place, and still resonates today. So thanks for the great video RodimusPrimal, Til all are One my friend.

[@THANATOS-PRIME]

This will be a great video to pass the time during my graveyard shift tonight! Keep up the great work man!

[@loutzenheiser6081]

This brought back so many memories. I truly loved G1 back in the day!

[@TomE.V.]

YES! Another great retrospective from the 🐐, Rodimus Primal!!

[@jdashmaj1980]

I literally grew up with Transformers G1. It came out when I was a toddler and it and Small Wonder are some of my earliest memories. My favorite episode is Heavy Metal War and close 2nd is Call of the Primitives.

[@BurntTM]

Fantastic Retrospective would love to see more Retrospective's on more continuities. Keep it up Rodimus!

[@bennytorres384]

Thank you for these videos! Believe me, binging on my favorite series of all time is very therapeutic in times like these.

[@Firedrake-SP]

My favorite episodes are usually the ones with the Dinobots, but my favorite episode in G1 is "Call of the Primitives'".

[@oscarrobledo547]

Watching 35th Anniversary of Transformers the movie tomorrow. It's gonna rock.

[@texasbeast239]

Props to the analytical thinking required to hash out a meaningful chronological order. It's easy to get sucked into action, dialog, and soundtrack when re-watching, but watching in order prevents quite so many WTF?'s, and allows the story to unfold more coherently and satisfyingly. You done good.

[@RodimusPrimal]

Thanks! I really appreciate that. Season 3 was the hardest because it had a tighter continuity than Season 2.

[@Hydrallics]

My older brother won the TV Prime toy contest and we were blessed with a few of the G1 originals... 1. Optimus Prime (super cool with roller in the back) 2. Wheeljack (my favorite) 3. Sunstreaker (bro's favorite) 4. Bumblebee 5. Rumble/Ravage This brought back so much nostalgia that I've purchased a newer rendition of "Wheeljack". 😀

[@johnpaulsoberano4728]

I like the 3-part of Season 4 entitled "The Rebirth", that introduces Six Shot, The Headmasters & Targetmasters. This the way of beginning of proper adaption of Season 5 came from Japan known as "The Headmasters"; then Season 6 entitled "The Powermasters", that introduces the Powermasters. And the final season known as "Generation Victory", as their preview for Generation 2. & final Generation 1 saga.

[@stevenhamilton5427]

G1 will always hold a special place in my heart,also G1 will always be the best,the designs,the actors,the Characters,the Storylines everything the G1 series which touched many Generation of fans, also Generation One will always be one of my absolute favorite best cartoon shows ever Also both The Death and Return of Optimus Prime(G1 cartoon version)in what transcended from just another Autobot Leader to the Immortal status that he enjoys today(As of 2021)also despite being born in 1975 and being a grown man and a n adult I still love G1 transformers,also the G1 characters and cartoon are timeless,also all I can say is Rodimus:thank you for posting this video 👌 up the 👍 work and stay healthy and stay safe and till next time till all are one.😀😊😃☺☺☺.

[@RodimusPrimal]

Totally agree. Thanks for the kind words! Till all are one!

[@MisaelCastilloBrenes]

I still watch G1 Cartoon very frequently. I even use it to introduce my little cousin to Transformers (she loves Arcee and Grimlock).

[@Mr.BMC2763]

This is definitely your best work! Thank you so much for putting these in order. I was completely scratching my head in confusion. Also my favorite episode will always be the 3prt pilot "More That Meets the Eye.

[@DeconvertedMan]

Blaster on top of Bumblebee! XD

[@thehoopsobserver9078]

Great retrospective! I think you did a really good job addressing the series as a whole plus things that aren’t common knowledge like the differences in animation errors depending on where you watch it. My two favorite episodes are “War Dawn” and “The Burden Hardest To Bear”

[@ayushtiwari2959]

Voice actors are the best part of this show. Almost every main voice actor is legendary.

[@legoawcstopmotioner9435]

It may not be my #1 favorite series, but it's up there.

[@Nagatem]

Ah yes the holy grail that I got to sip reruns from as a small child because of my loving father, I’m glad and sad that I was born in 1991, I still got the toys and got to see the show but it was long since over by my time

[@trailbreakertv8918]

Man im glad someone mentioned the KZbin thing

[@canopyfields]

The best series in terms of story, character, voice, development will always be G1

[@2bitcollector707]

You are the man, thanks for putting this together, G1 holds a special place in my childhood and current adult life.

[@RodimusPrimal]

Thanks! Till all are one!

[@mindwipe8788]

Fire on the Mountain is and always be my favorite episode, the return of Skyfire/ Jetfire and the duo of Wincharger and Brawn with their witty banter and another awesome episode featuring Trailbreaker. My favorite quotes from the episode Skywarp: ”Have fun playing Crystaler Screamer Bye “, Wheeljack: “ Don’t worry he’ll turn up soon” Sideswipe: “ He’d better it’s cold enough to freeze the antlers off a titanium moosebot” Ironhide:”This is what separates the Autobots from the robot chickens” Brawn: “ Ain’t nobody calling me a robot chicken “.

[@RodimusPrimal]

Crystal nurse. But yeah that is a great episode.

[@blatherscite]

G1 animated series is still my favorite. The foundation of the franchise.

[@livingphoenix1]

One of the best scenes in g1 was when the entire was basically frank welker arguing with himself and poor thundercracker stuck baby sitting 🤣

[@livingphoenix1]

This may not be my g1, there’s definitely a lot I do enjoy about it, even some of the animation errors are funny like when ultra Magnus was apparently large enough to pick up two constructions like they were toys But I also enjoy watching the different versions of transformers and seeing how certain characters are compared to what I grew up with, I find it fun. Although I feel they ruined rainbow brite, but that’s just me

[@shebakoby]

I really liked Enter the Nightbird, Traitor, and The Insecticon Syndrome, they had the best animation IMO of all the episodes. I also really liked Webworld and The Killing Jar (concept-wise, very interesting). Also The Search for Alpha Trion and Ghost in the Machine/Starscream's Ghost (for obvious reasons).

[@kray97]

This discussion begins and ends with "The Call of the Primitives"

[@RazyelKayneReviews]

Great Restrospective, you`re the king, Primal. I really enjoyed where you identified the flaws, and where you gave credit to the voice actors. Overall this video does help, since I had questions about some of the orders. Great stuff sir, thank you!

[@disneyboy3030]

Fun fact. Scott King is making a fan dub of Headmasters in a way to make it a continuation of Season 4. Maybe you can bring it up if you ever do a review of Headmasters.

[@nsxt290]

Nice video.. you really give a nice overview of these toys. I took pics of my g1s in different real areas.

[@UnwantedSelf]

I stared with Arnarda and a couple of G1 tapes including the movie. I was always curios about what I was missing between the episodes I had and the Movie, but later when I watched the series all they way though I was dissapointed to find out it was just a time skip and the show didn't have much story between episodes.

[@Demonslayer1_398]

I started on g1 with a collection dvds i had all 3 sesons and im def happy i grew up with g1 even though i was born in the 2000s

[@dukenukem9770]

Wow, man! This is a fantastic retrospective! Thanks for putting so much thought and effort into this. Keep up the great work!!!

[@RodimusPrimal]

Glad you enjoyed it! Till all are one!

[@Xalerdane]

11:58 “Dad?”

[@summer20105707]

Season 2 was great. Megatrons masterplan was a true demonstration of how cunning and ruthless a decepticon Megatron could be. Starscreams brigade was another incredible episode. That episode clearly shows why Megatron fears and respects Starscream at the same time. We see Starscream using his talents to create a combiner to defeat Megatron. And for a brief moment screamer actually beat Megatron.

[@TheHeadNinjainComics]

Hey Rodimus, it’s Shinobi. Keep up the good work!

[@TFfangeek]

Epic video RodimusPrimal!!!!!!!!!!! The first time I watched G1 was here on KZbin back in 2007, it took 3 months, but I watched the episodes in chronological order, and it sounds strange to hear that the broadcast order was not in the same order as the production numbers. Keep on being amazing.

[@PaulDavies4]

I loved Transformers as a kid, it's easily my favorite toy line from my childhood. I always loved season 1 of G1. Count down to extinction is my favorite episode.

[@MrStavale]

Great job with this Rodimus, we’re all lucky to have your passion in this awesome universe!! Your work in putting out the facts of how it all happened is just awesome!!! Can’t thank you enough !!! I’m so fortunate to grow up on G1 right when it happened ,,,it makes want to be 9 and 10 years old everyday. I guess my wife is right , LOL 😂 l

[@thehowlinggamer5784]

G1 and beast wars are my absolute favorites. I liked the other side if the tracks episode the best because it was one that showed tracks as being more than a vain bot and proved you could do more than simplified characters in a kids show.

[@thehowlinggamer5784]

Edit reply. And of course beast wars ran with that idea with the relationship between Silverbolt and Black Aracnia and of course the first edge lord of Dinobot, who is my all time favorite bot.

[@evandavid2816]

Amazing job, RodimusPrimal...amazing...!!! The Marvel UK comics are what got me irrevocably hooked on Transformers back in the day, and I didn't catch much of the G1 animated series apart from the '86 Movie until my university days, when the whole series came out on UK VHS/DVD for the first time, dodgy story order and all (I think it was released by a company called Metrodome over here, so how that fits into the whole Rhino/Shout Factory thing I dunno...but I digress, yes...?). Watching the G1 cartoon, I couldn't help noticing that the world it depicts is more like a DC Comics-esque take on things whereby ordinary humans (mostly) like and trust the heroes of the piece, with Optimus Prime and the Autobots being treated as the equivalent of Superman and the Justice League, as opposed to the G1 comics whereby there's more of an archetypally Marvel-esque 'protecting a world which hates and fears them' scenario going on, X-Men style...a bit ironic considering Marvel's key role in both Universes, yes...? Agreed that the G1 cartoon also had a fantastic voice cast, with Chris Latta and Dan Gilvezan in particular standing out for me...loved how the latter also played Spidey in the Amazing Friends cartoon back then too...just wish there could have been a cartoon crossover between the two in the same way as there was in issue 3 of the G1 comic, yes...? Oh, and as for favourite episodes, watching as a so-called grown-up I think my favourites are usually the more humorous ones like 'The Girl Who Loved Powerglide' (Megatron: 'Activate the force fields!' Soundwave: 'What force fields...?!') and especially 'Kremzeek!' (Blaster: 'You mean you don't have a plan?! Optimus Prime: 'Who's had time to think of a plan...?!) - just wish they'd have picked a stronger episode than 'B.O.T.' to end Season 2 though, yes...?!

[@RodimusPrimal]

Thanks! Every time I read those "yes?" I did so thinking of Death's Head.

[@evandavid2816]

@@RodimusPrimal Heh, that's who I 'borrowed' the habit from all right...also, I know you've already done some great vids about Marvel's involvement with the Transformers, but if you were ever able to do any more focusing on Marvel UK and Death's Head in particular then that would be great, yes...?

[@amwfan88]

Ironically, I was introduced to G1 through G2, which aired on Channel 50 in the Chicago area, where I grew up. I saw nearly every S1 episode and about 1/3rd of the S2 episodes, found some Rhino VHS tapes in 2001 that I bought, and bought the Rhino DVDs in about 2005 or so. And yes, the lack of broadcast copies was super annoying. But I have a special fondness for Transformers, despite its errors. From a storytelling perspective, yeah, it's flawed. But as a kid Optimus Prime was one of my heroes, and I still have my G2 Optimus toy (missing his trailer, head, hands, tires and half of his bumper, and one of his legs had to be super-glued back on because it somehow broke off). But I love G1. I even upgraded to the Shout Factory DVDs when they were released!

[@xyx1667]

Out of topic but: I remembered each ep had their own commercial transitions "the Transformers will return after these massages" "we now return to the Transformers" (said along with a Transformer changing and entering the screen and posing each time) as well as the intro and outro having a different, always made me think "what will they look like this time" I first watched season 1 and some of 2 when I was 5 from my dad's hard drive, didn't understand English and barely the subs but unique giant-alien-form-changing-robots punching, yelling and shooting lasers at each other was very eye catching, entertaining and memorable. years later when I moved and did learn English, I searched for the old cartoon and many other TF shows followed

[@johnbest1978]

Love G1 i have every season finally. I'll always love G1 of course i grew up watching G1 Transformers and G.I. Joe and still watch them to this day and still love them as much. Love this video thank you for your content. Have a great day till all are won.

[@kyledamron]

Jetfire will always0 be named Skyfire to me. He's my favorite character of0 the 1st season. They could have done so much more with him

[@OutOfIdeas9977]

Not to me

[@Idkjustrandom2746]

I love how you are so knowledgeable in all aspects of the cartoons as a kid I enjoyed all the cartoons and still do to this day although it was funny to see all theAnimation errors

[@chefchivegas]

I think you nailed it with the order. Another great episode sir!

[@RodimusPrimal]

Thank you!

[@Milty2001]

G1 was one of the most iconic transformers sure the plot is simple and had many error animations, with some goofy episodic side to it, but in terms of continuity and toyline it was almost endless, the 1986 movie was decent despite it's serious tone, prime's death along with g1 characters die on big screen made me and alot of kids cry because they were all attached to us for years to come, but as I got older and continued to watch transformers beast wars up until animated I actually loved it

[@andrewgrant2990]

Another great video sir!- so thanks for doing this! I have the original Rhino (wanted them for the animation cells) but don't always notice all the goofs. Now I can watch them with my son!

[@RodimusPrimal]

Excellent! I still have my Rhino DVDs and my Shout Factory ones too.

[@geechie-don7157]

Sweet video and I think your order is spot on. I’ll always love G1 because the series felt like it matured along with me as I transitioned from adolescent to pre-teen. Season 3 is my fav and go to season. It felt so fast paced, mature and filled with high stakes for each faction.

[@RodimusPrimal]

I love Season 3 and think it's underrated. I often wonder if it had been animated mostly by Toei would it have been better received.

[@geechie-don7157]

@@RodimusPrimal animation was def off, but the storyline was so amazing, including visiting other worlds and Optimus coming back. It’s even better watching as an adult.