"In the Beginning, There Was...The Toy."
The Transformers series started in 1984 as a television show. Its characters were based off of toys which were created in Japan, known as Diaclones. The American toy company, Hasbro, made a deal with the owner of Diaclone toys in order to increase sales. They would male a television show that included all of the toys as distinguishable characters with unique personalities.
This proved to be an excellent idea, as the new show (which debutted on on September 17, 1984) was an instant hit among sci-fi enthusiasts and children in America. Transformers toys became all the rage during this timeframe.
In this picture of a page from a Japanese toy magazine, we see some very familiar figures. The red, silver, and blue tractor-trailer robot in the lower-right corner would soon be named "Optimus Prime" when Hasbro gained the rights to sell these figures. Other iconic characters spotted here include Sideswipe, Prowl, Jazz, Hound, Mirage, Wheeljack, Bluestreak, and numerous others.