Transform

       Tokyo -  The history of Transformers is something that proves, how interconnected the toy world used to be. 
     Launched in 1980 by Japanese toy company Takara Toys, the Diaclone line was made up of robots that transformed into futuristic vehicles piloted by figures spun-off from their successful Microman line.  Microman was imported into America by Mego as Micronauts.  Micronauts was in-turn spun off from a Takara line called Henshin Cyborg, which itself came from Takara'a Combat Joe line.  In 1982, Takara expanded both the Microman and Diaclone lines by adding more transforming robots; these robots new robots, branded Micro Change (for Microman) and Car Robots (for Diaclone), changed into more up-to-date and familiar lines like, regular cars, planes, and cassette players.  A year later, representatives from Hasboro attended the 1983 Tokyo Toy Fair.  They were doing well, their G.I. Joe:  A Real American Hero line had launched a year earlier and was a large success.  They were looking for the next most popular thing.  As soon as Hasbro saw Takara's Car Robots and Micro Change toys, they wanted it.  However, it wasn't as simple as that.  Hasbro didn't want to launch two separate lines onto the market at the same time, and so decided to consolidate the two their experience with G.I. Joe, they also knew that kids wanted a story to  play along with, instead of just the toy figures the already had.  Hasbro asked Marvel editor-in-chief Jim Shooter and editor Dennis O'Neal to come up with the entire Transformers universe prior to launching the toys. The plans Jim Shooter and Dennis O'Neal came up with were not used by Hasbro, and deemed un-worthy.  Hasbro then gave the job to Bob Budiansky, whose versions not only created the Transformers canon, but also handed him the job of Transformers comic, writer for years to come afterwards.   
     Robot models are:  Autobots, Decepticons, and Mini-Cons.  The two robot models that are in a category of their own are Unicon and Sideways.  Mini-Cons include:  High Wire, Sureshock, Grindor, Race Mini-Con Team, Air Defense Mini-Con Team, Mirror, Unicon of Light, and Dead End Drones.  The Autobots are known by the names of:  Red Alert, Blurr, Hot Shot, Optimus Prime, Hoist, Jetfire, and Sideways.  See also,  http://communicationcurrents.blogspot.com/search?q=Tokyo.