Most people think that transformers toys is a derivative of animation. In fact, on the contrary, the true identity of transformers is a kind of deformation toy, and their real birthplace is not the United States, but Japan. The idea of deformable robot was first put forward by Japanese toy company TAKARA and used in actual toy production. 1983, they introduced two kinds of deformable robots, called DIAKRON and MICROMAN. These two kinds of toys have won unprecedented praise in the American market and their sales are amazing. These two robots are the predecessors of Transformers. However, the essential difference between them and the later Transformers is that although both of them can be deformed, DIAKRON is still a mecha manipulated by human beings, similar to the setting of fighter armor in Gundam and Hyperspace Fortress series, and still only a combat tool. It is Hasbro, an American toy manufacturer, who really gives them soul and life, so the real birth of Transformers began at 1984.
1984, Hasbro and TAKARA reached an agreement to use their patents and images to develop the American version of deformable toys. In order to cooperate with the sales of toys, Hasbro has also cooperated with American animation giant Marvel Comics (and DC Company is also an American animation publishing giant, with many comic hero images such as Spider-Man, Hulk, X-Men and Fantastic Four) to develop comic products related to the new robot series.
In fact, I personally grew up watching this. I love it!