Theme: Transformers

Transformers are giant Robots that can change their shape into different forms such as the likeness of cars, trucks, planes or even dinosaurs. Transformers are often confused with Mecha, which are giant robots piloted by humans but these do not transform shape.

The Transformers were a line of Japanese toys that were brought up by US toy manufacturer Hasbro in the early 1980s. To market the toys, they created an animated tv series The Transformers (1984-7) and spawned a mass-market phenomenon. The tv series created a mythology in which the Transformers had personalities and were divided between the good Autobots and evil Decepticons.

The Transformers were revived in the 2000s by Michael Bay’s live-action film Transformers (2007), which has led to a series of hugely successful sequels that have turned the originals into Mass Destruction Spectaculars with giant robots beating each other into scrap metal. There have been occasional imitators featuring other transformer-type robots.