Hasbro and fans worldwide celebrate Transformers Day on September 17th to honor the iconic Transformers toy and media franchise. Transformers Day was first observed in 2024 during the 40th anniversary of the original animated film The Transformers: The Movie. The inaugural event was filled with announcements, convention activations and exclusive content.

September 17th is considered a foundational date in Transformers history as the iconic three part animated mini-series “More than Meets the Eye” first aired in the U.S. on September 17, 1984. The original three-part story aired in syndication, running on three consecutive weekdays. It was retroactively given the title “More than Meets the Eye” when originally released on video. In the United Kingdom, the mini-series was called “Arrival from Cybertron.” In the 21st century, DVD releases and streaming services typically group the mini-series with Season 1, but it was actually a separate production.

The 1984 mini-series tells the origin story of the Transformers’ arrival on Earth, and the Autobots’ efforts to stop the Decepticons from pillaging the planet’s energy. It features almost the entire roster of the 1984 toy line, except for Frenzy and Buzzsaw, as well as the first piece of 1985 product, Shockwave, who was added to the story in later revisions of the script after it was decided that the toy line would continue into a second year.

Created by Henry Orenstein, the series featured the same voice actors that would bring the franchise to life on the big screen just two years later in 1986 – Frank Welker as Megatron, Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime, Corey Burton as Spike Witwicky, Christopher Collins as Starscream, Jack Angel as Ultra Magnus, Dan Gilvezan as Bumblebee, Michael Bell as Prowl, Casey Kasem as Teletraan I, Don Messick as Ratchet, and Neil Ross as Springer, along with John Stephenson as Thundercracker.

Directed by Nelson Shin, The Transformers: The Movie went on to be released in 1986, featuring the voice talent of Norman Alden as Kranix, Jack Angel as Astrotrain, Michael Bell as Prowl, Gregg Berger as Grimlock, Susan Blu as Arcee, Arthur Burghardt as Devastator, Corey Burton as Shockwave, Roger C. Carmel as Cyclonus, Victor Caroli as The Narrator, Regis Cordic as Quintesson Judge, Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime, Scatman Crothers as Jazz, Bud Davis as Dirge, Walker Edmiston as Inferno, Paul Eiding as Perceptor, Ed Gilbert as Blitzwing, Dan Gilvezan as Bumblebee, Eric Idle as Wreck-Gar, Buster Jones as Blaster, Stan Jones as Scourge, Casey Kasem as Cliffjumper, Christopher Collins as Starscream, David Mendenhall as Daniel Witwicky, Don Messick as Scavenger, John Moschitta Jr. as Blurr, Judd Nelson as Hot Rod, Leonard Nimoy as Galvatron, Hal Rayle as Shrapnel, Clive Revill as Kickback, Neil Ross as Bonecrusher, Robert Stack as Ultra Magnus, Lionel Stander as Kup, Orson Welles as Unicron, and Frank Welker as Megatron.

As part of the 2026 Transformers Day activities, Image Comics releases the first-ever hardcover collection of the movie adaptations. In the comic book series Optimus Prime and Megatron wage their final battle on Earth, and from the ashes rises a new beginning for the Autobots and Decepticons that is truly More Than Meets The Eye! The Transformers: The Movie deluxe hardcover collects both adaptations of the iconic movie – The Transformers: The Movie #1-3 and The Transformers: The Animated Movie #1-4.